National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program - South Platte River Basin
How does NAWQA answer these questions?
Study design and methods are nationally consistent | . . . .so that. . . . | water-quality conditions can be compared on a regional and national basis. |
Studies are long-term and cyclical | . . . .so that. . . . | trends in water quality can be analyzed to determine whether conditions are getting better or worse. |
Studies relate human activities (contaminant sources, land and chemical use) and natural factors (soils, geology, hydrology, climate) to water quality, aquatic life, and stream habitat | . . . .so that. . . . | findings help with decisions about managing water resources and protecting drinking water and aquatic ecosystems. |
USGS scientists interact with government officials, resource managers, industry representatives, and other interested parties | . . . .so that. . . . | findings are relevant to decision makers. |
USGS scientists cover a range of disciplines, including hydrology, geology, geophysics, biology, geography, and statistics | . . . .so that. . . . | the interdependent nature of river basins and aquifer systems can be analyzed. |
USGS is committed to making its unbiased scientific information available to everyone | . . . .so that. . . . | findings are presented in multiple formats, including raw data, reports, journal articles, pamphlets, and videos. Most of these products are free. |