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Water Quality in the Natural Environment

Review of National Monitoring Programs

Since its inception in the late 1800s, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has served as a leading contributor of investigations and information about U.S. waters, including surface water hydrology, water quantity issues, and most recently groundwater hydrology. In the 1980s, they were challenged to expand this role to specifically address the quality of U.S. waters. As the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program has evolved from a concept in 1985 to a relatively mature and tested program in twentieth century, the WSTB has provided advice to the USGS on several occasions. Shortly after the NAWQA Program was established, the WSTB convened a colloquium to specifically address what the necessary elements should be for a national water quality monitoring and assessment program. A follow-up report A Review of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Pilot Program [view report] recommended full-scale implementation of the program. The third WSTB report, National Water Quality Assessment Program: The Challenge of National Synthesis, discusses issues that are critical for successful national synthesis of water quality data and information. The most recent WSTB report, Opportunities to Improve the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment Program, provided recommendations as NAWQA entered its second decade of nationwide monitoring.

Water quality is an issue that cuts across jurisdiction, political, and national lines. The multinational agreement between the United States and Canada concerning water quality in the Great Lakes has been studied in a report entitled Review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: Working Papers and Discussion. More specific issues such as nutrient enrichment, contamination, institutional arrangements, and sustainable development issues related to water quality preservation in the Great Lakes are discussed in the report The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: An Evolving Instrument of Ecosystem Management. 		Books Related to Review of National Monitoring Programs
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A Review of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program: The Challenge of National Synthesis,


Opportunities to Improve the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program,


River Science at the U.S. Geological Survey,


Letter Report on the WATERS Network Science Plan,










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