Document Details

Nutrients in the Nation’s Streams and Groundwater, 1992–2004

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | June 6th, 2011


This report is one of a series of publications, The Quality of Our Nation’s Waters, which describes major findings of the NAWQA Program on water-quality issues of regional and national concern. This report presents an assessment of the occurrence and distribution of nutrients in the Nation’s streams and groundwater based on water-quality data from about 500 streams and over 5,000 wells collected from 1992 through 2001. Other topics addressed include the relation of nutrient conditions to aquatic life in streams, changes in nutrient conditions from 1988 through 2004, and implications for future changes.

The information in this series is intended primarily for those interested or involved in resource management and protection, conservation, regulation, and policy-making at regional and national levels. In addition, the information is relevant to those at a local level who wish to know more about the general quality of streams and groundwater in areas near where they live and how that quality compares with other areas across the Nation.

Keywords

groundwater contamination, Groundwater Exchange, nutrients, streams, water quality