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<br />SAMPLING-SITE SELECTION CRITERIA
<br />
<br />In the NA WQA program, sampling-site selection needs to
<br />meet national and local criteria. Because NAWQA is a national
<br />program, some sites were selected to meet national goals.
<br />Water-quality issues defined by the local resource managers also
<br />were considered in site selection to ensure that the study design
<br />was not only nationally consistent but locally relevant. Addi-
<br />tional factors that contributed to site selection were local
<br />interest in water-quality conditions, limitation of resources, and
<br />potential for additional research.
<br />
<br />The general procedure used to select sites for the basic-
<br />fixed-site network is as follows. The potential effects on water
<br />quality of the combination of physiography, climate, geology,
<br />soils, land use, and water management were analyzed. This
<br />analysis was combined with the important national and local
<br />water-g~ issues to generate a list of potential basic fixed
<br />sites. A basinwide reconnaissance of these potential sites was
<br />conducted during March 1995. During the reconnaissance, each
<br />site was evaluated as to suitability for hydrologic and biologic
<br />sampling. Sites that were classified as unsuitable for sampling
<br />were excluded from further consideration. Examples of factors
<br />that would render a site unsuitable are poorly mixed cross
<br />section, poor hydraulics, unsafe conditions, or lack of access.
<br />
<br />After the reconnaissance, the potential basic fixed sites
<br />were ranked by suitability for sampling and potential to meet
<br />local and national program goals. Ancillary items then were
<br />included to generate a final priority list from which the basic
<br />fixed sites would be selected. If all other items were similarly
<br />ranked, higher priority was given to sites with a current gaging
<br />station (particularly on the main stem where gaging-station
<br />installation is costly), sites where the NAWQA program could
<br />be integrated with other water-quality studies, and sites at which
<br />active local interest in water-quality concerns were deemed rele-
<br />vant to national objectives. Sites at which other Federal, State,
<br />or local agencies were collecting data similar to NAWQA data
<br />were given a lower priority in order to expand water-quality
<br />sampling throughout the basin. The final list of potential sites
<br />was extensively discussed with local water-resource managers
<br />and NA WQA national synthesis personnel. The final 14 basic
<br />fixed sites then were selected by study unit personnel.
<br />
<br />Stream-gaging stations were installed, where required,
<br />during September 1995. Water-quality sampling began at all
<br />network sites in October 1995 and will continue for a minimum
<br />of 2 years.
<br />
<br />SELECTED REFERENCES
<br />
<br />Apodaca, L.E., Driver, N.E., Stephens,V.C., and
<br />Spahr, N.E., 1996, Environmental setting and implications on
<br />water quality, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado and Utah:
<br />U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations
<br />Report 95-4263, 33 p.
<br />
<br />Gilliom, RJ., Alley, W.M., and Gurtz, M.E., 1995,
<br />Design of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program-
<br />Occurrence and distribution of water-quality conditions:
<br />U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1112, 33 p.
<br />
<br />September 1996
<br />
<br />Leahy, P.P., Rosenshein, 1.S., and Knopman, D.S., 1990,
<br />Implementation plan for the National Water-Quality
<br />Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
<br />90-174, 10 p.
<br />
<br />National Research Council, 1990, A review of the USGS
<br />National Water-Quality Assessment Pilot Program: National
<br />Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 153 p.
<br />
<br />National Research Council, 1994, National Water-Quality
<br />Assessment Program-The challenge of national synthesis:
<br />National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 51 p.
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<br />EXPLANATION '( I)~\\~ I~ 'r ~ J~ (/:;i
<br />380 ~ 1:,:// -1 L '--7
<br />- Basin Boundary , ::'/\./_-: I
<br />... Basic Fixed Site ~
<br />" Reconnaissance Site
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<br />40 MILES
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<br />20
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<br />20 40 KILOMETERS
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<br />Information on technical reports and hydrologic data related to
<br />the NAWQA program can be obtained from:
<br />
<br />Upper Colorado River NAWQA Manager
<br />U.S. Geological Survey
<br />Bldg. 53, Denver Federal Center
<br />Mail Stop 4]5, Box 25046
<br />Denver, Colorado 80225
<br />(303) 236-2101 ext. 224
<br />email: nedriver@usgs.gov
<br />
<br />-Norman E. Spahr, Nancy E. Driver, and Verlin C. Stephens
<br />
<br />Manuscript and layout: Alene Brogan
<br />Editing: Martha Crawford
<br />Design: John Evans
<br />Final illustrations: Alan Duran
<br />
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<br />FS-191-96
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