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<br />contaminants. Ecological Studies evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams <br />relative to environmental settings. Sampling designs for these components coordinate sampling of varying <br />intensity and scope at common sites. The glossary at the front of this report includes brief definitions of <br />the NA WQA study components, indicated throughout the report with capital first letters, and other key <br />terms. <br /> <br />This report describes standard methods for collecting and processing water-column samples from <br />streams as part of the Occurrence and Distribution Assessment component of the NA WQA program. <br />Complimentary methods and procedures are described for collecting and processing biological tissues <br />(Crawford and Luoma, 1992; Meador and others, 1993) and bed sediments (Shelton and Capel, 1994). <br />The methods and techniques described in this report are intended to enable investigators to meet the <br />specific goals of the NA WQA program and are oriented to specific USGS equipment, practices, and <br />support facilities. However, they also can be adapted for use by other Federal and state agencies, as well <br />as by other programs of the USGS. <br /> <br />The procedures described conform to methods presented in the USGS Techniques of W ater- Resources <br />Investigations (TWRI) series and in the technical memorandums of the Office of Water Quality (OWQ) <br />and the Office of Surface Water (OSW) of the USGS (see appendix A). The procedures are based, in part, <br />on guidelines released by the OWQ and on a field manual prepared by M.A. Sylvester and others of the <br />U.S. Geological Survey (see appendix B). New material has been added for selected procedures, and some <br />guidelines have been modified to conform with the NA WQA Study-Unit design guidelines. The <br />development of new and improved field techniques is a continuing process; therefore, this field guide will <br />require periodic updating. If these updates outline a different or improved procedure, investigators in each <br />Study Unit will evaluate the effect on the resulting data. Compatibility with previously collected data is <br />essential for the duration of each project. <br /> <br />Trade names used in connection with equipment or supplies do not constitute an. endorsement of the <br />product. References are made throughout this document to the U.S. Geological Suvey's National Water <br />Quality Laboratory (NWQL); Quality Water Service Unit at Ocala, Florida (OCALA); and the Hydrologic <br />Instrumentation Facility (HIP). <br /> <br />2 Collecting and Processing Stream-water Samples for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program <br />