Water
Quality Assessment for Northern Rockies Intermontane Basins
Lan H.
Tornes, U.S. Geological Survey, 3162 Bozeman Ave., Helena, MT 59601
The
Northern Rockies Intermontane Basins is one of 59 studies of the U.S. Geological
Survey's National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The goals of the
program are to (1) describe water-quality conditions for a large part of the
nation's streams and aquifers, (2) describe water quality trends, and (3)
identify factors affecting water quality. Stream water, bottom sediment, ground
water, and fish tissue will be sampled; and stream ecology and habitat will be
evaluated. Water quality will be related to ancillary factors.
The study area extends along the Continental
Divide from Butte, Montana, to the Canadian border, and westward to include the
Spokane and Pend Oreille Rivers. Water quality issues in the study area include
trace metals, nutrients, degradation of water from increased development,
sedimentation, and their effects on aquatic biota. Data collection will be designed to address these issues and
provide information for water managers. The assessment includes two years of
planning, analysis of existing data, and sampling design; and three years for
intensive data collection and interpretation.
This will be followed by completion of reports and design and
implementation of six years of low-intensity sampling.
This cycle will be repeated to assess trends.
For more information see: http://montana.usgs.gov/nrok/nrokpage.htm