National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program Retrospective Database for Nutrients in Surface Water : Monitoring Locations

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Hitt, K.J. and Nakagaki

Publication_Date: 19990701

Title: National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program Retrospective Database for Nutrients in Surface Water : Monitoring Locations

Edition:

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

Series_Information:

Series_Name:

Issue_Identification:

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA

Publisher: USGS

Other_Citation_Details:

Online_Linkage:

Description:

Abstract:

The retrospective database is a compilation of historical water-quality and ancillary data collected before NAWQA Study Units initiated sampling in 1993. This coverage contains the point locations of monitoring locations where historical water-quality data was collected. Water-quality data were obtained by study-unit personnel from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS), from records of State water-resource agencies, and from STORET, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency national database. Ancillary data describing characteristics of sampled sites were compiled by NAWQA Study Units or obtained from national-scale digital maps. Mueller and others (1995) used this data to determine preexisting water-quality conditions in the first 20 NAWQA Study Units that began in 1991. Also, Nolan and Ruddy (1996) used the data to describe areas of the United States at risk of nitrate contamination of ground water. Supplemental_Information: The retrospective database includes over 22,000 surface-water samples. The surface-water data are for samples collected during 1980-90 at sites that had a minimum of 25 monthly samples. Year of sampling is included in the retrospective database because it was reported most often by the various Study Units. Year of sampling also is convenient because some Study Units reported median constituent concentrations. If sampling date ranges for median values fell within a single year, then year of sampling was retained in the national data set for that sample. Because sampling, preservation, and analytical techniques associated with these historical data changed during the period of record and are different for different agencies, reported nutrient concentrations were aggregated into the following groups: (1) ammonia as N, (2) nitrate as N, (3) total nitrogen, (4) orthophosphate as P, and (5) total phosphorus. For example, ammonia includes both ammonium ions and un-ionized ammonia. More information on methods used to aggregate constituent data is available in the report by Mueller and others (1995). Much of the ancillary data, such as well and aquifer descriptions and land-use classification for surface-water drainage basins, were provided by NAWQA Study Units. Data evaluated at the national scale include land use, soil hydrologic group, nitrogen input to the land surface, and the ratios of pasture or woodland to cropland. Land-use classification of surface-water sites is based on Anderson Level I categories (Anderson and others, 1976). Land use at surface-water sites was classified by NAWQA Study Unit personnel based on the Anderson Level I categories. Many surface-water sites were affected by mixed land uses, such as Forest and Agricultural, or Agricultural and Urban. Surface-water sites with very large drainage areas (greater than 10,000 square miles) were considered to be affected by multiple land uses, and were designated as Integrated land use. More detailed descriptions of the land-use categories in the retrospective database are given by Mueller and others (1995). Soil hydrologic group was determined from digital maps compiled by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (1993). The categorical values (A, B, C, and D) from the digital maps were converted to numbers to permit aggregation (Mueller and others, 1995). Surface-water sites were assigned the area-weighted mean for soil mapping units in the upstream drainage basin. Many surface-water sites did not have digitized basin boundaries available, so hydrologic group could not be evaluated. Fertilizer and manure applications were estimated from national databases of fertilizer sales (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1990) and animal populations (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989). Nitrogen input by atmospheric deposition was derived from data provided by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (1992). Population data were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of the Census (1991). Total population in the upstream drainage was compiled for the surface-water data set. Within the database, concentrations less than detection are reported as negative values of the detection limit. Missing values are indicated by a decimal point. (During processing of the tabular data, these decimal points were replaced will NULL values; See Data_Quality_Information section. Historical data can be of limited use in national assessments because of inconsistencies between and within agencies in database structure and format and in sample collection, preservation, and analytical procedures. For example, changes in sample collection and analytical procedures can cause shifts in constituent concentrations that are unrelated to possible changes in environmental factors. See Mueller and others (1995) for assumptions and limitations associated with the retrospective database. [Summary provided by the EPA.]

Purpose:

Not Available

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Anderson, J.R., Hardy, E.E., Roach, J.T., and Witmer, R.E., 1976, A land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 964, 28 p. Fegeas, R.G., Claire, R.W., Guptill, S.C., Anderson, K.E., and Hallam, C.A., 1983, Land use and land cover digital data: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 895-E, 21 p. Mueller, D.K., Hamilton, P.A., Helsel, D.R., Hitt, K.J., and Ruddy, B.C., 1995, Nutrients in ground water and surface water of the United States--An analysis of data through 1992: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4031, 74 p. National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NRSP-3)/National Trends Network, 1992: Ft. Collins, CO, NADP/NTN Coordination Office. Nolan, B.T., and Ruddy, B.C., 1996, Nitrate in ground waters of the United States--Assessing the risk: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-092-96. Puckett, L.J., 1995, Identifying the major sources of nutrient water pollution: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 29, n. 9, p. 408-414. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989, Census of agriculture 1987--Final county file: Washington, D.C., Data Users Services Division. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1991, Census of population and housing, 1990: Public Law 94-171 data for the United States: Washington, D.C., The Bureau. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1990, County-level fertilizer sales data: Washington, D.C., Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, USEPA PM-221. U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 1993, State soil geographic data base (STATSGO)--Data users guide: Miscellaneous Publication Number 1492, 88 p.

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -127.88

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.35

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.25

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 22.87

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: PROJECT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ANCILLARY KEYWORDS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO TOPIC CATEGORY

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: DATA SET LANGUAGE

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT > WATER MANAGEMENT

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > PUBLIC HEALTH

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT > LAND MANAGEMENT

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT > LAND MANAGEMENT > LAND USE CLASSES

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > GROUND WATER > AQUIFERS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > GROUND WATER > WATER TABLE

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > LAKES

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > RIVERS/STREAMS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > NITROGEN COMPOUNDS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > PH

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > TRACE METALS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT > ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

Theme_Keyword: ESIP > EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION PARTNERS PROGRAM

Theme_Keyword: C-MAP > CLEAN AIR MAPPING AND ANALYSIS PROGRAM

Theme_Keyword: Gis

Theme_Keyword: Usgs

Theme_Keyword: National Water Quality Assessment Program

Theme_Keyword: Nawqa

Theme_Keyword: Surface Water

Theme_Keyword: Ground Water

Theme_Keyword: Drinking Water

Theme_Keyword: Human Health

Theme_Keyword: Environmental Health

Theme_Keyword: Hydrology

Theme_Keyword: Water Quality

Theme_Keyword: Water Sampling

Theme_Keyword: Drainage Basin

Theme_Keyword: Land Use

Theme_Keyword: Ammonia

Theme_Keyword: Nitrate

Theme_Keyword: Nitrogen

Theme_Keyword: Phosphorous

Theme_Keyword: Ph

Theme_Keyword: Conservation

Theme_Keyword: ENVIRONMENT

Theme_Keyword: GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Theme_Keyword: HEALTH

Theme_Keyword: IMAGERY/BASE MAPS/EARTH COVER

Theme_Keyword: INLAND WATERS

Theme_Keyword: PLANNING CADASTRE

Theme_Keyword: ENGLISH

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GREAT LAKES > WESTERN LAKE MICHIGAN DRAINAGES

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > UPPER SNAKE RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > CALIFORNIA > SAN JOAQUIN-TULARE BASINS

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > COLORADO > SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > CONNECTICUT > CONNECTICUT, HOUSATONIC, AND THAMES RIVER BASINS

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > FLORIDA > APALACHICOLA-CHATTAHOOCHEE-FLINT RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GEORGIA

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > ILLINOIS > OZARK PLATEAUS

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > INDIANA > WHITE RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > NEBRASKA > CENTRAL NEBRASKA BASINS

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > NEVADA > NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > NEW YORK > HUDSON RIVER BASIN L

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > NORTH CAROLINA > ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO DRAINAGE

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > PENNSYLVANIA > LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > TEXAS > RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > TEXAS > TRINITY RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > VIRGINIA > POTOMAC RIVER BASIN

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > WASHINGTON > CENTRAL COLUMBIA PLATEAU

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Historical data can be of limited use in national assessments because of inconsistencies between and within agencies in database structure and format and in sample collection, preservation, and analytical procedures. For example, changes in sample collection and analytical procedures can cause shifts in constituent concentrations that are unrelated to possible changes in environmental factors. See Mueller and others (1995) for assumptions and limitations associated with the retrospective database.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: KERRIE J. HITT

Contact_Position: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: U.S. Geological Survey

Address: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

City: Reston

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 20192

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-6854

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kjhitt@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://mapserver.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcmd-open/multimedia_sample/dif/GCMD/NAWQAHIS/NAWQAHIS.gif

Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

NAWQA Retrospective Database for Surface Water Nutrients: Monitoring Locations

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: GIF

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Mueller and others (1995) used this data to determine preexisting water-quality conditions in the first 20 NAWQA Study Units that began in 1991. Also, Nolan and Ruddy (1996) used the data to describe areas of the United States at risk of nitrate contamination of ground water. Original tabular data were compiled by USGS as described in the Data Summary section. Tabular data was downloaded from the USGS web site and was prepared for use in EPA Clean Air Markets Division.s (CAMD) Geographic Information System. Latitude/Longitude coordinates were converted to decimal degrees and used to create a shapefile using ArcView 3.2. The shapefile was imported into ArcInfo 7.2.1 and projected first into Albers, NAD27 and then into Albers, NAD83.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Not Available

Completeness_Report:

Not Available

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Not Available

Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: EPA/CAMD > Clean Air Markets Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact_Person: EPA CLEAN AIR MARKETS DIVISION

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: US EPA

Address: Clean Air Markets Division

Address: 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Address: Mail Code 6204J

City: Washington

State_or_Province: DC

Postal_Code: 20460

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-564-9180

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: camdgis@epa.gov

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: DOI/USGS/WRD/GIS > Water Resources Maps and GIS Information, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior

Contact_Person: KERRIE J. HITT WATER WEBSERVER TEAM - USGS

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: U.S. Geological Survey

Address: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

City: Reston

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 20192

Country: USA

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: USGS National Center

Address: Water Resources Division

Address: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

City: Reston

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 20192-0002

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-6854

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-4000;1-800-426-9000

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kjhitt@usgs.gov

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: h2oteam@usgs.gov

Resource_Description: NAWQAHIS

Distribution_Liability:

Not Available

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ArcInfo export format

Format_Name: ArcView shapefile

Transfer_Size: 6184720

Transfer_Size: 16303646

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/getgislist

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=136:1:0::NO::...

Access_Instructions:

Access data from the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Data Warehouse.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/

Access_Instructions:

Homepage of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA).

Fees: No Fees

Fees: No Fees

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20021115

Metadata_Review_Date: 20130422

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: TYLER B. STEVENS

Contact_Position: DIF AUTHOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Address: Global Change Master Directory

City: Greenbelt

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20771

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 614-6898

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-614-5268

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Tyler.B.Stevens@nasa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time