No abstract

No abstract

Water-Quality Issues …………………………………………………………………… Major Findings ………………………………………………………………………………… Natural factors affect stream and groundwater chemistry …………………………… Coliform bacteria concentrations exceeded Federal guidelines frequently in streams, but rarely in ground water ……………………………………………………… Nutrient concentrations vary seasonally and in relation to land use …………………… Pesticides were detected frequently in streams, ground water, and fish tissue, but at low concentrations ……………………………………………………………… Commonly detected volatile organic compounds in Quaternary aquifers are associated with gasoline …………………………………………………………………… Ground water underlying low-density development generally is suitable for domestic use ……………………………………………………………………………… Some trace element concentrations in streams and bed sediment exceeded aquatic-life guidelines ……………………………………………………………………… Trace elements in ground water were generally low compared to drinking-water standards and guidelines ……………………………………………………… Periphyton and invertebrate communities are degraded in some segments of the Yellowstone River ……………………………………………………………… Fish communities reflect water-quality and habitat conditions ………………………… Study Unit Design …………………………………………………………………………… References Cited ……………………………………………………………………………… Glossary ……………………………………………………………………………………… Appendix-Water-Quality Data from the Yellowstone River Basin in a National Context …… National Water-Quality Assessment Program The quality of the Nation's water resources is integrally linked to the long-term availability of water that is clean and safe for drinking and recreation and also suitable for industry, irrigation, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Recognizing the need for long-term, nationwide assessments of water resources, the U.S. Congress has appropriated funds since 1991 for the USGS to conduct the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Scientists in the NAWQA Program work with partners in government, research, and public interest groups to assess the status and spatial extent of water-quality conditions, how water quality changes with time, and how human activities and natural factors affect water quality. This information is useful for guiding water-management and protection strategies, research, and monitoring in different hydrologic and land-use settings across the Nation. The Yellowstone River Basin is one of 51 water-quality assessments initiated since 1991. Together, the 51 major river basins and aquifer systems, referred to as "Study Units," include water resources used by more than 60 percent of the population in watersheds that cover about half of the land areas of the conterminous United States. Timing of the assessments varies because of the Program's rotational design, in which one-third of all Study Units are intensively investigated for 3 to 4 years, with trends assessed every 10 years. As indicated on the map, the Yellowstone River Basin is part of the third set of intensive investigations, which began in 1997.

Hawaii is an attractive proving ground for electric and hybrid vehicles (EHV)

No abstract