Monitoring our rivers and streams

Abstract

All of life depends on water, and all of us are citizens of a watershed. Our activities and the ways we use our water resources and the land adjacent to the water affect the quality of our drinking water, our recreational opportunities, and the health and diversity of aquatic plants and animals. Our activities also affect whether our rivers and streams will continue to be beautiful places to visit and vistas to contemplate. In this publication, you'll find information about watersheds and about monitoring the quality and quantity of surface-water resources. You'll learn how the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors streamflow and surface-water quality across the Nation and how USGS information can help you learn more about your water resources-whether as a citizen of your watershed or an active citizen monitor. This publication focuses on surface water, but keep in mind that surface water and ground water are interconnected. USGS also monitors the flow and quality of ground water, and investigates surface-and groundwater interactions. USGS and citizen monitoring The water quality of a nearby stream, a watershed, or a large river system can be enhanced only by collecting good information about conditions and by responding-most effectively at the local level-to that information. Informed citizens of a watershed often are in the best position to identify priority water issues and to understand the political, social, and economic context in which those issues are addressed. USGS works with citizen monitors in many watersheds across the Nation. Typically, watershed associations, such as the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, plan and conduct the activities of citizen monitors. Citizen monitoring enhances the monitoring conducted by USGS and other federal and state agencies by filling in geographic gaps or by increasing the frequency of sampling. Information collected by citizen monitors can also help USGS and other water-resource agencies know where to focus their broader data-collection activities and analysis. In turn, hydrologists from USGS and other agencies often train citizens during "side-by-side" data-collection activities. To learn about USGS monitoring activities in your state, call or e-mail the USGS representative. A list of contacts is at water.usgs.gov/district_chief.html.

Redesign of a water quantity, quality, and sediment-monitoring network in a tropical region

“…Anthropic activities and the ways in which humans use water resources and the territories adjacent to the rivers affect the quantity and quality of consumption water, risk management, entertaining opportunities, and the health and diversity of aquatic and riparian ecosystems, because all life depends on water and all of us are citizens of the basin [1].…”

“…The abundance of worms and mosquitoes tolerant of pollution, or a community of sparse fish, or one that is composed of non-native species are bio-indicators of poor water quality. [1].…”

“…More flow rates of water generally means that rivers and streams transport a greater quantity of pollutants and sediment, in part because of overland runoff. This phenomena is critical if occurs during the aquatic plants and animals critical life cycle phases, particularly when waters carrying high loads reach gulfs and bays [1].…”

“…Both natural and human-induced conditions within the basin are reflected in the water quantity, quality, and sediment transport, and as such, must be monitored [1]. Thus, the present study focused on physical and anthropic characteristics, in an effort to propose a methodology for the redesign of monitoring networks.…”

“…While many regional environmental agencies focus on the larger river watersheds, local communities and citizens are frequently worried with the smaller basins present in their areas. Because the less significant watersheds are "nested" within the larger river networks, and because major basins cross jurisdictions, successful water resources management involves that everyone work together-citizens and water-managers, as well as local, regional, and national environmental authorities and stakeholders [1].…”