Water quality in the Upper Snake River Basin, Idaho and Wyoming, 1992-95

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Knowledge of the quality of the Nation's streams and aquifers is important because of the implications to human and aquatic health and because of the significant costs associated with decisions involving land and water management, conservation, and regulation. In 1991, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to begin the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program to help meet the continuing need for sound, scientific information on the areal extent of the water-quality problems, how these problems are changing with time, and an understanding of the effects of human actions and natural factors on water-quality conditions. The NAWQA Program is assessing the water-quality conditions of more than 50 of the Nation's largest river basins and aquifers, known as Study Units. Collectively, these Study Units cover about one-half of the United States and include sources of drinking water used by about 70 percent of the U.S. population. Comprehensive assessments of about one-third of the Study Units are ongoing at a given time. Each Study Unit is scheduled to be revisited every decade to evaluate changes in water-quality conditions. This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1992 and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Upper Snake River Basin Study Unit and to relate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national concern. The information is primarily intended for those who are involved in water-resource management. Indeed, this report addresses many of the concerns raised by regulators, water-utility managers, industry representatives, and other scientists, engineers, public officials, and members of stakeholder groups who provided advice and input to the USGS during this (NAWQA) Study-Unit investigation. Yet, the information contained here may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the quality of water in the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

URL http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1160/ goes to the parts online. (The link given there for a PDF no longer works.)

Clark GM, Maret TR, Rupert MG, Maupin MA, Low WH, Ott DS. 1998. Water quality in the upper Snake River Basin, Idaho and Wyoming, 1992–95. Denver (CO): US Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. (US Geological Survey circular; no. 1160). p. 1–35. [revised 1998 Jun 18; accessed 2015 Jun 1]. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1160/.