U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1232
This circular is available as a pdf.
This report contains the major findings of a 1999–2001 assessment of water quality in the Acadian-Pontchartrain Drainages Study Unit. It is one of a series of reports by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program that present major findings in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems across the Nation.
In these reports, water quality is discussed in terms of local, State, and regional issues. Conditions in a particular basin or aquifer system are compared to conditions found elsewhere and to selected national benchmarks, such as those for drinking-water quality and the protection of aquatic organisms.
This report is intended for individuals working with water-resource issues in Federal, State, or local agencies, universities, public interest groups, or in the private sector. The information will be useful in addressing a number of current issues, such as the effects of agricultural and urban land use on water quality, human health, drinking water, source-water protection, hypoxia and excessive growth of algae and plants, pesticide registration, and monitoring and sampling strategies. This report also is for individuals who wish to know more about the quality of streams and ground water in areas near where they live, and how that water quality compares to other areas across the Nation.
The water-quality conditions in the Acadian-Pontchartrain Drainages Study Unit summarized in this report are discussed in detail in other reports that can be accessed from (http://la.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/default.htm). Detailed technical information, data and analyses, collection and analytical methodology, models, graphs, and maps that support the findings presented in this report in addition to other reports in this series from other basins can be accessed from the national NAWQA Web site (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa).
National Water-Quality Assessment Program
What kind of water-quality information does the NAWQA Program provide?
Introduction to this Report
Summary of Major Findings
Stream and River Highlights
Ground-Water Highlights
Introduction to the Acadian-Pontchartrain Drainages
Land use affects water quality
Water Use in Louisiana
Hydrologic Conditions and Their Effects on Water Quality
Ground Water
Major Findings
Surface Water
Pesticides
Pesticides compounds vary with land use
Pesticides occur in mixtures and as degradation products
Pesticides vary seasonally in streams
Mississippi River hydrology affects occurrence of atrazine in streams and rivers
Nutrients
Nutrient concentrations differ with land use
Forms of nitrogen vary among streams in the Acadian-Pontchartrain
Drainages
and in the Mississippi River at St. Francisville
Nutrient concentrations vary seasonally in streams
Organochlorine compounds persist in sediment and fish tissue
Elevated levels of mercury are present in fish north of Lake Pontchartrain
Aquatic communities are affected by land use and habitat
Ground Water
Nitrate, Pesticides, and Volatile Organic Compounds
Naturally Occurring Trace Elements and Water Chemistry
Radon
Study-Unit Design
Stream-Chemistry and Ecology
Ground Water
References Cited
Glossary
Appendix—Water Quality Data from the Acadian-Pontchartrain
Drainages in a
National Context
The companion Web site for NAWQA summary reports:
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/nawqa_sumr.html
e-mail: dc_la@usgs.gov
http://la.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/
Chief, NAWQA Program
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Discipline
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M.S. 413
Reston, VA 20192
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U.S. Geological Survey,
Information Services
Box 25286, Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
For more information about the USGS and its products:
Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS
World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/
The text and graphics are presented here in pdf format (print quality). The full report is 15.6MB.
If you have Adobe® Acrobat® or Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® installed on your computer, you may view and print the PDF version of this report. Acrobat Reader, is a free download it from Adobe Systems, Inc. Users with disabilities can view information concerning accessibility at access.adobe.com.
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