U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1233
This circular is available as a pdf.
This report contains the major findings of a 1999–2001 assessment of water quality in the Lower Tennessee River Basin. 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 is also for individuals who wish to know more about the quality of streams and ground water in areas where they live, and how that water quality compares to the quality of water in other areas across the Nation.
The water-quality conditions in the Lower Tennessee River Basin summarized in this report are discussed in detail in other reports that can be accessed from the Lower Tennessee River Basin Web site (http://tn.water.usgs.gov/lten/lten.html). 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 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
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
INTRODUCTION TO THE LOWER TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN
MAJOR FINDINGS
Ecology
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE—Agricultural Land Use Affects Aquatic Insects
Bacteria
Nutrients
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE—Nitrogen in the Tennessee River Contributes to Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE—Natural Deposits of Phosphatic Limestone Are a Major Source of Phosphorus in Some Streams
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE—Nitrate Concentrations in Streams and Ground Water Generally Are Similar to the National Median
Pesticides
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE—Pesticide Detections in the Lower Tennessee River Basin Were Higher than National Results
Volatile Organic Compounds
Fish Tissue
STUDY UNIT DESIGN
REFERENCES
GLOSSARY
APPENDIX—WATER-QUALITY DATA FROM THE LOWER TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN IN A NATIONAL CONTEXT
The companion Web site for NAWQA summary reports:
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/nawqa_sumr.html
USGS State Representative
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Discipline
640 Grassmere Park, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37211
e-mail: dc_tn@usgs.gov
http://tn.water.usgs.gov/lten/tenn.html
Chief, NAWQA Program
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Discipline
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M.S. 413
Reston, VA 20192
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The text and graphics are presented here in pdf format (print quality). The full report is 28.4MB.
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