This circular is available as a pdf.
This report contains the major findings of a 1999–2001 assessment of water quality in the Yellowstone 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 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 the quality of water in other areas across the Nation.
The water-quality conditions in the Yellowstone River Basin summarized in this report are discussed in detail in other reports that can be accessed from http://wy.water.usgs.gov/YELL/index.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 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 Yellowstone River Basin
Surface-Water Resources
Ground-Water Resources
Biological Resources
Water-Quality Issues
Major Findings
Natural factors affect stream and ground-water 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
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
2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
e-mail: state_rep_wy@usgs.gov
http://wy.water.usgs.gov/YELL/
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 full report is available in pdf format and is 17.1 MB in size.
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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