U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1238
This circular is available as a pdf.
This report contains the major findings of a 1999–2001 assessment of water quality in the Santa Ana 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 near where they live and how that water quality compares to other areas across the Nation.
The water-quality conditions in the Santa Ana River Basin summarized in this
report are discussed
in detail in other reports that can be accessed from http://ca.water.usgs.gov/
sana_nawqa/. 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 Santa Ana Basin
The hydrologic cycle in the Santa Ana Basin is dominated by human activities
Water quality in the Santa Ana Basin reflects the influence of urbanization
Major Findings
Concentrations of nitrate and dissolved solids are elevated
in surface water
and ground water in the Santa Ana Basin
Nitrate and dissolved-solids concentrations in streams are
related to
water source and location
Nitrate and dissolved-solids concentrations are higher in ground
water
recharged since the 1950s than in older ground water
Pesticides and volatile organic compounds are commonly present
in surface
water and ground water
Some pesticides are detected more frequently in streams, and at higher concentrations, during and after storms than during dry periods
Volatile organic compounds in Santa Ana Basin streams can come
from the air,
treated wastewater, or ground water or can be washed in by storms
Pesticides and volatile organic compounds are more frequently
detected in
ground water recharged since the 1950s than in older ground water
Organochlorine and semivolatile organic compounds are detected
more frequently
in bed sediment and fish tissue at urban sites than at undeveloped sites
Detection frequencies of organic compounds at Santa Ana River
sites are different
than detection frequencies at tributary sites
Sediment cores from reservoir and retention basins provide
a historical record of
pesticides and semivolatile organic compounds
Trace-element concentrations sometimes exceed aquatic-life
guidelines in
bed sediment and reservoir-sediment cores
Urbanization has altered stream channels and the sources of
water reaching
stream channels; these changes have degraded aquatic ecosystems
Today’s surface water is tomorrow’s ground water
Study Unit Design
Stream Chemistry
Aquatic Ecology and Sediment
Ground-Water Quality
References Cited
Glossary
Appendix—Water Quality Data from the Santa Ana 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
5735 Kearny Villa Road, Suite O
San Diego, CA 92123
e-mail: gs-w_nawqa_soca_chief@usgs.gov
http://ca.water.usgs.gov/sana_nawqa
Chief, NAWQA Program
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Discipline
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, M.S. 413
Reston, VA 20192
For sale by
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 23.9MB.
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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