Contents of the
                                  WQ_PARM.DAT
                                     file

                                  Version 1.0
                                    09/12/96


        There is one record (line) for each of 121 parameters.  This 
        file contains the physical, chemical, and biological constituents 
        available on CD-ROM using the historical USGS parameter-code 
        expressions.  See the file WQ_PARM2.DAT for a description of 
        the current USGS parameter-code expressions.

        The file is organized by constituent group name (columns 1-3).


Columns  Format  Contents

  1-3      A3    Constituent group name (used as suffix to ASCII station
                        water-quality files).
   4       1X    Blank.
  5-12     A8    Constituent short name.
 13-16     4X    Blanks.
 17-21     I5    Constituent parameter code.
  22       A1    Indicator of the availability of information on laboratory
                   analytical methods.  The character "*" denotes 
                   constituents with information on one or more laboratory
                   analytical methods in the file METHODS.DAT.  A blank
                   denotes field parameters or constituents without 
                   information on the laboratory method codes.  With the
                   exception of alkalinity, bicarbonate, and carbonate,
                   method codes that appear in the water-quality data files 
                   for these blank-denoted constituents are not officially 
                   maintained by the USGS.
  23       1X    Blank.
 24-107    A84   Constituent long name containing the chemical expression
                 and units.


Format descriptions:

   In    an integer field n columns wide.
   An    a character field n columns wide.
   1X    a single blank column.