Introduction

This report documents and summarizes physical, chemical, and biological data collected during 1999-2004 in a study titled Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems (EUSE), undertaken as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. This study was conducted to examine differences in physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams across a gradient of urban-development intensity in each of nine metropolitan study areas that represent distinct environmental settings across the United States: Atlanta, Georgia (abbreviations ATL and ACFB are used in figures and data tables associated with this report); Birmingham, Alabama (BIR, MOBL); Boston, Massachusetts (BOS, NECB); Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW, TRIN); Denver, Colorado (DEN, SPLT); Milwaukee-Green Bay, Wisconsin (MGB, WMIC); Portland, Oregon (POR, WILL); Raleigh, North Carolina (RAL, ALBE); and Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC, GRSL) (fig. 1). Further information about the study can be obtained at the EUSE Web site.

Figure 1. Locations of nine metropolitan study areas for data collection and evaluation of the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems, 1999–2004.
Note: Shaded areas represent the overall boundary of watersheds studied in each metropolitan area.