Publications

The initial twenty years of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program successfully evaluated water-quality conditions across the U.S., tracked changes over time, and identified how both natural elements and human activities influenced these conditions. As planning begins for the Program’s third decade (Cycle 3), guided by the Science Plan, several challenges are emerging. These include ensuring NAWQA retains its national scope despite decreasing resources, finding a balance between new initiatives and ongoing long-term studies, and maintaining program focus amidst various competing demands from stakeholders.