| OCR Text |
Show National Water- Quality Assessment Program The quality of the Nation's water resources is of great interest because it is so integrally linked to the long- term availability of water that is clean and safe for drinking and recreation and that is suitable for industry, irrigation, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Recognizing the need for long- term, nationwide assessments of water resources, the U. S. Congress has appropriated funds since 1991 for the USGS to conduct the National Water- Quality Assessment ( NAWQA) Program. Scientists in the NAWQA Program work with partners in government. research, and public interest groups to assess the spatial e\ tenl of water- quality conditions, how water quality changes with lime, and how human activities and natural factors affect water quality. This information is useful for guiding water- management and protection strategies, research, and monitoring in different hydrologic and land- use settings across the Nation. The Great Salt Lake Basins is one of 51 water- quality assessments initiated since 1991. Together, the 5 I major river basins and aquifer systems, referred to as " Study L'nits." include water resources used by more than 60 percent of the population in watersheds that cover about half of the land areas of the conterminous United Slates. Timing of the assessments varies because of the program's rotational design in which one- third of all Study Units are intensively investigated tor 3 to 4 years, with trends assessed ever) 10 years. As indicated on the map. the Great Salt Lake Basins is part of the third set of intensive investigations, which began in 1997. |
