Water: Survey of the Nation's Rivers & Streams
Our WatersRivers & StreamsMonitoring & AssessmentNational Rivers and Streams AssessmentNational Rivers and Streams Assessment
Features
The 2008-2009 National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) is currently undergoing data analysis in preparation for the report that will be released in December 2012. Planning for the 2013-2014 NRSA will begin in 2012. Preliminary data will be presented at the NWQMC 
in Portland, OR in May 2012.
EPA and its state, tribal, federal and other partners are beginning work on a survey of the nation's rivers and streams. This survey will use a random sampling design to provide regional and national estimates of the condition of rivers and streams. States and tribes will use consistent sampling and analytical procedures to ensure that results can be compared across the country and over time. This survey will combine a first-ever assessment of the nation's rivers with the second national survey of small wadeable streams (see the first such survey, the Wadeable Streams Assessment (WSA). The 2004 WSA provided the baseline against which survey results on streams will be compared.
The National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) is one of a series being implemented to periodically generate statistically-valid and environmentally relevant reports on the condition of the nation's water resources. These collaborative assessments are also intended to improve monitoring across jurisdictional boundaries and to enhance the ability of states and tribes to assess and manage water quality. Visit our Water Quality Reports page for more information on similar surveys in this series.
2008-2009 NRSA:
2008-2009 NRSA:
Site Evaluation Guidelines (PDF) (## pp, ###MB, About PDF)
Field Operations Manual (PDF) (354 pp, 18.7MB, About PDF)
Lab Operations Manual (PDF) (## pp, ###K, About PDF)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (PDF) (## pp, ###K, About PDF)
Other:
Data is still undergoing analysis and will be released sometime in Spring 2012.
The initial planning for the NRSA 2013-2014 has begun. Initial site selection expected to be delivered to states and tribes in May of 2012.
Meetings
April 10-11, 2007: 8th Annual Environmental Assessment and Monitoring (EMAP) Symposium in Washington, DC
A half-day session at this EMAP symposium focused on the next steps in developing the National Rivers and Streams Assessment. This meeting was co-sponsored by EPA and the Council of State Governments (CSG). Key issues and topics discussed included: lessons learned from the WSA; comparability of sampling methods; reference conditions; taxonomic QA across labs; and future steps in planning and designing the survey.
January 10-12, 2007: National Rivers and Streams Assessment Planning Meeting in San Antonio, TX
A meeting co-sponsored by EPA and the Council of State Governments (CSG) was held at the Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. The meeting provided an initial opportunity to discuss the broad goals of the survey, and to provide input on the survey design, indicator selection and interpretation, sampling methods and opportunities to leverage the survey to support state, tribal and other monitoring programs and objectives. Speakers included representatives from EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, and several states. The feedback and recommendations provided at the meeting will contribute to the survey design and selection of sample locations.
Fact Sheets
- National Rivers and Streams Assessment (May 2011) (PDF) (2 pp, 291K, About PDF)
- NRSA Fact Sheet for Communities (PDF) (2 pp, 255K, About PDF)
- NRSA Lower Mississippi River Factsheet (PDF) (1pg, 104K, About PDF)
Other
Concepts and Approaches for the Bioassessment of Non-wadeable Streams and Rivers (PDF) (245 pp, 1.7K, About PDF)
U.S. EPA EMAP Field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Non-wadeable Rivers and Streams
Great River Ecosystems Field Operations Manual (PDF) (227 pp, 13.2K, About PDF)
USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA): Program Method, Sample and Analytical Protocols