Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics for Parks, Regions, Networks and NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers

Project Title:  View help for Project Title Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics for Parks, Regions, Networks and NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers

Summary:  View help for Summary An inventory that spatially quantifies the surface water hydrography that NPS manages (by park, region, and network) to determine and track which waterbodies are or are not meeting water quality standards as outlined by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The inventory also includes the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics (HIS) is a National Park Service (NPS) Water Resources Division (WRD) project established to track certain goals created in response to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA).

One water resources management goal established by the Department of the Interior under GRPA requires NPS to track the percent of its managed surface waters that are meeting Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality standards. This goal requires an accurate inventory that spatially quantifies the surface water hydrography that each bureau manages and a procedure to determine and track which waterbodies are or are not meeting water quality standards as outlined by Section 303(d) of the CWA.

This project helps meet this DOI GRPA goal by inventorying and monitoring in a geographic information system for the NPS: (1) CWA 303(d) quality impaired waters and causes; (2) hydrographic statistics based on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD); and (3) special designations recognizing waters of exceptional quality as defined in State water quality standards. Hydrographic and 303(d) impairment statistics were evaluated based on a combination of 1:24,000 (NHD) and finer scale data (frequently provided by state GIS layers). Information on State-designated uses and waters of exceptional quality are only available for a limited number of parks at this time.

Original Distribution URL:  View help for Original Distribution URL https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2188821

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms Clean Water Act; designated use; Hydrography; Impairment; Statistics; surface waters; water quality

Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 2018 – 2025

Universe:  View help for Universe Surface waters under the management of the National Park Services (NPS) and waterways included in the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) experimental data