National Irrigation Water Quality

Program Data-Synthesis

Data Base

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Open-File Report 00–513

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
National Irrigation Water Quality Program

Data-Synthesis Data Base

By Ralph L. Seiler and Joseph P. Skorupa

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Carson City, Nevada

2001

Prepared in cooperation:

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Open-File Report 00–513
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CHARLES G. GROAT, Director

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive

purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

For additional information Copies of this report can be

contact: purchased from:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey 

U.S. Geological Survey Information Services

333 West Nye Lane, Room 203 Building 810

Carson City, NV 89706–0866 Box 25286, Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225–0286

email: GS-W-NVpublic-info@usgs.gov

http://nevada.usgs.gov
CONTENTS III

CONTENTS

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Purpose and Scope................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Contents of Data Base ........................................................................................................................................................... 4

Data-Base Bias ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

Structure of Data Base........................................................................................................................................................... 5

Data Structure............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Data Dictionary and Discussion of Attributes ........................................................................................................... 7

Data Sources and Retrieval.................................................................................................................................................... 7

Area and Site Tables .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Water and Bottom-Sediment Tables .......................................................................................................................... 8

Biological Tables ....................................................................................................................................................... 8

Manipulation of Data............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Data-Base Quality-Assurance Procedures............................................................................................................................. 9

Water Data ................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Bottom-Sediment Data............................................................................................................................................... 10

Biological Data........................................................................................................................................................... 10

Dissemination ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10

References Cited.................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Figures

1. Map showing National Irrigation Water Quality Program study areas and data-collection sites.......................... 2

2. Schematic of structure and linking attributes of National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base ............... 6

Table

1. Reconnaissance and detailed area studies used as data sources for National Irrigation Water Quality

Program data base .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Appendices 

A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base ............................................................ 16

B. Codes used for fixed-value attributes in National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base ........................... 32
IV National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base

CONVERSION FACTORS, WATER-QUALITY UNITS, AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

acre 4,047 square meter

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer

ton per day (t/d) 0.9072 megagram per day

Water-quality units used in this report:

g/kg gram per kilogram mg/kg milligram per kilogram

μg/g microgram per gram mg/L milligram per liter

μg/kg microgram per kilogram mm millimeter

μg/L microgram per liter mV millivolt

μS/cm microsiemen per centimeter pCi/L picocuries per liter

Temperature: Degrees Celsius (

οC) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (οF) by using the formula οF = [1.8(οC)]+32.

Sea level: In this report, “sea level” refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929, formerly called “Sea-Level 

Datum of 1929”), which is derived from a general adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the United States and Canada.
ABSTRACT 1

ABSTRACT

Under the National Irrigation Water Quality 

Program (NIWQP) of the U.S. Department of the 

Interior, researchers investigated contamination 

caused by irrigation drainage in 26 areas in the 

Western United States from 1986 to 1993. From 

1992 to 1995, a comprehensive relational data 

base was built to organize data collected during the 

26-area investigations. The data base provided the 

basis for analysis and synthesis of these data to 

identify common features of contaminated areas 

and hence dominant biologic, geologic, climatic, 

chemical, and physiographic factors that have 

resulted in contamination of water and biota in

irrigated areas in the Western United States.

Included in the data base are geologic, 

hydrologic, climatological, chemical, and cultural 

data that describe the 26 study areas in 14 Western 

States. The data base contains information on 

1,264 sites from which water and bottom sediment 

were collected. It also contains chemical data from 

6,903 analyses of surface water, 914 analyses of 

ground water, 707 analyses of inorganic constituents in bottom sediments, 223 analyses of organochlorine pesticides in bottom sediments, 8,217 

analyses of inorganic constituents in biota, and 

1,088 analyses for organic constituents in biota.

The data base is available to the public and 

can be obtained at the NIWQP homepage 

<http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp> as dBase III tables for 

personal-computer systems or as American Standard Code for Information Exchange structured 

query language (SQL) command and data files for 

SQL data bases.

INTRODUCTION

In the early 1980's, national headlines announced 

that selenium carried by irrigation drain water was 

causing mortality, congenital deformities, and reproductive failure in waterfowl at Kesterson National 

Wildlife Refuge, western San Joaquin Valley, Calif. 

The National Irrigation Water Quality Program 

(NIWQP) of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) 

was created in October 1985 after the U.S. Congress 

and environmental groups expressed concern that

irrigation-induced contamination of water and biota 

might occur elsewhere in the Western United States. 

From 1986 to 1993, 26 areas in the Western United 

States (fig. 1, table 1) were investigated to determine 

the existence, magnitude, and causes of contamination 

related to irrigation drainage in these areas. 

Preliminary analysis of results from the NIWQP 

studies showed that many of the sites that exhibit

irrigation-induced water-quality problems have common geologic, hydrologic, and climatic characteristics 

(Sylvester and others, 1988). The National Research 

Council reviewed the NIWQP (National Research 

Council, 1991) and suggested the need for systems 

analysis to identify and address the linkages among 

these characteristics.

In 1992, the DOI began a 5-year data-synthesis 

project to assess data collected by the completed and 

ongoing NIWQP investigations. The overall objective 

of the data-synthesis project was to identify commonalities of the 26 NIWQP study areas and dominant biologic, geologic, climatic, chemical, and physiographic 

factors that result in contamination of water and biota 

in irrigated areas of the Western United States. A key 

step in the data-synthesis project was the construction 

of a relational data base to organize the data collected 

during the NIWQP investigations.

National Irrigation Water Quality Program

Data-Synthesis Data Base

By Ralph L. Seiler and Joseph P. Skorupa
2 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base

120°

45°

40°

35°

30°

115° 110° 105° 100°

95°

EXPLANATION

Data-collection site for National Irrigation Water Quality 

 Program study area—Letter is area identifier (table 1)

T

Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, San Joaquin Valley, Calif.

0 250 500 MILES

0 250 500 KILOMETERS

State boundaries from TIGER/Line digital data, 1:100,000, 1992; 

coastlines and hydrology from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 

1:2,000,000, 1970

Albers Equal-Area Conic projection

Standard parallels 29°30' and 45°30', central meridian 96°00' 

X

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

O

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

P

I

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

UTAH

IDAHO

MONTANA

WYOMING

COLORADO

NEW

MEXICO

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH

DAKOTA

NORTH

DAKOTA

GULF

O F

MEXICO

P

A

C I F I C

O

C

E

A

N

MEXICO

CANADA

Figure 1. National Irrigation Water Quality Program study areas and data-collection sites. 
INTRODUCTION 3

1Used in figure 1 to show locations of study areas.

2

See above list for specific area names corresponding to these identifiers.

TABLE 1. Reconnaissance and detailed area studies used as data sources for National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP) data base

[—, no reference]

NIWQP study area References

Identifier1 Name Reconnaissance studies Detailed studies

Reports describing specific NIWQP study areas

A American Falls Reservoir, Idaho Low and Mullins, 1990 —

B Angostura Reclamation Unit, South Dakota Greene and others, 1990 —

C Belle Fourche Reclamation Project, South Dakota Roddy and others, 1991 —

D Columbia River Basin, Washington Embry and Block, 1995 —

E Dolores–Ute Mountain area, Colorado Butler and others, 1995 —

F Gunnison River Basin–Grand Valley Project, Colorado Butler and others, 1991 Butler and others, 1994.

G Humboldt River area, Nevada Seiler and others, 1993 —

H Kendrick Reclamation Project, Wyoming Peterson and others, 1988 See, Naftz, and others, 1992; See, 

Peterson, and Ramirez, 1992.

I Klamath Basin Refuge Complex, California-Oregon Sorenson and Schwarzbach, 1991 MacCoy, 1994.

J Lower Colorado River valley, California-Arizona Radtke and others, 1988 —

K Lower Rio Grande valley, Texas Wells and others, 1988 —

L Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon Rinella and Schuler, 1992 —

M Middle Arkansas River Basin, Colorado–Kansas Mueller and others, 1991 —

N Middle Green River Basin, Utah Stephens and others, 1988 Peltz and Waddell, 1991; Stephens

and others, 1992.

O Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico Ong and others, 1992 —

P Milk River Basin, Montana Lambing and others, 1988 —

Q Owyhee-Vale Reclamation Project areas, Oregon–Idaho Rinella and others, 1994 —

R Pine River area, Colorado Butler and others, 1993 —

S Riverton Reclamation Project, Wyoming Peterson and others, 1991 —

T Sacramento Refuge Complex, California Dileanis and others, 1992 —

U Salton Sea area, California Setmire and others, 1990 Schroeder and others, 1993.

V San Juan River area, New Mexico Blanchard and others, 1993 —

W Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada Hoffman and others, 1990 Rowe and others, 1991; Lico, 

1992; Hallock and Hallock, 

1993; Hoffman, 1994.

X Sun River area, Montana Knapton and others, 1988 Lambing and others, 1994.

Y Tulare Lake Bed area, California Schroeder and others, 1988 —

Z Vermejo Project area, New Mexico Bartolino and others, 1996 —

Reports describing multiple NIWQP study areas

H, J, K, N, P, 

U, W, X, Z

(

2

) Severson and others, 1987 —

A, B, C, F, I, L, 

M, O, S, T

(

2

) Harms and others, 1990 —

C, E, G, Q, R, 

U, V, W

(

2

) Stewart and others, 1992 —
4 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base 

The Ingres data-base management system (hereafter referred to as Ingres data base) was chosen 

because it is relational and uses the American National 

Standards Institute (ANSI) standard structured query 

language (SQL).

The NIWQP data base has been made available 

for scientists using different types of computer systems. SQL was chosen to disseminate the data base 

because applications written in SQL are portable to 

many hardware platforms and will be for many years to 

come. The NIWQP data base also is available to individuals using personal-computer (PC) data-base management systems that may or may not support SQL. 

Although the data-synthesis team did not use dBase III 

for data analysis, dBase III files were chosen to disseminate the data base because most PC data-base management systems can read dBase III files, and because 

utilities were available to create the dBase III files.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This report describes the structure and content 

of the NIWQP data base, provides a data dictionary 

and describes how the data base was built and quality 

assured. The report does not include an analysis of the 

data contained in the data base but does include a brief 

summary of the types and numbers of analyses in the 

data base and a discussion of bias in the data base. The 

report also provides a list of published sources of data 

used to create the data base.

CONTENTS OF DATA BASE

The data base contains chemical analyses of samples that were collected as part of NIWQP investigations. The information used to construct the data base 

was derived primarily from the reports listed in table 1. 

Physiographic and cultural data that describe the study 

areas and individual data-collection sites and some 

water and biological data that were not collected as part 

of a NIWQP investigation also were included in the 

NIWQP data base. (An attribute in the data base indicates which samples were collected as part of NIWQP 

investigations.)

Some samples from NIWQP sampling sites have 

been collected and analyzed by the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) as part of other programs. For sites 

used by NIWQP investigators, all water analyses made 

by the USGS during the period 1986 through 1993 

were included in the data base regardless of whether 

they were collected as part of the NIWQP or for 

another program. These additional data were entered in 

the NIWQP data base exactly as retrieved from the 

National Water Information System (NWIS) data base.

The NIWQP data base contains more than 30 

attributes for physiographic, geologic, hydrologic, 

climatological, agricultural, chemical, and cultural data 

(app. A) that collectively describe each of the 26 study 

areas. More than 440 attributes store values for concentrations of chemicals in water, bottom sediment, and 

biota. Samples for chemical analysis of water and (or) 

bottom sediment were collected at 1,264 data-collection sites in 14 Western States. Of these 1,264 sites, 

705 were river, stream, canal, or surface-drain sites, 

348 were ground-water sites, and 211 were lake or 

pond sites. Also, 130 of the 1,264 are reference sites, 

and the remainder are sites affected in some way by 

irrigation drainage. 

The data base includes 6,903 chemical analyses 

of surface water; of these 6,903 analyses, 1,661 include 

all major constituents, and most of these 1,661 also 

include trace elements. Some specific contaminants are 

represented by thousands of analyses, for instance, the 

data base contains 2,507 analyses of dissolved selenium and 545 analyses of total selenium. Also included 

are more than 100 analyses of organochlorine pesticides such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) 

in water and almost 200 analyses of herbicides such as 

2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (240). Analyses of 

nutrients include 1,408 for nitrate and 562 for phosphate.

Inorganic constituents in bottom sediment are 

represented by 707 analyses of samples collected at 

324 sites. Although for some study areas only one size 

fraction was analyzed, typically, both fine (less than 

0.062 mm) and coarse (less than 2-millimeter) fractions 

were analyzed. The data base also includes 223 analyses for organochlorine pesticides such as DDT and 36 

analyses for organophosphates such as parathion in 

bottom sediments.

Inorganic constituents in biota are represented by 

8,217 analyses, including 2,410 from fish tissue, 751 

from invertebrate tissue, and 1,086 from plant material. 

The data base contains 3,913 analyses of bird tissue, of 

which 1,235 are of bird livers and 2,051 are of bird 

eggs. Also included are a few analyses of periphyton 

and of tissues from reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
STRUCTURE OF DATA BASE 5

Data-Base Bias

The NIWQP data base is biased in three ways that 

preclude its use for calculating baseline conditions in 

the Western United States: 

1. Study areas were selected because of their 

potential to have irrigation-induced waterquality problems. Those study areas that were 

contaminated were further investigated. This 

approach results in a bias toward contaminated 

samples.

2. Within each study area, the sampling sites 

were not selected randomly. In some areas, 

many of the sampling sites were selected along 

main channels of large rivers because of the 

availability of historical data for these sites. 

This approach results in a bias toward uncontaminated samples in some areas because 

contaminants in main-channel sites tend to be 

more diluted. In other areas, many sites were 

selected for complete chemical analyses after 

field measurements indicated that they likely 

were contaminated. This approach results in a 

bias toward contaminated samples in other 

areas.

3. Within a study area, not all sites were sampled 

at the same frequency. During processoriented investigations, typically the most 

contaminated sites were sampled more 

frequently than the least contaminated sites. 

This approach results in a bias toward contaminated samples.

STRUCTURE OF DATA BASE

Data Structure

The data base was designed so that relations 

among contaminant concentrations in water, bottom 

sediment, and biota can be explored. A diagram of the 

data structure of the NIWQP data base and the relations 

between the tables is shown in figure 2. Names of 

attributes and of tables shown in the diagram are 

explained in appendix A.

The AREA table within the data base contains 

information describing the 26 NIWQP study areas and 

associated subareas. For a given study area, the data in 

the table include amounts of evaporation and precipitation, general information about the geology and hydrology, the principal crop, and the amount of irrigated 

land. 

The tables are linked by several key attributes 

(fig. 2). The AREA table is linked to the SITE table by 

the “area” and “sub_area” attributes, and in turn, the 

SITE table is linked to the other tables (in different 

matrix groups) by the “site_id” attribute. The SITE 

table contains all the primary site information, including the geographic location, the type of site, and 

whether the site is a reference site or is in or downstream from irrigated lands.

The tabulated chemical data are classified by type 

of sample matrix: water, bottom sediment, or biota. 

These matrix groups are cross-referenced by the linking attribute “site_id.” Additionally, in the tables containing chemical data from water samples, splits of 

the same sample are linked through the “site_id,” 

“samp_date,” “samp_time,” and “matrix” attributes.

The following tables (app. A) contain chemical 

data and related information from analyses of water 

samples:

• FIELD — Time-dependent data collected during the site visit (for example, pH and specific 

conductance) and corresponding laboratory 

values. Also contains metadata concerning the 

sampling and analysis and includes linking 

attributes that connect it to the SITE table 

(“site_id”) and to other tables within the same 

matrix group (“matrix”);

• INORG — Time-dependent data on inorganic 

chemicals and physical parameters measured 

in the laboratory (for example, major ions and 

filtered and total trace elements);

• ISOTOPE — Time-dependent data on stable 

and radioactive isotopes (for example, deuterium, tritium, and gross alpha and beta radioactivity);

• NUTRIENT — Time-dependent data on 

nutrients (for example, biochemical oxygen 

demand, nitrogen, and orthophosphate);

• ORG — Time-dependent data on organic 

chemicals (principally pesticides); and

• SEDIMENT — Time-dependent chemical 

data and physical characteristics of sediment 

(for example, suspended arsenic, suspendedsediment fall diameter, and suspended-sediment discharge).
6 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base

EXPLANATION

Linking attribData table

WATER Matrix Group

AREAS

Area, Sub_area

SITE

Site_id

FIELD INORGBM ORGBM INORGBIO ORGBIO 

Site_id, samp-date, samp-time, matrix

INORG ORG ISOTOPE SEDIMENT NUTRIENT

Site_id

AREA

BOTTOM BIOTA

INORGBM

AREA

Area, Sub_area

SITE

Site_id

ISOTOPE

Linking attribData tableMatrix Group 

AREAS

Area, Sub_area

SITE

Site_id

FIELD INORGBM ORGBM INORGBIO ORGBIO 

Site_id, samp-date, samp-time, matrix

INORG ORG ISOTOPE SEDIMENT NUTRIENT

Site_id

AREA

BOTTOM BIOTA

INORGBM

AREA

Area, Sub_area

SITE

Site_id

ISOTOPE

WATER

Figure 2. Structure and linking attributes of National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base.
DATA SOURCES AND RETRIEVAL 7

The following tables (app. A) contain chemical 

data from analyses of bottom-sediment samples and 

related information:

• INORGBM — Time-dependent data on inorganic constituents in bottom sediment (for 

example, size fraction and concentrations 

of organic carbon and trace elements); and 

• ORGBM — Time-dependent data on organic 

constituents in bottom sediment (principally 

pesticides, but also includes concentrations 

of organic carbon).

The INORGBM and ORGBM tables are not 

linked to other tables of chemical data because time of 

sample collection is not available for the INORGBM 

table and because the data-synthesis team was not 

exploring relations between concentrations of inorganic and organic constituents in samples of bottom 

sediment. It is likely, however, that bottom-sediment 

samples collected from the same location on the same 

date represent the same environmental matrix and 

could be joined using the “site_id” and “samp_date” 

attributes.

The following tables contain chemical data from 

analyses of biological samples and related information:

• INORGBIO — Time-dependent data on inorganic constituents in biological samples (for 

example, species, tissue, moisture content, and 

trace-element concentrations); and

• ORGBIO — Time-dependent data on organic 

constituents (principally pesticides) in biological samples (for example, species, tissue, 

moisture content, and DDT).

The INORGBIO and ORGBIO tables are not 

linked to each other because the analyses may not be of 

the same organism even if the species, tissues, dates, 

and locations of sample collection are the same.

The table TAXON provides information about 

the taxonomic classification of biological samples 

represented in the data base. In the INORGBIO and 

ORGBIO tables, biological samples are classified by 

the common name most frequently used in the NIWQP 

reports. The TAXON table is not linked to other tables 

and has only one attribute in common with the other 

tables. The attribute “niwqp_name” in the TAXON 

table relates scientific and common names to the 

common name “species” used in the INORGBIO 

and ORGBIO tables.

Data Dictionary and Discussion of Attributes

A data dictionary (apps. A and B) was created 

to describe the NIWQP data base. The dictionary provides a complete inventory of the data attributes and 

their characteristics and definitions. It also functions 

as a directory to show the location and format of the 

data—to help the user access the information in the 

data base.

To the extent possible, attributes were given 

descriptive names. However, in one of the programming languages used to create the data base, attribute 

names could not exceed 16 characters and this limitation carried over into the SQL data bases. This limitation resulted in cryptic names for some organic 

chemicals. Attribute names for inorganic constituents 

are based on their chemical symbols. Notable exceptions are some of the attributes involving arsenic and 

dissolved oxygen (for example, “ars” and “dox”) 

because “AS” and “DO” are key words reserved by 

SQL.

For bottom-sediment and biotic samples, the 

attribute names end in “_bm” and “_bio,” respectively, 

to indicate the matrix (for example, selenium in bottom 

sediment is “se_bm,” and selenium in biological 

material, “se_bio”). Matrix for water samples is not 

indicated in the attribute names. (Total-selenium 

concentrations in water are “se_t”; filtered-selenium 

concentrations in water are simply “se.”)

Although not listed in appendix A, a “remarks” 

attribute of character-type is associated with almost 

every listed attribute. This attribute of length one indicates if the value for the associated attribute is less than 

the method reporting limit by the code “<.” The naming 

convention for such remarks attributes is to add the 

suffix “_r” to the name of the attribute with which it 

is associated.

DATA SOURCES AND RETRIEVAL

The NIWQP data base was created by gathering 

data from published reports (table 1), digital data bases, 

and analytical-laboratory data sheets for biological 

samples. After retrieval, the data were stored in 

P-STAT (P-Stat Inc., 1990) files on a Prime minicomputer at the USGS office in Carson City, Nev. P-STAT 

is an interactive computing system for files management, data modification, and statistical analysis. 

The data were manipulated and prepared using P-STAT 

before being imported into the Ingres data base on Data 

General workstations.
8 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base 

Area and Site Tables

Data describing the 26 study areas for the AREA 

table were obtained from published reports (table 1) or 

directly from knowledgeable study-team members who 

had investigated an area. Geology and free-watersurface evaporation-rates data were obtained by plotting the locations of the data-collection sites on appropriate thematic maps of the United States (King and 

Beikman, 1974; Farnsworth and others, 1982). Values 

for the derived attributes were determined from 

National, rather than local, maps to maintain consistency among the 26 study areas. An American Standard 

Code for Interface Exchange (ASCII) file containing 

the data was created by using a text editor and was 

imported into a P-STAT file on the USGS Prime computer. 

Data describing the individual data-collection 

sites for the SITE table were obtained from published 

reports, from the USGS NWIS data-base site files, and 

directly from study-team members. Lists of unique 

site-identification numbers for the data-collection sites 

were obtained from the published reports or from the 

USGS team leader of each investigation. Site data, such 

as altitude, latitude, longitude, and site name, were 

retrieved from NWIS files, if available. For bottomsediment sites without NWIS data, the site data were 

obtained from published reports. 

Water and Bottom-Sediment Tables

Chemical data for water samples (FIELD, 

INORG, ISOTOPE, NUTRIENT, SEDIMENT, and 

ORG tables) and pesticide data for bottom-sediment 

samples (ORGBM table) were obtained from the 

NWIS data base. All chemical analyses made from 

1986 to the date of the final retrieval were obtained 

from lists of unique site-identification numbers for the 

data-collection sites.

Inorganic-chemical data for bottom sediment 

(INORGBM) were obtained from Severson and others 

(1987), Harms and others (1990) and Stewart and 

others (1992). Although the data are stored in USGS 

data bases, it was impractical to transfer some of the 

data electronically. ASCII data files were created from 

tables in the two earlier reports by scanning the published data and applying optical-character-recognition 

software to the resulting files. Data from Stewart and 

others (1992) were uploaded directly from the floppy 

disk provided with the report. Some unpublished 

USGS data (R.C. Severson, U.S. Geological Survey, 

written commun., 1994) provided directly to the 

authors as ASCII files on floppy disk were imported 

into P-STAT files. 

Biological Tables

Chemical data for biological samples (INORGBIO and ORGBIO tables) were obtained directly from 

the analytical-laboratory data sheets and entered into a 

spreadsheet on a PC. Although much of the data were 

available in PC-based spreadsheets and data bases at 

individual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

field offices, obtaining the data from analytical-laboratory data sheets expedited importing the data into the 

Ingres data base and subsequent quality assurance of 

the data. Because the order of analyses and variables in 

data from the USFWS field offices did not match the 

order on the laboratory data sheets, data transfer and 

quality assurance were slow. Converting the field 

spreadsheets and data bases to a consistent format for 

input into the NIWQP data base was particularly labor 

intensive.

MANIPULATION OF DATA

After chemical data for water, bottom sediment, 

and biota were gathered from the various sources, they 

were manipulated on the USGS Prime minicomputer 

using P-STAT software. Data manipulation involved 

organizing the attributes, correcting errors in the 

NIWQP data, and preparing the data for creation of the 

Ingres data base. Duplicate analyses or empty records 

retrieved from the NWIS data base were deleted from 

the NIWQP data base.

Attributes were added to the data base, given 

descriptive names, and ordered. Variables added to the 

data base included those describing the data-collection 

sites (attributes “area,” “sub_area,” “source,” “background”) and those describing individual analyses 

(“doi,” “qaqc”). Chemical attributes in the NWIS data 

base are identified only by nondescriptive numbers 

called parameter codes; in the NIWQP data base, all 

attributes are identified by descriptive names and are 

ordered by name and grouped by type (trace elements, 

isotopes, pesticides, etc.).
DATA-BASE QUALITY-ASSURANCE PROCEDURES 9

In the NWIS data base, analytes from different 

matrices can be combined under one analysis. For 

example, pesticides in bottom sediment can be in the 

same analysis as trace elements in water. For the 

NIWQP data base, analyses that combined analytes 

from different matrices were manipulated so that each 

record represents only one matrix.

In the NWIS data base, some replicate analyses 

are not identified as being quality-assurance samples. 

Instead, sample times were used to differentiate replicate quality-assurance samples. Some analyses in the 

NWIS data base contain some values that represent 

duplicates and some that do not. For the NIWQP data 

base, when duplicate or triplicate sets of analyses were 

identified, the first analysis in time was classified as the 

environmental sample and the others as quality-assurance samples. Analytes that were not replicated in both 

samples were moved from the quality-assurance sample to the environmental sample in the NIWQP data 

base. 

SQL command files were written to create Ingres 

tables and read ASCII data files to populate them.

DATA-BASE QUALITY-ASSURANCE 

PROCEDURES

The NIWQP data base was checked carefully 

to assure that all analyses in the published reports 

(table 1) were included in the data base. Data also were 

checked to ensure that retrieval and manipulation of the 

data had not introduced errors, especially systematic 

errors. In one case, for example, data manipulation had 

resulted in the loss of “<” symbols. Errors discovered 

during quality assurance were investigated and corrected. The causes of systematic errors were identified 

and eliminated, and all affected analyses rechecked and 

corrected if needed.

As part of the quality-assurance procedures, 

NIWQP data values also were checked to ensure that 

they matched published values. If errors so identified 

were small and within a few percent of each other, the 

values in the NIWQP data base were corrected to 

match the values in the NWIS data base, the USGS data 

reports, and the USFWS analytical-laboratory data 

sheets. For larger differences, the senior author of the 

published data report (table 1) was contacted and the 

reasons for the discrepancy were investigated. For the 

NIWQP data base, all differences between published 

data reports and the source data bases were considered 

to be the result of transcription error or typographic 

errors introduced during subsequent word processing. 

In cases where the NWIS data base was in error, the 

value in the NWIS data base was corrected. It was the 

responsibility of the authors of the individual studyarea reports and the analytical laboratories to update 

the NWIS data base as well as the data reports if errors 

were found.

Water Data

For each NIWQP study area, 20 percent of the 

water-quality analyses were verified completely 

against the published data reports. For a given area, 

every fifth analysis was selected systematically for 

verification. All data in the NIWQP data base for the 

selected analyses were compared with the corresponding published values.

Not all data collected during the NIWQP investigations were published, and therefore some of the data 

in the NIWQP data base could not be checked against 

published reports. Examples of unpublished data 

include some analytical results in which all the values 

were less than the analytical reporting limit. Additionally, some field values for water samples were not published if the principal reason for the site visit was 

collection of bottom sediment. 

Agreement between data in the NWIS and 

NIWQP data bases and the published reports is very 

good. For example, when more than 2,000 individual 

data values from analyses of 93 samples from the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area (Nevada) were 

checked, only 5 discrepancies were found. In the San 

Juan River area (New Mexico), only 1 discrepancy was 

found in more than 400 individual values for 11 samples. The reason for the good match is probably that, 

for most of the published data reports, the water-quality 

tables were essentially data dumps from NWIS that 

received only minimal word processing. Many of the 

discrepancies were related to word-processing errors 

and insufficient verification. For example, the negative 

sign in δD and δ18O values had been converted to “<” 

symbols in one of the data reports on the Kendrick Reclamation Project (Wyoming). 
10 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base 

Bottom-Sediment Data

Because relatively few analyses of bottom sediment were done, all values for selenium, arsenic, and 

molybdenum in the <0.062 fraction were checked 

against published values. In addition, all constituents 

were checked in two randomly chosen analyses from 

each study area. If these checks revealed a disproportionately high number of errors in a study area then all 

values for all analyses from that study area were 

checked.

In a small number of cases, values in the NIWQP 

data base and reports from the analytical laboratory did 

not match values in the later published NIWQP reports. 

In these cases, values from the reports from the analytical laboratory were used. Tables in those reports were 

considered more reliable than those in the NIWQP 

reports because they are essentially data dumps from 

the USGS analytical-laboratory data base. Usually the 

errors were minor and involved differences in rounding 

or missing “<” symbols. In one case, however, significant errors were found in a published source: The 

values for several elements were scrambled during 

word processing of the San Juan River area (New

Mexico) report (Blanchard and others, 1993).

Biological Data

As discussed in the section “Biological Tables,” 

the biological data in the NIWQP data base were 

retrieved from the original laboratory reports. Those 

reports were checked for agreement with published 

data reports (table 1), for accuracy of wet-weight to 

dry-weight conversions, for sampling dates (if not 

reported in published reports), and, in some cases, to 

verify the taxonomic identification of individual samples. After data from each original laboratory report 

were entered into the master spreadsheet and made to 

conform to uniform conventions for data rounding and 

the reporting of values below detection limits, each 

analytical value was verified individually for keypadentry errors by other members of the data-entry team. 

Thus, each datum entry ultimately was reviewed for 

accuracy by no fewer than three people.

DISSEMINATION

The NIWQP data base is static and is not being 

updated as new results from ongoing NIWQP investigations become available. The data base is available 

as a set of Microsoft Access files and as a set of SQL 

commands and associated ASCII data files from the 

NIWQP home-page on the World Wide Web 

<http://www.usbr.gov/niwqp>.

REFERENCES CITED

Bartolino, J.R., Garrabrant, L.A., Wilson, Mark, and Lusk, 

J.D., 1996, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the Vermejo Project area and the 

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, Colfax County, 

northeastern New Mexico, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4157, 

89 p.

Blanchard, P.J., Roy, R.R., and O'Brien, T.F., 1993, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the San Juan River area, San Juan County, northwestern 

New Mexico, 1990–91: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 93-4065, 141 p.

Butler, D.L., Kreuger, R.P., Campbell-Osmundson, Barbara, 

and Jenson, E.G., 1995, Reconnaissance investigation 

of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated 

with irrigation drainage in the Dolores Project area, 

southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, 1990–

91: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4041, 126 p.

Butler, D.L., Krueger, R.P., Osmundson, B.C., Thompson, 

A.L., Formea, J.J., and Wickman, D.W., 1993, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the Pine River Project area, southern Ute Indian Reservation, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New 

Mexico, 1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 92-4188, 105 p.
REFERENCES CITED 11

Butler, D.L., Krueger, R.P., Osmundson, B.C., Thompson, 

A.L., and McCall, S.K., 1991, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment and biota 

associated with irrigation drainage in the Gunnison and 

Uncompahgre River Basins and at Sweitzer Lake, westcentral Colorado, 1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4103, 99 p. 

Butler, D.L., Wright, W.G., Hahn, D.A., Krueger, R.P., and 

Osmundson, B.C., 1994, Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in 

the Uncompahgre Project area and in the Grand Valley, 

west-central Colorado, 1991–92: U.S. Geological

Survey Open-File Report 94-110, 146 p.

Dileanis, P.D., Sorenson, S.K., Schwarzbach, S.E., and 

Maurer, T.C., 1992, Reconnaissance investigation of 

water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated 

with irrigation drainage in the Sacramento National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex, California, 1988–89: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 92-4036, 79 p.

Embry, S.S., and Block, E.K., 1995, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota 

associated with irrigation drainage in the Columbia 

Basin Project, Washington, 1991–92: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

95-4007, 144 p.

Farnsworth, R.K., Thompson, E.S., and Peck, E.L., 1982, 

Evaporation atlas for the contiguous 48 United States: 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Technical Report NWS 33, 26 p., 4 sheets, scale 

1:5,000,000.

Greene, E.A., Sowards, C.L., and Hansmann, E.W., 1990, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the Angostura Reclamation Unit, southwestern South 

Dakota, 1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 90-4152, 75 p.

Hallock, R.J., and Hallock, L.L., eds., 1993, Detailed study 

of irrigation drainage in and near wildlife management 

areas, west-central Nevada, 1987–90—Part B, Effect 

on biota in Stillwater and Fernley Wildlife Management Areas and other nearby wetlands: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 92-

4024-B, 84 p.

Harms, T.F., Stewart, K.C., Briggs, P.H., Hageman, P.L., 

and Papp, C.S.E., 1990, Chemical results for bottom 

material for Department of the Interior irrigation drainage task group studies, 1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-50, 47 p.

Hoffman, R.J., 1994, Detailed study of irrigation drainage 

in and near wildlife management areas, west-central 

Nevada, 1987–90—Part C, Summary of irrigationdrainage effects on water quality, bottom sediment, 

and biota: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 92-4024-C, 32 p.

Hoffman, R.J., Hallock, R.J., Rowe, T.G., Lico, M.S., Burge, 

H.L., and Thompson, S.P., 1990, Reconnaissance 

investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and 

biota associated with irrigation drainage in and near 

Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Churchill 

County, Nevada, 1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4105, 

150 p. 

King, P.B., and Beikman, H.M., 1974, comps., Geologic 

map of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and 

Hawaii): U.S. Geological Survey, three sheets, scale 

1:2,500,000.

Knapton, J.R., Jones, W.E., and Sutphin, J.W., 1988, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the Sun River area, west-central Montana, 1986–87: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4244, 78 p.

Lambing, J.H., Jones, W.E., and Sutphin, J.W., 1988, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent 

areas of the Milk River Basin, northeastern Montana, 

1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 87-4243, 71 p.

Lambing, J.H., Nimick, D.A., Knapton, J.R., and Palawski, 

D.U., 1994, Physical, chemical, and biological data for 

detailed study of the Sun River Irrigation Project, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, and Benton 

Lake National Wildlife Refuge, west-central Montana, 

1990–92, with selected data for 1987–89: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-120, 171 p.

Lico, M.S., 1992, Detailed study of irrigation drainage in and 

near wildlife management areas, west-central Nevada, 

1987–90—Part A, Water quality, sediment composition, and hydrogeochemical processes in Stillwater and 

Fernley Wildlife Management Areas: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

92-4024-A, 65 p.

Low, W.H., and Mullins, W.H., 1990, Reconnaissance 

investigations of water quality, bottom sediment, 

and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the 

American Falls Reservoir area, Idaho, 1988–89: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 90-4120, 78 p.
12 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base 

MacCoy, D.E., 1994, Physical, chemical, and biological data 

for detailed study of irrigation drainage in the Klamath 

Basin, California and Oregon, 1990–92: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-497, 168 p.

Mueller, D.K., DeWeese, L.R., Garner, A.J., and Spruill, 

T.B., 1991, Reconnaissance investigation of water 

quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with

irrigation drainage in the Middle Arkansas River Basin, 

Colorado and Kansas, 1988–89: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

91-4060, 84 p.

National Research Council, 1991, Interim report—Review 

of the National Irrigation Water Quality Program: 

Washington, D.C., National Research Council, 22 p.

Ong, Kim, O'Brien, T.F., and Rucker, M.D., 1992, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the middle Rio Grande valley and Bosque del Apache 

National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, 1988–89: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 91-4036, 113 p.

Peltz, L.A., and Waddell, Bruce, 1991, Physical, chemical, 

and biological data for detailed study of irrigation 

drainage in the middle Green River Basin, Utah, 1988–

89, with selected data for 1982–87: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 91-530, 213 p.

Peterson, D.A., Harms, T.F., Ramirez, P., Jr., Allen, G.T., 

and Christenson, A.H., 1991, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota 

associated with irrigation drainage in the Riverton Reclamation Project, Wyoming, 1988–89: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-

4187, 84 p.

Peterson, D.A., Jones, W.E., and Morton, A.G., 1988, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 

1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 87-4255, 57 p.

P-Stat Inc., 1990, P-Stat user’s manual: Princeton, New 

Jersey, P-Stat Inc., 1405 p.

Radtke, D.B., Kepner, W.G., and Effertz, R.J., 1988, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the lower Colorado River valley, Arizona, California, 

and Nevada, 1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 88-4002, 77 p.

Rinella, F.A., Mullins, W.H., and Schuler, C.A., 1994, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the Owyhee and Vale Projects, Oregon and Idaho, 

1990–91: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 93-4156, 101 p.

Rinella, F.A., and Schuler, C.A., 1992, Reconnaissance 

investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and 

biota associated with irrigation drainage in the Malheur 

National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon, 

1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 91-4085, 106 p.

Roddy, W.R., Greene, E.A., and Sowards, C.L., 1991, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the Bell Fourche Reclamation Project, western South 

Dakota, 1988–89: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 90-4192, 113 p.

Rowe, T.G., Lico, M.S., Hallock, R.J., Maest, A.S., and 

Hoffman, R.J., 1991, Physical, chemical, and biological 

data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in and near 

Stillwater, Fernley, and Humboldt Wildlife Management Areas and Carson Lake, west-central Nevada, 

1987–89: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

91-185, 199 p.

Schroeder, R.A., Palawski, D.U., and Skorupa, J.P., 1988, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the Tulare Lake Bed area, southern San Joaquin 

Valley, California, 1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4001, 86 p.

Schroeder, R.A., Rivera, Mick, and others, 1993, Physical, 

chemical, and biological data for detailed study of

irrigation drainage in the Salton Sea area, California, 

1988–90: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

93-83, 179 p.

See, R.B., Naftz, D.L., Peterson, D.A., Crock, J.G., Erdman, 

J.A., Severson, R.C., Ramirez, P., Jr., and Armstrong, 

J.A., 1992, Detailed study of selenium in soil, representative plants, water, bottom sediment, and biota in the 

Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988–

90: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4131, 142 p.

See, R.B., Peterson, D.A., and Ramirez, P., Jr., 1992, Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of 

irrigation drainage in the Kendrick Reclamation Project 

area, Wyoming, 1988–90: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 91-533, 272 p.
REFERENCES CITED 13

Seiler, R.L., Ekechukwu, G.A., and Hallock, R.J., 1993, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, 

Churchill and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 1990–91: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4072, 115 p.

Setmire, J.G., Wolfe, J.C., and Stroud, R.K., 1990, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the Salton Sea area, California, 1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

89-4102, 68 p.

Severson, R.C., Wilson, S.A., and McNeal, J.M., 1987, 

Analysis of bottom material collected at nine areas in 

the Western United States for the DOI irrigation task 

group: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

87-490, 24 p.

Sorenson, S.K., and Schwarzbach, S.E., 1991, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, 

and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the 

Klamath Basin, California and Oregon, 1988–89: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 90-4203, 64 p.

Stephens, D.W., Waddell, Bruce, and Miller, J.B., 1988, 

Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom 

sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage 

in the middle Green River Basin, Utah, 1986–87: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 88-4011, 70 p.

Stephens, D.W., Waddell, Bruce, Peltz, L.A., and Miller, 

J.B., 1992, Detailed study of selenium and selected

elements in water, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the middle Green River 

Basin, Utah, 1988–90: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 92-4084, 164 p.

Stewart, K.C., Fey, D.L., Hageman, P.L., Kennedy, K.R., 

Love, A.H., McGregor, R.E., Papp, C.S.E., Peacock, 

T.R., Sharkey, J.D., Vaughn, R.B., and Welsch, E.P., 

1992, Results of chemical analysis for sediments from 

Department of the Interior National Irrigation Water 

Quality Program studies, 1988–1990: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 92-443, 38 p.

Sylvester, M.A., Deason, J.P., Feltz, H.R., and Engberg, 

R.A., 1988, Preliminary results of the Department of 

the Interior’s irrigation-drainage studies, in Hay, D.R., 

ed., Planning now for irrigation and drainage in the 21st 

Century—Proceedings of the American Society of 

Civil Engineers Irrigation Division meeting, July 18–

21, 1988, Lincoln, Neb.: New York, N.Y., American 

Society of Civil Engineers, p. 665–677.

Wells, F.C., Jackson, G.A., and Rogers, W.J., 1988, Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in 

the lower Rio Grande valley and Laguna Atascosa 

National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, 1986–87: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

87-4277, 89 p.
14 National Irrigation Water Quality Program Data-Synthesis Data Base 
REFERENCES CITED 15

APPENDICES
16 APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base

[Acceptable codes for fixed-value attributes are explained in appendix B. Char, fixed-length character string of 1 to 2,000 characters; date, formatted-date data type; ddd–mm–ss, degrees

format; dd–mm–ss, degrees–minutes–seconds latitude format; dd–mmm–yy, day–month–year date format; float, floating-point data type; hhmm, hour–minute time-of-day (24-hour c

integer data type; mmdd, month–day date format; mm/dd/yy, month/day/year date format; NIWQP, National Irrigation Water Quality Program; NWIS, National Water Information Sinteger data type; varchar, varying-length character string of 1 to 2,000 characters. —, not applicable]

Attribute name

Attribute characteristics NWIS

parameter

code

Attribute description

Linking Fixed value Data type Field length

AREA table (stores data on regional study areas)

area • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying NIWQP study areasub_area • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying subarea within NIWQP study areabasin_size Float 4 — Size of contributing drainage basin, in square milesfwse Float 4 — Range of free-water-surface evaporation, in inches (Farnsworth and others, 1982)avgfwse Float 4 — Average free-water-surface evaporation, in inches (Farnsworth and others, 1982)avgprecip Float 4 — Average annual precipitation (middle of precip attribute), in inchesprecip Varchar 10 — Range of precipitation given in NIQWP report (table 1), in inchesyrprecip Float 4 — Precipitation during year of data collection, in inchesgeology • Char 25 — Geologic units in study area (King and Beikman, 1974)mining • Char 1 — Whether mining occurs in study arease_source Char 40 — Specific geologic information given in NIWQP reports (table 1) about selenium source materiabasin • Char 1 — Whether lakes in basin are terminal or flowthroughdrains Char 1 — Whether drains are buried or opencrop Varchar 11 — Principal irrigated crop in study areairr_acres Float 4 — Amount of irrigated land within area or subarea, in acresirr_end Char 4 — Typical month and day irrigation ends, in mmdd formatirr_start Char 4 — Typical month and day irrigation begins, in mmdd formatpesticides • Char 1 — Whether pesticides are in heavy use in arearemarks Varchar 36 — Comments about study area

SITE table (stores data on sample-collection sites)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationarea • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying NIWQP study areasub_area • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying subarea within NIWQP study areasite_name Varchar 51 — Descriptive name of data-collection sitesite Varchar 9 — Identifying name or number used in published report (table 1) and unique within study area cov

different names for same site were used in reconnaissance- and detailed-investigation reports, identifier from reconnaissance report is enclosed in parentheses.

site_type • Varchar 2 — Whether site is surface-water, ground-water, or other type of sitebackground • Char 1 — Whether site is upgradient or downgradient from effects of irrigation in study areasource • Char 1 — Whether site represents source water for irrigation in study arealatitude Char 6 — Latitude of data-collection site, in degrees, minutes, and seconds (ddmmss format)longitude Char 7 — Longitude of data-collection site, in degrees, minutes, and seconds (dddmmss format)altitude Float 4 — Altitude of data-collection site, in feetdrain_area Float 4 — Drainage area of surface-water data-collection site, in square mileswell_depth Float 4 — Well depth of ground-water data-collection site, in feet below land surfacesitegeology • Char 5 — Generalized geology at sampling sitesitefwse Float 4 — Free-water-surface evaporation rate at site, in inchesdistance Float 4 — Distance of sample collection in stream cross section from left bank, in feet
APPENDIX A 17

FIELD table (stores data on field conditions at sample-collection sites during field visits)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixqaqc • Char 1 — Whether purpose of sample collection was quality assurancedoi • Char 1 — Whether analysis was made as part of NIWQP investigationrecno Varchar 8 — U.S. Geological Survey identifer used for sample in NWIS data basesamp_meth • Integer 2 — Sample-collection methodagyanal • Integer 4 — Analyzing agencyagycol • Integer 4 — Collecting agencydepth_samp Float 4 — Depth of sample collection below water surface, in feetdistance Float 4 — Distance of sample collection in stream cross section from left bank, in feetwtr_level Float 4 — Ground-water level below water surface, in feetq Float 4 00061 Discharge, instantaneous, stream, in cubic feet per secondntu Float 4 00076 Turbidity, in nephelometer turbidity unitsairt Float 4 00020 Temperature, air, in degrees Celsiustemp Float 4 00010 Temperature, water, in degrees Celsiusdox Float 4 00300 Oxygen, dissolved, in milligrams per literdoxpct Integer 2 00301 Oxygen, dissolved, in percent saturationbaro_p Integer 2 00025 Barometric pressure, in millimeters of mercurycond Integer 4 00094 Specific conductance, field, in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsiuscond_lab Integer 4 90095 Specific conductance, laboratory, in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsiusph Float 4 00400 pH, whole water, field, in standard unitsph_lab Float 4 00403 pH, whole water, laboratory, in standard unitsredox Float 4 00090 Oxidation–reduction potential, in millivoltssulfide Float 4 00745 Sulfide, total, as S, in milligrams per liter

INORG table (stores data on inorganic constituents in water samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixhardness Float 4 00900 Hardness, as CaCO3, total, in milligrams per literca Float 4 00915 Calcium, dissolved, as Ca, in milligrams per literca_t Float 4 00916 Calcium, total, recoverable, as Ca, in milligrams per litermg Float 4 00925 Magnesium, dissolved, as Mg, in milligrams per litermg_t Float 4 00927 Magnesium, total, as Mg, in milligrams per literna Float 4 00930 Sodium, dissolved, as Na, in milligrams per literna_t Float 4 00929 Sodium, total, recoverable, as Na, in milligrams per litersar Float 4 00931 Sodium adsorption ratiok Float 4 00935 Potassium, dissolved, as K, in milligrams per literk_t Float 4 00937 Potassium, total, as K, in milligrams per liter
18 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length INORG table (stores data on inorganic constituents in water samples)—Continued

alk Float 4 00410 Alkalinity, titration to pH 4.5, field, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literalk_co3_it Float 4 99430 Alkalinity, carbonate, incremental titration, field, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literalk_dis_it Float 4 39086 Alkalinity, total, dissolved, incremental titration, field, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literalk_it Float 4 00419 Alkalinity, incremental titration, field, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literalk_lab Float 4 90410 Alkalinity, titration to pH 4.5, laboratory, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literalk_ww_fe Float 4 00417 Alkalinity, water, whole, total, fixed-endpoint titration, laboratory, as CaCO3, in milligrams pealk_ww_gt Float 4 29813 Alkalinity, water, whole, gran titration, field, as CaCO3, in milligrams per literco3 Float 4 00445 Carbonate, total, fixed-endpoint titration, field, as CO3, in milligrams per literco3_ft Float 4 00452 Carbonate, dissolved, incremental titration, field, as CO3, in milligrams per literco3_it Float 4 00447 Carbonate, total, incremental titration, field, as CO3, in milligrams per literco3_it_2 Float 4 99445 Carbonate, incremental titration, field, as CO3, in milligrams per literhco3 Float 4 00440 Bicarbonate, total, fixed-endpoint titration, field, as HCO3, in milligrams per literhco3_ft Float 4 00453 Bicarbonate, dissolved, incremental titration, field, as HCO3, in milligrams per literhco3_it Float 4 00450 Bicarbonate, total, incremental titration, field, as HCO3, in milligrams per literhco3_it_2 Float 4 99440 Bicarbonate, incremental titration, field, as HCO3, in milligrams per literso4 Float 4 00945 Sulfate, dissolved, as SO4, in milligrams per literso4_unc Float 4 99890 Sulfate, water, dissolved, uncorrected, as SO4, in milligrams per litercl Float 4 00940 Chloride, dissolved, as Cl, in milligrams per literf Float 4 00950 Fluoride, dissolved, as F, in milligrams per litersi Float 4 00955 Silica, dissolved, as SiO2, in milligrams per literds_sum Float 4 70301 Solids, sum of constituents, dissolved, in milligrams per literres105_t Float 4 00500 Solids, residue on evaporation at 105 degrees Celsius, total, in milligrams per literres180 Float 4 70300 Solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees Celsius, dissolved, in milligrams per literag Float 4 01075 Silver, dissolved, as Ag, in micrograms per literag_t Float 4 01077 Silver, total, as Ag, in micrograms per literal Float 4 01106 Aluminum, dissolved, as Al, in micrograms per literal_t Float 4 01105 Aluminum, total, as Al, in micrograms per literars Float 4 01000 Arsenic, dissolved, as As, in micrograms per literars_t Float 4 01002 Arsenic, total, as As, in micrograms per literb Float 4 01020 Boron, dissolved, as B, in micrograms per literb_t Float 4 01022 Boron, total, as B, in micrograms per literba Float 4 01005 Barium, dissolved, as Ba, in micrograms per literba_t Float 4 01007 Barium, total, as Ba, in micrograms per literbe Float 4 01010 Beryllium, dissolved, as Be, in micrograms per literbe_t Float 4 01012 Beryllium, total, as Be, in micrograms per literbr Float 4 71870 Bromide, dissolved, as Br, in milligrams per liter
APPENDIX A 19

cd Float 4 01025 Cadmium, dissolved, as Cd, in micrograms per litercd_t Float 4 01027 Cadmium, total, as Cd, in micrograms per literco Float 4 01035 Cobalt, dissolved, as Co, in micrograms per literco_t Float 4 01037 Cobalt, total, as Co, in micrograms per litercr Float 4 01030 Chromium, dissolved, as Cr, in micrograms per litercr_t Float 4 01034 Chromium, total, as Cr, in micrograms per litercr_hex Float 4 01032 Chromium, hexavalent, as Cr, in micrograms per litercu Float 4 01040 Copper, dissolved, as Cu, in micrograms per litercu_t Float 4 01042 Copper, total, as Cu, in micrograms per literfe Float 4 01046 Iron, dissolved, as Fe, in micrograms per literfe_t Float 4 01045 Iron, total, as Fe, in micrograms per literhg Float 4 71890 Mercury, dissolved, as Hg, in micrograms per literhg_t Float 4 71900 Mercury, total recoverable, as Hg, in micrograms per literi Float 4 71865 Iodide, dissolved, as I, in milligrams per literli Float 4 01130 Lithium, dissolved, as Li, in micrograms per literli_t Float 4 01132 Lithium, total, as Li, in micrograms per litermn Float 4 01056 Manganese, dissolved, as Mn, in micrograms per litermn_t Float 4 01055 Manganese, total, as Mn, in micrograms per litermo Float 4 01060 Molybdenum, dissolved, as Mo, in micrograms per litermo_t Float 4 01062 Molybdenum, total, as Mo, in micrograms per literni Float 4 01065 Nickel, dissolved, as Ni, in micrograms per literni_t Float 4 01067 Nickel, total, as Ni, in micrograms per literpb Float 4 01049 Lead, dissolved, as Pb, in micrograms per literpb_t Float 4 01051 Lead, total, as Pb, in micrograms per litersb Float 4 01095 Antimony, dissolved, as Sb, in micrograms per litersb_t Float 4 01097 Antimony, total, as Sb, in micrograms per literse Float 4 01145 Selenium, dissolved, as Se, in micrograms per literse_t Float 4 01147 Selenium, total, as Se, in micrograms per litersr Float 4 01080 Strontium, dissolved, as Sr, in micrograms per litersr_t Float 4 01082 Strontium, total, as Sr, in micrograms per litertl Float 4 01057 Thallium, dissolved, as Tl, in micrograms per litertl_t Float 4 01059 Thallium, total, as Tl, in micrograms per literv Float 4 01085 Vanadium, dissolved, as V, in micrograms per literzn Float 4 01090 Zinc, dissolved, as Zn, in micrograms per literzn_t Float 4 01092 Zinc, total, as Zn, in micrograms per liter
20 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length ISOTOPE table (stores data on inorganic isotopes in water samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixalpha_ugl Float 4 80030 Gross alpha radioactivity, dissolved, as natural U, in micrograms per literalpha_ugl_t Float 4 80040 Gross alpha radioactivity, total, suspended, as natural U, in micrograms per literbeta_cs Float 4 03516 Gross beta radioactivity, suspended, as Cs-137, in picocuries per literbeta_sr Float 4 80050 Gross beta radioactivity, dissolved, as Sr/Y-90, in picocuries per literc13 Float 4 82081 Carbon-13/12 ratio, in permildeut Float 4 82082 Hydrogen-2/1 ratio, in permilk40 Float 4 82068 Potassium-40, dissolved, as K-40, in picocuries per litero18 Float 4 82085 Oxygen-18/16 ratio, in permilra_226_pcl Float 4 09511 Radium-226, dissolved, radon method, in picocuries per literra_226_plcht Float 4 09510 Radium-226, dissolved, planchet count, in picocuries per literradon_t Float 4 82303 Radon-222, total, in picocuries per literradon_t_2sig Float 4 76002 Radon-222, 2-sigma-precision estimate, water, whole, total, in picocuries per liters34 Float 4 82086 Sulfur-34/32 ratio, in permiltrit Integer 2 07000 Tritium, total, in picocuries per litertrit_2sig Float 4 75985 Tritium, 2-sigma-precision estimate, water, whole, total, in picocuries per literu Float 4 22703 Uranium, natural, dissolved, as U, in micrograms per literu_2sig Float 4 75990 Uranium, natural, 2-sigma-precision estimate, water, dissolved, as U, in micrograms per literu_ext_ugl Float 4 80020 Uranium, dissolved, as U, extraction fluorometric, in micrograms per literu_t Float 4 28011 Uranium, natural, total, as U, in micrograms per literu_t_2sig Float 4 75993 Uranium, natural, 2-sigma-precision estimate, water, whole, total, as U, in micrograms per liter

NUTRIENT table (stores data on nutrients in water samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixbod Float 4 00310 Oxygen demand, biochemical, 5-day, at 20 degrees Celsius, in milligrams per litercod Float 4 00340 Oxygen demand, chemical, 0.25 N potassium dichromate, in milligrams per literdoc Float 4 00681 Carbon, organic, dissolved, as C, in milligrams per litertoc Float 4 00680 Carbon, organic, total, as C, in milligrams per litercn_d Float 4 00723 Cyanide, dissolved, as CN, in milligrams per litercn_t Float 4 00720 Cyanide, total, as CN, in milligrams per liter
APPENDIX A 21

n Float 4 00602 Nitrogen, dissolved, as N, in milligrams per litern_tot Float 4 00600 Nitrogen, total, as N, in milligrams per liternitr_t Float 4 71887 Nitrogen, total, as NO3, in milligrams per literno2 Float 4 00613 Nitrogen, nitrite, dissolved, as N, in milligrams per literno2_t Float 4 00615 Nitrogen, nitrite, total, as N, in milligrams per literno2_no3 Float 4 00631 Nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, dissolved, as N, in milligrams per literno2_no3_t Float 4 00630 Nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, total, as N, in milligrams per litern_kjel Float 4 00625 Nitrogen, Kjeldahl (ammonia plus organic), total, as N, in milligrams per litern_org_t Float 4 00605 Nitrogen, organic, total, as N, in milligrams per liternh3 Float 4 00608 Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved, as N, in miiligrams per liternh3_org Float 4 00623 Nitrogen, ammonia plus organic, dissolved, as N, in milligrams per liternh3_union Smallint 2 00619 Nitrogen, ammonia, un-ionized, as N, in milligrams per liternh3_nh4 Float 4 00610 Nitrogen, ammonia, and ammonium, total, as N, in milligrams per liternh4_nh4 Float 4 71846 Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved, as NH4, in milligrams per literp Float 4 00666 Phosphorus, dissolved, as P, in milligrams per literp_t Float 4 00665 Phosphorus, total, as P, in milligrams per literphos_t Float 4 71886 Phosphorus, total, as PO4, in milligrams per literpo4 Float 4 00671 Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved, as P, in milligrams per literp_hyd Float 4 00677 Phosphorus, hydrolyzable plus orthophosphate, dissolved, as P, in milligrams per literp_ortho Float 4 70507 Phosphorus, orthophosphate, total, as P, in milligrams per liter

ORG table (stores data on organic chemicals in water samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixacenaphthene Float 4 34205 Acenaphthene, total, in micrograms per literacenaphthylene Float 4 34200 Acenaphthylene, total, in micrograms per literalachlor Float 4 77825 Alachlor, total recoverable, in micrograms per literaldrin Float 4 39330 Aldrin, total, in micrograms per literametryne Float 4 82184 Ametryne, total, in micrograms per literanthracene Float 4 34220 Anthracene, total, in micrograms per literatrazine Float 4 39630 Atrazine, total, in micrograms per literb2ethxphth Float 4 39100 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, total, in micrograms per literbenzanthra Float 4 34526 Benzo(a)anthracene, total, in micrograms per literbenzapyrene Float 4 34247 Benzo(a)pyrene, total, in micrograms per literbenzbfluorant Float 4 34230 Benzo(b)fluoranthene, total, in micrograms per literbenzkfluorant Float 4 34242 Benzo(k)fluoranthene, total, in micrograms per literbenzperyln Float 4 34521 Benzo(g,h,i)perylene, total, in micrograms per literbis2chlorethox Float 4 34278 Bis(2-chloroethoxy) methane, total, in micrograms per literbis2chlorisopr Float 4 34283 Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether, total, in micrograms per literbis2chloroethy Float 4 34273 Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether, total, in micrograms per literbrphphethr Float 4 34636 4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether, total, in micrograms per literchlordane Float 4 39350 Chlordane, technical and met, total, in micrograms per literchrysene Float 4 34320 Chrysene, total, in micrograms per literclnaphthal Float 4 34581 2-Chloronaphthalene, total, in micrograms per literclphenol Float 4 34586 2-Chlorophenol, total, in micrograms per literclphnlphenethr Float 4 34641 4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether, total, in micrograms per literclpyrifos_t Float 4 38932 Chlorpyrifos, total, recoverable, in micrograms per litercyanazine Float 4 81757 Cyanazine, total, in micrograms per litercyprazine_t Float 4 82187 Cyprazine total, in micrograms per liter
22 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length ORG table (stores data on organic chemicals in water samples)—Continued

d24 Float 4 39730 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, total, in micrograms per literddd Float 4 39360 Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD), total, in micrograms per literdde Float 4 39365 Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE), total, in micrograms per literddt Float 4 39370 Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), total, in micrograms per literdef_t Float 4 39040 DEF (tributyl phosphorotrithioate), in micrograms per literdiazinon Float 4 39570 Diazinon, total, in micrograms per literdibenzanthr Float 4 34556 1,2,5,6-Dibenzanthracene, total, in micrograms per literdicamba_t Float 4 82052 Dicamba (Mediben, Banvel D), total, in micrograms per literdiclbenz12 Float 4 34536 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, total, in micrograms per literdiclbenz13 Float 4 34566 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, total, in micrograms per literdiclbenz14 Float 4 34571 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, total, in micrograms per literdiclphenol Float 4 34601 2,4-Dichlorophenol, total, in micrograms per literdieldrin Float 4 39380 Dieldrin, total, in micrograms per literdietpthlate Float 4 34336 Diethylphthalate, total, in micrograms per literdimephtlate Float 4 34341 Dimethylphthalate, total, in micrograms per literdimthphenl Float 4 34606 2,4-Dimethylphenol, total, in micrograms per literdinocresol Float 4 34657 4,6-Dinitro-orthocresol, total, in micrograms per literdinphenol Float 4 34616 2,4-Dinitrophenol, total, in micrograms per literdintolu24 Float 4 34611 2,4-Dinitrotoluene, total, in micrograms per literdintolu26 Float 4 34626 2,6-Dinitrotoluene, total, in micrograms per literdioctphthl Float 4 34596 Di-n-octyl phthalate, total, in micrograms per literdisyston_t Float 4 39011 Disyston (Disulfoton), total, in micrograms per literdnb_phtha Float 4 39110 Di-n-butyl phthalate, total, in micrograms per literdp_2_4 Float 4 82183 2,4-Dichlorprop, total, in micrograms per literendosulf Float 4 39388 Endosulfan, total, in micrograms per literendrin Float 4 39390 Endrin, total, in micrograms per literethion Float 4 39398 Ethion, total, in micrograms per literflranthene Float 4 34376 Fluoranthene, total, in micrograms per literfluorene Float 4 34381 Fluorene, total, in micrograms per literfonofos Float 4 82614 Fonofos (Dyfonate), water, whole, total recoverable, in micrograms per literguthion Float 4 39580 Guthion, total, in micrograms per literhcb Float 4 39700 Hexachlorobenzene, total, in micrograms per literheptchlr Float 4 39410 Heptachlor, total, in micrograms per literheptepox Float 4 39420 Heptachlor epoxide, total, in micrograms per literhexclbutdie Float 4 39702 Hexachlorobutadiene, total, in micrograms per literhexclcyclpd Float 4 34386 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, total, in micrograms per literhexclethan Float 4 34396 Hexachloroethane, total, in micrograms per literind_pyr Float 4 34403 Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, total, in micrograms per literisphrone Float 4 34408 Isophorone, total, in micrograms per literlindane Float 4 39340 Gamma-benzene hexachloride (lindane), total, in micrograms per liter
APPENDIX A 23

malathion Float 4 39530 Malathion, total, in micrograms per litermbas Float 4 38260 Methylene blue active substances, in milligrams per litermethomyl Float 4 39051 Methomyl, total, in micrograms per litermethoxchlr Float 4 39480 Methoxychlor, total, in micrograms per litermetolachlor Float 4 82612 Metolachlor, total recoverable, in micrograms per litermetribuzin Float 4 82611 Metribuzin, total recoverable, in micrograms per litermirex Float 4 39755 Mirex, total, in micrograms per litermparathion Float 4 39600 Methyl parathion, total, in micrograms per litermtrithion Float 4 39790 Methyl trithion, total, in micrograms per liternaphthalene Float 4 34696 Naphthalene, total, in micrograms per liternbb_phth Float 4 34292 N-Butylbenzyl phthlate, total, in micrograms per liternitrphenol4 Float 4 34646 4-Nitrophenol, total, in micrograms per liternsodimeth.t Float 4 34438 N-nitrosodimethylamine, total, in micrograms per liternsodiphenyl.t Float 4 34433 N-nitrosodiphenylamine, total, in micrograms per literntrobenzen Float 4 34447 Nitrobenzene, total, in micrograms per literntrphenol2 Float 4 34591 2-Nitrophenol, total, in micrograms per literparathion Float 4 39540 Parathion, total, in micrograms per literpcb Float 4 39516 Polychlorinated biphyenyls, total, in micrograms per literpclmcresol Float 4 34452 Parachlorometacresol, total, in micrograms per literpcn Float 4 39250 Naphthalenes, polychlorinated, total, in micrograms per literpcn_d Float 4 82360 Naphthalenes, polychlorinated, dissolved, in micrograms per literpcp Float 4 39032 Pentachlorophenol, total, in micrograms per literperthane Float 4 39034 Perthane, total, in micrograms per literphenol Float 4 34694 Phenol (C6H5OH), total, in micrograms per literphnanthren Float 4 34461 Phenanthrene, total, in micrograms per literphorate_t Float 4 39023 Phorate, total, in micrograms per literpicloram Float 4 39720 Picloram (Tordon, Amdon), total, in micrograms per literprometone Float 4 39056 Prometone, total, in micrograms per literprometryne Float 4 39057 Prometryne, total, in micrograms per literpropazine Float 4 39024 Propazine, total, in micrograms per literpropham Float 4 39052 Propham, total, in micrograms per literpyrene Float 4 34469 Pyrene, total, in micrograms per litersevin Float 4 39750 Sevin (Carbaryl), total, in micrograms per litersilvex Float 4 39760 Silvex, total, in micrograms per litersimazine Float 4 39055 Simazine, total, in micrograms per litersimetone_t Float 4 82188 Simetone, total, in micrograms per litersimetryne Float 4 39054 Simetryne, total, in micrograms per litert245 Float 4 39740 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, total, in micrograms per litertoxaphene Float 4 39400 Toxaphene, total, in micrograms per litertriclbenze Float 4 34551 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, total, in micrograms per litertriclphenl Float 4 34621 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol, total, in micrograms per litertrifluralin Float 4 39030 Trifluralin, total recoverable, in micrograms per litertrithion Float 4 39786 Trithion, total, in micrograms per liter
24 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length SEDIMENT table (stores data on suspended sediment and bed material)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrix (water, bottom sediment, or biota)res105_sus Float 4 00530 Solids, residue at 105 degrees Celsius, suspended, in milligrams per literbeta_cs_sus Float 4 03516 Gross beta radioactivity, suspended, as Cs-137, in picocuries per literbeta_r_sus Float 4 80060 Gross beta radioactivity, suspended, total, as Sr/Y-90, in picocuries per literag_sus Float 4 01076 Silver, suspended, as Ag, in micrograms per literas_t_sus Float 4 01001 Arsenic, suspended, total, as As, in micrograms per literba_rec_sus Float 4 01006 Barium, suspended, recoverable, as Ba, in micrograms per litercd_sus Float 4 01026 Cadmium, suspended, as Cd, in micrograms per litercr_sus Float 4 01031 Chromium, suspended, as Cr, in micrograms per literco_sus Float 4 01036 Cobalt, suspended, as Co, in micrograms per litercu_rec_sus Float 4 01041 Copper, suspended, recoverable, as Cu, in micrograms per literfe_rec_sus Float 4 01044 Iron, suspended, recoverable, as Fe, in micrograms per literhg_rec_sus Float 4 71895 Mercury, suspended, recoverable, as Hg , in micrograms per litermn_rec_sus Float 4 01054 Manganese, suspended, recoverable, as Mn, in micrograms per liternh3_org_sus Float 4 00624 Nitrogen, ammonia plus organic, suspended, total, as N, in milligrams per literpb_rec_sus Float 4 01050 Lead, suspended, recoverable, as Pb, in micrograms per literse_sus Float 4 01146 Selenium, suspended, total, as Se, in micrograms per litersoc Float 4 00689 Carbon, organic, suspended, as C, in milligrams per literzn_rec_sus Float 4 01091 Zinc, suspended, recoverable, as Zn, in micrograms per literbm_fdiam_002 Float 4 80294 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.002 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_004 Float 4 80157 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.004 millimeter, in percentbm_fdiam_008 Float 4 80293 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.008 millimeter, in percentbm_fdiam_016 Float 4 80282 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.016 millimeter, in percentbm_fdiam_031 Float 4 80283 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.031 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_062 Float 4 80158 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.062 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_125 Float 4 80159 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.125 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_250 Float 4 80160 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.250 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_500 Float 4 80161 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.500 millimeter, in percentsbm_fdiam_1 Float 4 80162 Sediment, bed material, distilled-water fall diameter less than 1.00 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_062 Float 4 80164 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 0.062 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_125 Float 4 80165 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 0.125 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_250 Float 4 80166 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 0.250 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_500 Float 4 80167 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 0.500 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_1 Float 4 80168 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 1.00 millimeter, in percentsbm_sdiam_2 Float 4 80169 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 2.00 millimeters, in percentsbm_sdiam_4 Float 4 80170 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 4.00 millimeters, in percentsbm_sdiam_8 Float 4 80171 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 8.00 millimeters, in percentsbm_sdiam_16 Float 4 80172 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 16.0 millimeters, in percentsbm_sdiam_32 Float 4 80173 Sediment, bed material, sieve diameter less than 32.0 millimeters, in percent
APPENDIX A 25

sfdiam_002 Integer 2 70337 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.002 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_004 Integer 2 70338 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.004 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_008 Integer 2 70339 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.008 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_016 Integer 2 70340 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.016 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_031 Float 4 70341 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.031 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_062 Integer 2 70342 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.062 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_125 Integer 2 70343 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.125 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_250 Integer 2 70344 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.250 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_500 Integer 2 70345 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 0.500 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_1 Integer 2 70346 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 1.00 millimeter, in percentsfdiam_2 Float 4 70347 Sediment, suspended, distilled-water fall diameter less than 2.00 millimeters, in percentssdiam_lt062 Integer 2 70331 Sediment, suspended, sieve diameter less than 0.062 millimeter, in percentssdiam_lt125 Integer 2 70332 Sediment, suspended, sieve diameter less than 0.125 millimeter, in percentssdiam_lt250 Float 4 70333 Sediment, suspended, sieve diameter less than 0.250 millimeter, in percentssdiam_lt500 Float 4 70334 Sediment, suspended, sieve diameter less than 0.500 millimeter, in percentssdiam_lt1 Float 4 70335 Sediment, suspended, sieve diameter less than 1.00 millimeter, in percentss_conc_lt062 Float 4 80222 Sediment, suspended, concentration, sieve diameter less than 0.062 millimeter, in milligrams per litersed_t Float 4 80180 Sediment, total, concentration, in milligrams per litersed_q Float 4 80156 Sediment discharge, total, suspended plus bed material, in tons per daysus_sed Integer 2 80154 Sediment, suspended, concentration, in milligrams per litersus_sed_q Float 4 80155 Sediment discharge, suspended, in tons per day

INORGBM table (stores data on inorganic constituents in bottom material)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixsite Varchar 9 — Identifying name or number used in published report (table 1) and unique within study area covered by 

different names for same site were used in reconnaissance- and detailed-investigation reports, both naidentifier from reconnaissance report is enclosed in parentheses.

prime_id Varchar 8 — Laboratory identifier used in original U.S. Geological Survey data reports (table 1)qaqc • • Char 1 — Whether purpose of sample collection was quality assurancefraction • • Varchar 6 — Size-fraction of sample materialag_bm Integer 2 — Silver, total, in bottom material, as Ag, in micrograms per gramal_bm Float 4 — Aluminum, total, in bottom material, as Al, in percentas_bm Float 4 — Arsenic, in bottom material, as As, in micrograms per gramau_bm Integer 2 — Gold, in bottom material, as Au, in micrograms per gramb_xw_bm Float 4 — Boron, hot-water-extractable, in bottom material, as B, in micrograms per literba_bm Integer 2 — Barium, total, in bottom material, as Ba, in micrograms per grambe_bm Integer 2 — Beryllium, total, in bottom material, as Be, in micrograms per grambi_bm Integer 2 — Bismuth, total, in bottom material, as Bi, in micrograms per gramc_co3_bm Float 4 — Carbon, carbonate, in bottom material, as C, in percentc_org_bm Float 4 — Carbon, organic, in bottom material, as C, in percentc_tot_bm Float 4 — Carbon, total, in bottom material, as C, in percentca_bm Float 4 — Calcium, recoverable from bottom material, as Ca, in percentcd_bm Integer 2 — Cadmium, total, in bottom material, as Cd, in micrograms per gramce_bm Integer 2 — Cerium, total, in bottom material, as Ce, in micrograms per gramco_bm Integer 2 — Cobalt, total, in bottom material, as Co, in micrograms per gramcr_bm Integer 2 — Chromium, total, in bottom material, as Cr, in micrograms per gramcu_bm Integer 2 — Copper, total, in bottom material, as Cu, in micrograms per gram
26 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field lengthINORGBM table (stores data on inorganic constituents in bottom material)—Continued

fe_bm Float 4 01170 Iron, total, in bottom material, as Fe, in percentga_bm Integer 2 — Gallium, total, in bottom material, as Ga, in micrograms per gramhg_bm Float 4 71921 Mercury, in bottom material, as Hg, in micrograms per gramk_bm Float 4 00938 Potassium, in bottom material, as K, in percentla_bm Integer 2 — Lanthanum, total, in bottom material, as La, in micrograms per gramli_bm Integer 2 01133 Lithium, in bottom material, as Li, in micrograms per grammg_bm Float 4 00924 Magnesium, in bottom material, as Mg, in percentmn_bm Integer 2 01053 Manganese, total, in bottom material, as Mn, in micrograms per grammo_bm Integer 2 01063 Molybdenum, total, in bottom material, as Mo, in micrograms per gramna_bm Float 4 00934 Sodium, in bottom material, as Na, in percentnb_bm Integer 2 — Niobium, total, in bottom material, as Nb, in micrograms per gramnd_bm Integer 2 — Neodymium, total, in bottom material, as Nd, in micrograms per gramni_bm Integer 2 01068 Nickel, total, in bottom material, as Ni, in micrograms per gramp_bm Float 4 00668 Phosphorus, total, in bottom material, as P, in percentpb_bm Integer 2 01052 Lead, total, in bottom material, as Pb, in micrograms per gramsc_bm Integer 2 82317 Scandium, total, in bottom material, as Sc, in micrograms per gramse_bm Float 4 01148 Selenium, total, in bottom material, as Se, in micrograms per gramsr_bm Integer 2 01083 Strontium, total, in bottom material, as Sr, in micrograms per gramth_bm Integer 2 82313 Thorium, total, in bottom material, as Th, in micrograms per kilogramti_bm Float 4 01153 Titanium, total, in bottom material, as Ti, in micrograms per gramu_bm Float 4 22707 Uranium, natural, total, in bottom material, as U, in micrograms per gramv_bm Integer 2 01088 Vanadium, total, in bottom material, as V, in micrograms per gramy_bm Integer 2 — Yttrium, total, in bottom material, as Y, in micrograms per gramyb_bm Integer 2 82311 Ytterbium, total, in bottom material, as Yb, in micrograms per kilogramzn_bm Integer 2 01093 Zinc, total, in bottom material, as Zn, in micrograms per gram

ORGBM table (stores data on organic chemicals and nitrogen in bottom material)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Unique 9- or 15-digit identifying number assigned on basis of geographic locationsamp_date • Date — — Date of sample collection (dd–mmm–yy format)samp_time • Integer 2 — Time of sample collection (hhmm format)matrix • • Char 2 — Sample matrixacenaphthen_bm Float 4 34208 Acenaphthene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramacenaphthyl_bm Float 4 34203 Acenaphthylene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramaldrin_bm Float 4 39333 Aldrin, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramanthracene_bm Float 4 34223 Anthracene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogram
APPENDIX A 27

b2ethxphth_bm Float 4 39102 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambenzapyren_bm Float 4 34250 Benzo(a)pyrene, total, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambenzbflrant_bm Float 4 34233 Benzo(b)fluoranthene, total, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambenzkflrant_bm Float 4 34245 Benzo(k)fluoranthene, total, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambenzperyln_bm Float 4 34524 Benzo(g,h,i) perylene(1,12-Benzoperylene), in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambis2cleth_e_bm Float 4 34276 Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambis2cleth_m_bm Float 4 34281 Bis(2-chloroethoxy) methane, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambis2cliso_e_bm Float 4 34286 Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrambrphphethr_bm Float 4 34639 4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramc_inorg_bm Float 4 00686 Carbon, inorganic, in bottom material, as C, in grams per kilogramc_org_bm Float 4 30243 Carbon, organic, in bottom material, as C, in percentc_org_t_bm Float 4 00687 Carbon, organic, total, in bottom material, as C, dry weight, in grams per kilogramc_tot_bm Float 4 00693 Carbon, inorganic plus organic, total, in bottom material, as C, dry weight, in grams per kilogramchlordane_bm Float 4 39351 Chlordane, technical, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramchrysene_bm Float 4 34323 Chrysene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramclnaphthal_bm Float 4 34584 2-Chloronaphthalene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramclphenol_bm Float 4 34589 2-Chlorophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramd24_bm Float 4 39731 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramddd_bm Float 4 39363 Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD), in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdde_bm Float 4 39368 Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE), in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramddt_bm Float 4 39373 Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdiazinon_bm Float 4 39571 Diazinon, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramdibenzanthr_bm Float 4 34559 1,1,5,6-Dibenzanthracene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdicamba_bm Float 4 38931 Dicamba, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramdiclbenz12_bm Float 4 34539 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdiclbenz13_bm Float 4 34569 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdiclbenz14_bm Float 4 34574 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdiclphenol_bm Float 4 34604 2,4-Dichlorophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdieldrin_bm Float 4 39383 Dieldrin, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramdietpthlate_bm Float 4 34339 Diethyl phthalate, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdimephtlate_bm Float 4 34344 Dimethyl phthalate in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdimthphenl_bm Float 4 34609 2,4-Dichlorprop, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdinocresol_bm Float 4 34660 4,6-Dinitro-orthocresol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdinphenol_bm Float 4 34619 2,4-Dinitrophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdintolu24_bm Float 4 34614 2,4-Dinitro-toluene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdintolu26_bm Float 4 34629 2,6-Dinitro-toluene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdioctphthl_bm Float 4 34599 Di-n-octyl phthalate, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramdnb_phtha_bm Float 4 39112 Di-n-butyl phthalate, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramendosulf_bm Float 4 39389 Endosulfan, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramendrin_bm Float 4 39393 Endrin, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramethion_bm Float 4 39399 Ethion, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramflranthene_bm Float 4 34379 Fluoranthene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramfluorene_bm Float 4 34384 Fluorene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogram
28 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length ORGBM table (stores data on organic chemicals and nitrogen in bottom material)—Continued

hcb_bm Float 4 39701 Hexachlorobenzene, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramheptchlr_bm Float 4 39413 Heptachlor, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramheptepox_bm Float 4 39423 Heptachlor epoxide, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramhexclbutdie_bm Float 4 39705 Hexachlorobutadiene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramhexclcyclpd_bm Float 4 34389 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramhexclethan_bm Float 4 34399 Hexachloroethane, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramind_pyr_bm Float 4 34406 Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramisphrone_bm Float 4 34411 Isophorone, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramlindane_bm Float 4 39343 Gamma-benzene hexachloride (lindane), in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilomalathion_bm Float 4 39531 Malathion, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrammethoxchlr_bm Float 4 39481 Methoxychlor, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrammirex_bm Float 4 39758 Mirex, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrammparathion_bm Float 4 39601 Methyl parathion, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrammtrithion_bm Float 4 39791 Methyl trithion, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramnaphthalen_bm Float 4 34445 Naphthalene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramnbb_phth_bm Float 4 34295 N-Butylbenzyl phthalate, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramnh3org_t_bm Float 4 00626 Nitrogen, ammonia plus organic, total, in bottom material, as N, dry weight, in milligrams per knh3_t_bm Float 4 00611 Nitrogen, ammonia, total, in bottom material, as N, dry weight, in milligrams per kilogramno2no3_t_bm Float 4 00633 Nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate, total, in bottom material, as N, dry weight, in milligrams per kilognitrobenzen_bm Float 4 34450 Nitrobenzene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramnitrphenol2_bm Float 4 34594 2-Nitrophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramnitrphenol4_bm Float 4 34649 4-Nitrophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramnsodiphynyl_bm Float 4 34436 N-Nitrosodiphenylamine, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramparathion_bm Float 4 39541 Parathion, dry weight, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrampcb_bm Float 4 39519 Polychlorinated biphenyls, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrampclmcresol_bm Float 4 34455 Parachlorometacresol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrampclphenol_bm Float 4 39061 Pentachlorophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrampcn_bm Float 4 39251 Naphthalenes, polychlorinated, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramperthane_bm Float 4 81886 Perthane, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramphenol_bm Float 4 34695 Phenol (C6H5OH), in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramphnanthren_bm Float 4 34464 Phenanthrene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogrampicloram_bm Float 4 38930 Picloram, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogrampyrene_bm Float 4 34472 Pyrene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramsilvex_bm Float 4 39761 Silvex, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramt245_bm Float 4 39741 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramtoxaphene_bm Float 4 39403 Toxaphene, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogramtriclbenze_bm Float 4 34554 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramtriclphenl_bm Float 4 34624 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol, in bottom material, in micrograms per kilogramtrithion_bm Float 4 39787 Trithion, in bottom material, dry weight, in micrograms per kilogram
APPENDIX A 29

INORGBIO table (stores data on sample matrix and inorganic constituents in biotic samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Identification for nearest appropriate site where surface-water samples were collected. Blank indicates n

biological-sampling location and water-sampling site.

area • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying NIWQP study areasubarea • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying subarea within NIWQP study arealocation Varchar 64 — Biologist-designated sampling location within study areacategory • Char 17 — Broad taxonomic category of sample, such as plant or birdspecies Varchar 35 — Standardized common name of organism used in NIWQP data base (see section on TAXON table, this samp_date Date — — Date of sample collection (mm/dd/yy format)year Varchar 7 — Last two digits of year sample was collected (00–99, of 1900’s)month Integer 2 — Month sample was collected (01–12)day Integer 2 — Day sample was collected (unknown if missing)compos_n Float 4 — Number of individuals in composite samplelife_stage Varchar 16 — Life stage of sample (for example, juvenile) if appropriatetissue Varchar 20 — Tissue analyzed (for example, liver, whole body)moisture Float 4 — Moisture content of sample, in percentag_bio Float 4 — Silver, in biological material, as Ag, dry weight, in micrograms per gramal_bio Float 4 — Aluminum, in biological material, as Al, dry weight, in micrograms per gramas_bio Float 4 — Arsenic, in biological material, as As, dry weight, in micrograms per gramb_bio Float 4 — Boron, in biological material, as B, dry weight, in micrograms per gramba_bio Float 4 — Barium, in biological material, as Ba, dry weight, in micrograms per grambe_bio Float 4 — Beryllium, in biological material, as Be, dry weight, in micrograms per gramcd_bio Float 4 — Cadmium, in biological material, as Cd, dry weight, in micrograms per gramco_bio Float 4 — Cobalt, in biological material, as Co, dry weight, in micrograms per gramcr_bio Float 4 — Chromium, in biological material, as Cr, dry weight, in micrograms per gramcu_bio Float 4 — Copper, in biological material, as Cu, dry weight, in micrograms per gramfe_bio Float 4 — Iron, in biological material, as Fe, dry weight, in micrograms per gramhg_bio Float 4 — Mercury, in biological material, as Hg, dry weight, in micrograms per grammg_bio Float 4 — Magnesium, in biological material, as Mg, dry weight, in micrograms per grammn_bio Float 4 — Manganese, in biological material, as Mn, dry weight, in micrograms per grammo_bio Float 4 — Molybdenum, in biological material, as Mo, dry weight, in micrograms per gramni_bio Float 4 — Nickel, in biological material, as Ni, dry weight, in micrograms per grampb_bio Float 4 — Lead, in biological material, as Pb, dry weight, in micrograms per gramsb_bio Float 4 — Antimony, in biological material, as Sb, dry weight, in micrograms per gramse_bio Float 4 — Selenium, in biological material, as Se, dry weight, in micrograms per gramsn_bio Float 4 — Tin, in biological material, as Sn, dry weight, in micrograms per gramsr_bio Float 4 — Strontium, in biological material, as Sr, dry weight, in micrograms per gramtl_bio Float 4 — Thallium, in biological material, as Tl, dry weight, in micrograms per gramv_bio Float 4 — Vanadium, in biological material, as V, dry weight, in micrograms per gramzn_bio Float 4 — Zinc, in biological material, as Zn, dry weight, in micrograms per gram
30 APPENDIX A APPENDIX A. Data dictionary for National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued Attribute name Attribute characteristics NWIS parameter code Attribute description Linking Fixed value Data type Field length ORGBIO table (stores data on sample matrix and organic chemicals in biotic samples)

site_id • Varchar 15 — Identification for nearest appropriate site where surface-water samples were collected. Blank ind

biological-sampling location and water-sampling site.

area • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying NIWQP study areasubarea • • Varchar 10 — Abbreviated name identifying subarea within NIWQP study arealocation Varchar 30 — Biologist-designated sampling location within study areacategory • Char 10 — Broad taxonomic category of sample, such as plant, or birdspecies Varchar 30 — Standardized common name of organism used in NIWQP data base (see section on TAXON tabsamp_date Date — — Date of sample collection (mm/dd/yy format)year Varchar 7 — Last two digits of year sample was collected (00–99, of 1900’s)month Integer 2 — Numeric value for month sample was collectedday Integer 2 — Day sample was collected (unknown if missing)compos_n Float 4 — Number of individuals in composite samplelife_stage Varchar 30 — Life stage of sample (for example, juvenile) if appropriatetissue Varchar 30 — Tissue analyzed (for example, liver, whole body)moisture Float 4 — Moisture content of sample, in percentlipid Float 4 — Lipid content of sample, in percentacenaphthe_bio Float 4 — Acenaphthene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramacenaphthy_bio Float 4 — Acenaphthylene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramaldrin_bio Float 4 — Aldrin, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramanthracene_bio Float 4 — Anthracene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramarchlr1248_bio Float 4 — Arochlor 1248, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramarchlr1254_bio Float 4 — Arochlor 1254, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramarchlr1260_bio Float 4 — Arochlor 1260, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzaanthr_bio Float 4 — Benzo(a)anthracene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzbflran_bio Float 4 — Benzo(b)fluoranthene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzkflran_bio Float 4 — Benzo(k)fluoranthene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzoapyre_bio Float 4 — Benzo(a)pyrene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzoepyre_bio Float 4 — Benzo(e)pyrene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambenzperyln_bio Float 4 — Benzo(ghi)perylene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambhc_alpha_bio Float 4 — Alpha-benzene hexachloride, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambhc_beta_bio Float 4 — Beta-benzene hexachloride, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambhc_delta_bio Float 4 — Delta-benzene hexachloride, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grambhc_gamma_bio Float 4 — Gamma-benzene hexachloride (lindane), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per bhc_total_bio Float 4 — Benzene hexachloride, total, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramchlord_bio Float 4 — Chlordane, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramchlord_a_bio Float 4 — Alpha chlordane (cis-Chlordane), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramchlord_g_bio Float 4 — Gamma chlordane (trans-Chlordane), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grachrysene_bio Float 4 — Chrysene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gram
APPENDIX A 31

ddmu_bio Float 4 — 1,1' (Chloroethenylidene)bis(4-chlorobenzene) (DDMU) in biological material, wet weight, in microgrdcpa_bio Float 4 — Dacthal, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gram ddd_op_bio Float 4 — O-p-Dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gddd_pp_bio Float 4 — P-p' dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grdde_op_bio Float 4 — O-p dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gdde_pp_bio Float 4 — O-p' dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per ddt_op_bio Float 4 — O-p dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grddt_pp_bio Float 4 — P-p' dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grdibenzanth_bio Float 4 — 1,1,5,6-Dibenzanthracene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramdieldrin_bio Float 4 — Dieldrin, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramdimethnaph_bio Float 4 — Dimethylnaphthalene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramendosulf_1_bio Float 4 — Endosulfan I, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramendosulf_2_bio Float 4 — Endosulfan II, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramendosulf_s_bio Float 4 — Endosulfan sulfate, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramendrin_bio Float 4 — Endrin, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramflranthene_bio Float 4 — Fluoranthene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramfluorene_bio Float 4 — Fluorene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramhcb_bio Float 4 — Hexachlorobenzene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramheptepox_bio Float 4 — Heptachlor epoxide, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramind_pyr_bio Float 4 — Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grammethnaphth_bio Float 4 — Methylnaphthalene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grammethoxchlr_bio Float 4 — Methoxychlor, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grammirex_bio Float 4 — Mirex, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramnaphthalen_bio Float 4 Naphthalene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramnonachlr_c_bio Float 4 — Cis-nonachlor, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramnonachlr_t_bio Float 4 — Trans-nonachlor, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramoxychlor_bio Float 4 — Oxychlordane, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grampcb_tot_bio Float 4 — Polychlorinated biphyenyls, total, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramperylene_bio Float 4 — Perylene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramphnanthren_bio Float 4 — Phenanthrene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per grampyrene_bio Float 4 — Pyrene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramtoxaphene_bio Float 4 — Toxaphene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gramtrimethnap_bio Float 4 — Trimethylnaphthalene, in biological material, wet weight, in micrograms per gram

TAXON table (stores data on taxonomy)

category Varchar 17 — Broad taxonomic category of sample, such as plant or birdid_level Varchar 35 — Lowest taxonomic level for which classification is known (genus, family, class, or kingdom)common_name Varchar 49 — Common name for organism; typically same as attribute “niwqp_name”latin_name Varchar 38 — Latin binomial for organism where known. Higher level classification given if species unknownniwqp_name Varchar 49 — Organism name used in NIWQP data base; same as attribute “species” in tables INORGBIO and ORGB
32 APPENDIX B

APPENDIX B. Codes used for fixed-value attributes in National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base

Code or value Explanation

Attribute “agyanal” (used in FIELD table)

PRIV Water sample analyzed by private laboratory

USGS Water sample analyzed by U.S. Geological Survey

WYDOA Water sample analyzed by Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Attribute “agycol” (used in FIELD table)

USGS Water sample collected by U.S. Geological Survey

SDWRI Water sample collected by South Dakota Water Resources Institute

Attribute “area” (used in AREA, SITE, INORGBIO, and ORGBIO tables)

AMFALLS American Falls Reservoir, Idaho

ANGOSTURA Angostura Reclamation Unit, South Dakota

BELLE Belle Fourche Reclamation Project, South Dakota

COLUMBIA Columbia River Basin, Washington

DOLORES Dolores–Ute Mountain area, Colorado

GUNNISON Gunnison River Basin–Grand Valley Project, Colorado

HUMBOLDT Humboldt River area, Nevada

KENDRICK Kendrick Reclamation Project, Wyoming

KLAMATH Klamath Basin Refuge Complex, California–Oregon

LOWERCOLO Lower Colorado River valley, California–Arizona

LOWERRIO Lower Rio Grande valley, Texas

MALHEUR Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

MIDARK Middle Arkansas River Basin, Colorado–Kansas

MIDGREEN Middle Green River Basin, Utah

MIDDLERIO Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico

MILK Milk River Basin, Montana

OWYHEE Owyhee–Vale Reclamation Project areas, Oregon–Idaho

PINE Pine River area, Colorado

RIVERTON Riverton Reclamation Project, Wyoming

SACRAMENTO Sacramento Refuge Complex, California

SALTON Salton Sea area, California

SANJUAN San Juan River area, New Mexico

STILLWATER Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

SUNRIVER Sun River area, Montana

TULARE Tulare Lake Bed area, California

VERMEJO Vermejo Project area, New Mexico

Attribute “background” (used in SITE table)

C Contaminated: Site is either within or downgradient from irrigated areas within study area

R Reference: Site is upgradient from irrigated areas within study area

Attribute “basin” (used in AREA table)

O Open: Lakes in study area are flowthrough

M Mixed: Some lakes in study area are terminal, and others are flowthrough

C Closed: Lakes in study area are terminal

Attribute “category” (used in INORGBIO, ORGBIO, and TAXON tables)

AMPHIBIAN Amphibian

BIRD Bird

FISH Fish

INVERTEBRATE Invertebrate

MAMMAL Mammal

PLANKTON Plankton

PLANT Plant

REPTILE Reptile
APPENDIX B 33

APPENDIX B. Codes used for fixed-value attributes in National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued

Code or value Explanation

Attribute “doi” (used in FIELD table)

Y Yes: Sample was collected as part of NIWQP investigation

N No: Sample was not collected as part of NIWQP investigation

Attribute “fraction” (used in INORGBM table)

<2.0 Bottom material of particle size less than 2 millimeters

<0.062 Bottom material of particle size less than 0.062 millimeter

Attribute “geology” (used in AREA table; same codes as for “sitegeology”; listed generally in age order; units modified after King and Beikman, 1974)

Quaternary volcanic and sedimentary deposits:

Q Stratified sedimentary deposits

QV Volcanic rocks

Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary deposits:

TPV Nonfelsic volcanic rocks (Pliocene)

TPC Continental sedimentary deposits (Pliocene)

TMF Felsic volcanic rocks (Miocene)

TMV Nonfelsic volcanic rocks (Miocene)

TEC Continental sedimentary deposits (Eocene)

TXC Continental sedimentary deposits (Paleocene)

Upper Cretaceous stratified, mainly marine, sedimentary rocks:

UK Undivided (includes Tuscaloosa, Woodbine, Eagle Ford, Austin, Taylor, and Navarro Groups; locally includes Lower Cretaceous 

rocks not mapped separately).

UK4 Navarro Group

UK3, UK3A Taylor Group

UK2 Austin and Eagle Ford Groups, undivided

UK1 Woodbine and Tuscaloosa Groups, undivided (locally includes Lower Cretaceous rocks not mapped separately)

UPZ Upper Paleozoic stratified, mainly marine, sedimentary rocks

Early Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks: 

XG Plutonic and intrusive granitic rocks

XM Orthogneiss and paragneiss

Attribute “matrix” (used in FIELD, INORG, ISOTOPE, NUTRIENT, ORG, SEDIMENT, INORGBM, and ORGBM tables)

BC Borehole coring

BM Bottom material

GW Ground water

IW Interstitial water

SC Salt crust

SO Soil

SS Suspended sediment

SW Surface water

Attribute “mining” (used in AREA table)

Y Yes: Mining activities are reported for study area

N No: Mining activities are not reported for study area

Attribute “pesticides” (used in AREA table)

Y Yes: Heavy pesticide use is reported for study area

N No: Heavy pesticide use is not reported for study area

Attribute “qaqc” (used in FIELD and INORGBM tables)

Y Yes: Sample was collected and(or) analyzed for quality-assurance purposes

N No: Sample was not collected and(or) analyzed specifically for quality-assurance purposes but for routine environmental monitoring
34 APPENDIX B

APPENDIX B. Codes used for fixed-value attributes in National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued

Code or value Explanation

Attribute “samp_meth” (used in FIELD table)

EDI Equal-discharge increment

ETR Equal transit rate (integrated discharge)

EWI Equal-width increment

GRAB Grab (dip)

MVERT Multiple vertical

OTB Open-top bailer

SQZ Squeeze pump

SUBM Submersible pump

SVERT Single vertical

THIEF Thief

VDORN Van Dorn

WB Weighted bottle

OTHER Method other than those listed above

Attribute “sitegeology” (used in SITE table; same codes as for “geology”; listed generally in age order; units modified after King and Beikman, 1974)

Quaternary volcanic and sedimentary deposits:

Q Stratified sedimentary deposits

QV Volcanic rocks

Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary deposits:

TPV Nonfelsic volcanic rocks (Pliocene)

TPC Continental sedimentary deposits (Pliocene)

TMF Felsic volcanic rocks (Miocene)

TMV Nonfelsic volcanic rocks (Miocene)

TEC Continental sedimentary deposits (Eocene)

TXC Continental sedimentary deposits (Paleocene)

Upper Cretaceous stratified, mainly marine, sedimentary rocks:

UK Undivided (includes Tuscaloosa, Woodbine, Eagle Ford, Austin, Taylor, and Navarro Groups; locally includes Lower Cretaceous 

rocks not mapped separately).

UK4 Navarro Group

UK3, UK3A Taylor Group

UK2 Austin and Eagle Ford Groups, undivided

UK1 Woodbine and Tuscaloosa Groups, undivided (locally includes Lower Cretaceous rocks not mapped separately)

UPZ Upper Paleozoic stratified, mainly marine, sedimentary rocks

Early Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks: 

XG Plutonic and intrusive granitic rocks

XM Orthogneiss and paragneiss

Attribute “site_type” (used in SITE table)

DR Drain

GW Ground water

LK Lake or pond

SP Spring

SW Surface water

Attribute “source” (used in SITE table)

Y Yes: Site represents source water for irrigation

N No: Site does not represent source water for irrigation
APPENDIX B 35

APPENDIX B. Codes used for fixed-value attributes in National Irrigation Water Quality Program data base—Continued

Code or value Explanation

Attribute “sub_area” (used in AREA, SITE, INORGBIO, AND ORGBIO tables; study-area name precedes colon)

AMFALLS American Falls Reservoir, Idaho (no subarea)

ANGOSTURA Angostura Reclamation Unit, South Dakota (no subarea)

BELLE Belle Fourche Reclamation Project, South Dakota (no subarea)

COLUMBIA Columbia River Basin, Washington (no subarea)

DOLORES Dolores–Ute Mountain area, Colorado (no subarea)

GRANDVALLE Grand Valley subarea of Gunnison River Basin–Grand Valley Project, Colorado

UNCOMPAHGR Uncompahgre Project subarea of Gunnison River Basin–Grand Valley Project, Colorado

HUMBOLDT Humboldt River area, Nevada (no subarea)

KENDRICK Kendrick Reclamation Project, Wyoming (no subarea)

KLAMATH Klamath Basin Refuge Complex, California–Oregon (no subarea)

LOWERCOLO Lower Colorado River valley, California–Arizona (no subarea)

LOWERRIO Lower Rio Grande valley, Texas (no subarea)

MALHEUR Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon (no subarea)

MIDARK Middle Arkansas River Basin, Colorado–Kansas (no subarea)

OURAY Ouray subarea of Middle Green River Basin, Utah

PARIETTE Pariette subarea of Middle Green River Basin, Utah

STEWART Stewart subarea of Middle Green River Basin, Utah

MIDDLERIO Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico (no subarea)

MILK Milk River Basin, Montana (no subarea)

OWYHEE Owyhee–Vale Reclamation Project areas, Oregon–Idaho (no subarea)

PINE Pine River area, Colorado (no subarea)

RIVERTON Riverton Reclamation Project, Wyoming (no subarea)

SACDELCOL Sacramento, Delevan, and Colusa National Wildlife Refuges in Sacramento Refuge Complex, California

BUTTESUTTE Butte Sink National Wildlife Management Area and Sutter National Wildlife Refuge in Sacramento Refuge Complex, California

SALTON Salton Sea area, California (no subarea)

SANJUAN San Juan River area, New Mexico (no subarea)

CARSONLAKE Carson Lake subarea of Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

FERNLEY Fernley subarea of Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

MASSIE Massie Slough subarea of Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

STILLWATER Stillwater subarea of Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

BENTONLAKE Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Sun River area, Montana

FREEZOUT Freezout Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Sun River area, Montana

GREENFIELD Greenfield Irrigation Division subarea of Sun River area, Montana

TULARE Tulare Lake Bed area, California (no subarea)

VERMEJO Vermejo Project area, New Mexico (no subarea)