The Arizona section of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program is moving from the planning to the study phase. A May 2 meeting of the Liaison Committee featured preliminary plans for a surface water sampling network and groundwater study and land use survey plans. This analysis involves literature searches and data collection on past studies, and maintaining sampling networks for the next several years.
Efforts now focus on choosing sampling sites within the study area.
Criteria have been established and field surveys will further narrow the options. A preliminary selection of contaminants to be sampled has been made. Patti Spindler, an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality biologist, discussed ADEQ's Biocriteria Program. She reported that a large sampling network is planned to develop baseline data about biological components in water so that water quality biocriteria can be developed. Barry Spicer of Arizona Game and Fish Department described the agency's extensive Biological Data Base for Threatened and Endangered Species available to agencies and the public.