Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator:
        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water/OST
      Publication_Date: 20070611
      Title: EPA's STORET Water Quality Observation Data for CONUS
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Washington, D.C.
        Publisher: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
      Online_Linkage:
        For BASINS model and data http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/basins/
        For further documentation and information on STORET
        http://www.epa.gov/owow/STORET/

  Description:
    Abstract:
      This data set provides a limited set of raw water quality observation data 
      for the conterminous United States. The data are extracted from 
      the U.S. EPA Storage and Retrieval of US Waters Parametric Data (STORET) 
      which is contributed by a number of organizations including federal, 
      state, interstate agencies, universities, contractors, individuals and 
      water laboratories.  Data updates are performed weekly. Each provider of 
      data is responsible for the data it submits to STORET. 
      For distribution with BASINS v.2.0, raw water quality data was extracted 
      from STORET for a maximum of 15 stations per cataloging unit. The WQOBS 
      data were prepared in Arcview shape file format while selected relational 
      attributes were prepared in Arcview DBF file format.

    Purpose:
      The STORET database serves as a repository of waterway parametric data, 
      including information on ambient, intensive survey, effluent and 
      biological water quality. This provides important information regarding 
      the health of the nations surface waters.

    Supplemental_Information:

      Intended use of data:
        This data set was prepared to support the U.S. EPA BASINS (Better 
        Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources) System.

      References_Cited:
        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1992).  "Office of Water 
        Environmental and Program Information Systems Compendium", Office of 
        Water, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.

      Limitations_of_Data: None

  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 19800101
        Ending_Date: 19951231
    Currentness_Reference: Publication Date

  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As Needed

  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -128.00
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.00
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.00
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 22.50

  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: Water Quality Observations
      Theme_Keyword: Storage and Retrieval of US Waters Parametric Data (STORET)
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System
      Place_Keyword: Conterminous United States of America (CONUS)
      Place_Keyword: Alabama AL
      Place_Keyword: Arizona AZ
      Place_Keyword: Arkansas AR
      Place_Keyword: California CA
      Place_Keyword: Colorado CO
      Place_Keyword: Connecticut CT
      Place_Keyword: Delaware DE
      Place_Keyword: District of Columbia DC
      Place_Keyword: Florida FL
      Place_Keyword: Georgia GA
      Place_Keyword: Idaho ID
      Place_Keyword: Illinois IL
      Place_Keyword: Indiana IN
      Place_Keyword: Iowa IA
      Place_Keyword: Kansas KS
      Place_Keyword: Kentucky KY
      Place_Keyword: Louisiana LA
      Place_Keyword: Maine ME
      Place_Keyword: Maryland MD
      Place_Keyword: Massachusetts MA
      Place_Keyword: Michigan MI
      Place_Keyword: Minnesota MN
      Place_Keyword: Mississippi MS
      Place_Keyword: Missouri MO
      Place_Keyword: Montana MT
      Place_Keyword: Nebraska NE
      Place_Keyword: Nevada NV
      Place_Keyword: New Hampshire NH
      Place_Keyword: New Jersey NJ
      Place_Keyword: New Mexico NM
      Place_Keyword: New York NY
      Place_Keyword: North Carolina NC
      Place_Keyword: North Dakota ND
      Place_Keyword: Ohio OH
      Place_Keyword: Oklahoma OK
      Place_Keyword: Oregon OR
      Place_Keyword: Pennsylvania PA
      Place_Keyword: Rhode Island RI
      Place_Keyword: South Carolina SC
      Place_Keyword: South Dakota SD
      Place_Keyword: Tennessee TN
      Place_Keyword: Texas TX
      Place_Keyword: Utah UT
      Place_Keyword: Vermont VT
      Place_Keyword: Virginia VA
      Place_Keyword: Washington WA
      Place_Keyword: West Virginia WV
      Place_Keyword: Wisconsin WI
      Place_Keyword: Wyoming WY

  Access_Constraints: None
  Use_Constraints: None

  Native_Data_Set_Environment: ArcView 3.x shapefiles

Data_Quality_Information:
  Logical_Consistency_Report: unknown
  Completeness_Report: unknown

  Lineage:
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        The BASINS Water Quality Observations dataset was created by 
        extracting data from STORET for a maximum of 15 water quality stations
        per cataloging unit. The selection of the stations was based upon data
        extent and completeness. The main criteria were period of measurement, 
        number of parameters, and number of observations. If a cataloging unit 
        contains less than 15 stations, all were extracted. A BASINS water 
        quality station ID was assigned to each station in order to facilitate 
        links and joins within BASINS between station data and the monitoring 
        data summary.

        For distribution with BASINS v2.0, ARCVIEW shapefiles which included the 
        spatial extent of each of the ten U.S. EPA Regions, plus the 8-digit 
        hydrologic units that crossed region boundaries were prepared to 
        indicate the geographic locations of the monitoring stations within the 
        region.
      Process_Date: 19971200
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Organization_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: Tetra Tech, Inc.
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: Mailing Address
            Address: 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340
            City: Fairfax
            State_or_Province: Virginia
            Postal_Code: 22030
            Country: USA
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-385-6000
          Contact_Instructions: See Distributor_Information

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Geographic:
      Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001
      Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001
      Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: WQOBS.DBF
      Entity_Type_Definition: Water Quality Monitoring Stations and Observations
         primary attribute table
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ID
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS assigned unique station number 
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Floating Value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: AGENCY
      Attribute_Definition: agency code
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 8
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID values
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: AGENCY_COD
      Attribute_Definition: agency code
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 16
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID values
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: STATION
      Attribute_Definition: station id
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 15
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID values
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ST_DEPTH
      Attribute_Definition: Depth at which sample was taken
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: STATE
      Attribute_Definition: State Postal Abbreviation 
      Attribute_Definition_Source: EPA Envirofacts Oracle 
        Database 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: LAT
      Attribute_Definition: Station latitude
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Storage and Retrieval of US 
            Waters Parametric Data (STORET) 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: LONG
      Attribute_Definition: Station longitude
      Attribute_Definition_Source:  STORET
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: TYPE
      Attribute_Definition: station type
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 60
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: LOCATION
      Attribute_Definition: description of station location
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 48
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID values
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: CU
      Attribute_Definition: cataloging unit code
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 8
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Character ID values
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: SEG
      Attribute_Definition: reach file v1 segment number
      Attribute_Definition_Source: EPA Envirofacts Oracle Database 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 3
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: EPA Locational Reference 
            Tables
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: MILE
      Attribute_Definition: reach file v1 mile point
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ONOFF
      Attribute_Definition:  on/off reach indicator
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 3
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET  
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: BCU
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS assigned cataloging unit
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 8
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: BSTAT_ID
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS assigned station id
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 28
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned

    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: XXXXXXXX.DBF (where XXXXXXXX is the 8-digit CU code)
      Entity_Type_Definition: Water Quality Observations Table for a Cataloging 
        Unit.)
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: BSTAT_ID
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS assigned station id
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 28
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: IDSAMP
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS generated unique sample ID 
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 10
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ID
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS generated unique ID 
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: DATE
      Attribute_Definition: Date sample was taken
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 6
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:6 digit integer (YYMMDD)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute: 
      Attribute_Label: TIME
      Attribute_Definition: Time sample was taken
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value:4
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: 4 digit integer (HHMM)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: DEPTH
      Attribute_Definition: sample depth
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 20
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: floating point value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: PARM
      Attribute_Definition: STORET parameter code
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Assigned
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: REMARK
      Attribute_Definition: STORET remark code
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: VALUE
      Attribute_Definition: sample measurement value
      Attribute_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value:20
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Floating Number
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: STORET online documentation 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: BCU
      Attribute_Definition: BASINS assigned cataloging unit
      Attribute_Definition_Source: assigned 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 10
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned

  Overview_Description:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
      The WQOBS.DBF contains the primary attributes of the monitoring  
      stations. The related tables, XXXXXXXX.DBF, contain raw data measurements
      for these stations. The wq_prm.dbf table contains the STORET 
      parameter codes and definitions.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: See Entity_and_Attribute_Information

Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: USEPA Office of Water/OST Basins
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (4305T)
        City: Washington
        State_or_Province: District of Columbia
        Postal_Code: 20460
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-566-0400
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 202-566-0409
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: basins@epa.gov

      Hours_of_Service: 9-3 EST
  Distribution_Liability:
    Although these data have been processed successfully on a
    computer system under contract to the U.S. Environmental Protection
    Agency (USEPA), no warranty expressed or implied is
    made by the USEPA regarding the utility of the data
    on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution
    constitute any such warranty.  The USEPA will warrant
    the delivery of this product in computer-readable format.

  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcView Shapefile
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/basins/
        Offline_Option:
          Offline_Media: CD-ROM
          Recording_Format: ISO 9660
    Fees: None
    Ordering_Instructions:
      When requesting data by phone or mail, please inquire about spatial data
      sets that work with Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and
      Nonpoint Sources (BASINS).  The BASINS web page has instructions for
      downloading datasets.   It also has a link to The National Center for
      Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI), from which
      BASINS CD-ROMs may be ordered.  Each CD-ROM contains the BASINS v2.0
      Application and this data set along with others covering the spatial extent
      of an EPA Region.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

  Metadata_Date: 20070611
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: USEPA Office of Water/OST/SASD Basins
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing address
        Address: 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (4305T)
        City: Washington
        State_or_Province: District of Columbia
        Postal_Code: 20460
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-566-0400
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 202-566-0409
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: basins@epa.gov
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608