2023-2024 National Rivers and Streams Assessment

Purpose/Objectives

The Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH) is conducting the National Rivers and Streams Assessment NRSA) for Texas by sampling 80 sites across the state in 2023 and 2024. The project is a national assessment coordinated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a statistical survey of the condition of our nation's flowing waters. It is designed to provide information on the extent of rivers and streams that support healthy biological condition and recreation, estimate impacts of major stressors that impact water quality, and provide insight into the condition of these waters nationwide over time. EIH has previously participated in the 2013-2014 assessment (63 sites) and the 2018-2019 assessment (81 sites).

Study Area

Texas

Project Period

2023 - 2024

Description

The NRSA is a statistical survey designed and coordinated by the EPA to evaluate the condition of the nation's boatable rivers and wadable streams. The purpose of this survey is to generate statistically-valid and environmentally relevant information on the condition of the nation's flowing waters.

The goals of the NRSA are to:

• Determine the extent to which rivers and streams support a healthy biological condition
• Determine the extent of major stressors that affect them
• Determine whether rivers and streams are getting cleaner and how to invest resources in protection/restoration
• Provide a nationwide comparison of spatial and temporal changes in condition of rivers and streams

Project Sponsors

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Related links

• EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment