Surface Water - Basic and Intensive Fixed Sites

Fixed Site Network

In 1999 the Santa Ana NAWQA study team began a three-year intensive investigation of water quality conditions along the Santa Ana River and its tributaries.  Water quality measurements were obtained at 6 locations, of which 3 are "basic-fixed sites" (BFS) and 3 are "intensive-fixed sites" (IFS). Four of the sites are located in the Inland Santa Ana Basin, and 2 are located in the Coastal Santa Ana Basin. There are no fixed sites for the San Jacinto Basin due to the lack of surface-water flow during most of the year. The USGS currently monitors discharge at 5 of the sites. 

Basic-fixed and intensive-fixed sites were sampled for the analysis of major ions, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, suspended organic carbon, and suspended sediment. At the IFS sites, the samples were also be analyzed for volatile organic compounds and pesticides. A continuous record for discharge, specific conductance, and water temperature were measured at all sites. Field measurements were taken at the time of water quality sampling for specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity.  

In the Low-Intensity Phase (LIP) of NAWQA from 2002-2007, only sites 1, 2, and 5 will be sampled and at a reduced schedule. 

For more information on each site, see below:

Santa Ana River near Mentone (1)	Warm Creek near San Bernardino (2)	Santa Ana River at MWD Crossing (3)
Cucamonga Creek near Mira Loma (4)	Santa Ana River below Prado Dam (5)	Santa Ana River Above SPRD Diversion below Imperial Highway (6)