(USGS) is to assess the quantity and quality of the natural resources of the Nation and to provide information that will assist resource managers and policymakers at Federal, State, and local levels in making sound decisions. Assessment of water-quality conditions and trends is an important part of this overall mission. One of the greatest challenges faced by waterresources scientists is acquiring reliable information that will guide the use and protection of the Nation’s water resources. That challenge is being addressed by Federal, State, interstate, and local water-resource agencies and by many academic institutions. These organizations are collecting water-quality data for a host of purposes that include compliance with permits and water-supply standards; development of remediation plans. | Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Fish Taxonomic Data Collected as Part of the National WaterQuality Assessment Program By STEPHEN J. WALSH and MICHAEL R. MEADOR . GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4239 Raleigh North Carolina 1998 . DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT Secretary . GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat Director The use of firm trade and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the . Government. For additional information write to Copies of this report can be purchased from District Chief . Geological Survey 3916 Sunset Ridge Road Raleigh NC 27607 . Geological Survey Information Services Box 25286 Federal Center Denver CO 80225 Information regarding the National Water-Quality Assessment NAWQA Program is available on the Internet via the World Wide Web at http nawqa . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Technical Support Larry R. Brown Research Physical Scientist . Geological Survey Sacramento Calif. Robert A. Daniels Curator New York State Museum Albany . Lawrence R. Deweese Fish and Wildlife Biologist . Geological Survey Denver Colo. Steven L. Goodbred Biologist . Geological Survey Sacramento Calif. Douglas F. Markle Professor and Curator of Fish Collection Oregon State University Corvallis Oreg. Thomas A. Muir NAWQA Coordinator for the Biological Resources Division . Geological Survey Reston Va. Charles F. Saylor Biologist Tennessee Valley Authority Norris Tenn. Stephen B. Smith Fish and Wildlife Biologist . Geological Survey Reston Va. James D. Williams Supervisory Research Fishery Biologist . Geological Survey Gainesville Fla. Technical Reviewers Peter M. Ruhl Hydrologist . Geological Survey Raleigh . William F. Smith-Vaniz Research Marine Biologist . Geological Survey Gainesville Fla. Publications Unit Support Jeffrey L. Corbett Scientific Illustrator . Geological Survey
