Every five years teams supporting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Aquatic Resource Survey—consisting of tribal, state, and federal partners—collect samples from over 2000 river and stream reaches throughout the United States. CSS analytical chemists support this effort by processing the samples and then analyzing them for various chemicals to help characterize their water quality.  The data are available at the U.S. EPA National Aquatic Resource Survey website where more information is provided on this program.

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Bank of a river lined with oyster shells and tall grass

Organizing National Mussel Watch Program Sample Collection Missions

Established in 1986, NOAA’s National Mussel Watch Program has been systematically monitoring nearly 600 chemical contaminants (including legacy organic contaminants, trace metals, and contaminants of emerging concern) and biological indicators for the establishment of baseline contamination levels in coastal waters around the U.S., including the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. CSS employee…

Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges

Great job to our team supporting our contract with the U.S. General Services Administration on assisting the client with conducting a year’s worth of environmental, health, and safety surveys in just six months! Due to limitations with COVID-19, the team was unable to conduct their surveys on their usual timeline and instead had to work…

Small bags containing various simulated plant root systems

Astronauts Conduct Latest Plant Water Management on the International Space Station

NASA recently performed the sixth iteration of the CSS-supported Plant Water Management experiment on the International Space Station (ISS).