Several recent reports have identified the need for improved water quality monitoring and analysis at multiple scales. In 2000, the General Accounting Office reported that EPA and states cannot make statistically valid inferences about water quality and lack data to support key management decisions. In 2001, the National Research Council recommended EPA and states promote a uniform, consistent approach to ambient monitoring and data collection to support core water quality programs. In 2002, the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment found there are inadequate data for national reporting on fresh water, coastal and ocean water quality indicators. The National Association of Public Administrators stated that improved water quality monitoring is necessary to help states make more effective use of limited resources. EPA's Report on the Environment 2003 says that there is insufficient information to provide a national answer, with confidence and scientific credibility, to the question, 'What is the condition of U.S. waters and watersheds.' In response to this need, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water, in concert with EPA's Office of Research and Development and the 10 EPA Regions, conceived of the Wadeable Streams Assessment (WSA) - a national assessment of the condition of wadeable streams and rivers in the conterminous U.S.

"EPA 841-B-04-005." August 2004. Microfiche.