Includes bibliographical references (pages 23-24).

Water quality in streams and rivers in the Cook Inlet Basin is affected by natural features and human activities -- Pesticides detected in an urban stream in Anchorage also were detected in urban streams throughout the nation -- Many volatile organic compounds were present in an urban stream in Anchorage at low concentrations -- Nitrate concentrations were low in streams, but phosphorus commonly exceeded criteria for preventing nuisance plant growth -- Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon were highest in streams draining wetlands -- Urban streams are contaminated by fecal-indicator bacteria -- Streams and rivers in the Cook Inlet Basin are colder than other rivers nationally -- Some streambed and lakebed sediments in Cook Inlet Basin are contaminated by trace elements and organic compounds -- Trace elements are present at naturally large concentrations in streambed sediments -- Concentrations of lead in lakebed sediments have decreased since the 1970s -- Chemically persistent contamiinants were detected in urban lakebed sediments but were detected only infrequently in streambed sediments or fish tissues -- Semivolatile organic compounds were detected infrequently in streambed sediments -- Aquatic communities are adversly affected by a variety of natural and human-induced stresses -- Degradation of water quality and stream ecosystems occurs in the process of watershed urbanization -- Natural and human factors affect ground-water quality -- Low levels of pesticides and volatile organic compounds were detected in ground water -- Concentrations of nutrients in ground water were low -- Concentrations of radon in ground water are a health concern -- Arsenic in ground water is a national concern.