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New WQX 3.0 profiles are available at waterqualitydata.us/beta/. These profiles will contain recent USGS data added since March 11, 2024, which marks the beginning of limited accessibility for USGS data. Read more about the 3.0 profiles and associated changes here.

This legacy user interface will continue to function for several weeks. However, this user interface only serves WQX2.2 profiles, which do NOT contain USGS data added after March 11, 2024.

WQP Home >  Providers >  NWIS >  USGS-KY >  USGS-03215000

BIG SANDY R AT LOUISA, KY (USGS-03215000) site data in the Water Quality Portal

Data Provider: NWIS (Learn more about Water Quality Portal Data Providers)

This stream site, maintained by the USGS Kentucky Water Science Center (identifier USGS-KY), has the name "BIG SANDY R AT LOUISA, KY" and has the identifier USGS-03215000. This site is in the watershed defined by the 8 digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)05070204. See more details of this site the the USGS NWIS Web page for this site. This site has a drainage area of 3897.0 sq mi.

This site is located in Lawrence County County, Kentucky at 38.17119708000000 degrees latitude and -82.6346023000000 degrees longitude using the datum NAD83. The horizontal location collection method was "Interpolated from MAP." and the accuracy is 5 seconds. This site is at an elevation of 512.13 feet and the accuracy of the elevation measurement, collected using the method "GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System" is .07 feet. The vertical coordinate reference system is NAVD88.

To download the metadata about this site along with water quality data, go to the Portal Page and enter "USGS-03215000" into the "Site ID" box under Site Parameters

What other monitoring locations are upstream or downstream from this one?

Upstream and downstream locations

This map shows all Water Quality Portal stations that are 10 miles upstream (dashed dark blue) and 10 miles downstream (solid light blue) of this monitoring location (indicated by the large blue circle). The upstream and downstream functionality is provided by the Network Linked Data Index.

When were data collected at this location?

Periods of record for data characteristic groups

For a more detailed breakdown of data, go to the Monitoring Report at the EPA How's My Waterway Application
Characteristic Group Date Range*
Biological, Algae, Phytoplankton 1974 - 1993
Biological, Algae, Phytoplankton, Cyanobacteria, Periphyton 1974 - 1978
Biological, Algae, Phytoplankton, Photosynthetic Pigments 1974 - 1978
Biological, Counts 1974 - 1981
Biological, Fish 1988 - 1993
Biological, Photosynthetic Pigments 1974 - 1978
Information 1975 - 1991
Inorganics, Major, Metals 1966 - 1993
Inorganics, Major, Non-metals 1965 - 1993
Inorganics, Minor, Metals 1965 - 1993
Inorganics, Minor, Non-metals 1974 - 1993
Microbiological 1975 - 1993
Nutrient 1965 - 1993
Organics, Other 1974 - 1993
Organics, PCBs 1976 - 1982
Organics, Pesticide 1975 - 1982
Physical 1965 - 1993
Radiochemical 1981 - 1990
Sediment 1974 - 1993
*Date ranges may contain gap years

What other information is available for this location?

Detailed Metadata

For the definitions of the metadata elements, please go to the Water Quality Portal user guide

Location Metadata Value
OrganizationIdentifier USGS-KY
OrganizationFormalName USGS Kentucky Water Science Center
MonitoringLocationIdentifier USGS-03215000
MonitoringLocationName BIG SANDY R AT LOUISA, KY
MonitoringLocationTypeName Stream
HUCEightDigitCode 05070204
DrainageAreaMeasure/MeasureValue 3897.0
DrainageAreaMeasure/MeasureUnitCode sq mi
LatitudeMeasure 38.17119708000000
LongitudeMeasure -82.6346023000000
HorizontalAccuracyMeasure/MeasureValue 5
HorizontalAccuracyMeasure/MeasureUnitCode seconds
HorizontalCollectionMethodName Interpolated from MAP.
HorizontalCoordinateReferenceSystemDatumName NAD83
VerticalMeasure/MeasureValue 512.13
VerticalMeasure/MeasureUnitCode feet
VerticalAccuracyMeasure/MeasureValue .07
VerticalAccuracyMeasure/MeasureUnitCode feet
VerticalCollectionMethodName GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System
VerticalCoordinateReferenceSystemDatumName NAVD88
CountryCode US
StateCode 21
CountyCode 127
ProviderName NWIS