| This thesis characterizes spatial and temporal water quality changes in Newport Bay Watershed, Orange County, California. A database was created for analysis using 1977–2000 County data from 31 stations.; Principal Components Analysis (PCA) reduced eleven parameters to five composite variables explaining 77.6% of the variance of the original variables. Cluster Analysis of mean PCA scores created six Station Groups of similar water quality. Box plots and Excursion Analyses by station, Group, season, and Time Period, were analyzed.; The Upper Group had high nutrient levels from agriculture and urban runoff. TSS, VSS, and Turbidity were highest at Lower and Upper Group stations, from areas graded for agriculture and development. The Upper and Middle Groups had high Temperatures, and Bay and Middle Group stations had high EC. Bay stations had high DO and pH. High pH occurred at Middle and Lower Group stations. Inland Group stations had Low DO (See Preface for more detail).; The results allow water quality restoration/maintenance efforts to be selected/focused on parameters of concern at appropriate times and locations. The database will be instrumental in future research and development of a Watershed Management Plan. |
