Dataset: Surface waters in socially vulnerable areas are disproportionately under-monitored for nutrients in the U.S. South Atlantic-Gulf Region

In this study, we investigated: Are water quality monitoring stations proportionally distributed across communities of varying social vulnerability? We specifically focus on nutrient monitoring of surface waters in the South Atlantic-Gulf region, a water-rich area with diverse land uses and communities spanning the social vulnerability spectrum. We used 2018-2022 data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Storage and Retrieval database to compare station locations to census tract-scale metrics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and hydrography from the USGS. Statistical analyses revealed a significant disparity in the distribution of active monitoring station placements, with more monitoring stations in lower vulnerability areas and fewer in highly vulnerable areas. Stations were also clustered in areas of similar SVI values; areas were less likely to be monitored if they were near areas of differing SVI.