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The Sustainable Water Resources RoundtableApril 26, 2006

Needs for Indicators

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• Indicator Data Needs & Management Needs

• EPA Frameworks & Updates• The Monitoring Network Design

of the NWQMC

Presentation Outline

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• Water indicators are rarely ( if ever) conceived independent of management needs

• Agency perspectives influence content

• Its strategic plan• Its decision making

• Perception of Agency needs changes

• Role in data collection an issue

Indicator Data Needs & Management Needs

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• The Search for Water indicators• The search for data that exists

• Problems with “found data”• Seldom 100% appropriate• Seldom able to combine it or compute

with it• Data is seldom durable

• Data collected for specific purposes

Indicator Data Needs & Management Needs

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• EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives

• EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)

• EPA’s “National Surveys”

EPA Frameworks & Updates

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Systematic Planning for Environmental Data Collection

1. Define the problem

2. Define the decision

3. Define the information inputs

4. Specify the circumstances

• Spatial

• Temporal

• Target population

5. Synthesize the above into a logical choice among alternatives

EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives

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Systematic Planning for Environmental Data Collection

6. Specify acceptable limits on decision errors

7. Define a sampling scheme

8. Design the analysis

EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives

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• The ROE 03 was never > a draft• The ROE 07 – Public review in 9-06

• Discuss in detail the indicators and data that are currently available and their limitations.

• Identify the information gaps that should be addressed • Target Audience: Environmental professionals in

government agencies, academia, private industry, and non-

governmental organizations.

EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)

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• Based on 23 questions• Air• Water• Land• Human Health• Ecological condition

http://www.epa.gov/OEI/proceedings/pdfs/wentworth.pdf

EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)

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EPA’s “National Surveys”

•Statistically valid characterizations

• Stratified random samples

• Heavily dependent on biological endpoints

•National Coastal Assessment – Second report

•Wadeable Streams Assessment – Due May 8th

•Lakes Assessment -- Being planned

•Being researched:

• Great Rivers Assessment

• Wetlands Assessments

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• Data Needs & Management Needs

• EPA Frameworks & Updates• The Monitoring Network Design

of the NWQMC

Presentation Outline

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The National Water Quality Monitoring Network for

U.S. Coastal Waters and Their Tributaries

National Science and Technology CouncilApril 5, 2006

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The Oceans Act of 2000– Created U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy– To focus on:

Protection of life and property Stewardship of resources Protection of environment and pollution

prevention Enhancement of marine commerce Closer cooperation among government

agencies

Background

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15-1: Develop a national monitoring network that coordinates and expands existing efforts, including monitoring of atmospheric deposition.

15-2: Ensure that the national monitoring network includes adequate coverage in both coastal areas and the upland areas that affect them, and … linked to the IOOS.

15-3: Ensure that the monitoring network has clear goals, specific core variables and an apporpriate sampling framework.

Chapter 15: Recommendations for “Creating a National Monitoring Network”

1880 Participants in the National Water Quality Network Design

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Clear objectives linked to management questions A Network linked to IOOS A Network linking monitoring of linked resources

– A “Continuum of Observations” Flexibility over time Includes

– Data management system that provides accessible data– Metadata – Quality assurance

Design Features

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Monitoring design offers:– National and regional contexts for local programs– Continuum of observations and connectivity– A basis for cause-effect observations– Improved ecological forecasting capability

It builds on but doesn’t replace existing programs Raises the bar by promoting

– Comparable Data– Easy access to data

The Design

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Nine Resource compartments

A Continuum of Observations Estuaries Nearshore Offshore and EEZ Great Lakes Coastal Beaches WetlandsWith Flow and Flux from Rivers Atmosphere Groundwater

Structure of the Design

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Fixed station and probabilistic designs

Stations identified Parameters and sampling

frequencies specified Provisions for

– Data comparability– Data management & access

Structure of the Design

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National network at specified spatial and temporal density

The Network will rely on existing efforts to the extent possible

Federal backbone can be augmented with state and local data that are network compliant

Additions and enhancements can be accommodated

A Network of Networks

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(continued) Conditions and trends identified at national

scale State and local agencies continue to be

responsible for detailed problem identification and source tracking

A Network of Networks

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Design places major emphasis on storage and access– Built on ACWI’s Water Quality Data Elements for

content, metadata– Assumes USGS and EPA data warehouses– Assumes web services will be the data exchange

mechanism

Network Data Management

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WATER• What are the trends in extent and condition of fresh surface waters• What are the trends in extent and condition of coastal waters?• What are the trends in the condition of recreational waters?• What are the trends in the contamination/quality / safety of fish and

shellfish?• What are the trends in extent and condition of groundwater?• What are the trends in the extent and condition of wetlands?

http://www.epa.gov/OEI/proceedings/pdfs/wentworth.pdf

EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)