The Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable April 26, 2006

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The Sustainable Water Resources RoundtableApril
26, 2006
Needs for Indicators
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Presentation Outline

• Indicator Data Needs Management Needs
• EPA Frameworks Updates
• The Monitoring Network Design of the NWQMC

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Indicator Data Needs Management Needs

• 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

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Indicator Data Needs Management Needs

• 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

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EPA Frameworks Updates

• EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives
• EPAs Report on the Environment (ROE)
• EPAs National Surveys

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EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives

• Systematic Planning for Environmental Data
  Collection
• Define the problem
• Define the decision
• Define the information inputs
• Specify the circumstances
• Spatial
• Temporal
• Target population
• Synthesize the above into a logical choice among
  alternatives

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EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives

• Systematic Planning for Environmental Data
  Collection
• 6. Specify acceptable limits on decision errors
• Define a sampling scheme
• Design the analysis

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EPAs Report on the Environment (ROE)

• The ROE 03 was never gt 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.

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EPAs Report on the Environment (ROE)

• Based on 23 questions
• Air
• Water
• Land
• Human Health
• Ecological condition
• http//www.epa.gov/OEI/proceedings/pdfs/wentworth.
  pdf

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EPAs 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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Presentation Outline

• Data Needs Management Needs
• EPA Frameworks Updates
• The Monitoring Network Design of the NWQMC

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The National Water Quality Monitoring Network
forU.S. Coastal Waters and Their
TributariesNational Science and Technology
CouncilApril 5, 2006
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Background

• 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

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U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

• 31 Chapters with 200 specific recommendations
• Draft sent for review by 55 states and
  territories
• Chapter 15
• Creating a National Monitoring Network

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Chapter 15 Recommendations for Creating a
National Monitoring Network

• 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.

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The Administrations Response

• Created a Committee on Ocean Policy
• Coordinate the activities of executive
  departments and agencies
• Facilitate coordination and consultation among
  Federal, State, tribal, local governments, the
  private sector, foreign governments and
  international organizations
• Issued the U.S. Ocean Action Plan (December 17,
  2004)

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CEQ and NSTC Charge to ACWI

• Charge formally accepted by ACWI in February,
  2005
• Delegated responsibility to NWQMC
• Progress report to SWAQ in May, 2005
• Progress reported to ACWI in September, 2005
• Draft report presented to ACWI in January, 2006
• Report approved by ACWI in April, 2006

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80 Participants in the National Water Quality
Network Design
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Participant Affiliation
2
Local
Industry
Federal
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40
State Tribal
28
Academia
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Design Features

• 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

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The Design

• 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 doesnt replace existing
  programs
• Raises the bar by promoting
• Comparable Data
• Easy access to data

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Structure of the Design

• Nine Resource compartments

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

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Structure of the Design

• Fixed station and probabilistic designs
• Stations identified
• Parameters and sampling frequencies specified
• Provisions for
• Data comparability
• Data management access

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Constituent Categories

• Physical Flow magnitude and direction, physical
  habitat, sediments
• Chemical
• - Inorganic Water-quality characteristics,
  major ions, nutrients, metals and metalloids
• - Organic Bulk organics, volatile organic
  compounds, pesticides, halogenated hydrocarbons,
  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, contaminants
  with new and emerging concerns
• Biological Diversity, toxicity

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Network Design Summary
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Monitoring Estuaries
Sites Shown Meet Several Needs
Some sites cover each of the 18 estuaries shown here
Some sites Cover the IOOS Region
Other sites cover estuarine flow and transport
Some of the other sites monitor short-term variability in each estuary
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Monitoring Near Shore
This shows 13 of the 50 sites that cover each IOOS Region
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Great Lakes Nearshore and Offshore Sites
Some sites Cover the IOOS Region
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Monitoring Large Rivers
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Proposed Riverine Stations Great Lakes
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Monitoring Coastal Rivers
2i
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A Continuum of Observations

• Estuaries
• Nearshore
• Offshore and EEZ
• Great Lakes
• Coastal Beaches
• Wetlands
• With Flow and Flux from
• Rivers
• Atmosphere
• Groundwater

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Coordination With IOOS

• Design proposes to involve the IOOS Regional
  Associations in managing a part of the proposed
  monitoring
• Design has a data management plan that is
  consistent with the IOOS Data Plan
• Design relies on IOOS plans for monitoring the
  Offshore compartment

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A Network of Networks

• 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

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A Network of Networks

• (continued)
• Conditions and trends identified at national
  scale
• State and local agencies continue to be
  responsible for detailed problem identification
  and source tracking

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Metrics to Track Network Implementation

• Finalize design to determine the whole
• Complete the inventory to determine what portion
  is on-going
• Example Streamgages
• Need 258 sites at downstream point of HUC-6
  basins
• 222 streamgages in place
• METRIC 86 of total needed are in place

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Network Data Management

• Design places major emphasis on storage and
  access
• Built on ACWIs Water Quality Data Elements for
  content, metadata
• Assumes USGS and EPA data warehouses
• Assumes web services will be the data exchange
  mechanism

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Next Steps

• Discuss the details and advantages of the Network
  with groups that may become partners in its
  implementation
• Appoint agency staff to coordinate implementation
  of pilots
• Identify and negotiate pilot studies
• Further develop selected details of the Design
• Conduct a full inventory of ongoing monitoring
  that might meet Network requirements
• Develop metrics to track progress in Network
  implementation
• Identify resources

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EPAs Report on the Environment (ROE)

• 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