# Presentation: 322633

## The Sustainable Water Resources RoundtableApril 26, 2006

**The Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable****April 26, 2006**

**Needs for Indicators**

**Notes:**
National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal
Waters and their Tributaries

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

**EPA Frameworks & Updates**
**The Monitoring Network Design of the NWQMC**

**Presentation Outline**

## 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

**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

## 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	

**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

## EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives
EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)
EPA’s “National Surveys”

**EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)**
**EPA’s “National Surveys”**

**EPA Frameworks & Updates**

## 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

**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**

**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

- 6.	Specify acceptable limits on decision errors
- Define a sampling scheme
- Design the analysis

**EPA Guidance on Data Quality Objectives**

## 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. 

**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)**

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

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

**Air**
**Water**
**Land**
**Human Health**
**Ecological condition**
**http://www.epa.gov/OEI/proceedings/pdfs/wentworth.pdf**

**EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)**

**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 8****th**
**Lakes Assessment -- Being planned**
**Being researched:**
**	****Great Rivers Assessment**
**	****Wetlands Assessments**** **

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

**EPA Frameworks & Updates**
**The Monitoring Network Design of the NWQMC**

**Presentation Outline**

## The National Water Quality Monitoring Network forU.S. Coastal Waters and Their TributariesNational Science and Technology CouncilApril 5, 2006

**The National Water Quality Monitoring Network for****U.S. Coastal Waters and ****Their Tributaries****National Science and Technology Council****April 5, 2006**

**Notes:**
National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal
Waters and their Tributaries

## 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

**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**

**Notes:**
Canada passed its Oceans Act in 1997; Australia established its oceans policy in 1997.

## 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***

**Notes:**
Of the 212 recommendations, 62 directly relate to NOAA; 23 to EPA

## 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.

- 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”**

**Notes:**
First opportunity to define what IOOS is

## 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)

- 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)

**The Administration’s ****Response**

**Notes:**
Under the Oceans Act, the Administration must submit to Congress within 90 days a statement of proposals to implement or respond to the Commission’s recommendations.

## 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

- 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

**CEQ and NSTC Charge to ACWI**

**8**

**Notes:**
Note that the Charge was referenced in the Ocean Action Plan

GEM COMMENT—I suggest we add at least one slide after this that will show the number and distribution of folks who worked on this project.  That number alone and, perhaps, an indication of the number of Feds, state folks, private sector, etc. gives the design a lot of credibility.

## 8

- 80 Participants in the National Water Quality Network Design

**8**

## Participant Affiliation

- Federal

- Academia

- State &
- Tribal

**40%**

**28%**

**23%**

**7%**

- Industry

**2%**

- Local

**Participant Affiliation**

**Notes:**
Make Bigger 

## 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 

- 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**

## 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 

- 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 **

## Nine Resource compartments

- 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

**Structure of the Design**

**Notes:**
Linked compartments follow the flow of water from uplands
	River flow and loads and conditions
	Estuarine transformations – dynamics – stratifications
	Near-shore – reduced evidence of land side influences  
	Off shore – primarily monitoring of large-scale physical forces
Fixed an Prob Based Sites each play a role
	Fixed: provide a long term temporal record, links to cause and effect
 	Probability sites characterize the resource

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

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

**Structure of the Design**

**Notes:**
Linked compartments follow the flow of water from uplands
	River flow and loads and conditions
	Estuarine transformations – dynamics – stratifications
	Near-shore – reduced evidence of land side influences  
	Off shore – primarily monitoring of large-scale physical forces
Fixed an Prob Based Sites each play a role
	Fixed: provide a long term temporal record, links to cause and effect
 	Probability sites characterize the resource

## 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 

**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

**   ****Constituent Categories**

## Network  Design Summary

**Network  Design Summary**

## 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 |

**Monitoring Estuaries**

**16**

**Notes:**
GEM COMMENTS:  Looks like 7 states are shown—MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD
			Are there more than 10 estuaries illustrated?  Confusing to have different number of sites in the estuaries and in the states.

## Monitoring Near Shore

**Monitoring Near Shore**

| This shows 13 of the 50 sites that cover each IOOS Region |
| --- |

**17**

**Notes:**
GEM COMMENT– This illustration is just a part of an IOOS region, right? Yes, only a portion is covered because of the resolution

## Great Lakes Nearshore 

**Great Lakes Nearshore **
**and Offshore Sites**

- Some sites Cover the IOOS Region

**18**

## Monitoring Large Rivers

**Monitoring Large Rivers**

**19**

**Notes:**

222 Sites Inland Active 
36   Inland sites needing upgrades  (258-222=36 from Ch 3 text, Page 18)
	17 Stage only (From Appendix 3-4)
	24 Gages needing reactivation (From Appendix 3-4)

22   New sites needed (From Appendix 3-4)
Sites for flow and loads to estuaries in the shaded areas ( final choices in consultation with local experts )
	I get 171 from Table 3-4 ( 44 in bold and 171 not bolded) 

## Proposed Riverine Stations – Great Lakes

**Proposed Riverine Stations – Great Lakes**

**20**

**Notes:**
From:  Figure 3-8. Map of the Great Lakes drainage in the United States, showing proposed river monitoring sites. 
Shows 56 sites for flow and loads to Great Lakes; downstream point of basins that are 250 square miles or more

From Appendix 3-4:
2 New sites
2 Stage Only sites
10 Inactive sties to reactivate

**Monitoring Coastal Rivers**

**2i**

## A Continuum of Observations

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

**A Continuum of Observations**

**22**

**Notes:**
Reminder to say something about the other resources 

## 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

- 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

**Coordination With IOOS**

## 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

- 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**

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

-      (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**

## 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

- 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

**Metrics to Track Network Implementation**

## 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

- 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**

## 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

- 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

**Next Steps**

**Notes:**
In Summary:  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
Similarity to – but more complex than -- the National Weather Service monitoring protocols
Data are obtained from different sources to develop operational products
Global community mines data to analyze, understand and report on a wide range of issues
Opportunity to exercise leadership!

## 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

- 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)**