# Presentation: 673877

## National Aquatic Resource Surveys

- National Coastal Condition Assessment – 2010
- Sarah Lehmann

## National Aquatic Surveys

***EPA and our State, Tribal and Federal Partners are conducting statistical surveys of the condition of the Nation’s waters***
- Unbiased estimates of condition based on a representative sample of waters
- Core indicators using standardized field and lab methods
- Surveys cover Rivers/Streams, Lakes/Reservoirs, Wetlands, and **Coastal Waters**

## Key Objectives of the Survey

- What is the extent of waters that support healthy ecosystems, recreation, and fish consumption?
- How widespread are the most significant water quality problems?
- Is water quality improving?
- Are we investing in restoration and protection wisely?

## National Aquatic Resource Survey Schedule

|  | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lakes | Design | Field | Lab,data | Report* | Research | Design | Field |
| Rivers | Research | Design | Field | Lab,data | Report | Research | Design |
| Streams | Report | Research | Design | Field | Lab,data | Report | Research |
| Coastal
OW/Sec.106 | Design | Design | Design | Design | Field | Lab,data | Report |
| ORD/OW
Coastal | Last
EMAP
Surveys | NEP
CCR | NCCR 3
Report
2001-02 |  |  | NCCR 4
Report
2003-06 |  |
| Wetlands | Research | Research | Research | Research | Design | Field | Lab,data |

**Notes:**
This schedule was developed to illustrate the level of effort and key activities involved in generating reports on the condition of the nations waters that are based on statistically valid surveys designs, use standardized or comparable methods, address all water resource classes, and are repeated on a 5 year cycle.

Developing an initial baseline for each water resource type will require survey resources focus on one water resource type at a time.  Once a baseline is established survey implementation may transition to incorporate data collection for national/regional reporting with state-wide or rotating basin/watershed monitoring schedules.  The integration of national, regional and state scale monitoring and reporting may better support state monitoring capacity if some monitoring is conducted for all resources each year, even though it may take several years to accumulate sufficient data for state, regional and national scale reporting.  This additional flexibility in implementation would require additional coordination and logistical support to ensure data are available for reporting on a routine (e.g., 5 year) cycle for each water resource type.

Status of surveys & accomplishments:
WSA  - completed
Lakes - field season soon over, data analysis fall and winter
Rivers - method selection . . .
Wetlands –research ...
Coastal- finalizing 3rd report

## Monitoring Initiative –Current Allocation of Funds 

- Provide States $8.45M in 106 grant to participate in statistically-valid surveys of the Nation’s waters
- $8000 per site for regional/national scale survey in lower 48
- Provide an additional $9.8M in 106 grant for improved monitoring programs and state priorities
- $169,900/State annually for program enhancements outlined in state monitoring strategies

## EPA Use of the Surveys

- The results of the first national surveys -- the National Coastal Assessments and the Wadeable Streams Assessment – are included in EPA’s Report on the Environment
- http://www.epa.gov/roe/
- EPA’s strategic plan uses survey results as a key measure of the performance of our protection and restoration programs.
- http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm

## National Coastal Condition Report

- The National Coastal Assessment was the first national survey using the EMAP survey design.
- Three national reports produced since 2001 (one is still in draft).
- These National Coastal Condition Reports include statistical assessments of 100% of the nation’s estuaries in the contiguous 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
- Great Lakes information included but collected from SOLEC indicators.
**http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/**

## National Coastal Condition Report

- Reports address five key indicators of ecological health:
- water quality,
- coastal habitat loss,
- sediment quality,
- benthic community condition, and
- fish tissue contaminants.

## Overall Condition NCCR III

## NCCRs Planning

| National
Data |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NEP
Data |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

- NCCR I
- 2001

- NCCR II
- 2005

- NCCR III
- 2008

- NCCR IV
- 2011

- NCCR V
- 2012

- NEP REPORT I
- 2007

- NEP REPORT II
- 2012  ??

**2002**

**2001**

**1997-2000**

**2003**

**2004**

**2005**

**2007**

**2006**

**2008**

**2009**

**2010**

**1990-1996**

- Blue – Data Collected
- Pink – No Data Collected

## National Coastal Condition Report - 2010

- First meeting of State/Federal Workgroup planned for June 10-11 2008
- Workgroups will modify and add indicators in 2008
- New Issues:
- Add Great Lakes
- Section 106 funding
- Schedule:
- Sampling in 2010
- NCCR V in 2012

## Draft Agenda for June Meeting

- San Antonio, TX June 10-11, 2008
- Discuss funding approach
- Present and discuss sample draw – first “throw  away draft” for the Great Lakes
- Begin discussion of indicators – including focus on appropriate Great Lake indicators
- Establish indicator workgroups
- Plan future Webinars/meetings

## Questions?