# Presentation: 253698

## Using STORET Data to Determine Water Quality Designated Use Support

- Dwane Young, Bill Cooter, Elizabeth Sullivan
- RTI, Research Triangle Park, NC

**Using STORET Data to Determine Water Quality Designated Use Support**

- STORET Conference
- November 7-9, 2001

## Comparative Assessments

- Hi-Resolution

- Low-Resolution

## All Results Details

**All_Results_Details**

- Hi-Resolution Assessment Methodology

- STORET ‘View’ which provides all STORET monitoring data by station, date, and characteristic.  This view is available via the STORET Website and can be installed with the STORET Database.

## 305(b) Waters

- All_Results_Details

- Defined Assessment Units which are given a unique ID.  A defined Assessment Unit can be anything from an area around a monitoring station, a stream segment or lake to a defined watershed.

**305(b) Waters**

## 305(b)/Station Link

- All_Results_Details

- In order to use STORET data to perform assessments, you must first be able to identify which stations correspond with which assessment units.  This link allows for many stations to be assigned to a assessment unit or even many assessment units assigned to a station.

- 305(b) Waters

**305(b)/ Station Link**

## 305(b) Waters

- STORET Stations

## Active X Data Objects

- All_Results_Details

- Active X Data Objects (ADO) is a relatively new technology that allows you to connect to any number of data products (including ORACLE).  ADO is the means by which data can be viewed and extracted from the STORET ORACLE Views.  ADO is compatible with both Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Access 2000.

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

**ADO**

## Uses

- All_Results_Details

- Assessment Units have designated uses, like swimming or fishing, that are defined by state water quality standards.  Assessment units are given support ratings (attain or not attain) based on their ability to support their designated uses.

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

**Uses**

## Criteria

- All_Results_Details

- The ability of the assessment units to support their designated uses is determined using water quality criteria, which are also defined by state water quality standards.

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

**Criteria**

## Numeric

- All_Results_Details

- From a programming standpoint, there are two types of criteria:  Numeric and Equational Criteria.  Numeric criteria are simple criteria that define minimums, maximums, or a desired range of values.  An example of this type of criteria would be:
- pH > 6.5 and < 8

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

**Numeric**

- Equational

## Equational

- All_Results_Details

- Equational criteria are much more complicated.  They require the inputs of several parameters (characteristics) to create an index number that is compared against monitoring data in order to determine use support.  There are two ways to use these types of criteria.  They can either be hard-programmed into the application or they can be user driven.

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

**Equational**

## Support

- All_Results_Details

- Support determinations for a use can be determined by examining monitoring data to see if they meet the criteria defined for the use.  Non-supporting uses would then need to be examined as to whether or not a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) would need to be created for the Assessment Unit.

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

- Equational

**Support**

## Impairments/ Sources

- All_Results_Details

- Part of the 305(b) process is to determine what is impairing an assessment unit from attaining a use (i.e. Phosphorous, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, etc.) as well as what the sources of those impairments are (i.e. Sanitary Sewer Overflows).

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

- Equational

- Support

**Sources**

**Impairments**

## STORET DATA

- All_Results_Details

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

- Equational

- Support

- Sources

- Impairments

- Data derived from tables in STORET

- This represents all of the monitoring data as it is available in STORET.  An application would ideally be able to break down results by project

## ADB Data

- All_Results_Details

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

- Equational

- Support

- Sources

- Impairments

- Data derived from tables in STORET

- The ADB is designed as a conclusionary  database that stores final use support determinations, impairments, sources, and 303(d) status.

- Data that exists in the 305(b) Assessment Database (ADB)

## External Data

- All_Results_Details

- 305(b) Waters

- 305(b)/ Station Link

- ADO

- Uses

- Criteria

- Numeric

- Equational

- Support

- Sources

- Impairments

- Data derived from tables in STORET

- This data is stored externally to the ADB and STORET.  This data is used to assist in determining use support for these Hi-Resolution features.

- Data that exists in the 305(b) Assessment Database (ADB)

## Many states are setting up projects to develop probability-survey indicators 

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## These initiatives are often integrated with rotating basin assessment and management programs

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## EPA OW and ORD are working to ensure that monitoring data from EMAP projects can be accommodated in STORET

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Maintenance utilities can then help automate the production of project-level data summaries

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## The protocols established for EMAP data will pave the way to include state projects not formally part of EMAP.

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Core data items (including GIS materials)

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Case study examples from ...

- INDIANA
- KENTUCKY

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Indiana

- Define study area with Project ID and bounding polygon(s)
- Define sampling frame (e.g., rivers)
- Define designated use (e.g., aquatic life)

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Indiana

- Define critical CDF proportion where lower indicator scores reflect designated use non-attainment
- Document statistical confidence interval for this critical proportion value

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Indiana

- Use appropriate business graphics (e.g., pie charts or score cards) to communicate use attainment results for the project assessment unit

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Indiana - Core data items summary

- Low-Resolution Assessment Methodology

## Contact Information

- RTI
- 919-990-8676
- _[Dyoung@rti.org](mailto:Dyoung@rti.org)_
- Bill Cooter
- RTI
- 919-990-8694
- _[Sid@rti.org](mailto:Sid@rti.org)_