The goal for each of the Breakout Groups was to provide advice on use of data interpretation tools used to make sediment management decisions. Although there may be similar data at two sites, decisions to act may be for entirely different reasons. There was an agreement throughout the Group that there should be consistent data interpretation rules and protocols applied to all Areas of Concern. A result of a protocol doesn't necessarily determine the action, a combination of tests do.
Additional knowledge is necessary.
For example, in regard to research needs, ecologically defined points of departure from reference conditions needs to be defined using the direction of the trajectory with respect to distance from the reference condition and with respect to time. Ways of interpreting data became the next focus. Human health standards might override the benthic community data. Other ways to evaluate the benthic community besides the reference approach include bioassessment, abundance, and diversity. There is no one single way to interpret the data and apply it to all sites.