National water quality monitoring council

NWQMC Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) Secretary of the Interior Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) NWQMC

Provide national forum for coordination of methods & strategies to improve water quality monitoring, assessment & reporting.

Membership Federal Agencies States and Tribes Other Interests USEPA, USGS, NOAA, USDA (NRCS, USFS), USFWS, NPS, TVA, and USCOE States and Tribes States representing USEPA Regions 1- 10 National Tribal Council Other Interests Professional Organizations: ACWA, NACWA, NALMS, AASG, WEF, NCASI, Interstate Organizations-ORSANCO, Great Lakes region, Gulf of Mexico Alliance Academia-ASLO, CUAHSI Volunteer Monitoring and Citizen Science Groups

NWQMC Purpose Terms of Reference from Advisory Committee on Water Information and ITFM Final Report, 1995 Champion and support water quality information for natural resource management and environmental protection, including consideration of quantity Coordinate and provide guidance and technical support for implementation of ITFM recommendations Stimulate monitoring improvements to achieve comparable and scientifically defensible information water quality conditions Support decision making at local, state, interstate, regional, tribal, national scale

Council Terms of Reference Functions and Tasks Maintain institutional framework Evaluate progress Method and data comparability Data quality and documentation Information management and sharing Data elements, codes and reference tables National assessment Reporting and public education Information dissemination National and international activities

Council Goals Provide a national forum for coordination of comparable and scientifically defensible methods and strategies for improving water quality monitoring, assessment, and reporting. Bring together scientists, managers, and citizens to ensure information about the quality of our waters is accurate, reliable, and comparable. Foster collaborative and cost-effective approaches to improve and advance the science of water-quality monitoring.

Council Workgroups Working together for clean water Water Information Strategies Workgroup Water Quality Portal Workgroup Methods and Data Comparability Board Aquatic Sensor Workgroup Collaboration and Outreach Workgroup Conference Committee National Network of Reference Watersheds Volunteer Monitoring Working Group

Water Information Strategies Workgroup Mary Skopec, University of Iowa, Co-Chair Aaron Borisenko, Oregon DEQ, Co-Chair Fact sheet series – what your manager needs to know about monitoring Water Data Portal – implement strategy Increase data submission – Marketing and Training Subgroup Identify priority data sources not yet serviced by portal Advertising and messaging for WQP Develop YouTube videos and tutorials for linking or loading data to the portal Deploy open source discover and analysis tools to provide incentive to participate in data sharing Increase data quality – Metadata Standards Subgroup Promote EPA guidance on best practices for documenting nutrient data Support EPA data quality workgroups Water Quality Standards Subgroup Compile inventory of water quality standards, building on existing efforts Facilitate increased collaboration among standards, monitoring and assessment efforts Evaluate Progress Subgroup – explore metrics of progress

Water Information Strategies Workgroup Defines and promotes strategies for monitoring designs Data management Data access and exchange Data integration and analysis Information reporting Recent WIS workgroup products include: NEMI Statistical Methods Statistical Confidence Illustrator tool Survey of water-quality indices/report cards “What your manager needs to know” fact sheet series

The Water Quality Portal (WQP) Data from EPA, USGS, state agencies, volunteer monitoring groups, and USDA Agriculture Research Service User Friendly Web Interface to locate Water Quality Data Contains over 150 million records One convenient location to store and retrieve data

Water Quality Portal The WQP is standalone web-service that allows users to easily download USGS, USEPA, and USDA water- quality data from a single website The WQP is not an actual database; instead it retrieves data from over 400 local, state, and federal databases (USGS-NWIS, USEPA-STORET, USDA- STEWARDS) The WQP includes discrete water-quality information only (physical, chemical, biological, and monitoring site metadata) Data must be organized and formatted using the Water-Quality Exchange (WQX) template

www.waterqualitydata.us Search over 150 million water-quality records from States, Tribes, USEPA, and USGS the Water Quality Portal. To effectively address environmental issues, we need monitoring data that are readily available for analysis. We have reached an important milestone that addresses this issue. This week, a single, unified Water Quality Portal is being released and is now available through the Council’s web page. The Portal is a cooperative service sponsored by the USGS, the EPA, and the Council that integrates publicly available water-quality data from the USGS National Water Information System (called NWIS), and the EPA Modern STORET Data Warehouse. Currently, nearly 200 million results, from over 5 million monitoring locations are currently accessible through the Portal. I strongly encourage everyone to learn about the Portal and how it can help you.

Water Quality Portal National Results Coverage

1.4 Billion Water Quality Portal Accomplishments 100 million Automated Web Retrievals Downloaded 100 million Maximum number of Records downloaded in a single day 4,155 visits from 2,600 users

Methods and Data Comparability Board Methods and Data Comparability Board Dan Sullivan, Chair, USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center Current activities: Sensor workgroup Training Decontamination issues Sensor Development National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) Biological Assessment Comparability

Aquatic Sensors Workgroup Accomplishments Illustrated sensor field deployment guide for rivers and streams Led recent multi-agency JAWRA paper on use and benefits of continuous nitrate sensors Collaborating w/multiple partners on: Nitrate Sensor Challenge Watershed Interoperability Experiment At the last conference, the sensors workgroup hosted a workshop on megadata; the focus of which was to both understand the source of sensors data, how to manage the data, and how to interpret the data. Much work remains to be done and the group is discussing a project in which case studies would be examined to see the variety of ways that data are currently being used by various entities, to summarize the state of the science, and to begin to solicit ideas and input on other ways or improved ways to interpret large data-dense datasets. Another project we have been involved in at a couple levels is the Nutrient sensors challenge, an USEPA-led initiative to further the use of sensors in order to more completely monitor and understand the water bodies in the U.S. One effort is the development of a white paper on the current state-of-the-science, while another is a workshop that will be held in September to discuss the specifications for a new type of sensor that is more affordable than the current offerings, and what are the acceptable levels of performance that manufacturers can aim for while attempting to achieve significant reductions in the retail price of sensors. Finally, we plan to revisit some earlier products of the workgroup and discuss whether revisions to make them more user-friendly will aid a significant portion of the community. At our recent Council meeting, we heard from several members that information on acceptable levels of QA/QC, guidance on appropriate uses, and just better communication of the overall workflow involved in incorporating sensors into a monitoring program, are still needed.

Aquatic Sensors Guide QA Matrix Field Deployment Guide checklist for calibration and record keeping Field Deployment Guide setting and maintaining sensors enhance representativeness and reliability Sensors Data Elements (or metadata) who, what, why, when, where, & how Glossary of Terms

Web-based source for environmental monitoring methods Laboratory Field Statistical and analytical Format allows for easy comparison and contrast of critical method parameters Full methods are available for download www.nemi.gov EPA regulatory status information Variety of media/matrices (e.g. air, water, soil, sediment, tissues, etc.)

National Monitoring Conference 2018 National Monitoring Conference: Kansas City, Missouri April 9th -12th, 2018

Conference Committee Alice Mayio, Co-Chair, U. S Conference Committee Alice Mayio, Co-Chair, U.S. EPA Office of Water Tim Oden, Co-Chair, USGS Colorado Water Science Center Working Together for Clean Water – 10th National Monitoring Conference Overview from 2016 Over 670 participants from federal, state, tribal, volunteer, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations 300 presentations, 70 posters, 20 workshops, short courses and panel discussion sessions addressing topics from local to national interest Continuous monitoring and remote sensing Algal blooms, nutrients, and other specific water quality issues Building and sustaining monitoring collaborations Managing, visualizing, and communicating data and results Awards recognizing outstanding contributions to monitoring Elizabeth Jester Fellows Award Recipient: William G. "Bill" Wilber, USGS (ret.) Barry Alan Long Award Recipient: Faith Zerbe, Delaware Riverkeeper Vision Award Recipient: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

National Monitoring Conference Accomplishments By the Numbers: Ten conferences to date including Tampa Attendance has ranged from a few hundred (Reno, 1998) to over 1,050 attendees (Portland, 2012) Unique mix of professional (federal, state, local) and non-professional (volunteer monitoring) participants Typical conference as 250-300 oral presentations and 75-150 posters, 40-50 exhibitors, 30-40 workshops and training sessions, and 10-15 field trips. Great networking opportunities and outstanding food!

National Network of Reference Watersheds Mike McHale, Chair, USGS New Your Water Science Center Current status Available on Council website Over 2500 watersheds with more than 10 years of flow data Ability to use pre-defined or customize criteria for reference watershed Download data for up to 50 watersheds at a time Focus in 2017 Expansion to look for new users and data contributors Explore use of new open source tools, data discovery tool and R analytical tools to compile and interpret water quality data in reference watersheds

Establishing a National Network of Reference Watersheds for Freshwater Streams Provide quality-assured data & information for use in understanding effects of land use change, water use, atmospheric deposition, and climate change of freshwater ecosystems. National Network of Reference Watersheds This is one of our newest activities, and one that addresses an issue that is important to many of us. And one of the key functions called for in the Council’s terms of reference. The Council has established an interim executive committee that will develop a blueprint for a collaborative national network of freshwater reference watersheds and monitoring sites. The network will provide quality-assured data and information for use in understanding effects of land use change, water use, atmospheric deposition, and climate change of freshwater ecosystems. Big Thompson River Rocky Mountain National Park

National Network of Reference Watersheds Accomplishments Currently has about 2,500 watersheds w/10 years of flow data About 500 of these are “core” watersheds Mostly USGS & EPA sites but seeking partners WQ data linked to NNRW watersheds via the WQP https://my.usgs.gov/nnrw The NNRW began in 2011 with the formation of the a Reference Watersheds working group within the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. We have spent the last 3 years developing the concept of the network and a network website that allows users to search a database of reference watersheds and links those searches the NWQMC Water Quality portal to deliver water quality data for network watersheds.

Volunteer Monitoring Danielle Donkersloot, Co-Chair, Isaac Walton League Julie Vastine, Co-Chair, Dickinson College Partnering with communications and outreach group Website resources for volunteer monitoring, including map of organizations Webinars for volunteer monitoring and citizen science community Newsletter articles Conference committee Exploring mechanisms for scholarship fund to assist volunteer monitoring participation at conference Partnering with WIS and Water Quality Portal Leverage and improve EPA tools for small data owners to share and to retrieve data via the portal Develop simplified training and assistance

Volunteer Monitoring Integration and Support from NWQMC “How-To” Create and Sustain State and Regional Water Monitoring Councils toolkit available Development of a Volunteer Monitoring Council National Directory of Programs VM Success Stories

Volunteer Monitoring Directory Resources - -including the listserv, newsletter, and publications Directory Eleanor Ely Eleanor Ely, longtime editor of The Volunteer Monitor newsletter, passed away on January 26, 2012. She was the driving force behind The Volunteer Monitor – the voice of volunteer monitoring -- from 1990 to 2010. She was always eager to share her knowledge, experience, and connections with others, and to help forward the cause of volunteer environmental monitoring. She will be deeply missed.

Communications and Outreach Workgroup Candice Hopkins, Co-Chair, USGS Idaho Water Science Center Danielle Donkersloot, Co-Chair, Isaac Walton League Ongoing communication and outreach Review Social Media Accounts, e.g. YouTube, and Update Website on a 3 month rotation Issue bi-annual newsletter Host webinars Expand communication to state, tribal, and local monitoring councils Work on reaching out to the international community Trainings and Certifications Group will identify core competencies desired by monitoring community Identify existing training and certification programs Explore options to fill gaps National Assessment Promote collaboration among federal, state, tribal and other organizations engaged in monitoring and assessment Highlight findings from complementary national assessments based on federal and state data Develop key messages focusing on topics of national interest including nutrients, algal blooms and relationship to each other as well as to human health

Webinars & YouTube youtube.com/nwqmc Volunteer Monitoring Resources - -including the listserv, newsletter, and publications Directory Eleanor Ely Eleanor Ely, longtime editor of The Volunteer Monitor newsletter, passed away on January 26, 2012. She was the driving force behind The Volunteer Monitor – the voice of volunteer monitoring -- from 1990 to 2010. She was always eager to share her knowledge, experience, and connections with others, and to help forward the cause of volunteer environmental monitoring. She will be deeply missed. Continuous Monitoring of Nutrients Water Contaminants Information Tools Hydrology for Extreme Events

National Water Monitoring News: An Online Newsletter for the Water Quality Monitoring Community Published in the Spring and Fall Articles from across the nation Highlights recent accomplishments, developments, and upcoming events

To Find Out More… Visit our Website: acwi.gov/monitoring Sign up for our webinar announcements, or, sign up for our distribution list Join our LinkedIn account, and follow us on Twitter @nwqmc