Outline Need to communicate WQ data Non scientists History of WQ indices What works My attempt at Report Card Common CWA language

“The River is the Report Card of the Watershed”

305b Assessment Needs Standardization Few numerical criteria Documentation Staff turnover Communication Target audiences

Water Quality Index state sanitary engineers 1974-National Sanitation Foundation Massachusetts revision DO and temperature revisions 1996 revisions

Water Quality Index DO pH Temperature Coliform BOD NO3 Total phosphorus Turbidity Suspended Solids

Problems (roll up index) Sense of precision Masking of problems Separating aquatic life/ recreation Incomplete data sets Missing indicators/ compartments

Al Gore 9/25/96 Environmental report card Coordinate monitoring efforts Guide decision-making Account to the public

Revisions Indicator groups Verbal categories Toxics Water Sediment Tissue Habitat/ Flow

Report Card Goals Environmental BaselineStatus Decision-making GuideID problems Prioritize problems Geo-target problems Diagnose/ fix problems ID threats ID remedial action groups Public AccountingTrends Coordinate MonitoringInformation Inventory ID information gaps

Report Card Information Entire basin-Prioritize Segments - Geotarget Water Uses Goals- Response indicators Diagnose -exposure indicators (causes) Fix-Sources Metadata- Confidence

Mass. River Basins 27 Basins 600 total segments segments/ basin 3 rd order streams

Water Uses National Goal Uses (4) Aquatic life Recreation Primary Secondary Fish consumption

GroupLevel Water UseRemedial Action Group Biology6Aquatic Life Water Quality chemistry nutrients toxics 4Wastewater conventional nonconventional priority pollutants Sediments4Hazardous Waste Flow4Water Management Habitat4Wetlands Protection Bacteria6Recreation Aesthetics4Recreation Fish Tissue5EdibilityPublic Health

Index Color Codes Blue - excellent, comparable to reference Green - good,meets criteria Yellow - threatened,may not meet in future Orange - fair, marginally meets Red - poor, does not meet criteria Grey - not assessed

Sources Point Sources Industrial Municipal CSO Nonpoint Sources Agriculture Silviculture Construction Urban Runoff/Stormwater Resource extraction Land disposal Hydro/Habitat modification Other

Source Color Code / 303d Red –Known source for a known cause established cause and effect Orange-Suspected source of a known cause Ex. -Multiple sources for DO problem Yellow-Potential source EX.-Salt pile

Metadata Four levels for each indicator bundle Based in information rigor/completeness (not quality) Assessment Types Levels 1-2 –Official reporting ? Levels 3-4- Suitable for 305b and 303d

Example: Water Column Chemistry Level 1-Summer low flow Level 2-Summer low flow: wet/dry Level 3- Entire hydrograph Summer low flow Spring high flow Fall high flow Winter low flow Level 4- Entire hydrograph for multiple (3+) years

Historical Trends Chemistry 70’s Conventional - DO, pH, temperature 80’s Non-conventional - nutrients 90’s Priority pollutants – toxics 00’s other compartments –sediments/biota

Millers River Sampling Plan

Status Response Indicators ID problems Prioritize problems Geo-target problems Diagnose/ fix problems ID threats ID remedial action groups Colors Columns Rows Causes/Sources Yellow Bundles TrendsMultiple years / Causes better than uses Information Inventory ID Data gaps Metadata card

Report Card Uses Four page 305b report ADB Reporting Water quality managers Group discussions (planning) Priorities for grant funding Coordinating with other monitoring groups Outreach (general public)

AudienceGroupUsesCausesMetadata Sources PublicX MonitorsDEP/EPA Volunteers XXXX XXXX Regulators305b 303d NPDES XXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXX PlannersFacility NPS WatershedX XXXXXX XXXXXX GrantsXX ManagementBossesXXXX

36 Procedure. Make evaluations on a “Segment Sheet”; then transfer information automatically to report cards “Overall Status” evaluations from a segment sheet are transferred to a single line on a report card

37 Configure the Report Cards. All four report cards are automatically modified; extra segment sheets are hidden.

Coordination in Development 305b reporting Uses Causes Sources Metadata 303d list Sources National Water Quality Monitoring Council Indicator groupings (IFIM)

Current Users (Experimenters) Massachusetts Hilary Snook, Lakes, NELP California Lilian Busse, Monitoring Program, San Diego River John Marshack, Healthy Watersheds Oregon Aaron Borisenko, Program reporting Vermont Neil Kamman, Basin Planning

Joseph Pulitzer Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so that they will appreciate it, picturesquely so that they will remember it, and, above all accurately so that they will be guided by its light.