July 16, 2002 Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council An Activities Report to the National Water Quality Monitoring Council by Holly Huyck, Steve Lohman, Ben Alexander, Bill Horak Denver, Colorado July 16, 2002

Formation of CWQMC Feb. 98 WRRI Director letter to CDPHE, USGS Nov. 98 “Testing the waters” mtg. John Klein spoke about NWQMC Strong support for Council idea Jan. 99 Created organizing committee June 99 Officially launched CWQMC

July 16, 2002 An Early Show-Stopper Issue Will this Council attempt a prescriptive stance toward monitoring activities of its member agencies—or non-members that do monitoring in Colorado?? Had to deal head-on with that concern before we could move forward

July 16, 2002 Charter Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council Leading the Way in Public/Private Collaboration Purpose Goals Membership Organization

July 16, 2002 Purpose Statewide collaborative body, open to all Seeks to improve the linkage between information needs of policy and decision makers with efforts to collect and assess data Promotes effective monitoring programs Shall address the full range of water quality information Non-voting body that operates through consensus

July 16, 2002 Goals Provide a forum for effective communication, cooperation, collaboration, and documentation among individuals and organizations involved in monitoring Promote the development of collaborative and cost effective watershed-based monitoring strategies

July 16, 2002 Goals (cont.) Promote the use of quality assurance procedures and protocols related to sample collection, analytical methods, assessment, data management and distribution Provide strategic direction for a statewide structure for the acquisition, analysis, archiving, and dissemination of water-quality information

July 16, 2002 Membership Individuals/organizations who are involved in water quality (or quantity) monitoring in Colorado Participate in at least one watershed/basin group or association Agree to share data and cooperate with other monitoring entities

July 16, 2002 Membership (cont.) Officers: Chair Treasurer Other Officers as deemed necessary All selected from and by the Council, by consensus Officers rotated annually Dues

July 16, 2002 Organization Committees: The Council may establish ad hoc or standing committees to address issues of statewide concern.

July 16, 2002 Organization (cont.) Standing Committees To Date: Steering Committee Monitoring Coordination Committee Data Management Committee Outreach and Information Sharing Committee Aquatic Life Committee

July 16, 2002 Highlighted Accomplishments 2000 & 2001 Improved Communications – use pre- and post- meeting packets Assisted with update of Colorado Geological Survey’s Directory of Colorado Water Quality data Conducted MetaData Swap for Clear Creek Basin Colorado Water Quality Conference – Co-hosted with AWRA Developed a CWQMC website Fostered close ties with NWQMC and MDCB

July 16, 2002 Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council Chartered Purpose and Goals with Planned Actions for 2002 Actions in red are highest priorities for 2002

July 16, 2002 Goals and Planned Actions for 2002 Provide a forum for effective communication, cooperation, collaboration, and documentation among individuals and organizations involved in monitoring. · Foster the continued development of trust among CWQMC members. · Increase our membership and encourage active participation by members. · Identify and document the water-quality information needs of members. · Enable Council to raise funds by obtaining 501c status and develop visual identity (logo). · Develop and maintain an attractive and highly functional website. · Develop Web-based map index to the who, what, where, why of WQ monitoring in Colorado. · Take advantage of NWQMC Denver meeting as outreach opportunity. · Plan a Nat. Monitoring Day observance and the next WQ Conference · Promote CWQMC as an informational resource and supportive forum to WQ policy makers.

July 16, 2002 Goals and Planned Actions for 2002 (cont.) Promote the development of collaborative and cost-effective watershed-based monitoring strategies. · Develop a strategy to work more closely with watershed groups that are doing or plan to do water-quality monitoring. · Encourage/facilitate two-way transfer of information about monitoring strategies and current programs to and from watershed groups. · Promote the components of effective monitoring programs. · Identify information needs and conduct data swaps for river basins about to undergo triennial review

July 16, 2002 Goals and Planned Actions for 2002 (cont.) Promote the use of quality assurance procedures and protocols Related to sample collection, analytical methods, assessment, data management,and dissemination. · Be actively involved with the NWQMC’s Methods and Data Comparability Board and effectively transfer information between the NWQMC and CWQMC. · Continue development of Minimal Data Elements (MDE) recommendations for monitoring activities in CO – Use of MDE must remain voluntary. · Decide what role, if any, CWQMC will seek in (1) WQ data management and (2) data interpretation and assessment for policy and decision processes.

July 16, 2002 Goals and Planned Actions for 2002 (cont.) Provide strategic direction for a statewide structure for the acquisition, analysis, archiving, and dissemination of water-quality information Encourage members to articulate the “why” of their monitoring work. Last revision: May 17, 2002

July 16, 2002 Current CWQMC Committee Activities National Monitoring Day Outreach Committee Post-Fire Water Quality Committee Continual Enhancements of CWQMC Website CWQMC Brochure Effort – Chris Crouse and Holly Huyck – Done !

July 16, 2002 Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council About the Council Meetings Agendas Minutes Monitoring Tools Monitoring Plans and Methods Database Management Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Locations Water-Quality Related Groups and Events Other Useful Links Water-Quality Related Grants Purpose The Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council will serve as a statewide collaborative body, open to all, to help achieve effective collection, analysis and dissemination of water quality data, and monitoring information. The Council seeks to improve the linkage between information needs of policy and decision makers with efforts to collect and assess data. The Council promotes effective monitoring programs that include the components of goal identification, data collection, analysis, storage, retrieval, and reporting/dissemination of information. The Council shall address the full range of water quality information, including chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of surface and ground waters. The Council is a non-voting body that operates through consensus.

July 16, 2002

Future CWQMC Committee Activities Survey of interests and needs of member organizations Decision and possible action on obtaining 501c non- profit status Data-management issues and needs in support of data swaps Effective connection of CWQMC to MDCB (NWQMC) and its products Productive association of CWQMC with watershed- based activities

July 16, 2002 Challenges to Success of the CWQMC Time Money