National Water Quality Monitoring Council Recent Activities and Accomplishments: An Update for ACWI September, 2004

NWQMC Mission A forum to coordinate consistent and scientifically defensible methods and strategies for improving water quality monitoring, assessment, and reporting.

NWQMC Members Federal Agencies – Environmental Protection Agency – US Geological Survey – Natural Resources Conservation Service – US Forest Service – US Fish & Wildlife Service – National Park Service – Tennessee Valley Authority – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration States and Tribal – NH Department of Environmental Services – NJ Department of Environmental Protection – WVA Department of Environmental Quality – AL Department of Environmental Management – IN Department of Environmental Management – TX Natural Resources Conservation Commission – OR Department of Environmental Quality – Inter-Tribal Council of AZ

NWQMC Members Other Interests – Water Environment Federation – American Water Works Association – Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies – Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies – North American Lake Management Society Other Interests – Watershed Watch, University of Rhode Island – Association of American State Geologists – Colorado State University – ORSANCO – National Association of State Conservation Agencies – American Chemistry Council

The Framework for Monitoring Developed with input from the monitoring community Series of interlinked steps that will improve monitoring efforts, monitoring results, and communication of information

Framework For Monitoring

Seeking a Common Framework for Water Quality Monitoring Journal of American Water Resources Association 8 papers expanding on each of the monitoring cogs plus coordination, communication, and collaboration

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee May 17-20, 2004

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee The Council’s Most sophisticated conference – Major issues now well accepted Metadata is needed Volunteer monitoring is a part of of programs – Real contributions from several other countries Canada, New Zealand, Holland

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee Theme 1: Ensuring Data & Information Comparability – Importance – Barriers to achieving it – Tools for moving forward

4th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee Theme 2: Changing Expectations of Monitoring 1. Increase number and diversity of stakeholders 2. Greater public access to data—web based – Dissatisfaction with Limited Coverage – Expect the data to do more – Increased use of bioassessment

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee Theme 3: Promoting Collaborative Efforts Value of collaboration Barriers/challenges associated with moving forward Tools/resources/guidance needed Council role in moving collaboration forward

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee Theme 4: Volunteer Monitoring – Recognizing Barriers and Challenges – Confirming the Validity of Volunteer Data – Identify Training Needs – Council to Keep Advancing Volunteer Monitoring

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee Theme 5: New and Emerging Technologies – Importance – Barriers/Challenges to Moving Forward – What is Needed to Move Forward?

5 th National Monitoring Conference San Jose, California May , 2006 Sponsors already include: - City of San Jose - AMSA - US EPA - USGS

Support for State and Regional Councils National Council members serve as ambassadors to new councils Workshops at National Monitoring Conferences Helping to focus programs to areas where monitoring councils can help ensure success

Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council