critical evaluation of waterbody assessment processes werf project 04-wem-4
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Critical Evaluation of Waterbody Assessment Processes WERF Project 04-WEM-4. WERF: Jane Casteline Brown and Caldwell: Lindsay Griffith. Project Objectives. Review current assessment methodologies Identify best approaches Provide recommendations. Integrated Report, 303d/305b Documents. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Critical Evaluation of Critical Evaluation of Waterbody Assessment Waterbody Assessment
ProcessesProcessesWERF Project 04-WEM-4WERF Project 04-WEM-4
WERF: Jane CastelineWERF: Jane Casteline
Brown and Caldwell: Lindsay Brown and Caldwell: Lindsay GriffithGriffith
Project Project ObjectivesObjectives
• Review current Review current assessment assessment methodologiesmethodologies
• Identify best Identify best approachesapproaches
• Provide Provide recommendationsrecommendations
Integrated Report, 303d/305b Documents
Questionnaire
Telephone Interviews
Critical Evaluation Matrix
To States for Quality Assurance/ Changes for 2006
Revised Critical Evaluation Matrix
Critical Critical Evaluation Evaluation MatrixMatrix
Research FindingsResearch Findings
• Overall impressionsOverall impressions– States in varying stages of methodology States in varying stages of methodology
refinementrefinement– Limited monitoring and assessment Limited monitoring and assessment
resourcesresources– Leadership needed for research, Leadership needed for research,
guidance on hard issuesguidance on hard issues
Research FindingsResearch Findings
• States with minimum sample size States with minimum sample size requirementsrequirements
Research FindingsResearch Findings• States using the “ten-percent rule”States using the “ten-percent rule”
Research FindingsResearch Findings
• States which quantify uncertainty in States which quantify uncertainty in assessmentsassessments
Research FindingsResearch Findings
• States using weight-of-evidence States using weight-of-evidence approachapproach– ChemicalChemical– PhysicalPhysical– BiologicalBiological
Research FindingsResearch Findings
• States soliciting public comment States soliciting public comment during methodology developmentduring methodology development
RecommendationsRecommendations
• Publish Minimum Data RequirementsPublish Minimum Data Requirements
Minimum Data Requirements
• DQOs• QAPPs
• Better quality data and
confidence in the data
• Indisputable information
RecommendationsRecommendations• Integrate Monitoring with AssessmentsIntegrate Monitoring with Assessments
Allocate State Resources
• Accuracy in listing
•Accuracy in diagnosis of
cause & trending
Develop Biological Monitoring
and Assessment
Program Stressors
Biocriteria Development
Accuracy in Use Support
RecommendationsRecommendations• Develop standardized data Develop standardized data
extrapolation techniquesextrapolation techniques
Use Flow-Reference
Water Quality Data
More Accurate Temporal
Extrapolation
Accurate Diagnosis and
Trending
Accuracy in Use Support
Standardized Assessment
Units
• Consistent and
Transparent Identification
of Waters
RecommendationsRecommendations
• Develop numeric wq criteriaDevelop numeric wq criteria
Formally Adopted Numeric Criteria
Transparent and Auditable
Benchmark
Reduce Disputes in Assessment
Results
RecommendationsRecommendations
• Use statistical evaluation techniquesUse statistical evaluation techniques
Statistical Evalutaion Technique
Quantifies Uncertainty
Associated with Use Support
Determination
RecommendationsRecommendations
• Include public in methodology Include public in methodology developmentdevelopment
Stakeholder Involvement
Reduce Disputes in Assessment
Outcome
Summary & ConclusionsSummary & Conclusions• State-of-the-science of current State-of-the-science of current
assessment methodologiesassessment methodologies• States continue to struggle with States continue to struggle with
uncertainty (how well does uncertainty (how well does assessment reflect reality)assessment reflect reality)
• Recommendations to refine Recommendations to refine assessment process and help assessment process and help characterize water quality with characterize water quality with greater greater consistency and confidenceconsistency and confidence
WERF – Jane CastelineWERF – Jane [email protected]@werf.org
703-684-2470703-684-2470
Brown and Caldwell – Lindsay Brown and Caldwell – Lindsay GriffithGriffith
[email protected]@brwncald.com
303-239-5445303-239-5445