getting started in volunteer water quality monitoring final... · csrees volunteer water quality...

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1 1 Linda Green University of RI Cooperative Extension CSREES Volunteer Water Quality National Facilitation Project Danielle Donkersloot New Jersey Watershed Watch New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Getting Started in Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Webcast October 11, 2006 This Webcast is sponsored by EPA’s Watershed Academy 1 Does anyone have anything specific they were hoping I would cover today?

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Page 1: Getting Started in Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Final... · CSREES Volunteer Water Quality National Facilitation Project Danielle Donkersloot ... 6Allows the program full control

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Linda GreenUniversity of RI Cooperative Extension

CSREES Volunteer Water Quality National Facilitation Project

Danielle DonkerslootNew Jersey Watershed Watch

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Getting Started in Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring

Webcast October 11, 2006

This Webcast is sponsored by EPA’s Watershed Academy

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Does anyone have anything specific they were hoping I would cover today?

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Overview

Characteristics of Successful ProgramsProgram DevelopmentTraining Tips Funding Ideas and IssuesEquipment and ResourcesNew Jersey’s Tiered Approach

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Successful Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs. . .

Well-organizedSound scientific basisReport resultsStrong institutional supportMake a difference

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Well Organized …

Clear purposeDevelop strong partnerships

steering committee

Good relations with decision-makersStrong leadership and coordinationClear staff, board, and volunteer roles

Turnover of staff makes it difficult (often related to funding). Ext. might be more stable than a non-profit? Or offer more opportunity to advance (rather than being an entry-level position).

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A Sound Scientific Basis means …

Clear monitoring goals and questionsWritten study designClear documentation of instructions for all monitoring activities

Based on established methods!

Monitoring scope and complexityappropriate to group’s capabilitiesQA appropriate to data use

For complexity: Many programs initiate small and grow over time. WAV began with 5 parameters monitored and added a 6th two years ago (6 years into program). One thing to watch out for is complexity though….stream flow requires people to do more mathematics than some want, so sometimes people avoid it because not comfortable with it.

QA- This is ESSENTIAL. Program ‘failure’ could be attributed to people having expectations they should not have – due to lack of communication between coordinators and volunteers or due to poor planning. The TOUGH questions must be answered from the start (in program planning)!

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Successful ProgramsReport and Use Their Results

Data are turned into a storyResults and the story are reviewed by data users and resource peopleResults are reported in variousways tailored to the audienceInformation is turned into actionMonitoring is used to assess progress in meeting goals

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

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4/18

5/2

5/16

5/30

6/13

7/6

7/12

7/24

8/15

8/29

9/10

9/26

10/8

10/2

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11/3

Depth (m)

Eutrophic

Mesotrophic

SECCHI DEPTH

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5

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4/21 5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 6/30 7/14 7/28 8/11 8/25 9/8 9/22 10/6 10/20 11/3

Mesotrophic

Eutrophic

ppbCHLOROPHYLL LEVELS

Show IOWATER status report to group.Mention how groups share their results: news articles (like WA WET program shown here), brochures (see samples at WAV website), annual reports, etc. Their ideas?

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Involve people in real scienceRaise awarenessCreate an informed constituencyPromote individual actions for water quality protectionProvide information on places where no one else is lookingIdentify & solve problemslocally

Successful ProgramsMake A Difference

Again, need to answer those tough questions first – to ensure you’re using people’ time wisely (good science piece)Most people have the belief that their data will be used by gov’t. This is usually not the case. (Found that only 9 states seems to show use of data for 303d or regulation in Volunteer Directory fall 2003– not sure of accuracy of source). Ways to overcome expectations of gov’t data use: teach people and help them to use the data locally. Present results in a story form to gov’t, rather than raw data. Use partnerships to link with specific identified uses of the data. Self help /Adopt a Lake monitoring in WI and new rusty monitoring program – ties to UW research.

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Main Uses of Volunteer Data

Water Quality or Watershed EducationDocument Existing ConditionsProblem IdentificationLocal Decisions

In general these are the main uses of volunteer data, whether Extension related or not. How you plan your program depends in great deal on what your ultimate aim is.

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Why are you getting started in volunteer monitoring?

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Getting Started, firstCompile Information

About the resourceAbout the goals of the organization/communityAbout current & past monitoring or research effortsAbout volunteer monitoring

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Compiling InformationImportant Questions to Consider

What environment? – lake, stream, wetlandWhy do you want to monitor it? Who will use the data?How will the data be used?How good do the data need to be?What variables will you monitor?What resources are available?Who can help you with your program?Has this monitoring ever been done before?

Modified from EPA Volunteer Stream Monitoring Methods

Ask participants to take 5 minutes to consider the first three questions. If possible write answers on an overhead (along with their –who to include in brainstorming-suggestions.

Hand out Pam’s and Laura’s planning guide. Also refer to Guide for Growing pieces.

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Assessing What is Possible

ConsiderSkills and knowledge Potential data uses and usersLevel of commitmentFinancial resources

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Monitoring or Study Design

This documents the What, How, When, Where and Who for your monitoring program. It describes the rationale for, and specific approaches of your monitoring efforts.

Should flow out of the vision, goals and objectivesShould objectively reflect resourcesGood design is critical for success!

Remember successful program slides

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Assess the needDevelop objectivesDesign your programCollect the dataCompile and manage dataAssess and interpret dataConvey results and findingsEvaluate your program

National Water Quality Monitoring Council “A Framework for Monitoring”

Program Planning:The Framework for Monitoring

Have them locate matrix in their handouts.

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Goals and Objectives

Goal (Outcomes) – what do you want to happen?

• I want residents swimming safely in Deep Reservoir

Objectives – Specific and measurable• To be able to see the bottom from my dock• To reduce the # of algal blooms in Deep

Reservoir• “Reduce phosphorus concentrations in

runoff to the pond by 35%”

Revise as needed

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Top Parameters Monitored by Volunteers

River/Streams

Water Temp. pH MacroinvertebratesDissolved Oxygen NitrogenFlow/water level

Lakes

Secchi trans. Water Temp. Phosphorus Dissolved Oxygen Chlorophyll pH

Nat’l Directory. of Environmental Mon. Progs. - 5th Ed., 1998

at that time bacteria monitoring ranked #11 overall

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• EPA Guidance Manuals• The Volunteer Monitor newsletter• LaMotte/Hach kits and catalogs• Secchi Dip-In website

(http://dipin.kent.edu/)

• Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater

• Conferences/workshops• Listservs• NEMI (http://www.nemi.gov/)

Useful Sources to Locate Methods

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Increasing Time Increasing Time -- Rigor Rigor -- QA QA -- Expense $$Expense $$

Problem ID,Assess

Impairment,Local

Decisions

Legal & Regulatory

Education/Awareness

Geoff Dates, River Network

There is a continuum of of monitoring data use, going from education to regulatory involves increasing time, rigor, quality assurance, and costs, as well as the expertise of the trainer and program coordinator!Good design is critical for program successMust define data goals and data uses

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Program Management Design

Should evolve from your study design and vision – although often developed concurrently. Implements the study design. Training and monitoring program development Technical and logistical supportData management, interpretation and reportingBudget managementStaff and volunteer managementRelationships with partners, sponsors and data users

Now that you know the why, what and where, it’s time to address some hows.

Again, most programs start small and grow over time. Think of that in relation to these items as well.

Also, remember that partnerships add a tremendous amount to volunteer programs. Use these for technical support, etc.

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Program Management Design Considerations

Staff - all volunteer, all paid staffor combo- Dedicated staff is critical to success

Home organizationHigh School

University

Agency

County Extension

Non Governmental Organization

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Program Design: Umbrella vs. direct management

Umbrella – acts as a service providerTraining

Equipment

Analytical support

Data interpretation

Direct management –provides all of the umbrella services plusVolunteer recruitment and management

Data reporting and presentation

Budgeting and financial management

Use WI vs. IOWATER – show status report as example.

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Program Design:In house vs. contract lab

In house – program has own equipment and analysts Resource intensive - requires physical space, equipment and expertise

Convenient – especially for re-sampling

Allows the program full control of QA/QC

Can be limited by what you already have available or can afford

Can use URI and WI as examples of each. E. coli project in Midwest is also a good example.

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Program Design:In house vs. contract lab

Contract – samples sent to an established lab Less resource intensive – but can be expensive on a per sample basisEasier – little technical knowledge neededDepend upon the lab for QA/QCAppropriate detection limits?Sometimes viewed as more credible

Can use URI and WI as examples of each. E. coli project in Midwest is also a good example.

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World Water Monitoring DayOctober 18, 2006

www.worldwatermonitoringday.org

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www.dipin.kent.edu

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Questions?

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Recruiting & Training Volunteers

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Recruiting VolunteersArticles in newspapers/newslettersCommunity organizations -churchesSchools/Youth groupsShoreline residentsSporting/environ. organizationsFairs, festivals, community eventsInserts in utility bills Word of mouth

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Training is a Process that Flows Training is a Process that Flows Throughout the ProgramThroughout the Program

Orientation (classroom)Monitoring Skills (class & field)Field visits by staff (field)QA/QC testing (lab or field)Annual refresher/re-certificationAdvanced training

Hoosier Riverwatch, IOWATER, and VSMP have a variety of training types, including advanced levels of training. Blue Thumb has ongoing QA/QC, so provides training through such assurance procedures.

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Off-water Training Topics

Purpose, goals and objectives of programBasic ecosystem ecologyCondition of the waterbody(ies) being monitoredParameters to monitor the conditionProcedures to measure the parametersRole of volunteers Data use – how and by whomReporting Results

I’d also add site identification at this session.

This can be lengthy (condition of waterbody), but is key to volunteer education and interest.

Recommend to bring in local expertise for this.

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Field Training

Safety Issues – when NOT to monitorBriefly review what the parameters tell about the resourceReview the proceduresDemonstrate the proceduresVolunteers practice the procedures until they are comfortableDiscuss how to report their dataSend equipment home so volunteers

can start monitoring immediately

Key to this is that it is HANDS-ON!

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Group versus One-on-One

Group:Saves time and moneyVolunteers can learn from othersCan not address unique problems or characteristics of individual waterbodies

One-on-One:Time consuming and expensiveProcedures learned under actual conditions the volunteer will encounterCan account for unique situations

One on One would work well with a small program. WI does both.

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Training TipsOffer Training more than onceAvoid learning overload

Break topics into manageable chunksRepeat information through multiple sessions

Make use of experts/practitionersProvides new perspectiveChange in style and voice

Offer on-site assistanceBuilds confidenceAssures technical proficiency

Entering data ASAP– this is VERY IMPORTANT! Can catch errors and still have those volunteers either around (actively monitoring) and/or remember what they wrote/did that day.

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More Helpful Hints

Keep class size smallProvide food and beveragesProvide plenty of networking timeUtilizing experts and field experiences stimulates interestRepeat, repeat, repeat (& repeat again)

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“Well-run volunteer programs recruit automatically. Build a

better program and the volunteers will beat a path to

your door.”

101 Ways to Recruit Volunteers, S. McCurley and S. Vineyard, Heritage Arts Publishing Co., 1986

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Questions?

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Resources Available for Monitoring Programs:

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Program Support-Nationwide

EPA (http://www.epa.gov/owow/)Volunteer Monitoring FactsheetsVolunteer Monitoring MethodsManualsNational Directory of Volunteer Monitoring Programs

Volunteer Monitor NewsletterQAPP Guidance

EPA regions – volunteer monitoring equipment loans

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USDA-CSREES Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Project

www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer• Links to Programs’ Monitoring Manuals

• Quality Assurance Project Plans

• Education and Outreach Materials

• Examples of Data Reporting

• Program Contact Information

• Current Research with/about Volunteers

Program Support-Nationwide

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Guidebook Modules

Designing your monitoring strategy

Effective training techniques

Quality assurance issues

Databases and data management

Volunteer management and support ideas

Outreach tools

Fundraising

Most popular topics and regional and national VM conferences

Other suggestions from assessment of programs

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Volunteer Monitoring List Servs

[email protected]

[email protected]

Post queries see who respondsExchanges archived at www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer

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Program Support-State and Local

Cooperative ExtensionUniversity & High School DepartmentsState Natural Resources DepartmentsTribal, County or Municipal DepartmentsSoil and Water Conservation DistrictsNon-profit OrganizationsInterest GroupsOther volunteer monitoring programs

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Equipment: Determining What You Need

Equipment selected must allow for collected data to meet your previously defined data quality standards

Use other programs’ written methods to help determine your equipment needs

Waterwatch Tasmania Equipment GuideOther resources mentioned

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Equipment: Borrowing/Sharing

Local municipal water districtsSewage treatment plantsSchoolsTribal, Federal, State agenciesSoil and Water Conservation DistrictsIrrigation DistrictsWatershed councilsOther volunteer monitoring programsEPA Regional Offices

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Equipment: Purchasing

Acorn NaturalistsBen MeadowsBioQuipCHEMetricsCole-PalmerInstrumentsFisher ScientificForestry SuppliersGREEN / Earth Force

HachLaMotteNASCOThomas ScientificWards NaturalScienceEstablishmentWater MonitoringEquipment &

Supply

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Questions?

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Volunteer Monitoring: Cost Effective – Not Cost Free

Staff (incredibly hard-working, usually underpaid) Field and lab equipment and suppliesLaboratory space or analytical servicesOffice supplies Communication and mailingPublicationsConferences/workshopsTransportation (personnel or samples)InsuranceSpecial events/volunteer recognition

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Consider Charging for Services

Greater value often placed on things with a costSupports the programProvides stability – which can attract additional fundsCan be used for matchCan enhance perception of credibility

Charging also promotes responsibility for equipment, etc. by volunteers.

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Volunteer Effort As Match

Volunteer time can often be used as matchDocument effort

Start/end time on data sheetsSurvey average time per sampling event

Identify acceptable ‘hourly rate’ equivalent Independent Sector(www.IndependentSector.org)Currently $18.04 (2005)Minimum wage

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Partnerships

Share resourcesOffice spaceStaffEquipment

Provide in-kind servicesProvide linkages to additional funding sources

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Get the Most for Your Money

Shop aroundVendor prices varyNon-profit discountsPurchase through university (partnerships…)Quantity discounts (partnerships…)

Used equipment – reconditioned Donated/Borrowed equipment

UniversitiesLaboratoriesCorporate research divisions

Or Borrow equipment

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Keys to Funding Success

The more different funding sources you tap into, the more secure your financial base will be.Ongoing support is harder to find than start-up funding. But monitoring by nature is long-term, so funding needs to be long-term –keep focused.

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More Keys to Funding Success

Whoever is using the monitoring data – whether it’s a government agency, university or community –should be helping pay for it.In-kind support, such as donations of technical expertise, equipment or laboratory analysis can really help keep a program going!

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SummaryStart by addressing the tough questions

Determine objectivesDevelop a written plan

Form partnerships/involve partnersUse classroom and field training sessions, repeat if possibleSeek varied sources of fundingUse all available resourcesApplaud your volunteers!

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THANKS!

Elizabeth Herron, URIKris Stepenuck, UW

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Questions?

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Be Sure to Check Out Our November 29th Webcast:

Protecting Drinking Water Sources -- Assessments and

Opportunities

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Watershed Watch NetworkNJ Department of Environmental

ProtectionDanielle Donkersloot

Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator

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Overview

NJ Watershed Watch NetworkChanging the Stereotypes of Using Volunteer Collected Data Advisory CouncilNJ Tiered Approach to Volunteer Collected DataData Users/Data Uses Lessons LearnedName That TIER

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•Population NJ (2003) 8,638,396

•7,417 square miles

•1,134.4 persons per square mile

7,840 miles of rivers

DEP’s latest evaluation, of the2,308 assessed river miles, 1,913 (83%)river miles did not meet surface water quality standards

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Watershed Watch Network

Internal Advisory Council Water Monitoring & StandardsWater Assessment Team Division of Watershed Mgt. Office of Quality Assurance

External Advisory CouncilRiverkeepersWatershed Associations Volunteer Coordinators

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Myths of Using Volunteer Collected Data

•Quality Assurance & Quality Control

•Volunteers have “hidden agendas”

•Volunteers are not scientists

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Reality of Using Volunteer Collected Data

•We need more data at a higher frequency of collection

•EPA has been encouraging the use of volunteer collected

data since 1988

•Volunteers want to do it right

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Potential Data Uses

Education

Identifying potential sources of pollution

Local decision making

Research

NPS assessment

Regulatory response

Watershed planning/open space acquisition

Identification of “action now” projects

Monitoring the success/failure of restoration projects

303d & 305b Integrated Report

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The 4 Tiered Approach

Allows for volunteers to choose level of monitoring involvement based on:

Intended purpose for monitoring Intended data useIntended data users

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Options for Involvement

Tier A: Environmental EducationTier B: StewardshipTier C: Community AssessmentTier D: Indicators/Regulatory Response

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Increasing Time Increasing Time -- Rigor Rigor -- QA QA -- Expense $$Expense $$

Geoff Dates, River Network

Problem ID,Assess

Impairment,Local

Decisions

Legal & Regulatory

Education/Awareness

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There is a continuum of of monitoring data use, going from education to regulatory involves increasing time, rigor, quality assurance, and costs, as well as the expertise of the trainer and program coordinator!Good design is critical for program successMust define data goals and data uses

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Tier A: Environmental Education

Data Users•Participants•Students•Watershed residents

•Promote stewardship•Raise their level of understanding of watershed ecology

•Low level of rigor, but use sound science•Wide variety of study designs are acceptable•Quality assurance (QA) optional

Data Use Quality Needed

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Tier B: Stewardship

•Participants

•Watershed residents

•Landowners

•Local decision makers (optional)

•Understanding of existing conditions and how any changes over time

•Screen for and identify problems and positive attributes

•Low to medium rigor

•Variety of study designs is acceptable

•Training

•QAPP recommended

Data User Data Use Quality Needed

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Tier C: Community &/or Watershed Assessment

•Local decision-makers

•Watershed association

•Environmental organizations

•Possibly DEP

•Assess current conditions

•Track trends

•Source track down of Nonpoint source pollution

•Medium/high level of rigor

•Data needs to reliably detect changes over time & space

•QAPP approved & on file w/ intended data user.

•Training required

Data Users Data Use Quality Needed

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Tier D: Indicators & Regulatory Response

•NJDEP

•Local decision-makers

•Watershed associations

Environmental organizations

•Assess current conditions and impairments

•Supplement agency data collection

•Research

•Evaluate best management practices (BMP) measures

•Regulatory Response

•High level of rigor

•Study design & methods need to be equivalent & recognized by agencies using data

•Training required

•QAPP approved by Office of Quality Assurance & data user, annual recertification

•Possible audit

Data Users Data Use Quality Needed

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Who Uses the Data in NJDEP?

•Watershed Area Managers (TIERS B,C,D)

•Water Assessment Team (TIER D)

•NPS Program (TIER C, D)

•319 Program (TIER B, C, D)

•TMDL Program (TIER B, C, D)

•Other Programs or Divisions

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Addressing Data Quality Issues

•Quality Assurance Criteria for each Tier has been defined

•QAPP or Study Design should be reviewed by Coordinator & Data Users

•Program Specific Training & Support

•Individual Evaluation of each Monitoring Program

•Volunteer Coordinator needs to be the “translator” between volunteer community & regulatory agency

•Communication, Communication, Communication

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NJ Water Monitoring & Assessment Strategy 2005-2014

•Stream Monitoring

•Lake Monitoring

•Monitoring of Tidal Rivers & Estuaries

•Wetland Monitoring

Volunteer collected data is now integrated into the NJDEP Monitoring Matrix:

THE STATE’S MONITORING MATRIX

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Lessons Learned

•Make it Easier for the Volunteers

•Unintended Data Use & Data Users

•Design of New Programs should not be Designed for a Tier

•Clear Quality Assurance Guidelines

•NJDEP should not be the only Group using the Data

•“Volunteer Monitoring is Cost Effective NOT Cost Free”-L.Green

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You’ve gotten approvals,

chosen certain environmental parameters,

selected monitoring sites,

and maybe you even have funding,

and some potential volunteers…

SO NOW WHAT?????

Make it Easier for the Volunteers

J. Eudell, Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc

1. Lessons Learned

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My Pieces

EPAHEP

NJMCQAPP

SchoolsEquipment

MERI

HRI

J. Eudell, Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc

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2002 IDEA !Nov Recruit and train schools for 2002-2003Dec Apply for & received NY-NJ HEP Mini-Grant

2003 REVISIONFeb Begin monitoringFeb Told of QAPP necessityFeb Begin QAPP processMar Receive HEP grant extensionSept MERI proposes partnership; Put QAPP on holdOct Recruit and train schools for 2003-2004 (data doesn’t count)Dec Awarded NJMC/MERI grant; Revise QAPP

2004 IMPLEMENT??Jan-Aug Detail HRI/MERI partnership; Revise QAPPSept Recruit and train schools for 2004-2005Oct Still working on QAPP (when will data count?)

Jared Eudell, Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc

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Unintended Data Use & Data Users

One example is…volunteer data was rejected by 303d & 305b Integrated Report because of the sampling frequency…YET the TMDL group found the data to be very valuable….

2. Lessons Learned

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DO NOT Design a Program for a Tier

Organizations should design the program to meet their OWN GOALSfirst…otherwise frustration will follow

3. Lessons Learned

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Clear Quality Assurance Guidelines

•Spell out who the Data Users are

•Offer Training in Methodologies & Procedures that are currently Acceptable to the Agency

•Review all available Resources/Guidance & then develop Specific Guidance for your State

•Ask the Groups What They Need Help with, then HELP THEM

4. Lessons Learned

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Data Use•Organizations need to Take Ownership of their Information

•Organizations need Guidance on Different Types of Data Use

•share success and failures stories

•get the word out-articles, press releases

•find examples of data uses at all levels, local, state, & national

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NAME THAT TIER

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Pequannock River Coalition

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•Electronic “data loggers” are placed in the river at known monitoring locations in early summer for the entire growing season

•Fixed Monitoring Locations

•Stations are located where data loggers can be checked frequently

•Loggers record Temp every 30 minutes

•Early Fall data loggers are removed & data is downloadedRoss Kushner, Pequannock River Coalition 85

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Ross Kushner, Pequannock River Coalition86

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TIER D

Regulatory Response

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88Ross Kushner, Pequannock River Coalition88

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NAME THAT TIER

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Delaware River Oil Spill Volunteer Emergency Response

•No Fixed monitoring locations

•No QAPP

•No Training

•Basic Study Design

•Assigned Segments

•Assessment Tip Sheets

•Data Sheets standardizedw/ State Protocol

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Standardized Data Sheet

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Boom Placement & Malfunction

Faith Zerbe, Delaware Riverkeeper Network

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What did Volunteers Document?

15 New Jersey tributaries suffered oilingOne Delaware tributary suffered oiling4 New Jersey Beaches suffered oilingThree wildlife preserves suffered oilingVarious main stem Delaware River locations13 streams monitored had no signs of oiling at time of monitoring (PA and DE mostly)

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Riverkeeper Data Use

Emergency response/clean up vigilanceTalks with Coast Guard and NRDA officials – checks on scope of oiling, reportsPressIncreased citizen base for advocacy issues

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Natural Resource Damage Assessment

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TIER B

Stewardship/Screening

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Van Saun Brook•2000-the Bergen County Environmental Council trained by NJDEP in Save Our Stream’s protocol

•2001-Environmental Council notified the NJDEP volunteer coordinator of a potential restoration project

•2002-NJDEP, 319 (H) Program awarded $100,000

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The Outcome•250 ft of Restoration at site 1, in-kind match•Dredging of the Pond, in-kind match

•Sewer the zoo on site, in-kind match

•$100,000 towards the Buffer Restoration at site 2

•Site monitoring, post restoration

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TIER B

Stewardship/Screening

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Questions?

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