National Water Quality National Water Quality Monitoring CouncilMonitoring CouncilRecent Activities and Accomplishments:

An Update for ACWI

September, 2004

NWQMC MissionNWQMC Mission

A forum to coordinate consistent and scientifically defensible methods and strategies for improving water quality

monitoring, assessment, and reporting.

NWQMC MembersNWQMC 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 MembersNWQMC 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 themonitoring community

•Series of interlinked steps thatwill improve monitoring efforts,monitoring results, andcommunication of information

FrameworkFor

Monitoring

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, Tennessee

May 17-20, 2004

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, 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

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee

Theme 1: Ensuring Data & Information Comparability– Importance– Barriers to achieving it– Tools for moving forward

4th National Monitoring Conference4th National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, 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

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, 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

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee

Theme 4: Volunteer Monitoring

– Recognizing Barriers and Challenges

– Confirming the Validity of Volunteer Data

– Identify Training Needs

– Council to Keep Advancing Volunteer Monitoring

44thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee

Theme 5: New and Emerging Technologies

– Importance

– Barriers/Challenges to Moving Forward

– What is Needed to Move Forward?

55thth National Monitoring Conference National Monitoring ConferenceSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California

May 7 - 11, 2006 Sponsors already include:

- City of San Jose- AMSA- US EPA- USGS

Support for State and Regional Support for State and Regional CouncilsCouncils

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