National Water Quality Monitoring Council Recent Activities and

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 l 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 l 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 l Other Interests – Water Environment – Watershed Watch, – – – Federation American Water Works Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies North American Lake Management Society – – 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

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

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

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

4 th 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 l Value of collaboration l Barriers/challenges associated with moving forward l Tools/resources/guidance needed l Council role in moving collaboration forward

4 th National Monitoring Conference Chattanooga, Tennessee l 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 l 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 7 - 11, 2006 l Sponsors already include: l - City of San Jose - AMSA - US EPA - USGS

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

Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council