Framework for Monitoring Have Not Taken Root in the Goal
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September 2003 | Volume 5 | Number 5 SeekingSeeking aa CommonCommon FrameworkFramework forfor WaterWater QualityQuality MonitoringMonitoring American Water Resources Association .ATIONAL-ONITORING#ONFERENCE "UILDINGAND3USTAINING 3UCCESSFUL-ONITORING0ROGRAMS #HATTANOOGA 4ENNESSEE s -AYn OINUSASWEEXPLOREANDSHARETHEEXPERIENCES EXPERTISE *LESSONSLEARNED INNOVATIONS ANDSTRATEGIESTHATSTRENGTHEN ANDSUSTAINBOTHTHETECHNICALANDINSTITUTIONALELEMENTSOF OURMONITORINGPROGRAMS4HE#HATTANOOGAMEETINGWILLBE THEFOURTH.ATIONAL-ONITORING#ONFERENCEHOSTEDBYTHE .ATIONAL7ATER1UALITY-ONITORING#OUNCIL.71-# ,IKEITSPREDECESSORS THE#ONFERENCEWILLPROVIDEAN OUTSTANDINGOPPORTUNITYTOPARTICIPATEINTECHNICALPROGRAMS ANDTRAINING SHARESUCCESSES DISCUSSISSUES ANDNETWORKWITHOUR COLLEAGUESINTHEWATERMONITORINGCOMMUNITY4HEPROGRAMWILL INCLUDEPLENARYSESSIONS WORKSHOPS ORALPRESENTATIONS POSTERS EXHIBITS FACILITATEDDISCUSSIONS FIELDTRIPS ANDINFORMALNETWORKINGOPPORTUNITIES 4HE#OUNCIL CHARTEREDIN PROMOTESPARTNERSHIPSTOFOSTERCOLLABORATION ADVANCETHESCIENCE ANDIMPROVE MANAGEMENTWITHINALLELEMENTSOFTHEWATERMONITORINGCOMMUNITY ASWELLASTOHEIGHTENPUBLICAWARENESS PUBLICINVOLVEMENT ANDSTEWARDSHIPOFOURWATERRESOURCES4HE#OUNCILHASDEVELOPEDAMONITORINGAND ASSESSMENTFRAMEWORKTHATDESCRIBESAPROCESSTOPRODUCEANDCONVEYTHEINFORMATIONNECESSARYTOUNDERSTAND PROTECT ANDRESTOREOURWATERRESOURCES4HECONFERENCEWILLWEAVETOGETHERFIVEOVERALLTHEMESRELATEDTO EACHELEMENTOFTHEFRAMEWORKANDCRITICALTOBUILDINGANDSUSTAININGSUCCESSFULPROGRAMS 0ROMOTINGCOLLABORATIVEEFFORTS %XPLORINGNEWANDEMERGINGMETHODSANDTECHNOLOGIES !DDRESSINGCHANGINGEXPECTATIONSOFMONITORING %NSURINGDATAANDINFORMATIONCOMPARABILITY 3HARINGRESULTSANDSUCCESSES !BSTRACTSARECURRENTLYBEINGACCEPTED &ORMOREINFORMATIONVISITWWWNWQMCORG -AJOR3PONSORS 4ENNESSEE6ALLEY !UTHORITY Volume 5 • Number 5 • September 2003 SEEKING A COMMON FRAMEWORK FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING Associate Editor – ROBERT C. WARD ([email protected]) Guest Associate Editor – CHARLES A. PETERS ([email protected]) The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) presents its proposed water quality ‘monitoring framework’ in this issue of IMPACT. The graphic representation of the framework (presented on pg. 3), is explained in a series of papers. The purpose of the framework is to support production of consistent and comparable water quality data and information in support of fair and equitable management decisionmaking. Additional information and detail regarding the framework is available on the NWQMC Website: http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/monitoring/. For example, terms marked with bold type in this issue are included in a glossary on the NWQMC website. OVERVIEW/INTRODUCTION 17 Data Collection: Field and Laboratory 3 A Framework for “Constructing” Methods Franceska Wilde ([email protected]) Water Quality Monitoring Programs Herbert J. Brass ([email protected]) Charles A. Peters ([email protected]) Jerry Diamond ([email protected]) Robert C. Ward ([email protected]) The third ‘cog’ of the framework speaks to the complexity The concept of a monitoring framework is presented involved in obtaining field samples and measuring chemi- along with a brief review of past efforts to establish a cal, biological and physical characteristics. Considerable more common view of water quality monitoring. Reasons ‘tool’ development has taken place within the subject of to hope this framework may improve water quality this cog over the past few years, thus helping monitoring monitoring are enumerated. professionals document the details required to produce consistent and comparable data. FEATURE ARTICLES 22 Water Quality Data Management 8 The 3 C’s: Communicate, Coordinate, Karen S. Klima ([email protected]) Collaborate – Doing Together What We Kenneth J. Lanfear ([email protected]) Can’t Do Alone Ellen McCarron ([email protected]) Abby Markowitz ([email protected]) The fourth ‘cog’ of the framework emphasizes the critical Linda T. Green ([email protected]) role of data storage and retrieval. While strings of num- James Laine ([email protected]) bers come from the laboratory, it is well configured and The outer ring of the monitoring framework graphic documented data records that are needed for accurate represents efforts to enhance communication among data analysis and interpretation. The factors that effect monitoring professionals. Producing consistent and this transformation are discussed. comparable water quality data and information, across 25 Assess and Interpret Data agencies and organizations, requires much more inter- Dennis R. Helsel ([email protected]) action among water quality monitoring professionals Lindsay M. Griffith ([email protected]) than has occurred in the past. The fifth ‘cog’ in the framework encompasses the wide array of methods available for analyzing and interpreting 11 Identify Monitoring Objectives water quality data. It is at this point in the monitoring Charles S. Spooner ([email protected]) system where considerable judgment on the part of the Gail E. Mallard ([email protected]) monitoring professional is required. With such individual The first ‘cog’ of the monitoring framework highlights judgment required, lack of consistency and comparability the importance of defining and documenting clear and in choosing and applying data analysis methods results precise information goals prior to initiation of a water in a lack of consistency and comparability in the resulting quality monitoring program. Many of the details of a information. Developments in the science behind water monitoring program’s design are greatly influenced by quality data analysis are pointing toward increased the information purpose. consistency in the future. 14 Monitoring Design 30 Conveying Results and Findings Anthony R. Olsen ([email protected]) Mary Ambrose ([email protected]) Dale M. Robertson ([email protected]) Abby Markowitz ([email protected]) The second ‘cog’ of the monitoring framework underscores Charles Job ([email protected]) the need to carefully establish and document the location The sixth ‘cog’ addresses the part of the monitoring frame- of sampling sites, the frequency of sampling, the measure- work with, perhaps, the least focus historically. There is ments to be made, and a plan to implement the design little consistency in the way water quality information is that recognizes the application difficulties the ‘field’ reported/presented, thus leading this paper to discuss uncertainties present to the best laid plans of monitoring factors needed to effectively communicate with an array of professionals. audiences. Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF N. EARL SPANGENBERG ([email protected]) A Bi-Monthly Publication of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION Stevens Point,Wisconsin AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATE EDITORS 4 WEST FEDERAL STREET P.O. BOX 1626 FAYE ANDERSON RICHARD H. MCCUEN MIDDLEBURG, VA 20118-1626 ([email protected]) ([email protected]) (540) 687-8390 / FAX: (540) 687-8395 University of Maryland University of Maryland E-MAIL: [email protected] College Park, Maryland College Park, Maryland Homepage: www.awra.org ERIC J. FITCH LAUREL E. PHOENIX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ([email protected]) ([email protected]) N. EARL SPANGENBERG Marietta College University of Wisconsin College of Natural Resources Marietta, Ohio Green Bay, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481 JONATHAN E. JONES CHARLES W. S LAUGHTER (715) 346-2372 • Fax: (715) 346-3624 ([email protected]) ([email protected]) E-Mail: [email protected] Wright Water Engineers University of Idaho Denver, Colorado Boise, Idaho AWRA DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION CLAY J. LANDRY ROBERT C. WARD CHARLENE E. YOUNG ([email protected]) ([email protected]) 3077 Leeman Ferry Rd., Suite A3 WestWater Research Colorado Water Resources Huntsville, AL 35801-5690 Laramie, Wyoming Research Institute (256) 650-0701 • Fax: (256) 650-0570 Fort Collins, Colorado E-Mail: [email protected] BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT Water Resources IMPACT is owned and published bi- RACHEL CARDONE monthly by the American Water Resources Associa- ([email protected]) tion, 4 West Federal St., P.O. Box 1626, Middleburg, ERM • New York, New York VA 20118-1626, USA. The yearly subscription rate is $50.00 domestic and $60.00 foreign. Foreign Airmail Shipping Option, add $30.00 to subscription rate. Other features in this issue ... Single copies of IMPACT are available for $8.00/each. For bulk purchases, contact the AWRA Headquarters office. ▲ Future Issues of IMPACT . .29 ▲ IMPACT is a magazine of ideas. Authors, Associate Water Resources Puzzler . .33 Editors, and the Editor-In-Chief work together to ▲ Water on Wall Street . .34, 35 create a publication that will inform and will provoke ▲ conversation. The views and conclusions expressed Water Resources Continuing by individual authors and published in Water Re- Education Opportunities . .36 sources IMPACT should not be interpreted as neces- ▲ AWRA Business sarily representing the official policies, either ex- 36 Future Meetings pressed or implied, of the American Water Resources Association. 37 2003 Election Results 37 Herbert Scholarship Winner Announced Contact the AWRA HQ Office if you have any ques- tions pertaining to your membership status. For in- 38-39 Meeting Announcement/Call for Abstracts formation on advertising rates and deadlines, con- Dundee, Scotland tact Charlene Young, AWRA Director of Publications