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 Castelinejcasteline@werf.orgjcasteline@werf.org

703-684-2470703-684-2470

Brown and Caldwell – Lindsay Brown and Caldwell – Lindsay GriffithGriffith

lgriffith@brwncald.comlgriffith@brwncald.com

303-239-5445303-239-5445