Download - Laying the Ground Work
Laying the Ground Work
Successful Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs
are….Well organizedSound scientific basisStrong institutional supportReport resultsMake a difference
(Green & Herron)
Well Organized
Clear purposeDevelop strong partnerships
Steering committeeGood relations with decision makersStrong leadership and coordinationClear staff, board and volunteer roles
A Sound Scientific Basis means
Clear monitoring goals and questionsWritten study designClear documentation of instructions for all
monitoring activitiesMonitoring scope and complexity appropriate
to group’s capabilitiesQA appropriate to data use
Successful Programs Report and Use Their Results
Data are turned into a storyResults and the story are reviewed by data
users and resource peopleResults are reported in various ways tailored
to the audience Information is turned into actionMonitoring is used to assess progress
Main Uses of Volunteer Data
Water Quality or Watershed EducationDocument Existing ConditionsProblem IdentificationLocal Decisions
The Continuum of Monitoring Data Use
Education/ Awareness
Geoff Dates, River Network
The Continuum of Monitoring Data Use
Education/ Awareness
Problem ID, Assess Impairment, Local Decisions
Geoff Dates, River Network
The Continuum of Monitoring Data Use
Education/ Awareness
Problem ID, Assess Impairment, Local Decisions
Legal & Regulatory
Geoff Dates, River Network
The Continuum of Monitoring Data Use
Education/ Awareness
Problem ID, Assess Impairment, Local Decisions
Legal & Regulatory
Increasing Time – Rigor – QA/QC – Expense $$
Geoff Dates, River Network
What is the Question?
Possible Questions What is the ecological health of Long Harbour? Is Paradise Lake safe for my kids to swim in? Will Sparkling Stream support Brook trout? Is {…insert name of potential polluter…}
adversely impacting WQ in Sawmill Creek?
Is Paradise Lake safe for my kids to swim in?
Analyze
resultsParameters
E. coli
Sample Locations
Adjacent to beach x 4
FrequencyWeekly
DurationJune to
September
StandardsCCME
Is Paradise Lake safe for my kids to swim in?
Analyze
resultsParameters
E. coli
Sample Locations
Adjacent to beach x 4
FrequencyWeekly
DurationJune to
September
StandardsCCME
Safe to Swim
Yes or No
Who is the Target Audience?
Who is the Target Audience?
Members of the general public Local landownersNS Dept. of EnvironmentSchool childrenMunicipal councilors
Summarize your data to tell your story
Tailor to your audienceTailor to your audienceTimeLevel of detailVisuals“Sound bites”
How Will Results be Conveyed?
How Will Results be Conveyed?
Newspaper articleOral presentationFlyerFull-length scientific reportWeb sitePoster
Summary
Data should tell a storyTailor your presentation to your audience(s)Use multiple formats to help get your
message to all types of learnersUse images to help explain complex
information
Water Quality Monitoring Plan
Who?What?When?Where?Why?How?
CURA H20, 2013a
Water Quality Monitoring Plan
1. Compile existing information on watershed2. Describe purpose(s) of monitoring3. Identify monitoring sites4. Identify monitoring parameters and methods5. Identify monitoring frequency and duration6. Describe data use and management7. QA/QC procedures and safety
QA/QCQuality Assurance- System to ensure credible results- In writing
Quality Control- Specific measures taken in data collection and
analysis
CURA H20, 2013b
Wet-Pro, 2013
Technical Advisory Committee
Every watershed group should have one
Technical Advisory Committee
Possible membership:- Government staff- Scientists (employed/retired)- Academics- Other WQ Coordinators
Provide expert, impartial advice
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
T
A
C
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
T
A
C
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
T
A
C
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
T
A
C
Develop Research Question
Develop Sampling Plan
Sampling
Data Analysis
Reporting / Communicating Results
T
A
C
