National Water Quality Monitoring Council Collaboration and Outreach Workgroup -- Update

February 1, 2011

Cathy Tate (USGS) and Barb Horn (Colorado Division of Wildlife), Co-chairsKim Martz, Executive Secretary of C & O Workgroup

The Collaboration and Outreach Workgroup supports partnerships that foster collaboration among the water monitoring community, including State, Regional, and

Tribal councils, as well as watershed groups, partnerships, and alliances

Strategic Workplan for 2011Primary Goals

1. Sponsor Web Seminars at least quarterly2. Create a Council Blog for feedback3. Produce a biannual Newsletter (Spring and Fall 2011)4. Expand communication with other Councils and partners 5. Update Council’s Webpage(s)6. Refine online "How to” tool kit for state, regional, and tribal councils

a. Create new power point presentations

b. Produce model analysis (or matrix) of water monitoring councils

7. Plan for 8th National Monitoring Council in Portland, Oregon

Plan posted at http://acwi.gov/monitoring/workgroups/co/index.html

Web SeminarsMarcellus Monitoring: The role of

volunteers in baseline data collection

Presented on Jan. 18th &19th

presentation by Jinnie Woodward, Julie Vastine, and Candie Wilderman,

Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) Environmental Studies Dept., Dickinson College, PA

Webinar well attended – over 106 participants

Web SeminarsMarcellus Monitoring by volunteers

600 people trained since 2010 (ALLARM & others)Study design and protocol documentWhat they monitor

chemical monitoring (TDS, conductance, Barium, Stronitium) visual assessments flow monitoring (relation to TDS)

Data use: decision tree to know when to report to PA DEPQA/QC practicesData management: created a template to store date

http://www.dickinson.edu/about/sustainability/allarm/content/Marcellus-Shale/Presentation slides at: http://acwi.gov/monitoring/workgroups/co/webinars.html

Suggested Topics and speakersVolunteer Monitoring Programs– Linda Green, University of Rhode Island,

Watershed Watch Program Director (early 2011)Tribal Research – Dave Fuller, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe (early 2011?)Methods Board & NEMI – Dan Sullivan, USGS, Co-Chair Methods Board

Sensors and their applications – March 17th * Introduction to NEMI – June 16th * *In collaboration with California Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program

Water Smart Initiative? – Wendy Norton, coordinate (Spring 2011?)Great Lakes energy water nexus project – John Hummer (Fall 2011)Chesapeake Bay Issues – Peter Tango; Chesapeake Bay workshop for criteria –

discuss if “umbrella criteria” can be used. (Fall 2011?)Nutrient Criteria? – follow up on Pensacola discussion (Summer/Fall 2011?)

Blogs and Social Media Tools

Council Calendar – let Cathy Tate or Dan Sullivan know when there is something going on!

Council Blog – paperwork submittedExploring use of “SharePoint” for internal information

exchange (e.g., planning for conference, workgroups)

“National Water Monitoring News” An Online Newsletter for the Water Monitoring Community

Released twice per yearApril 11, 2011 – target date for 3rd

EditionArticles with photos due February

25, 2011Send to Editorial Board

Cathy Tate, cmtate@usgs.govJohn Hummer, jhummer@glc.orgAlice Mayio, mayio.alice@epa.govDan Sullivan, djsulliv@usgs.govWendy Norton, wenorton@usgs.gov

http://acwi.gov/monitoring/newsletter/index.html

“National Water Monitoring News”Major Sections of Newsletter

National Council HighlightsNew members, National Monitoring Conference, Web seminars, etc.,

Collaboration through Partnerships (Spotlights on)Federal, Regional, State, Volunteer, and Tribal monitoring

Workgroup UpdatesAquatic Sensors, Water Information Strategies, etc.,

National Monitoring NetworksArticles of InterestAnnouncements

Expand communication with other Councils and partners in monitoring – Council “calling card”

The National Council currently interacts with more than 17 Councils and partnerships across the Nation – more to come!

Analysis of Council Webpage UsageGoal: Determine web usage and web areas most and least usedPurpose: Assist in webpage updates, discover the audiences

reached, improve visibility of least used webpage(s), etc.,Total yearly hits have increased over time

2010: 373,8872009: 368,9322008: 317,2772007: 319,673

Specific webpage use – summarization in progress

Refine online "How to” tool kit for state, regional, and tribal councils

Create/Update power point presentations Still need a lead this effort

Produce model analysis (or matrix) of water monitoring councils Team includes Barb Horn (lead), Jody Arthur, Alice Mayio, and David

FullerConstructed a surveyContent needs Council approvalSend to monitoring communities to fill out

8th National Monitoring ConferenceWhere: Portland, Oregon

When: April 30 – May 4, 2012 (ends mid-day on Friday)

With Who: National River Rally, May 4 - 7, 2012 (begins Friday evening); River Network national meeting

Overlap Day – May 4th

Council Input/Participation Needed:Themes for ConferenceParticipation on Subcommittees

Conference SubcommitteesProgram committee – Conference planning committeeNWQMC/River Rally subcommitteeLocal Planning CommitteePlenary CommitteeWorkshops/Panels/Extended Sessions CommitteeAwards CommitteeSponsors/Exhibitors CommitteeConference Volunteers

LocalCouncil Members

NWQMC/River Rally overlap subcommitteeMembers:

Katherine Luscher (River Network), Cathy Tate, Alice Mayio, Greg Pettit, Aaron Boriesenko, Steve Hanson, Barb Horn, Jeff Schloss, Danielle Donkersloot

Purpose: Develop program of interest to both groups

Theme: (ONE) One Resource – One Effort – One FutureWhat subcommittee is up to:

Expect a Survey asking you “What would you like to get out of a day of overlap of the National Monitoring Conference and River Rally?”

http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/MonitoringNeeds

Potential Timeline for Conference Planning Activities 2011

Jan 2011: Start work on "Save the Date" announcement

Feb/Mar 2011: Issue "Save the Date" announcement, begin work on plenary speakers, field trips, offsite reception, sponsors, etc.

May 2011: Issue Call for Abstracts

Sept 2011: Abstract and workshop/panel/etc., Submittal Deadline

Oct – Dec 2011: Evaluation and Selection of Abstracts for oral and poster presentations, workshops/panels, etc.,

Dec/Jan 2012: Notification of Speakers

Potential Timeline for Conference Planning Activities 2012

Jan 2012: Rollout registration website

Jan 2012: Finalize conference agenda including details regarding plenary speakers, field trips, short courses, workshops, offsite reception, etc.,

Mar 2012: Work with presenters/moderators/vendors and finalize conference structure/agenda

April 30 – May 4, 2012: Hold NWQMC Conference