National Water Quality Monitoring Council
Tacoma, Washington
August 22-24, 2000

MINUTES

Attendees (See last page of Minutes)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2000

1. Welcome and Introductions: John Klein welcomed Council members and guests to the Council meeting in Tacoma. Members introduced themselves with a brief description of their affiliation and responsibilities.

2. WASHINGTON DISTRICT PROGRAMS:Cindi Barton, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) District Chief, Washington gave a brief overview of Washington District programs including programs with other Federal agencies and the Cooperative Water Program. Cindi described work the Washington District is doing with various Tribes in the Washington area.

   Presentations from the Washington District were given by Robert W. Black on Use of Aerial Based Remote Sensing to Assess Habitat Quality, and Richard Wagner on Guidelines and Standards for Continuous Operation of Water Quality Monitors.

3. TRIBAL ISSUES/ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS.: Seth Makepeace served as moderator for a discussion and round table on Tribal issues. Presentations were given by Deborah Patton, InterTribal Council of Arizona, Inc.; Andy Ross, Lummi Nation, Bellingham, WA; Gary Passmore, Colville Confederated Tribes, Nespelem, WA; and Jill Ory, Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commission

   Jill Ory stated that the Commission's main goal is to help restore salmon and give the Tribes greater voice in this restoration. Most funding is through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribes get $6M to $10M for restoration. The Northwest Power Plant Council designates the monies distributed to the Tribes.

   Deborah Patton spoke about the cultural differences among Tribes. Each Tribe has a particular culture that is associated with their area and Tribe. Factors of the culture deal with air, water, and wind. These elements are very important to them and difficult to put a numeric value on them. You need to establish relationships on a one-to-one basis within areas. It is the politics of working together and the money being funded. There are 600 Tribes as sovereign nations. We need to reach out to them and to be sensitive to different styles of communication. ACTION ITEM:  Deborah will email to Council a list of all Tribal Environmental Managers. Seth Makepeace stated, as an example, that any meeting of the formality of this Council meeting, on a reservation, would start with a prayer. This is just an example of the differences in a Tribal meeting compared to a meeting like this Council

   Tribes have varying degrees of resources stated Gary Ingman. We can help the Tribes with the tools that we are developing. What is needed in the Tribes is hands-on training. Rodney DeHan stated that perhaps the Council could advocate this sort of training. Gary stated that reservation sovereignty is built on case law, legal base, and there is a tenuous hold over management of own resources. Case law gets overturned and changed by Supreme or Circuit Courts. There is some lack of understanding by Tribes as to "what a set of nutrient data" is. Some State representatives don't really understand "Tribal Sovereignty." What does that really mean? Legal meaning of Tribal Sovereignty is a legal treaty with U.S.A. Tribes would say "their use and attachment to land over time." In Montana: 1855 Stevens Treaty is "Statement of Sovereignty." USA: Winters Doctrine" is lands held in trust by Nation "will have waters which support needs of Tribes" (also National Parks)-same doctrine. In Arizona there are 21 individual governments dealing on the Federal level which do not have to work through the States.

   Deborah indicated that in the Southwest, they do not always separate quality water and water quality even though there are two separate agencies in Arizona for this. There is lack of recognition from some State offices re Tribal sovereignty.

   Seth Makepeace asked if the Council could help with cross-jurisdictional waters. A Tribe will try to find someone they can trust to work out water-quality issues. When a State Government tries to deal with Tribal leaders, there is no cooperation because Tribes only deal with Federal Government. The Lummi Nation is willing to discuss issues, but it is very easy for a State to assume control. Tribes consider States as neighbors. Gary Ingman proposed that if Tribes are required to have water-quality monitoring guidelines, perhaps the Council could help them with these guidelines. Very few Tribes know about the Council stated Seth Makepeace. ACTION ITEM: The Council should consider issues of Tribal groups in the region where the next Monitoring Conference will be held.

   ACTION ITEM: Toni Johnson gave a report on discussions on water-quality issues with Tribal representatives and also suggested that the Council provide a training session at the Monitoring Conference. Toni proposed that we bring back to the Council business meeting recommendations of ways the Council could help the Tribes with water-quality monitoring issues. Toni's presentation will be sent to the Tribal representatives for their input, edit, corrections, or additions. This will be passed on to the Tribal representatives through Seth Makepeace. When approval is received concerning the issues, the report will be given to the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) at the May 2001 meeting for information and action.

4. 2002 MONITORING CONFERENCE: David Denig-Chakroff advised the Council and guests of plans being made for the next Monitoring Conference that will take place in 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin. David will pass around a sign-up sheet for anyone who is willing to work on the planning committee for the 2002 conference. Anyone willing to work on the Conference will meet with David and Chuck Spooner for a luncheon meeting tomorrow. One of the first issues will be to work on a budget. Chuck Spooner stated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has access to the contractor, Tetra Tech, who could work with planners for the conference. ACTION. Council will have a choice to make as to whom to ask to be a co-sponsor of the 2001 meeting. The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) was co-sponsor of the Austin conference that took place April 2000. The April 2000 Monitoring Conference was funded by EPA and the GWPC. EPA contracted with Tetra Tech for management of the conference.

5. TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) ISSUES. Gary Ingman and Bill Backous served as moderators for the TMDL session. :

   Gary Ingman presented an overview of the new TMDL rule and relationships to Council goals and objectives. Chuck Spooner discussed combining 303d with 305b; there are many initiatives where rules will be challenged many times before it is done. The new rule was signed in July 2000 but will not be enacted until October 2000. There will be a 9-month delay before the new rule will be applied to new State TMDL programs. The rules call for major changes to State TMDL Programs. Rule elements overlap with Council goals. Changes are being made in how States identify polluted waters; how you format the list of impaired waters; what makes up a TMDL. Implementation plans are being called on for the first time, and there are new requirements for public participation. ACTION ITEM: Council should think about how monitoring aspects of the new rules and relationships relate to specific goals and objectives of the Council. Relative to monitoring, State programs must include collection and analysis of chemical, physical, and biological data, adequate QA/QC programs, submission of biennial 305b reports. Attached is copy of Gary's slide presentation

   Chuck Spooner presented a report on EPA's Working Group on 303(d) and 305(b) Consolidated Reporting. EPA is statutorily restricted from implementing these new regulations and also discussing them at this time. This presentation relates to implementing the old rules. Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) is very important, and many people are involved. There are now and will continue to be decisions about TMDL's. Members from each State have been invited to convene to talk about how to implement guidance. Attached is Chuck Spooner's slide presentation. All attainment decisions are based on applicable State water-quality standards.

   Jon Craig presented a report on Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) recent State TMDL Meeting. States want to invite as much help as they can get to do TMDL's. Identifying components of TMDLs-- part of the process is to come up with methods to analyze data; identify monitoring program; and figure out how to do it. EPA rules say that States are responsible for nonpoint source pollution. ASIWPCA cannot afford to wait five years to see if the implementation plan works. Milestones need to be developed immediately. We want to identify those States that have something in place and working. We would like to have a series of about 10 technical exchange meetings. We need places like Chicago, Dallas, and St. Louis. A 2-day workshop should be located where it iseasy for people to attend-a major city that is accessible to all. States need volunteer monitors in a big way. Each State is supposed to develop its own TMDL program. We need to know what other States are doing to help develop their own programs. Every State is a little different; looking for partners and common goals. EPA is likely to be very pleased that the States and partners are becoming proactive. States need guidance and money. If there isn't money for implementation, it is not going to happen. ACTION ITEM: ASIWPCA wrote to Congress to restore funding to the USGS for the flow monitoring (Streamgaging Program). Council needs to decide what they can do. This needs to be the offer to EPA, AWIPCA and the States.

   Bruce Cleland, EPA Region 10 in Seattle, gave a presentation on EPA perspectives on watershed analysis and nonpoint source TMDL development using an example TMDL that EPA recently approved.

   Bill Backous led Council discussion and plans regarding the Action Plan for TMDLs.

6. OVERVIEW OF USGS NATIONAL WATER INFORMATION SYSTEM (NWIS). :). John Briggs gave a brief overview of the NWIS and the NWIS/WEB review that will take place at the Washington District Office on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000

7. NWIS/WEB Focus Groups and Work Group Sessions.The NWIS/WEB Focus Groups met at the Washington District Office and Council Work Groups were in session at the LaQuinta Hotel.:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2000

COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING

8. FOLLOWUP ON ACTION ITEMS:

   • Press Release on Corals from Fred McMannus, EPA. Chuck Spooner will follow up on this action.

   • Steering Committee Charter Incorporated into Council Terms of Reference. Toni Johnson will have this completed in the near future. (Revised charter distributed to Council via email on 10/3/00.)

   • Schedule Second Meeting of Federal Representatives to Council to discuss additional Federal support. To be done.John Klein)

   • Membership-Naming Council representative for Agriculture. (See agenda item "Nomination of Candidates for Council" listed below.) (Toni Johnson)

   • Check calendars of major meetings one or two years in advance for planning purposes (possible monitoring sessions can be included.)Fred Banach distributed information on the 8th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop that will take place in Hartford, Connecticut on September 10-14, 2000. Linda Green will make a presentation at this workshop. Fred asked that Council members share news of this conference with colleagues. Toni asked that all members share information on these conferences for possible monitoring sessions. list of upcoming meetings was distributed at this session of the Council.

9. SOURCE WATER PROTECTION INITIATIVE CO-SPONSORED BY AMERICAN CROP PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (ACPA) AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION (AWWA), AND AMERICAN CLEAN WATER FEDERATION (ACWF).John Thorne gave an overview of this initiative. The project was started a year ago to work with the drinking water community on Best Management Practices (BMP). It is managed by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and facilitated by the ACPA, AWWA, and ACWF. They are monitoring for BMP's in three paired watersheds (Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois). Funding comes from USDA's EQUIP, EPA's 319, pesticide manufacturer incentives. Jim Lyons of USDA serves on the steering committee, USGS sits on the technical working group. This effort could include nutrients in the future. John's presentation is attached. Jim Cox and Fred Banach mentioned 10 other ongoing paired watershed studies (by EPA?). ACTION ITEM: Chuck Spooner said that he would provide more information related to paired watershed studies by EPA.

10. SELECTION OF VOLUNTEERS FOR WORK GROUPS:Charlie Peters led discussion on volunteers. There was a discussion of the review of volunteers from the "yellow pages" spreadsheets to make selections for membership to Council Work Groups. ACTION ITEM: Charlie Peters willl revise the spreadsheets on volunteers. (Update received 9/19/00.)

11. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL.: There will be further review of candidates for Council from Region 3. Emery Cleaves, former representative for Region 3 recently resigned. ACTION ITEM: Chuck Spooner and John Klein will report back to the Steering Committee on their recommendation for members to Council. Candidates are:

    • candidate for Region 7: Lyle Cowles, EPA

    • Candidates for Region 3: Bob Summers, Maryland Department of Environment and Ron Gregory, Virginia

    • Candidates for Agriculture: The Farm Bureau, Corn Growers Association, American Crop Protection Association, and Agriculture Research Service

WORK GROUP REPORTS

12. WATER INFORMATION STRATEGIES:Peter Tennant reported on Water Information Strategies for Robert Ward and Gary Ingman. Revised work plan goals and accomplishments are included in the attached presentation. Among these goals is an effort to survey existing monitoring programs. Jon Craig indicated that ASIWPCA has already drafted a survey to be used to identify and evaluate State programs. ACTION ITEM: Jim Cox will share AWIWPCA draft survey with Council for review before distributing to States. The Council discussed expanding the use of this survey to include Federal programs, State regional councils, and possibly Tribes. (See Collaboration and Outreach Work Group Report.)

    Peter stated that they are not really sure how to handle data management in this work group; them may need to expand membership in the work group and improve coordination between work groups

    The work group discussed the Council's role in the Gulf of Mexio Project. "In consultation with Council" appears twice in the current version of Project proposal. ACTION ITEM: May need a steering committee conference call; a letter from the Council would be needed by September 11. The project proposes expanded monitoring and nutrients work in the GOM; guidelines from the Council would be needed before 2002. Chuck Spooner also mentioned House Bill 4013, role of monitoring in the Upper Michigan for nutrients and hypoxia; USGS mentioned among others.

13. Institutional Collaboration and Public Affairs and Stockholder Outreach: The Institutional Collaboration and Outreach Work Groups met together and would like to consolidate these two work groups. It was approved that the Institutional Collaboration and Public Awareness and Outreach groups be merged into one group and is renamed Collaboration and Outreach. Members discussed what they would like to do as projects for this group. They are:

    1. National Conference 2002 in Madison, WI, May 21-23. The chair of this group is David Dening-Chakoff, with Linda Green, Charlie Peters, and Chuck Spooner as members. The group will work work to develop theme for conference-technical work shops, and tracks and presentations. Charlie suggested supporting regional monitoring conferences in off years of the National Conference. They will seek additional support from other agencies.

    2. Resolution to ACWI. As a collaboration work group, we need to tell people what we are doing about monitoring. We need to do this with the Federal agencies. ACTION ITEM: Tim Kubiak volunteered to lead the Federal effort to start a dialog and put together a way to look at all the Federal monitoring programs to identify gaps/overlaps in Federal agency monitoring programs. ACTION ITEM: Lyle Cowles volunteered to go to EPA regions. ASWIPCA's survey of State monitoring programs could be very useful in this effort. ACTION ITEM: Fred Banach, along with Charlie Peters and Lyle Cowles, will lead the effort to survey State/Regional Monitoring Councils including interstate watershed councils

    3. ACTION ITEM: Toni Johnson will chair the effort, along with Linda Green, Cliff Annis, and Charlie Peters, to expand the web presence. They will look at Council website and update; add recommendation of readings and presentations. We have brochures that were distributed to all members and also we have a poster that should be presented at various conferences at which members participate

    4. The group wants to come up with a better series of Council Fact Sheets. We hope to get support from USGS and Tetra Tech. ACTION ITEM: John Klein will prepare a Fact Sheet on the Council that is more detailed than the brochure, and Wayne Hood will get examples of collaborative monitoring.

    5. Toni Johnson reported on the status of the Council report on evaluation, progress and implementing strategy that OMB has inquired about. NOTE: Terms of Reference requires a Report every 5 years starting in the year, 2000. ACTION ITEM: Toni Johnson to draft the required report for OMB.

14. METHODS BOARD: Charlie Peters reported for the Methods Board Work Group giving an overview and direction of this work group. The Methods Board has five sub-groups; they are Outreach and Publicity, National Environmental Methods Index, Performance Based System, Accreditation, and Water Quality Data Elements. (Charlie's slide presentation is attached.)

15. WATERSHED COMPONENTS INTERACTIONS: Rodney DeHan reported for the Watershed Interactions Work Group. Rodney explained the actions of the National Conference wanting to put more emphasis on a more multidiscipline approach for this work group. The work group had been named Ground Water Focus and is now renamed Watershed Components Interactions Work Group (approved by Council) that more accurately reflects the mission of this work group. However, Rodney indicated that the group would still have a very strong emphasis on ground water issues. (Rodney's presentation is attached.)

16. ACTION ITEM: For all work group chairs. If you have not already done so, please remember to revise the work plan text for your work group. (Introduction, Statement of Purpose, Background, Approach. For Statement of Purpose, refer to the Council brochure for your most recent language, but note that this will have to change for the newly combined work groups. Revised text due date October 31, 2000, to Judy.)

17. UPDATE ON TMDL WORKSHOP: Toni Johnson gave an update on the TMDL Science Issues Conference scheduled for March 4-7, 2001, in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by ASIWPCA, USGS, and Water Environment Federation. . Information on the TMDL Conference can be found at www.wef.org/govtaffair

18. MEMBERSHIP: STATES ROTATIONAL MEMBERSHIP:
    
    NOTE: DISCUSSION OF EXTENDING MEMBERSHIP FOR REGIONS 1, 5, AND 9 FOR 2 YEARS (TO EXPIRE OCTOBER 2002). REGIONS 2, 4, 6, 8, AND 10 ARE DUE TO EXPIRE OCTOBER 2001. REGION 7 JUST FILLED FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS (DUE TO EXPIRE IN OCTOBER 2004.)

    Toni Johnson discussed the rotational memberships. Fred Banach and Wayne Hood are due to rotate off the Council. It is requested that Fred Banach and Wayne Hood remain on the Council for two additional years so there is a more balanced rotation. ACTION ITEM: John Klein said that he would send a formal letter to the organizations that they represent to request that they remain on the Council for two more years.

    It was also noted that the membership section under the Terms of Reference needs to be revised. The Terms of Reference states the rotational membership terms for States; however, Federal and other members on Council do not have stated lengths of terms.

    During the discussion of representation on Council, Seth Makepeace suggested that Forest interests be represented. These interests would be addressed through the Agriculture representation on Council.

PLANS FOR NEXT MEETING  Topics for the next meeting were discussed. Timeframe suggested for the next meeting would be about the third week of January. It was suggested that we visit another EPA regional office; Region 6, Dallas, was suggested. Region 9 is San Francisco and would be too expensive. Other suggestions were Kansas City or Sacramento, CA. Toni Johnson suggested exploring the possibility of visiting the EPA offices mentioned. Mike Houts made a motion that we have the meeting in Dallas. We will get feedback from Region 6 and Region 9 as to their supporting a Council meeting in their region. It was also suggested that we again have the next meeting with focused topics of discussion. ACTION ITEM: It was suggested by Don Dycus that we have a field trip dealing with water quality concerns of the area visited.

Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Attendees:
Toni Johnson, ACWI Executive Secretary, Reston, VA
David W. Tucker, AMSA
Paul Hickey, Tacoma Water
Bill Ingersoll, U.S. Navy
Greg Gross, MPCA
Charlie Peters, Co-Chair, Methods Board
Don Dycus, TVA
Gary Ingman, MT/DEQ
Tim Kubiak, USFWS
Rodney DeHan, FL Geological Survey
Fred Banach, CT/DEP
Robert King, EPA, Washington, DC
Lee Manning, EPA Storet, Washington, DC
Jon Craig, OK/DEQ
Mike Houts, OK/DEQ
Andy Ross, Lummi Nation
Deborah Patton, InterTribal Council of AZ
Jill Ory, Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commission
Clifford Annis, Merck and Co., Inc
Gary Passmore, Colville Tribe of Indians
Bill Backous, WA/Department of Ecology
John H. Thorne, Consultant, ACPA
David Denig-Chakoff, AMWA
Karl Muessig, AASG
Fred VanAlstyne, NY/DEC
Peter Tennant, ORSANCO
Jim Cox, NASCA
Linda Green, Volunteer Monitoring
Wayne Hood, AZ/DEQ
Jim Harvey, AWWA
Jeff Loser, USDA/NRCS
Chuck Spooner, Council Co-Chair, EPA
John Klein, Council Co-Chair, USGS
Bruce Cleland, EPA, Region 10
Theresa Pimentel, EPA, Region 10
Gretchen Hayslip, EPA, Region 10
Gary Turney, USGS, Tacoma, WA
Cindi Barton, USGS, Tacoma, WA
Katherine Lins, USGS, Reston, VA
Judy Griffin, NWQMC Acting Executive Secretary, Reston, VA
Susan Trapanese, USGS, Reston, VA
Curry Jones, EPA, Region 10

Draft, J. Griffin,
Acting Exec. Sec.
10/3/00

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
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