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Water Information Strategies Work Group

The WIS workgroup defines and promotes strategies for monitoring designs; data management, access, and exchange; data integration and analysis; and information reporting to address water needs. Read more in our factsheet "From Data to Information to Action".

• Integrating Data from Diverse Sources and Multiple Monitoring Designs to Address Water Issues: In 2010, an issue paper will be developed on the benefits and challenges associated with integrated assessments that include data collected from different programs and monitoring schemes. Companion materials are planned to communicate the information to meet different audience needs, including a detailed technical paper for the active monitoring and management community and a fact sheet for policy makers. The goal is to illustrate the range of objectives and water issues addressed by different monitoring designs, and the value of integrating the different data (such as linking probabilistic surveys with data from fixed and targeted stations) into an integrated assessment that can answer questions beyond what the individual programs can address. Case studies will be included to highlight the benefits of integrated assessments, including enhanced geographic coverage, improved temporal understanding (seasonal and long-term trends), and enhanced understanding of the natural and human factors that affect water quality and biological condition (see example below). Examples will also show relevance to management questions and needs, such as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), regulations, compliance, assessment, trends, and indicators.
  

• National Indicators: Actions are ongoing to assess state interests in defining and applying national indicators to meet their management and data needs and the potential for integration of state data in national indicator efforts, such as the National Environmental Status and Trends (NEST) effort and the Heinz Center’s Roadmap to the Future.

• Water Quality Statistics and Assessments (WQSA) Workgroup: An effort is underway to improve the awareness and availability for water resources practitioners of a wide range of data analysis and water quality assessment procedures and guidance. Read more in the WQSA white paper...

• Creation of a Clearinghouse of the Nation’s State and Federal Water Quality Monitoring Programs: Plans are to analyze potential technologies and level of interest for a monitoring and technique clearinghouse and expert system that facilitates sharing of statistical and other assessment and reporting tools and monitoring designs.

• Volunteer Monitoring: Actions are planned to actively promote volunteer monitoring through interaction with state and regional monitoring councils and other stakeholders involved in volunteer monitoring. The goal is to develop an online forum to communicate and exchange information on existing volunteer monitoring, available methods and resources, the status of volunteer monitoring in state monitoring strategies, and benefits and challenges associated with volunteer monitoring.

Meeting Minutes

• Salt Lake City, Utah - November 15-17, 2011
• New Orleans, Louisiana - May 2011
• Pensacola, Florida - Feb, 2011
• Portland, Oregon - July 21-23, 2009
• Salt Lake City, Utah - March 10-12, 2009
• Reston, Virginia - December 9-11, 2008
• Lafayette, Louisiana - March 20-22, 2007
• West Palm Beach - October 31 - November 2, 2006
• Durham, New Hampshire - July 19, 2006
• Pensacola, Florida - November 3, 2005
• Durham, New Hampshire - July 27, 2005
• Annapolis, Maryland - April 15, 2005
• San Jose, California - December 6-10, 2004
• Ann Arbor, Michigan - July 19-23, 2004

Products and Plans

• Factsheet: From Data to Information to Action (April 2008)
• Water Information Strategies Workgroup: Objectives & Tasks (November 2006)
• Data Analysis Considerations in Producing ‘Comparable’ Information for Water Quality Management Purpose
• Information Infrastructure in Water Quality Monitoring
• A Vision for Enhancing Use of Information Technology in Water Quality Monitoring
• Monitoring Guidance Inventory -- We welcome additional contributions of monitoring guidance and/or applications of the guidance in a documented and available monitoring design.