Water Quality Data Elements (WQE) Workgroup

1. Water Quality Data Elements (WQE) Workgroup Workgroup Co-Chairs Chuck Job, USEPA LeAnne Astin, ICPRB Glenn Patterson, USGS

2. Data Reporting WQDE’s Relationship to the Framework WQDE is a list of “core metadata,” facilitating comparability assessments, which tell us: • Who collected and analyzed the data • What data were collected • When the data were collected and analyzed • Where the data were collected • Why the data were collected • How the data were collected and analyzed

3. WQDE Workgroup Accomplishments • A modular approach used to develop “Who”, “Where”, “When”, “Why” WQDE lists for all data types, and the “What” and “How” WQDE lists for Chemistry and Microbiology, adopted by ACWI • Draft Fact Sheet prepared. • Biology WQDE workgroup formed; lists for field biological assessments and toxicity “What” and “How” distributed for review • Fostered development of eight pilot projects to test implementation concerns • EPA has developed a draft implementation approach and published in Federal Register

4. Biological Data Under Consideration • Aquatic biological assessment data (e.g., fish, algae, macroinvertebrates, plants) • Organism tissue contaminant data (e.g., clam tissue, fish tissue, specific organ contaminant data) • Organism toxicity data (e.g., acute and chronic toxicity, Microtox) • Biomarkers (stress proteins, etc)

5. Biology WQDE: Organizations Represented Federal EPA, FWS, USGS, NOAA Interstate DRBC, ICPRB State WDNR, OWRB, MACZ, FDEP, NYDH, ODEQ, CA SWRCB, SJWMD, Ohio Biological Survey Municipal Denver Metro, Chicago WRD Other Kenyon College, Michigan State University, Idexx, Tetra Tech Total of 37 participants thus far

6. Activities Thus Far • Compiled Data Elements from 10 databases: e.g., STORET, NAWQA, EMAP, EDAS, WDNR, ICPRB • Evaluated additional element lists from NOAA, NASA, FGDC, EPA Envir Data Registry • Compared Data Element lists with current WQDE • Who, where, when and why modules from Chem/Micro are transferable to biology data

7. Activities Thus Far • Compared draft biological data elements with current STORET requirements • Drafted Position Paper on Workgroup mission • Developed first draft of data elements for habitat data

8. Who Where When Drives the “How” and the “What” Why Habitat Elements What Toxicity Chem/Micro [collection of samples covered, in part, in bioassessment module Bioassessment Tissue Contaminants [Some bioassessment field collection methods may also be useful for organism contaminant data.] [Analytical methods may require similar elements as existing chemical data elements.]

9. Where are we going? • Fully implement modular approach • Further develop and implement outreach strategies to gain general acceptance of WQDEs • ACWI facilitate member use, conduct survey • Complete pilot tests and prepare report to demonstrate ease of use and advantages of WQDEs • Developing WQDEs for field and biological methods • Consider how to respond to EPA data standards proposal