Datagaps, Needs & Opportunities

1. Datagaps, Needs & Opportunities Philip Trowbridge, P.E. Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership & NH Department of Environmental Services A presentation for the Southeast Watershed Alliance Science Symposium May 11, 2011

2. Piscataqua Region Monitoring: Perception vs Reality Reality • Mosaic of under-funded programs that change yearly • Time-consuming data synthesis by PREP • Cannot answer many crucial questions Perception • Piscataqua Region data collected through a single, well-funded monitoring program

3. Scientific Datagaps • Water quality trends in the Cocheco, Salmon Falls, Bellamy, and Lower P.R. • Composition of plankton populations • Sediment budgets • Components of Biological Oxygen Demand • Components of light attenuation

4. Scientific Datagaps (cont.) • Changes in oyster bed boundaries • Impervious surfaces that are disconnected • Changes in salt marsh and freshwater wetland area • Lakes and streams that meet standards for swimming, fishing, and aquatic life

5. Data Needs • Plan and fund a comprehensive WQ monitoring program for the tidal waters • One program with multiple funders • Add stations in Bellamy, Cocheco, Salmon Falls, and Piscataqua (and Hampton and Rye Harbors) • Add more WQ parameters (e.g., phytoplankton, BOD, primary productivity) • Add winter samples at CML Current funding level: ~$77k/yr (GBNERR $60k, PREP $17k) Add’l funding needed: ~$85k/yr

6. Data Needs • Upgrade and expand datasonde monitoring • Purchase six new datasondes • Add chlorophyll-a probes • Add deployments in the Cocheco and Piscataqua Rivers Current funding level: ~$70k/yr (GBNERR $60k, PREP $10k) Add’l funding needed: ~$28k/yr incl ~$55k capital amortized for 7 yr

7. Data Needs • Improve watershed load monitoring for nutrients and sediments • Add 10 storm samples per year to tributary monitoring for nutrients and sediments • Add monthly wastewater effluent monitoring for nutrients at 14 WWTFs Current funding level: ~$9k/yr (PREP $9k) Add’l funding needed: ~$20k/yr

8. Data Needs • Plan and fund a comprehensive monitoring program for lakes and rivers • 70-90% of lakes and rivers do not have data on even basic parameters (pH, DO, etc.) • Support/expand existing volunteer monitoring programs for lakes and rivers Current funding level: $3k/yr Add’l funding needed: ~$30k/yr

9. Data Needs Specific Additions Map oyster beds Map connected impervious surfaces Map salt marsh and wetlands Test mussel tissue for toxic contaminants Test estuary sediments for toxic contaminants Monitor marine invasive species Bathymetry, land use, etc. • There are many other crucial data needs...

10. Opportunities • Engagement and awareness of the estuaries and water quality at all levels • Agreement that good science can solve problems • Significant capital costs put monitoring costs in perspective • Increased monitoring costs: $163k/yr

11. Next Steps • Prepare QA Project Plans as proposals for comprehensive monitoring programs • Obtain price quotes • Seek funding from stakeholders, foundations • Sustain the DES Volunteer River Assessment Program and other low-cost programs

12. Questions? Philip Trowbridge, P.E. Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership & NH Department of Environmental Services Philip.Trowbridge@des.nh.gov 603.271.8872