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Methods Board Meeting – March 2005 Highlights

This summary outlines the key discussions and outcomes of the Methods Board Meeting held in March 2005, covering various workgroup progress, presentations on new technologies, and upcoming projects in the field of bioassessment comparability.

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Methods Board Meeting – March 2005 Highlights

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  1. Methods Board Meeting – March 2005Highlights • Most 2-yr workplans for each Workgroup prepared • Discussed Board involvement in NMN – reported earlier in Council meeting. Ed Johnson (NOAA) Workgroup Chair • Wadeable Streams Assessment – continue work with EPA in implementing a bioassessment comparability program – more later (Laura Gabanski, Jerry Diamond) • Water Quality Data Elements (LeAnne Astin) • Guide finalized. Need for approval of guide and biological data elements by ACWI • Reviewed draft Habitat WQDE • Promote WQDEs and offer online implementation tools

  2. Methods Board Meeting – March 2005Outcome • NEMI (Dan Sullivan, Cary Jackson) • Vision statement completed • ES&T paper appears as a feature article on 4/15 (very taxing production) • CRADA under development. Hopefully, will bring funding to NEMI project – Hach and others - Addition of biological and other methods ongoing – 150 methods in staging area • Field Activities Committee. Fraceska Wilde playing major role. • NEMI-CBR and expert system peer reviewed and near completion. Public release mid-summer

  3. Methods Board Meeting – March 2005Outcome • Outreach (Eric Vowinkel, Acting) • Update and expand scope of public and internal web sites • Next edition of Across the Board in draft – publish in June/July • Special edition of IMPACT to focus on methods and data comparability after National Conference • Update Board and delegate lists • New Workgroup members will help with external communications

  4. Methods Board Meeting – March 2005Outcome • PBS and Nutrients --Workroups Combined (Ed Santoro and Cliff Annis) • Initiate pilot for evaluating Nitrate Reductase method for nitrate determination (Charlie Patton) • Finalize nitrate DQO paper • Link with EPA-FEM PBS activity • Examine data integrity issues

  5. Methods Board Meeting – March 2005Outcome • Accreditation (Merle Shockey) • Facilitate discussion between EPA and states regarding EPA reorganization of NELAP • Currently Workgroup is on hold • New Technologies (Katherine Alben) • Eli Greenbaum (Oak Ridge) presentation on fluorescent monitoring for algae – related to water security • Jim Sinclair (EPA) presentation on algal toxin monitoring • Develop a strategy for entering methods into NEMI

  6. Methods Board Advisory Group on Bioassessment Comparability • Board Advisory Group formed with first meeting on March 8, 2005 • Projects: • Analysis of Wadeable Stream Assessment Comparability Study data (March 05 – Dec 06) • Critical Review of the State-of-the-Science of Bioassessment Comparability (May – Aug 05) • EPA Guidance on Bioassessment Comparability (March 05 – June 07) • National Workshop on Bioassessment Comparability (Nov 06) • New Bioassessment Comparability Studies (Oct 05 – June 07)

  7. Status of Projects WSA Comparability Study Data Analysis - Some studies completed already with data available in late Spring early Summer 2005 (beginning year 2 of 2-yr program) - Results of completed studies will be reported in Final WSA Report (Dec 05) - Data Analysis meeting of Comparability Study cooperators this Summer - Board Advisory Group will participate in and provide advice to cooperators and EPA at data analysis meeting

  8. Status of Projects cont. Critical Review of State-of-the-Science of Bioassessment Comparability - Board Advisory Group provided input on design of the review and potential sources for the procurement at the March 8 Board Meeting - EPA will issue a small business competitive simplified acquisition for this project in April 2005 (project duration: May – August 2005) - Board Advisory Group will provide input to the project by reviewing progress and the draft report

  9. Status of Projects cont. EPA Bioassessment Comparability Guidance • At the March 8th Meeting: - Board Advisory Group discussed the general approach to determining comparability - The Board Advisory Group also proposed a draft outline for the guidance • Next Steps: - The draft outline will undergo further review by the Board Advisory Group and EPA Workgroup - First draft of guidance available at end of the year

  10. Status of Projects cont. • National Workshop & New Comparability Studies - A National Workshop is planned for Nov 06 to coincide with final draft of guidance document - New Comparability Studies will be planned for FY 06

  11. Next Steps • Complete formation of Board Advisory Group (e.g., add USGS experts) • Hold Board Advisory Group conference call end of April to discuss status of WSA Comparability Studies and role in Summer meeting; status of Critical Review; and draft outline of guidance document • Regular Board Advisory Group conference calls will be held to discuss and provide input to projects

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