Recent activities of two national committees–SWAQ and ACWI

1. Recent activities of two national committees–SWAQ and ACWI Water Information Management Systems Workshop Seattle, September 25, 2007 Jody Eimers U.S. Geological Survey

2. 1) NSTC-CENR Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ) • A Strategy for Federal Science and Technology to Support Water Availability and Quality in the United States • 2 working groups 2) Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) • National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries • Subcommittee on Ground Water

3. www.ostp.gov/nstc/html/_reports.html SWAQ advises the Executive Office of the President about Federal science and technology to support water availability

4. “Agencies are… encouraged to align programs with A Strategy for Federal Science and Technology to Support U.S. Water Availability and Quality because of the importance of fresh water supplies to human health, environmental quality, and economic prosperity.”

5. Scientific and technical challenges to ensure adequate water supply for the Nation: • #1: Measure and account for the Nation’s water; • #2: Develop methods that will allow expansion of fresh water supplies while using existing supplies more efficiently; and • #3: Develop and improve predictive water management tools.

6. Elements of implementing the SWAQ strategic plan • Implement a national water census • Develop a new generation of water monitoring techniques • Develop and expand technologies for enhancing reliable water supply • Develop innovative water-use technologies and tools to enhance public acceptance of them • Develop collaborative tools and processes for U.S. water solutions • Improve understanding of the water-related ecosystem services and ecosystem needs for water • Improve hydrologic prediction models and their applications

7. Advisory Committee on Water Information Subcommittees National Water Quality Monitoring Council National Liaison Committee for NAWQA ٭Subcommittee on Spatial Water Data Subcommittee on Sedimentation Methods & Data Comparability Board National Monitoring Network Subcommittee on Ground Water Subcommittee on Hydrology Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable http://acwi.gov/ * Also reports to Federal Geographic Data Committee

8. National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries • U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy • Chapter 15, Creating a National Monitoring Network • U.S. Ocean Action Plan • Asks NOAA, USGS, and EPA to create a National Water Quality Monitoring Network

9. Network Features • Links inland, coastal, and ocean monitoring • Comparable and quality-controlled data across regions and resource compartments • Resolution at several scales • Relevant to management issues (National and Regional) • Builds on existing programs • Includes data management and access

10. Multi-year Effort • Phase I - Network Design, completed (FY 05 & 06) • Designed by National Water Quality Monitoring Council at request of CEQ and NSTC • Phase II - Develop and carry out pilot studies (FY 07 & 08) • Endorsed by Cabinet Committee on Ocean Policy; part of Ocean Action Plan • Phase III - Demonstration Projects (FY 08 & 09) • Phase IV-Implementation (FY 10 and beyond) • Fill gaps and provide necessary enhancements to existing monitoring programs

11. What are the Benefits? • In-depth assessment of the water quality and health of the Nation’s coastal waters • Identify pollution loading patterns • Describe status • Detect change • Data sharing and comparability among agencies • Data made accessible • Quality assurance and quality control plans • Support water resources protection and restoration decisions • Minimize duplicative or ineffective monitoring; improve coordination

12. Advisory Committee on Water Information Subcommittees National Water Quality Monitoring Council National Liaison Committee for NAWQA ٭Subcommittee on Spatial Water Data Subcommittee on Sedimentation Methods & Data Comparability Board National Monitoring Network Subcommittee on Ground Water Subcommittee on Hydrology Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable http://acwi.gov/ * Also reports to Federal Geographic Data Committee

13. Subcommittee and Work Group Membership * *As of 07/18/07

14. Work Groups Subcommittee on Ground Water Bob Schreiber, ACWI – ASCE Bill Cunningham, USGS Executive Secretary Chris Reimer, NGWA Monitoring Inventory Work Group Bill Cunningham, USGS Mike Wireman, USEPA Emery Cleaves, AASG Data Standards and Data Management Work Group Chuck Job, USEPA Scott Andres, DE GS Field Practices Work Group Rod Sheets, USGSMike Nickolaus, GWPC Monitoring Design Work Group Bob Schreiber, ACWI- ASCE Kevin Frederick WY DEQ Quality Quantity Quality Quantity

15. May 18-22, 2008Atlantic City Convention CenterSheraton Atlantic CityAtlantic City, NJ • Conference Themes: • Connecting and Integrating Data About Hydrologic Resources • Collecting, Assessing and Interpreting Data: • New Technologies and Analytical Methods • Describing the Sustainability & Condition of Water Resources • Understanding Water Quality Stressors • Exploring Federal, State, and Local Monitoring Needs • Enhancing State, Regional, and Local Monitoring Programs • Addressing Multi-Jurisdictional and International Monitoring Issues • Improving Communication through Innovative Outreach

16. Dissolved Solids in Basin-Fill Aquifers and Streams in the Southwestern United States http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/mrb/salinity.html The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a report yesterday describing salinity levels in streams and ground water in parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The report concludes that although salinity varies widely throughout the region, levels have generally decreased in many streams during the past two decades.