The Non-tidal Water Quality Monitoring Network: past, present and future opportunities Katie Foreman Water Quality Analyst, UMCES-CBPO MASC Non-tidal Water Quality Workshop May 7-8, 2008

Outline History and Objectives Network Development Challenges STAC recommendations for design improvement Discussion questions and session goals

The NT network was developed with 3 objectives in mind Developed by the Non-tidal Water Quality Workgroup in 2004 for consistency in monitoring Objectives: 1. Measure and assess the status and trends of nutrient and sediment in tributary strategy basins 2. Assess the factors affecting nutrient and sediment status and trends 3. Improve calibration and verification of partners’ watershed models

200 sites were proposed 200 candidate sites Site criteria: Outlets of tributary strategy basins Highest nutrient load delivery regions Low monitoring site density regions Funding was limiting factor – states prioritized sites

Limitations of candidate sites 200 candidate sites address only the first objective Need to study representativeness of sites Lack of funding requires prioritizing new site implementation

Current non-tidal water quality network (88 sites) 70 primary sites ($45,000/yr/site) 18 secondary sites (25,000/yr/site) 2007 Sampling cost: $3.6 million mostly existing funds, $300,000- CBP

Criteria for sampling and analysis Chemistry samples minimum of 12/yr (primary vs. secondary). Standardized parameters, sampling, and analytical techniques. 3 years of data for load calculations, 5 years for trends.

Parameters are standardized Required NTN Parameters Additional RIM Parameters (Recommended for NTN) Total Nitrogen, as N (TDN + PN) or (TKN + NO23) Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN) Ammonium, as N (dissolved) (NH3F)Particulate Nitrogen (PN) Nitrate + Nitrite, as N (dissolved) (NO23F)Total Dissolved Phosphorus (TDP) Total Phosphorus, as P (TP) or (TDP + PP) Particulate Phosphorus (PP) Phosphate, as P (dissolved) (PO4F)Particulate Carbon (PC), or TOC Total Suspended Solids (TSS)Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) (Storm events only) Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) SSC-Sand & SSC-Fines (4 storms per year)Chlorophyll-a (corrected) (CHLA) Field Parameters: Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, pH, Specific Conductance

Analytical techniques are standardized

Almost 1200 samples collected in 2007

Network Challenges Coordination of many agencies Logistical constraints given size of watershed (storm sampling) Funding (stream gage funding dependent on states) Only 1/3 of proposed sites are fully implemented Spatial representativeness is unknown

STAC recommends changes to improve the network 2005 STAC reports made 11 main recommendations STAC Publication

STAC recommends changes to improve the network 1.Evaluate spatial representativeness of current network 2.Use models to optimize network design 3.Add sites at smaller scales STAC Publication

STAC recommends changes to improve the network 4. Target high pollution areas (urban, ag. areas) 5.Monitor unmonitored areas (coastal plain) 6.Augment with info. from other programs 7.Use sensor technologies and automated samplers STAC Publication

STAC recommends changes to improve the network 8.Improve point source load estimates 9.Use adaptive management and increase flexibility of program 10.Integrate monitoring and modeling programs STAC Publication

STAC recommends changes to improve the network 11. Expanded network should be responsive to multiple objectives and be flexible. STAC Publication

Session Goals Discuss the STAC recommendations for the enhancement of the network. Prioritize STAC recommendations for the enhancement of the network and create a plan for carrying out those recommendations.

Discussion Questions How can site selection be optimized to incorporate all objectives of the program? Is the monitoring program able to support the development of key watershed health indicators and other management tools? –additional parameters and/or improved multi- agency monitoring coordination?

Discussion Questions How would a flexible monitoring program be structured? What are key coordination efforts that need to be implemented to augment network data with other monitoring program data? –smaller scales, BMP projects What are the needs for the non-tidal database to be enhanced?

Expected session outcomes Prioritize STAC recommendations for the enhancement of the network. Create a plan for non-tidal workgroup to carrying out selected recommendations.