October 11, 2006 Ellen McCarron & Steve Wolfe Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas Florida Department of Environmental Protection May 2006 Developent of a Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council

October 11, 2006 Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council Longterm, Ongoing Issues: Lack of interagency monitoring coordination Lack of interagency monitoring coordination Data/information sharing difficult if not impossible Data/information sharing difficult if not impossible Many program elements unplanned and under-funded Many program elements unplanned and under-funded Linkage between fresh and marine waters Linkage between fresh and marine waters

October 11, 2006 Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council Desired future state: Coordinated state and federal monitoring Coordinated state and federal monitoring Improved fresh-marine linkage Improved fresh-marine linkage Monitoring programs well planned and funded – comprehensive strategies Monitoring programs well planned and funded – comprehensive strategies Cost-effective monitoring Cost-effective monitoring Awareness of other programs/opportunities Awareness of other programs/opportunities

October 11, 2006 History of Efforts to Coordinate Monitoring National Level -- ITFM & National water quality monitoring council National Level -- ITFM & National water quality monitoring council State Level -- Original efforts to develop a Florida council State Level -- Original efforts to develop a Florida council

October 11, 2006 Before the Council Previous efforts based on need for mutually agreed-upon standards. No one had authority to set statewide standards and require adoption. Previous efforts based on need for mutually agreed-upon standards. No one had authority to set statewide standards and require adoption. Complete agreement on anything is very difficult to achieve. Complete agreement on anything is very difficult to achieve.

October 11, 2006 Existing monitoring County and local monitoring County and local monitoring DOH beach monitoring DOH beach monitoring DACS shellfish monitoring DACS shellfish monitoring WMD monitoring – networks & projects WMD monitoring – networks & projects FWC - IMAP coastal/ocean monitoring FWC - IMAP coastal/ocean monitoring DEP IWRM freshwater monitoring and developing coastal/ocean monitoring DEP IWRM freshwater monitoring and developing coastal/ocean monitoring Ocean Observing Systems Ocean Observing Systems

October 11, 2006 Council Genesis Legislature charged DEP with responsibility and authority to establish ‘standards’ Legislature charged DEP with responsibility and authority to establish ‘standards’ §373 F.S. language §373 F.S. language

October 11, 2006 Current Council Genesis § F.S., (2)&(3)- charges DEP with responsibility and authority to establish ‘standards’ for water resource data § F.S., (2)&(3)- charges DEP with responsibility and authority to establish ‘standards’ for water resource data (2) authority to prescribe formats and ensure QC of water resource data (3) authority to retain an advisory group

October 11, 2006 Council Genesis Monitoring Council created to advise DEP in setting data and monitoring standards. Monitoring Council created to advise DEP in setting data and monitoring standards.

October 11, 2006 Council Genesis Monitoring Council created to help link existing monitoring programs with expanded coastal and ocean monitoring to form a comprehensive, integrated monitoring program Monitoring Council created to help link existing monitoring programs with expanded coastal and ocean monitoring to form a comprehensive, integrated monitoring program

October 11, 2006 Council Genesis Bottom line: DEP is seeking advice from the Council on best ways to proceed. Bottom line: DEP is seeking advice from the Council on best ways to proceed.

October 11, 2006 Existing Data Challenges – Provide data/information that can be shared with others. – Collect data that can be combined with that from other programs. – Adopt means to distinguish data that is appropriate for the users purposes (metadata)

October 11, 2006 Existing Monitoring Program Challenges – Identify and describe present monitoring programs – Identify where monitoring goals are sufficiently similar to allow coordination of efforts – Identify if monitoring programs are sufficiently similar that coordination offers a cost benefit

October 11, 2006 Existing Challenges, con’t – To fill gaps in monitoring, determine where expansion of existing programs is more cost effective than adding new programs

October 11, 2006 Charges to the Council Advise DEP on issues to consider in establishing monitoring and data standards Advise DEP on issues to consider in establishing monitoring and data standards Provide technical input to aid developing and implementing standards Provide technical input to aid developing and implementing standards Assist with coordination of efforts Assist with coordination of efforts

October 11, 2006 Council structure and function Ellen McCarron – Chair, ex-officio, non-voting, provides guidance and advice to Council Ellen McCarron – Chair, ex-officio, non-voting, provides guidance and advice to Council

October 11, 2006 Council structure and function Ten voting members, consisting of: Ten voting members, consisting of: – One representative from each state agency with significant WQ monitoring responsibilities (4 state agencies) – One representative from each WMD – One representative from FLERA representing county/local governments

October 11, 2006 Council structure and function Liaison – Steve Wolfe; coordinates Council activities Liaison – Steve Wolfe; coordinates Council activities Facilitator – Janice Fleischer, J.D.; FLASH Resolutions; designs agendas and runs meetings Facilitator – Janice Fleischer, J.D.; FLASH Resolutions; designs agendas and runs meetings Members can talk freely with liaison and facilitator outside of Council meetings (Sunshine talk) Members can talk freely with liaison and facilitator outside of Council meetings (Sunshine talk)

October 11, 2006 Florida Water Resources Monitoring Council Updates will be provided to you Wish us luck!!