1. Unified Approach to Stormwater Monitoring (UASM)
Workplan for UASM Guidance Document

2. Background and objective
The SMC spends millions for MS4 monitoring and collects a lot of data
2014 Workshop identified differences in monitoring approaches and methods
Data collected through a standardized monitoring would facilitate more accurate regional assessment
Goal of this project is to create a Unified Stormwater Monitoring Workplan
what, when, and how to standardize
used for developing a guidance document for standardized monitoring

3. Tasks leading to the UASM workplan
Define the monitoring questions
completed at our June meeting
Compile an inventory of existing monitoring methods
discussed at our last meeting
Create a Workplan for preparing the UASM
we will discuss the draft today
Feedback
Reaction to the inventory analyses
Approval/revision of the workplan
Prioritization of the future projects

4. Standardized monitoring questions
Data Collection:
Q1. What pollutants are associated with the stormwater runoff?
Q2. What are the sources of the identified pollutant(s)?
Q3. What are the sources (and magnitudes) of illicit discharge/illegal connections?
Data Assessment:
Q4. How effective the BMPs are for reducing flow and contaminant concentrations?
Q5. If (and how) the stormwater is influencing the quality of receiving water?
Q6. What is the overall health of receiving water?
Management and Planning:
Q7. If (and what) receiving water needs management actions based on its overall health?
Q8. How effective are the current water quality management plans?

5. Methodology
WQIP/EWMP/CIMP reviewed for details of the monitoring programs
Wet- and dry- weather outfall and receiving water monitoring were reviewed
Annual reports reviewed for data analyses and reporting
Literature reviewed to explore standardization pathway

6. Workplan for standardization
5 recommended tasks to address the knowledge gaps for standardized monitoring
Each task describes at least one project for developing UASM guidance document
Workplan could be used as the UASM request for proposal

7. Tasks for developing UASM guidance document
Task 1. Standardize first-flush selection criteria
Task 2: Standardize sampling site screening while planning for MS4 monitoring
Task 3: Standardize field-sampling procedure
Task 4: Standardize laboratory analytical methods
Task 5: Standardize data analyses and reporting format

8. Standardizing first-flush criteria
Most programs address seasonal first-flush but none considers within-storm first flush
First flush runoff may introduce bias in EMC or BMP effectiveness evaluation
The project should
- rank the pollutants for first-flush consideration
- identify watersheds that demonstrate first-flush phenomena

9. Standardized selection for sampling location
Only 12% programs list how dry weather sites are selected
Careful selection of sampling sites
- ensures representative water samples
- provides context to outfall monitoring data
Each selection criterion should be assigned a relative significance for wet-, dry-, and receiving water monitoring

10. Standardizing sampling procedure
Sampling details are not standardized
- how many times to sample
- how many samples to collect
- sampling duration
Sampling procedure and flow measurement influences all aspects of the MS4 monitoring
Limited information available on standard approach for collecting samples
Statistical and field-studies could provide guidance on sampling procedure

11. Standardizing analytical methods
Analytical methods are
- (almost) standardized for conventional parameters, metals, and inorganics
- not standardized for organic analytes
Consistent analytical methods and uniform reporting limits ensure data comparability
Following information should be collected as a minimum monitoring requirement
- a common list of priority contaminants
- appropriate methods and reporting limits

12. Standardizing data analyses and reporting
New monitoring questions require novel data analyses techniques
Ultimate goal of monitoring is to answer monitoring questions using appropriate data assessment tools
Standardizing data analyses would entail
- SOPs for evaluating BMP and WQIP effectiveness
- standardized measure for describing receiving water health
- guideline to integrate monitoring data with RAA for adaptive management

13. Comments? Reaction to the inventory analyses
Approval/revision of the workplan
Prioritization of the tasks proposed in the workplan