1. STORET/WQX Users Conference November 29, 2007 Tribal Water Quality Data Management

2. Overview  Take a closer look at tribal water quality data management and sharing data with EPA  Annual Tribal Assessment Reports require electronic copies of surface water quality data in a STORET compatible format  Options for sending data to EPA

4. Essentials of Data Management  Water quality monitoring data consists of: Where sample/measurement was collected Where sample/measurement was collected When it was collected When it was collected What was collected What was collected How it was collected How it was collected Why it was collected Why it was collected Who collected it Who collected it  Regional work with tribes has emphasized data management as part of the overall process of water quality monitoring and assessment

5. How EPA Describes Monitoring Data  Projects (Why data was collected) - Brief summary of monitoring plan  Stations (Where data was collected) - Describe where monitoring takes place  Results (When, How and What was collected) - Measurements of what was monitored Three categories of data :

6. More Essentials of Data Management  Local system that can help you track your data Paper files Paper files Excel spreadsheets Excel spreadsheets Access databases Access databases Oracle or SQL Server databases Oracle or SQL Server databases  How many people are doing data management?  Who needs to know stuff about the data, and how do they want to see the information?

7. Tribal 106 Guidance Requirement  All tribes must submit a TAR (Tribal Assessment Report) to continue eligibility for 106 funds (Page 8-3 in the Tribal 106 Guidance) Monitoring Strategy Monitoring Strategy Water Quality Assessment Water Quality Assessment STORET-compatible electronic data STORET-compatible electronic data

8. 106 Guidance parameters Fundamental Programs: - Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - Temperature - pH - Turbidity Intermediate Programs: - Nitrogen - Phosphorus Mature Programs: - Pathogens - Macroinvertebrates - Physical Habitat indicators

9. I. Monitoring Strategy II. Monitoring Objectives III. Monitoring Design IV. Core Indicators V. Quality Assurance VI. Data Management VII. Data Analysis/Assessment VIII. Reporting IX. Programmatic Evaluation X. General Support and Infrastructure 10 Elements of a Tribal Monitoring Strategy

10. Tribal 106 Guidance Requirement  All tribes must submit a TAR (Tribal Assessment Report) to continue eligibility for 106 funds (Page 8-3 in the Tribal 106 Guidance) Monitoring Strategy Monitoring Strategy Water Quality Assessment Water Quality Assessment STORET-compatible electronic data STORET-compatible electronic data

11. Options  Submit data through National WebSIM Web based user interface for uploading files Web based user interface for uploading files Interim solution until web based XML Generation Tool is available (available mid 2008) Interim solution until web based XML Generation Tool is available (available mid 2008)  Submit data through WQX Primary means of data submission for EN Grant Recipients Primary means of data submission for EN Grant Recipients  In the future, submit data using the XML Generation Tool (available in mid 2008)  Work with your EPA regional monitoring coordinator and tribal 106 person

12. National WebSIM or WQX  106 recipients are encouraged to use the templates available to submit data through National WebSIM now  Tribes without an Exchange Network grant now should look towards using WQX in the future (over the next 2-3 years)

13. National WebSIM  Tribes without Exchange Network capability can send data through National WebSIM, available now Interim solution for tribes until XML Generation Tool is available Interim solution for tribes until XML Generation Tool is available  Tribes are encouraged to use the Region 5 STORET Data Template to format and prepare data for submission through WebSIM  http://www.epa.gov/storet/national_websim.html http://www.epa.gov/storet/national_websim.html

15. Submitting Data through WebSIM

16. Submitting data using WQX  Water Quality Exchange (WQX) uses the Exchange Network to flow physical, chemical and fish tissue data from an tribe’s own database to the existing STORET Warehouse  Tribes that have been awarded Exchange Network Grants submit data through WQX Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes participated in testing WQX Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes participated in testing WQX

17. XML Generation Tool  EPA is currently developing a web based XML Generation Tool that will allow tribes to send their data to the STORET Warehouse using the Exchange Network  This tool will replace the use of National WebSIM, but will work in much the same way  Tribes will be able to transition easily from WebSIM to the XML Generation Tool because they are already used to formatting and preparing data for submission using a web based tool

18. What’s Next?  Camille will walk through the STORET Data Template  Please contact us (storet@epa.gov) to get set up with National WebSIM storet@epa.gov  Remember this URL: www.epa.gov/storet/national_websim.html www.epa.gov/storet/national_websim.html www.epa.gov/storet/national_websim.html

19. More Web Resources  www.r5storet.com www.r5storet.com  www.tribalstoret.com www.tribalstoret.com