United States _4Jfrice of Research an
Environmental Protection Office of Environmental
Agency Washington, DC 20460
•T
Delivering Ti
Environmental
September 2001
http://www.epa.gov/empact
The Boulder Area
formation Networ
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking ^
-------
Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ap-
proved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute en-
dorsement or recommendation of their use.
-------
EPA/625/R-01/010
September 2001
Delivering Timely Environmental
Information to Your Community
The Boulder Area Sustainability
Information Network (BASIN)
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-
based ink on paper that
contains a minimum of 50%
post-consumer fiber content
processed chlorine free
-------
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Dan Petersen of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Risk Management
Laboratory, served as principal author of this handbook and managed its development with support of
Pacific Environmental Services, Inc., an EPA contractor. The following contributing authors represent
the BASIN team and provided valuable assistance for the development of the handbook:
BASIN Team
Larry Barber, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Boulder, Colorado
Michael Caplan, City of Boulder
Gene Dilworth, City of Boulder, Colorado
Tammy Fiebelkorn, City of Boulder, Colorado
Mark McCaffrey, NOAA
Sheila Murphy, USGS, Boulder, Colorado
Chris Rudkin, City of Boulder, Colorado
Donna Scott, City of Boulder, Colorado
Jim Waterman, Enfo.com
Jim Heaney, University of Colorado, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural
Engineering
The BASIN Team would like to extend a special thanks to the following Boulder Community
Network (BCN) Staff and Volunteers for their efforts in making the BASIN project a success:
BCN Staff
Brenda Ruth, Jim Harrington, Karen Kos, and Joelle Bonnett
Web Design & Architecture
Paul von Behren, Phil Nugent, Linda Mark, Bob Echelmeier, Chad Wardrop, Sean McGhie,
Juditha Ohlmacher, Richard Fozzard, Roy Olsen, Mike Meshek, Irv Stern, and Deb Miller
GIS Group
Steve Wanner
Resource Discovery Group
Janne Cookman, Jeff Roush, and Paul Tiger
Outreach
Alice Gasowski, Brenda Ruth, Michael Benidt, Brad Segal, Michael Caplan, and
Tom Mayberry
Treasure Map Developer
Dani Bundy
-------
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 EMPACT Overview 3
1.3 BASIN EMPACT Project 4
1.4 EMPACT Metropolitan Areas 9
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 11
3. BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 13
3.1 Boulder Creek Watershed Characteristics 13
3.2 Sustainability 15
3.3 Timely Environmental Data 19
3.4 The Boulder Creek Millenium Baseline Study 26
4. COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 29
4.1 System Overview 29
4.2 Data Collection 30
4.3 Data Analysis 32
4.4 Data Transfer 36
4.5 Quality Assurance/Quality Control 39
5. DATA PRESENTATION 41
5.1 What is Data Presentation? 41
5.2 BASIN Spatial Data Catalog 42
5.3 Generating Data Presentations 45
5.4 Water Quality Index (WQI) Computation and Display 50
5.5 Conclusions 51
6. COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 53
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan for Disseminating Timely Environmental
Monitoring Data 53
6.2 Elements of the BASIN Project's Outreach Program 60
6.3 Resources for Presenting Environmental Information to the Public 66
6.4 Success Stories 73
6.5 Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 75
-------
CONTENTS (continued)
APPENDIX A A-l
Glossary of Terms & Acronym List
APPENDIX B B-l
BASIN News Newsletter
APPENDIX C C-l
Other Printed Promotional Material for BASIN
IV
-------
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
BASIN, the Boulder Area Sustainability
Information Network, began as a two
year pilot project designed to deliver a
variety of environmental information about the
Boulder, Colorado area to its inhabitants. As an
ongoing model for the localization of socio-
ecological data and information, BASIN seeks
to improve public access and understanding of
environmental information by fostering a
collaborative partnership between researchers,
data collectors, educators and the general public
and actively seeks community involvement in
information development and learning and
services activities. [Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/main/about.html]
Note!
The Colorado BASIN project should not be confused with the
Environmental Protection Agency's BASINS (Better Assessment
Science Integration Point and Nonpoint Sources) Modeling
Course. The BASINS Modeling Course is a watershed training
course offered by the EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, &
Watershed. Please see http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/
BASINS/ for more information about BASINS.
BASIN project components include:
• Data Providers - agencies who either actively provided data to BASIN
or had relevant environmental data available on the Web. BASIN
utilized data collected by the following agencies:
City of Boulder, Drinking Water Program
City of Boulder, Storm Water Quality Program
City of Longmont
Colorado Air Pollution Control Division
Colorado's River Watch Program
SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL)
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
INTRODUCTION
-------
• Information Collection, Management and Delivery - a system to
maintain environmental data and to establish and maintain
communication links. The key agencies responsible for this effort are
as follows:
City of Boulder
enfo.com, Colorado
• Communications - led by the Communications Coordinator, this
component of BASIN served to communicate information about
environmental conditions and to facilitate community and school-
based participation in new and existing environmental programs.
General content and background materials on the BASIN Web site, the
BASIN Newsletter, BASIN Television and CD-ROM programs, and
other education and outreach materials were developed through
BASIN Communications. The following agencies were responsible for
developing the ECOSOURCE material:
City of Boulder
Boulder Community Network
Boulder Valley School District
Community Access TV
For the purposes of this Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community
Tracking (EMPACT) project, the "Boulder area" is defined as the St. Vrain Watershed,
a 993 square mile region that extends from the Continental Divide to the High Plains
and includes over 285,000 people [Source: http://www.bococivicforum.org/
indicators/people/OS.html].
Figure 1.1 St. Vrain Watershed.
Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/watershed/address.html
CHAPTER 1
-------
The BASIN project was one of eight EMPACT projects funded by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development
(ORD) in 1998. The EMPACT program was created to introduce new technologies
that make it possible to provide timely environmental information to the public.
1.2 EMPACT Overview
This handbook offers step-by-step instructions about how to provide a variety of timely
environmental information including water quality data to your community. It was
developed by the EPA's EMPACT program. EMPACT is working with the 150 largest
metropolitan areas and Native American Tribes in the country to help communities in
these areas:
• Collect, manage, and distribute timely environmental information.
• Provide residents with easy-to-understand information they can use
in making informed, day-to-day decisions.
To make this and other EMPACT projects more effective, partnerships with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the USGS were
developed. EPA works closely with these federal agencies to help achieve nationwide
consistency in measuring environmental data, managing the information, and delivering
it to the public.
To date, environmental information projects have been initiated in 84 of the 150
EMPACT- designated metropolitan areas and Native American Tribes. These projects
cover a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality, groundwater
contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. Some of
these projects were initiated directly by EPA, while others were launched by EMPACT
communities themselves. Local governments from any of the 150 EMPACT
metropolitan areas and Native American Tribes are eligible to apply for EPA-funded
Metro Grants to develop their own EMPACT projects. The 150 EMPACT
metropolitan areas and Native American Tribes are listed in the table at the end of this
chapter.
Communities selected for Metro Grant awards are responsible for building their own
timely environmental monitoring and information delivery systems. To find out how to
apply for a Metro Grant, visit the EMPACT Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact/
apply.htm.
One such Metro Grant recipient is the BASIN Project. The project provides the public
with a variety of timely environmental information about the Boulder area including
weather, stream flow, water quality, snow pack, and toxic release data, as well as an
extensive compilation of supplemental information to provide interpretive context for
the environmental data.
INTRODUCTION
-------
1.3 BASIN EMPACT Project
1.3.1 Overview/Approach
The primary goal of BASIN was to help Boulder area residents make meaningful
connections between environmental data and their daily activities and enable
involvement in the development of public policy, especially as it relates to the local
environment. The BASIN project focused on critical local and regional environmental
issues that pertained to the Boulder Creek Watershed.
The data provided on the BASIN Web site were selected by the BASIN Project team
based on the following criteria:
• Significance of the data to the local community/environment,
• Availability of the data,
• Interest to the local community,
• Feasibility for putting the data on the Web site, and
• Sensitivity of the data (e.g., controversial data)
There are three classifications of data available on the BASIN Web site.
• Data links to other Web sites (e.g., SNOTEL, weather, toxic releases,
and stream flow) where BASIN did not have any principal relations
with the data providers and had no influence on the collection, analysis,
or quality control of the data.
• Acquired data, where BASIN dealt with the data providers but had no
direct influence on the data collection or quality control of the data (e.g.,
River Watch data and City of Longmont).
• Direct data, where BASIN had an interactive relationship with the data
provider and had input on the data format, collection protocols, and
QA/QC (i.e., City of Boulder's drinking water and storm water data and
USGS data).
The BASIN approach emphasizes "timely" information over "real-time" data.
Acquiring and delivering "real-time" data involves a high frequency of data sampling,
transmission, and display. Costs are proportionately higher and tend to reduce other
aspects of a project accordingly. Therefore, high frequency data presentation should
only be incorporated when it is essential to the usefulness of the data. In many
applications, "timely" data may provide the same desirable features as "real-time" data.
For the BASIN project, "timely" means the most current available data set, presented
with the appropriate supporting contextual information. This approach avoids the
problems associated with static data sets that quickly become outdated, but avoids the
higher maintenance costs associated with "real-time" data delivery.
4 CHAPTER 1
-------
1.3.2 BASIN EMPACT Project Team
The BASIN Project team consists of both principal and collaborative partners. The
principal BASIN partners are as follows: [http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/adm/
contributors.html]
• City of Boulder - provided overall project coordination as well as
drinking water and storm water monitoring data.
• enfo.com. - directed design and development of the BASIN
InformationManagement System and provided technical
coordination of Web site designand development (see http://
www.enfo.com).
• Mark McCaffrey - Communications Coordinator for the BASIN
Project. As an environmental educator and co-founder of the
Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative, Mark was involved with
developing the original BASIN EMPACT proposal and, as
Communications Coordinator, assisted in establishing the network of
both principal and collaborative partners for the BASIN project.
• University of Colorado Department of Civil Engineering and
Architectural Engineering - served as one of the initial EMPACT
grant writers; developed data collection and interpretation strategies
for the integrated water quality component; and studied residential
water use.
• USGS/Dr. Larry Barber - provided data collection, analysis and
interpretation guidance and participated in the development of the
Boulder Creek Millennium Baseline data collection program.
• Michael Caplan - Community liaison and team facilitation.
Collaborative Partners include the following:
• Boulder Community Network.
• Boulder County Healthy Communities Initiative.
• Boulder County Health Department.
• Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative.
• Boulder Valley School District.
• Colorado Division of Wildlife-River Watch Network.
• Community Access Television.
• United States Geological Survey
INTRODUCTION
-------
1.3.3 Project Costs
Overall - The costs to conduct a monitoring project similar to the BASIN Project can
vary significantly. Factors affecting the cost include, but are not limited to, the size and
location of your study area, the types of information available from potential
collaborative partners, the number and types of parameters you want to measure, the
number of personnel needed to collect and analyze the data, the number of samples to
collect, the amount of new equipment which will need to be purchased, etc. For the
BASIN project, the BASIN team purchased a Sun SPARC Database Server Platform
for $10,000.
The BASIN team originally submitted an EMPACT Metro Grant Application/
Proposal for $600,000. However, due to limited EMPACT resources, the BASIN
project was funded the reduced budget of $400,000 for two years beginning in January
1999. Provided below is brief discussion of the primary project components of the
BASIN project. Figure 1.2 provides the budget expenditures for the BASIN's
monitoring project. [Source: BASIN Project 2000 Annual Report, dated January 30,
2001]
^40,000
$103,000
• IMS • Communications QDaia AnsJyas
D Urbifl Stem Runoff • Proiect Management
Figure 1.2 Budget Expenditures for the BASIN Project.
Information Management System (IMS) - effort included developing data provider
partnerships, identifying IMS software requirements, implementing IMS system,
development of the bibliographic database and supporting user interface, development
of an event calendar database and user interface, development of a photograph database
and user interface, maintenance of timely data acquisition and display protocols,
providing e-mail forum support, and general maintenance of the BASIN Web site. This
effort comprised approximately 26 percent of the $400,000 project budget.
CHAPTER 1
-------
Communications - effort included Web site design; assistance in the development of
video productions about BASIN and Boulder Creek, publishing the bi-monthly BASIN
NEWS newsletter, hosting on-line discussion regarding drought, fires, and floods, and
developing specific learning activities and promoting BASIN in local schools. This
effort comprised approximately 24 percent of the $400,000 project budget.
Data Analysis - effort included collecting, compiling, and analyzing existing water
quality data, as well as developing a protocol to transmit the QA/QC validated data to
the Web site. Monthly data for 17 parameters measured along Boulder creeks were
made available on the BASIN Web site. This effort also included the compilation of a
450-item Boulder Creek Watershed Bibliography which can be queried via the BASIN
Web site (see IMS) and the development of an extensive list of household hazards and
environmentally benign alternatives. This effort comprised approximately 17 percent
of the $400,000 project budget.
Urban Storm Runoff - effort included developing a better understanding of micro-
scale runoff relationships at a small-scale urban site, developing an overall water balance
model of a small urban site, and developing a process level understanding of the
residential water use. This effort comprised approximately 23 percent of the $400,000
project budget.
Project Management - effort included maintaining communications with grant
agency, project managers, and all BASIN participants, administering grant and
subcontractor contracts and correspondence, maintaining EPA approved Grant
Management Filing System, serving as a liaison between granting agency and city;
providing oversite of the Environmental Index development process, and producing
the BASIN NEWS newsletter. This effort comprised approximately 10 percent of the
$400,000 project budget.
1.3.4 EMPACT Project Objectives
Overall BASIN project objectives include the following:
• Improve existing environmental monitoring to provide credible, timely
and usable information about the watershed to the public.
• Create a state-of-the-art information management and public access
infrastructure using advanced, web-based computer technologies.
• Build strong partnerships and an ongoing alliance of governmental,
educational, non-profit and private entities involved in watershed moni-
toring, management, and education.
INTRODUCTION
-------
• Develop education and communication programs to effectively utilize
watershed information in the public media and schools and facilitate
greater public involvement in public policy formation.
1.3.5 Technology Transfer Handbook
The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA's ORD National Risk
Management Research Laboratory initiated development of this handbook to help
interested communities learn more about the BASIN Project. The handbook also
provides technical information communities need to develop and manage their own
timely watershed monitoring, data visualization, and information dissemination pro-
grams. ORD, workingwith the BASIN Project team, produced this handbook to lever-
age EMPACTs investment in the project and minimize the resources needed to imple-
ment similar projects in other communities.
Both print and CD_ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct on_line
ordering from EPA's ORD Technology Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/
ttbnrmrl. You can also order a copy of the handbook (print or CD-ROM version) by
contacting ORD Publications by telephone or by mail at:
EPA ORD Publications
USEPA-NCEPI
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190
Note!
Please make sure that you include the title of the handbook and the EPA
document number in your request.
We hope you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use. We wel-
come your comments, and you can send them by e-mail from EMPACT's Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/empact/comment.htm.
8 CHAPTER 1
-------
1.4 EMPACT Metropolitan Areas
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Albuquerque, NM
AUentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA
Anchorage, AK
Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
Atlanta, GA
Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC
Austin-San Marcos, TX
Bakersfield, CA
Baton Rouge, LA
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
Billings, MT
Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS
Binghamton, NY
Birmingham, AL
Boise City, ID
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-MA-NH-
ME-CT
Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Burlington, VT
Canton-Massillon, OH
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC
Chattanooga, TN-GA
Cheyenne, WY
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN
Cleveland, Akron, OH
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbia, SC
Columbus, GA-AL
Columbus, OH
Corpus, Christie, TX
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
Dayton-Springfield, OH
Daytona Beach, FL
Denver-Boulder-Greeley CO
Des Moines, IA
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
Duluth-Superior, MN-WI
El Paso, TX
Erie, PA
Eugene-Springfield, OR
Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Fayetteville, NC
FayetteviUe-Springfield-Rogers, AR
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL
Fort Fierce-Port St. Lucie, FL
Fort Wayne, IN
Fresno, CA
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point,
NC
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA
Hartford, CT
Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC
Honolulu, HI
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
Huntsville, AL
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Johnston, PA
Kalamazoo-Batde Creek, MI
Kansas City, MO-KS
Killeen-Temple, TX
Knoxville, TN
Lafayette, LA
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Lancaster, PA
Lansing- East Lansing, MI
Las Vegas, NV-AZ
Lexington, KY
Lincoln, NE
Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County,
CA
Louisville, KY-IN
Lubbock, TX
Macon, GA
Madison, WI
McAUen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL
Memphis, TN-AR-MS
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Milwaukee-Racine, WT
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Mobile, AL
Modesto, CA
Montgomery, AL
Nashville, TN
New London-Norwich, CT-RI
New Orleans, LA
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long
Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News,
VA-NC
Ocala, FL
Odessa-Midland, TX Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE-IA
Orlando, FL
Pensacola, FL
Peoria-Pekin, IL
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City,
PA-NJ-DE-MD
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, ME
Pordand-Salem, OR-WA
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA
Provo-Orem, UT
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Reading, PA
Reno, NV
Richmond-Petersburg, VA
Roanoke, VA
Rochester, NY
Rockford, IL
Sacramento-Yolo, CA
Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI
St. Louis, MO-IL
Salinas, CA
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
San Juan-Caguas-Arecibo, PR
San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles,
CA
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA
Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Savannah, GA
Scranton-Wilkes Barre-Hazleton, PA
Seatde-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
Sioux Falls, SD
South Bend, IN
Spokane, WA
Springfield, MA
Springfield, MO
Stockton-Lodi, CA
Syracuse, NY
Tallahassee, FL
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Toledo, OH
Tucson, AZ
Tulsa, OK Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA
Utica-Rome, NY
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
Wichita, KS
York, PA
Youngstown-Warren, OH
Federally recognized Native
American Tribes
INTRODUCTION
-------
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
The remainder of this handbook provides you with step-by-step information
on how to develop a program to provide timely environmental data to your
community using the BASIN Project in the Boulder, Colorado area as a model.
It contains detailed guidance on how to:
Establish
stakeholders and
data collection
organizations
and collect
supporting
information sources.
Prototype data
management
procedures and
data presentation
standards while
formalizing data
sharing partne
Present prototype
community
stakeholders and
gather feedback.
Revise and update
system to reflect
feedback while
expanding both
data sharing
and public oui
Chapter 3 provides information about gathering environmental moni-
toring data. The chapter begins with an overview of the BASIN water-
shed and discusses the importance of sustainability. The chapter then
focuses on the types of data provided on the BASIN Web site and the
environmental parameters that are monitored in the BASIN watershed.
Chapter 4 provides information on how to collect, transfer, and man-
age timely environmental data. This chapter discusses the sources of
the timely environmental data (i.e., who or which organization collects
the data for the BASIN project) and the data transfer and management
process. In particular, this chapter provides detailed information on
collecting, transferring, and managing the data.
Chapter 5 provides information about using data presentation tools to
graphically depict the timely environmental monitoring data you have
gathered. The chapter begins with a brief overview of data presenta-
tion. It then provides a more detailed introduction to selected data
presentation tools utilized by the BASIN team. You might want to use
these software tools to help analyze your data and in your efforts to
provide timely environmental information to your community.
Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to
communicate information about environmental data in your commu-
nity. It also provides information about the BASIN Project's outreach
efforts. The chapter includes a list of resources to help you develop
easily understandable materials to communicate information about your
timely environmental monitoring program to a variety of audiences.
HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
11
-------
This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to implement a
timely environmental monitoring program in their communities and for technicians
responsible for implementing these programs. Managers and decision_makers likely
will find the initial sections of , and most helpful. The latter sections of these chapters
are targeted primarily at professionals and technicians and provide detailed "how to"
information. Chapter 6 is designed for managers and communication specialists.
The handbook also refers you to supplementary sources of information, such as Web
sites and guidance documents, where you can find additional guidance with a greater
level of technical detail. The handbook also describes some of the lessons learned by
the BASIN team in developing and implementing its timely environmental monitor-
ing, data management, and outreach program.
12 CHAPTER 2
-------
3. BASIN EMPACT PROJECT
This chapter provides information about the BASIN watershed area, the
importance of "sustainability," and important parameters for measuring the
health of a watershed. Understanding your area and knowing what it must
provide is the first step in the process of generating timely environmental information
and making it available to residents in your area.
The chapter begins with a broad overview of the "Boulder Area" watershed
characteristics and discusses why sustainability is important. The chapter then discusses
the various parameters which are monitored to measure the condition of the watershed.
Readers primarily interested in learning about watersheds and environmental
sustainability should read Sections 3.1 and 3.2. Readers primarily interested in an
overview of the types of environmental data that are available for a community should
read Section 3.3.
3.1 Boulder Creek Watershed Characteristics
A watershed is the entire drainage area or basin feeding a stream or river. It includes
surface water, groundwater, vegetation, and human structures. Watersheds vary in size
from just a few acres to hundreds of square miles - and everyone lives in one. One of
the main functions of a watershed is to temporarily store and transport water from the
land surface to a water body (e.g., stream or river) and ultimately (for most watersheds)
onward to the ocean. In addition to moving the water, watersheds and their water
bodies also transport sediment and other materials (including pollutants), energy, and
many types of organisms. Watersheds also recharge drinkingwater reservoirs within the
watershed. [Source: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/acad2000/
ecology/ecologylS.html]
Boulder Creek is a small watershed located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains,
east of the Continental Divide in central Colorado. Boulder Creek is part of the
Mississippi River Basin, and reaches the Mississippi River byway of the St. Vrain, South
Platte, Platte, and Missouri Rivers. The watershed encompasses about 1100 km2 (440
sq. mi.) and consists of two physiographic provinces. The upper basin, defined on the
west by the Continental Divide, is part of the Southern Rocky Mountain Province. The
lower basin, defined on the west by the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is part of the
Colorado Piedmont Section of the Great Plains Province. These regions differ
significantly in topography, geology, and hydrology. The upper basin is composed
primarily of Pre-Cambrian Age metamorphic and granitic rocks, which are very weather
resistant, while the lower basin is dominated by sedimentary rocks, which are more
easily eroded. In addition to the physiographic province delineations, land use has
imprinted such a strong signal on the watershed that it can be further divided into five
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 13
-------
regions: mountains, transportation corridor, urban, wastewater-dominated, and
agricultural (Source: S.F. Murphy, P.L. Verplanck, and L.B. Barber, "Chemical Data for
Water Samples Collected from Boulder Creek, Colorado, During High-Flow and Low-
Flow Conditions, 2000," to be submitted as a USGS Open File Report).
Figure 3.1. Schematic of a Watershed.
[Source: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/win/what.htrnl]
For the purposes of the EMPACT project, the "Boulder Area" is the St. Vrain
Watershed. It encompasses a 993 square mile region that extends from the Continental
Divide to the High Plains and includes approximately 285,000 people. The City of
Boulder is the largest metropolitan area within the Boulder Creek Watershed. Other
communities in the Boulder Creek Watershed include Nederland, Longmont,
Louisville, and Lafayette.
West of Boulder there are prime snowmelt water supplies adjacent to abandoned and
active mines, recreation areas, growing mountain communities and forest fire zones.
Steep canyons above Boulder make it one of the state's primary flood areas. Runoff
from these canyons causes erosion and transports pollutants into Boulder's creeks. East
of the City, the land topography changes to a plains environment where there are
dramatic changes in the water flow patterns and ecosystem. At this point, Boulder
Creek becomes heavily impacted by the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant. [Source:
1998 EMPACT Grant Application]
14
CHAPTER 3
-------
Several creeks and tributaries exist in the Boulder Creek Watershed. These include
Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek, Rock Creek, Coal Creek, Four Mile Creek, Sunshine
Creek, Goose Creek, and Lefthand Creek.
The Boulder area, particularly the eastern portion of Boulder, are "semi-arid" plains
while the mountains to the west are wetter and receive most of their precipitation in the
form of snow during the late spring months. However, after the snow has melted and
the summer rains have come and gone, even the mountains can become parched and
dry, becoming ripe for forest fires.
Through extensive waterworks, such as a complex systems of ditches, reservoirs,
pipelines and dams, the Boulder area has to some extent buffered itself from the
seasonal flux of the water cycle. Nevertheless, the area is still vulnerable to droughts,
flashfloods, forest fires, pollution and breakdown of the infrastructure that delivers
water and removes waste.
[Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/main/whywater.html]
3.2 Sustainability
The key word in the BASIN acronym is "sustainability." The term "sustainability" is
derived from the word "sustainable" which means to maintain or prolong necessities or
nourishment. When it comes to the sustainability of the environment, as well as the
communities that are a part of that environment, many people agree that providing
citizens with relevant environmental information that will allow them to make
appropriate personal actions and help determine present and future public policy is of
paramount importance. The "sustainability" of future communities will be, in part,
determined by the actions of citizens today. [Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/
main/about.html#Sustain]
Since 1960 the Boulder area has quadrupled in population, outpacing the global
population explosion with high-impact development and growth. To support such a
substantial growth in population and industry, more water was needed for the Boulder
area. As a result, the Boulder area implemented large-scale water projects, such as the
Colorado Big Thompson and Windy Gap projects, which imported water from the
other side of the Continental Divide. According to the Boulder County Health
Communities Indicator Report of 1998, on average some 67,000 acre feet of water per
year enters Boulder County from the Colorado Big Thompson project, a Federal "trans-
basin" project begun in the 1950s.
Even with today's relatively high compliance standards, this tremendous growth
impacts the quality of the water in the region. For example, waste from municipal
sewage and individual septic systems impacts the waterways, air pollution from cars
transports into the high mountain lakes and streams, and ground water is contaminated
by leaking underground storage tanks. Aside from environmental impacts, rivers are
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 15
-------
sometimes literally drained dry due to Colorado's prior appropriations doctrine which
historically has not supported leaving water in the river to support the aquatic habitat.
Although the issues are complex and the solutions are difficult, there are signs of
progress in the Boulder area. For example, the City of Boulder has implemented a
practice called "in-stream flow" which leaves some water in Boulder Creek at certain
times during the year to protect the fish and macro invertebrates. Also, water-
conserving landscape design is becoming more popular in the region and water
education is becoming an integral part of children's school curriculum.
However, the question remains: Can a community be sustainable? One step towards
addressing sustainability is to monitor the community's impact (or ecological footprint)
on the environment to reveal the difficult questions and tough choices it must face to
minimize its impact on the environment. By focusing initially on water in the Boulder
area, the BASIN project provided timely monitoring data, as well as background
information and links to other resources that enabled the inhabitants of the region to
better understand and to take steps to protect the Boulder area environment. [Source:
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/main/sustain.html] For more on sustainability, see
"Toward a Stewardship of the Global Commons: Engaging "My Neighbor" in the Issue
of Sustainability: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/local/sustaininO.html. The Web site
of the EPA Office of Water (http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring) is a good source
of background information on water quality monitoring.
3.2.1 Establishing Community Partnerships
BASIN seeks to communicate the significance of timely environmental data to the
general public. To maximize the effective communication of existing environmental
information and improve the public relevance of ongoing data monitoring programs,
BASIN established partnerships with environmental researchers currently collecting
data in the watershed and solicited the active participation of the public in the design and
development of BASIN's data management system and presentation of information.
To develop these partnerships BASIN proceeded as follows:
• sought community input on both community information needs and outreach
program design,
• established partnerships for both data access and community outreach,
• gathered references to existing environmental data,
• gathered access to supporting environmental information,
• established data management procedures in consultation with existing and new
data collection programs,
16 CHAPTER 3
-------
• established prototype Web site design and development procedures,
• evaluated data and designed outreach channels, particularly for data
presentation,
• developed data interpretation and supporting materials,
• released the initial Web site prototype within the first year,
• actively gathered partner, stakeholder and public feedback on the Web site
prototype,
• continued to revise and update Web site during the second year, and
• established procedures to continue data updates and solicit additional data and
information sources.
BASIN found that an iterative design process with active involvement of the
community is essential to insure that data presentations are effective and relevant and
that sufficient contextual information is provided to make these data meaningful to the
general public.
3.2.2 Water Quality Monitoring: An Overview
Water quality monitoring provides information about the condition of streams, lakes,
ponds, estuaries, and coastal waters. It can also tell us if these waters are safe for
swimming, fishing, or drinking. Water quality monitoring can consist of the following
types of measurements:
• Chemical measurements of constituents such as dissolved oxygen,
nutrients, metals, and oils in water, sediment, or fish tissue.
• Physical measurements of general conditions such as temperature,
conductivity/salinity, current speed/direction, water level, water
clarity.
• biological measurements of the abundance, variety, and growth rates
of aquatic plant and animal life in a water body or the ability of
aquatic organisms to survive in a water sample.
You can conduct several different types of water quality monitoring projects. For
example water quality monitoring can be conducted as follows:
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 1 7
-------
• at fixed locations on a continuous basis,
• at selected locations on an as-needed basis or to answer specific
questions,
• on a temporary or seasonal basis (such as during the summer at
swimming beaches), or
• on an emergency basis (such as after a spill).
Many agencies and organizations conduct water quality monitoring including state
pollution control agencies, tribal governments, city and county environmental offices,
the EPA and other federal agencies, and private entities, such as universities, watershed
organizations, environmental groups, and industries. Volunteer monitors - private
citizens who voluntarily collect and analyze water quality samples, conduct visual
assessments of physical conditions, and measure the biological health of waters - also
provide increasingly important water quality information. The EPA provides specific
information about volunteer monitoring at http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/
vol.html.
Water quality monitoring is conducted for many reasons, including
• characterizing waters and identifying trends or changes in water
quality over time;
• identifying existing or emerging water quality problems;
• gathering information for the design of pollution prevention or
restoration programs;
• determining if the goals of specific programs are being met;
• complying with local, state, and Federal regulations; and
• responding to emergencies such as spills or floods.
EPA helps administer grants for water quality monitoring projects and provides
technical guidance on how to monitor and report monitoring results. You can find a
number of EPA's water quality monitoring technical guidance documents on the Web
at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/techmon.html. The EPA's Office of
Water has developed a Watershed Distance Learning Program called the "Watershed
Academy Web." This program, which offers a certificate upon completion, is a series
of self-paced training modules that covers topics such as watershed ecology,
management practices, and analysis and planning. More information about the
Watershed Academy Web can be found on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/
18 CHAPTERS
-------
watertrain/. The EPA also has a Web site entitled "Surf Your Watershed" which can
be used to locate, use, and share environmental information on watersheds. For more
information about the resources available on Surf Your Watershed, please see the
following Web site: http://www.epa.gov/surf3. The EPA also has a collection of
watershed tools available on the Web at: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/
tools/. The watershed tools available on the Web deal with topics such as data
collection, management and assessment, outreach and education, and modeling.
In addition to the EPA resources listed above, you can obtain information about lake
and reservoir water quality monitoring from the North American Lake Management
Society (NALMS). NALMS has published many technical documents, including a
guidance manual entitled Monitoring Lake and Reservoir Restoration. For more information,
visit the NALMS Web site at http://www.nalms.org. State and local agencies also
publish and recommend documents to help organizations and communities conduct
and understand water quality monitoring. For example, the Gulf of Mexico Program
maintains a Web site (http://www.gmpo.gov/mmrc/mmrc.html) that lists resources
for water quality monitoring and management. State and local organizations in your
community might maintain similar listings.
In some cases, special water quality monitoring methods, such as remote monitoring, or
special types of water quality data, such as timely data, are needed to meet a water quality
monitoring program's objectives. Timely environmental data are collected and
communicated to the public in a time frame that is useful to their day-to-day decision-
making about their health and the environment, and relevant to the temporal variability
of the parameter measured. Monitoring is called remote when the operator can collect
and analyze data from a site other than the monitoring location itself.
3.3 Timely Environmental Data
When deciding what data to make available to communities in the Boulder area, the
BASIN team considered several factors. These factors included the following:
• significance of the data to the local community/environment,
• availability of the data,
• the public's ability to interpret the data,
• the various methods to allow the public to view the data in perspective,
• interest to the local community,
• feasibility of putting the data on the Web site, and
• sensitivity of the data (e.g., controversial data).
Since the focus of the BASIN EMPACT project was to provide data about the Boulder
Creek Watershed, the BASIN team decided thatwater quality data was significant to the
Boulder area. The City of Boulder already conducted two water monitoring programs
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 19
-------
(drinking water and storm water) which measured a variety of water quality parameters
so there was data readily available. This program included an existing collaboration
between the City of Boulder and the USGS, to provide an integrated data set on total
organic carbon (TOG). The team also searched for other sources of data that was
available for distribution to the public. Such sources included USGS, the Colorado Air
Pollution Control Division, and SNOTEL. The team also considered the feasibility of
putting the data on the BASIN Web site (e.g., was the data in a format that could be
displayed easily?).
After considering the various factors and conducting research to identify the types of
data that were available in an acceptable format, the team identified three classifications
of data that it made available on its Web site. These classifications are as follows:
• data links to other Web sites (e.g., SNOTEL, weather, and stream flow),
• acquired data (e.g., River Watch data and City of Longmont water data),
and
• direct data (i.e., City of Boulder's drinking water and storm water data
and USGS TOC data).
3.3.1 Data Links to Other Web sites
The BASIN team searched the World Wide Web and identified available environmental
data that would be of interest to the local community. BASIN identified SNOTEL data,
weather data, toxic releases data, and stream flow data. The BASIN Web site (http://
www.basin.org) was designed to provide links to these data, which provided the local
community with centralized access to a wide variety of relevant timely environmental
monitoring activities. It is important to note that BASIN did not have any principal
relations with the data providers and had no influence on the collection, analysis, or
quality control of the data - the data were simply made available on the BASIN Web site.
A brief description of the external data which the BASIN Web site links to is provided
below.
SNOTEL Data. There are three SNOTEL (for SNOwpack TELemetry) snowpack
monitoring sites in the Boulder area watershed. SNOTEL is an extensive, automated
system operated and maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to measure snowpack in the mountains of the
west and forecast the water supply. Data from the SNOTEL sites are plotted by the
Western Regional Climate Center. The user can access the SNOTEL data and create
plots of the cumulative precipitation, snow water content, and temperature data.
[Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basm/data/SNOTEL/SNOTEL.html]
20 CHAPTER 3
-------
Weather. The BASIN Web site has a link to weather data for six locations in the
Boulder area. The weather data are maintained by a variety of government agencies and
private individuals. The user clicks on the "weather" link (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/
basm/data/WEATHER/WEATHER.html) which takes them to a Spatial Data
Catalog, a BASIN map showing the six weather monitoring sites. The user can select
any of the monitoring sites and obtain the near real-time weather at that site (the
information is updated every five minutes). Such weather data includes temperature,
dewpoint, humidity, barometric pressure, aeronautical pressure, wind speed, peak gust,
wind chill, and wind direction. In addition to receiving current weather data, the user
can also obtain minimum and maximum values for each of the parameters over the
previous 24-hour period.
Toxic Releases. The BASIN Web site provides direct access to the Environmental
Defense Fund's (EDF) Scorecard Internet site which catalogs 23 facilities in the
Boulder area that release toxic substances into the environment. [Source: http://
bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/TRI/TRI.html] The data on the EDF Scorecard is not
"real-time" because it reflects the environmental releases that each facility reported on
its annual EPA Toxic Release Inventory forms. The user can click on the various
facilities highlighted in the Spatial Data Catalog and learn about the toxic chemicals that
each facility is releasing to the environment in the Boulder area.
Stream Flow. The BASIN Web site has
a link to data collected from 21 stream flow
gauging sites located in the Boulder area.
Shown here is a stream stage gauge
mounted in the North Boulder Creek
diversion flume. The data from the stream
flow gauging sites are obtained from State
and Federal (USGS) sources. The user
clicks on "stream flow" (http://
ben. boulder, co.us/basin/data/
STREAMFLOW/STRE AMFLOW.html)
which takes them to a Spatial Data Catalog,
a map showing the 21 stream flow gauging sites (see discussion of Spatial Data Catalog
in Chapter 5). The user can obtain the stage (or stream depth) in feet as well as the
stream flow in ft3/sec or cubic feet per second (cfs). Depending upon the site selected,
the data can be viewed in either a tabular or graphical format.
Air Quality. The BASIN EMPACT Web site posts the current air quality status for
the Denver-metro area. The information is obtained from the Colorado Air Pollution
Control Division (APCD). The air quality advisories are issued each day at 4 P.M., MST.
The advisories are categorized as either BLUE or RED. If the userwants to know what
action to take based on the advisory, they click on the link which transfers them to an
APCD Web site (http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/o3_advisory.phtml). This Web site
provides practical suggestions to reduce summertime air pollution.
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT
21
-------
Ultraviolet Exposure Index. In addition to posting the air quality status, the BASIN
EMPACT Web site also posts the current EPA/NOAA ultraviolet (UV) exposure
index. The index is based on a numerical scale from 0 - 10+, with "0" indicating
"minimal" exposure and "10+" indicating "very high" exposure. If the user wants to
know more about the index or what they should do to protect themselves against UV
exposure they can click on the link which takes them to an EPA "SunWise" Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html).
3.3.2 Acquired Data
The BASIN team solicited data provider partnerships with existing Boulder area
environmental monitoring programs. BASIN established successful data provider
partnerships with the City of Longmont, the Denver Water Board, and the State of
Colorado's River Watch Program. Data sets (water quality monitoring data) received
from these data providers were integrated into the BASIN Information Management
System (IMS) and were used to develop information products currently available on the
BASIN Web site (http://www.basin.org). It is important to note that with the data
provider partnerships, BASIN had no direct influence on the data collection or quality
control of the data. [Source: 2000 Annual Report, BASIN Project, EMPACT Grant,
January 30, 2001]
3.3.3 Direct Data
The BASIN team partnered with the City of Boulder to obtain data collected by its
Storm Water and Drinking Water Programs. BASIN had an interactive relationship
with the City of Boulder and had input on the data format, collection protocols, and
QA/QC. Water quality monitoring data is provided by a cooperative program between
the City of Boulder's Public Works Department and Dr. Larry Barber of the USGS
Laboratory located in Boulder. Source water quality is monitored by the City of
Boulder's Drinking Water Monitoring Program at several locations in the headwaters of
the basin. Stream Water Quality is monitored by the city's Storm Water Monitoring
Program throughout the lower basin.
Drinking water quality can only be conserved to the extent that source waters are
protected, water treatment is optimized, and the water quality in the distribution system
is maintained. Boulder's three watersheds (i.e., North Boulder Creek, Middle Boulder
Creek/Barker Reservoir, and Boulder Reservoir) are increasingly vulnerable to point
and non-point contamination due to development in the area. Water treatment is
subject to increasing stresses from pathogens and other contaminants, as well as to
increasing public expectations for drinking water quality. Distribution system water
quality is receiving increased public attention as outbreaks of waterborne disease are
connected with biofilms, backflow incidents, and other hard-to-quantify contaminant
vectors. [Source: 1998 EMPACT Grant Application]
22 CHAPTER 3
-------
As for storm water, non-point source pollution is a critical environmental issue in the
Boulder Creek Watershed. Pollutant sources include highway runoff, urban drainage,
mining, logging, erosion, and agriculture. The City of Boulder recognizes the need to
protect water through pollution abatement of non-point sources and through
watershed management.
Monthly readings of 17 primary water quality parameters are accessible through the
BASIN Water Quality data access page (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/
COBWQ/index.html). The importance of each of the parameters which can be viewed
at the BASIN Web site is discussed below.
Alkalinity refers to how well awater body can neutralize acids. Alkalinity measures the
amount of alkaline compounds in water, such as carbonate (CO3~2), bicarbonate
(HCO3~), and hydroxide (OH") ions. These compounds are natural buffers that can
remove excess hydrogen ions that have been added from sources such as acid rain or
acid mine drainage. Alkalinity mitigates or relieves metals toxicity by using available
HCO3 and CO3~2 to take metals out of solution, thus making it unavailable to fish.
Alkalinity is affected by the geology of the watershed; watersheds containing limestone
will have a higher alkalinity than watersheds where granite is predominant.
Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite are sources of nitrogen. Nitrogen is required by all
organisms for the basic processes of life to make proteins, to grow, and to reproduce.
Nitrogen is very common and found in many forms in the environment. Inorganic
forms include ammonia (NHj), nitrate (NO3~)and nitrite (NO2~). Organic nitrogen is
found in the cells of all living things and is a component of proteins, peptides, and amino
acids. These compounds enter waterways from lawn fertilizer run-off, leaking septic
tanks, animal wastes, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills and discharges from car
exhausts.
Excessive concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite can be harmful to humans and
wildlife. Toxic concentrations of ammonia in humans may cause loss of equilibrium,
convulsions, coma, and death. Ammonia concentrations can affect hatching and
growth rates offish and changes may occur during the structural development of tissues
offish gills, liver, and/or kidneys. In humans, nitrate is broken down in the intestines
to become nitrite. Nitrite reacts with hemoglobin in human blood to produce
methemoglobin, which limits the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. This
condition is called methemoglobinemia or "blue baby" syndrome (because the nose and
tips of the ears can appear blue from lack of oxygen). High concentrations of nitrate
and/or nitrite produces a similar condition in fish and is referred to as "brown blood
disease." Nitrite enters the bloodstream through the gills and turns the blood a
chocolate-brown color. Brown blood cannot carry sufficient amounts of oxygen, and
affected fish can suffocate despite adequate concentration in the water. The EPA has
established a maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/1 for nitrate and 1 mg/1 for nitrite.
[Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/COBWQ/info/NH3.html]
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 23
-------
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water. DO is a very
important indicator of a water body's ability to support aquatic life. Fish "breathe" by
absorbing dissolved oxygen through their gills. Oxygen enters the water by absorption
directly from the atmosphere or by aquatic plant and algae photosynthesis. Oxygen is
removed from the water by respiration and decomposition of organic matter. The
amount of DO in water depends on several factors, including temperature (the colder
the water, the more oxygen can be dissolved); the volume and velocity of water flowing
in the water body; and the amount of organisms using oxygen for respiration. The
amount of oxygen dissolved in water is expressed as a concentration, in milligrams per
liter (ing/1) of water. Human activities that affect DO levels include the removal of
riparian vegetation, runoff from roads, and sewage discharge.
Fecal Coliform Bacteria are present in the feces and intestinal tracts of humans and
otherwarm-blooded animals, and can enterwater bodies from human and animal waste.
If a large number of fecal coliform bacteria (over 200 colonies/100 ml ofwater sample)
are found in water, it is possible that pathogenic (disease- or illness-causing) organisms
are also present in the water. Pathogens are typically present in such small amounts it
is impractical to monitor them directly. High concentrations of the bacteria in water
may be caused by septic tank failure, poor pasture and animal keeping practices, pet
waste, and urban runoff.
Hardness generally refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in water. In
household use, these divalent cations (ions with a charge greater than + 1) can prevent
soap from sudsing and leave behind a white scum in bathtubs. In the aquatic
environment, calcium and magnesium help keep fish from absorbing metals, such as
lead, arsenic, and cadmium, into their bloodstream through their gills. Therefore, the
harder the water, the less easy it is for toxic metals to absorb into their gills.
pH measures hydrogen
concentration in water and is
presented on a scale from 0 to 14. A
solution with a pH value of 7 is
neutral; a solution with a pH value
less than 7 is acidic; a solution with a
pH value greater than 7 is basic.
Natural waters usually have a pH
between 6 and 9. The scale is
negatively logarithmic, so each
whole number (reading downward)
is ten times the preceding one (for
example, pH 5.5 is 100 times more
acidic as pH 7.5). The pH of natural
waters can be made acidic or basic by
human activities such as acid mine
24
CHAPTER 3
-------
drainage and emissions from coal-burning power plants and heavy automobile traffic.
pH can interact with metals and organic chemicals making them more or less toxic
depending on the type of chemical.
Specific Conductance is a measure of how well water can pass an electrical current.
It is an indirect measure of the presence of inorganic dissolved solids, such as chloride,
nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. These substances
conduct electricity because they are negatively or positively charged when dissolved in
water. The concentration of dissolved solids, or the conductivity, is affected by the
bedrock and soil in the watershed. It is also affected by human influences. For example,
agricultural runoff can raise conductivity because of the presence of phosphate and
nitrate.
Stream Flowis the volume of water moving past a point in a unit of time. Flow consists
of the volume of water in the stream and the velocity of the water moving past a given
point. Flow affects the concentration of dissolved oxygen, natural substances, and
pollutants in a water body. Flow is measured in units of cubic feet per second (cfs) or
ftVsec.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) refers to matter dissolved in water or wastewater, and
is related to both specific conductance and turbidity. TDS is the portion of total solids
that passes through a filter. High levels of TDS can cause health problems for aquatic
life.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) - Organic matter plays a major role in aquatic systems.
It affects biogeochemical processes, nutrient cycling, biological availability, and
chemical transport. It also has direct implications in the planning of wastewater
treatment and drinking water treatment. Organic matter content is typically measured
as total organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon, which are essential components
of the carbon cycle.
Total Phosphorus is a nutrient required by all organisms for the basic processes of life.
Phosphorus is a natural element found in rocks, soils and organic material. Its
concentrations in clean waters is generally very low; however, phosphorus is used
extensively in fertilizer and other chemicals, so it can be found in higher concentrations
in areas of human activity. Phosphorus is generally found as phosphate (PO4~3).
Orthophosphorus is a form of inorganic phosphorus and is sometimes referred to as
"reactive phosphorus." Orthophosphate is the most stable form of phosphate, and is
the form used by plants. Orthophosphate is produced by natural processes and is found
in sewage. High levels of Orthophosphate, along with nitrate, can overstimulate the
growth of aquatic plants and algae, resulting in high dissolved oxygen consumption,
causing death offish and other aquatic organisms. The primary sources of phosphates
in surface water are detergents, fertilizers, and natural mineral deposits.
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT 25
-------
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) refers to matter suspended in water or wastewater, and
is related to both specific conductance and turbidity. TSS is the portion of total solids
retained by a filter. High levels of TSS can cause health problems for aquatic life.
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water - the cloudier the water, the greater
the turbidity. Turbidity in water is caused by suspended matter such as clay, silt, and
organic matter and by plankton and other microscopic organisms that interfere with the
passage of light through the water. Turbidity is closely related to TSS, but also includes
plankton and other organisms. Turbidity itself is not a major health concern, but high
turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. It
also may indicate the presence of microbes. High turbidity can affect the natural algal
productivity of the stream and can affect other organisms such as fish and invertebrates
that use algae as a food source. High turbidity can be caused by soil erosion, urban
runoff, and high flow rates.
Water Temperature is a very important factor for aquatic life. It controls the rate of
metabolic and reproductive activities. Most aquatic organisms are "cold-blooded,"
which means they can not control their own body temperatures (e.g., certain trout and
salamanders require cold water). Their body temperatures become the temperature of
the water around them. Cold-blooded organisms are adapted to a specific temperature
range. If water temperatures vary too much, metabolic activities can malfunction.
Temperature also affects the concentration of dissolved oxygen and can influence the
activity of bacteria in a water body. Too much light caused by reduced stream side
vegetation can increase the stream temperature. [Source: BASIN Water Quality Terms,
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/natural/wqterms.html]
3.4 The Boulder Creek Millennium Baseline Study
BASIN served to strengthen an existing collaboration among local USGS water quality
scientists and the City of Boulder (COB) source and storm water quality monitoring
programs. The formal collection and public release of the COB's water quality
information lead to a more ambitious water quality monitoring effort called the Boulder
Creek Millennium Baseline Study which was designed to clarify water quality concerns
in the Boulder Creek Watershed.
The Boulder Creek Millennium Baseline Study was performed during the summer and
fall of the year 2000 as a collaborative effort of the USGS Water Resources Division, the
City of Boulder, and the BASIN to provide an in-depth analysis of Boulder Creek water
quality. This study measured several parameters not normally regulated or considered
to be problematic in Boulder Creek but which would assist in the formulation of a
conceptual model of the processes at work in the creek system. Detailed synoptic water
quality sampling of Boulder Creek, including the main stem and major tributaries, allows
the identification of the sources of chemical constituents. Boulder Creek offers an
26 CHAPTER 3
-------
excellent opportunity to measure the
impact of natural and anthropogenic
processes on a small river system because it
flows from pristine source waters, through
an urban corridor, and is transformed into a
sewage-dominated stream below Boulder's
sewage treatment plant (STP) outfall, and
finally flows through agricultural areas.
Water quality sampling of Boulder Creek
during high-flow (June) and low-flow
(October) conditions, from upstream of the
town of Eldora to the confluence with the
St. Vrain River, was carried out to
determine influences on water chemistry.
The relative importance of different sources varies seasonally, and therefore high- and
low-flow sampling is an important step in characterizing the watershed. The study also
provided a baseline data set from which future water quality changes can be observed.
(from S.F. Murphy, P.L. Verplanck, and L.B. Barber, "Chemical Data for Water
Samples Collected from Boulder Creek, Colorado, During High-Flow and Low-Flow
Conditions, 2000," to be submitted as a USGS Open File Report).
The Millennium Baseline Study
measured additional parameters
including the following:
• Major Ions
• Metals
• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals
• Hormones
• Other organic wastewater
compounds
BASIN EMPACT PROJECT
27
-------
4. COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING,
AND MANAGING TIMELY
A centralized collection of timely environmental data can be beneficial to your
community in several ways. Such information raises the public's
awareness of environmental issues that pertain to them, it serves as a valuable
learning tool to increase their understanding of actions that affect their environment,
and it serves as an avenue for them to express their concerns and questions.
Using the BASIN Project as a model, this chapter provides you and your community
with instructions on how to collect and maintain data to post on your Web site. If you
are responsible for or interested in collecting water samples, you should carefully read
the technical information presented in Section 4.2. If you are interested in analyzing
water samples, you should read the information presented in the Section 4.3. This
section provides detailed information on the type of equipment and procedures used to
analyze water samples. Details on data transfer and management are discussed in
Section 4.4 and quality assurance is discussed in Section 4.5. Readers interested in an
overview of the system should focus primarily on the introductory information in
Section 4.1 below.
4.1 System Overview
The BASIN project sought to leverage the activities of existing environmental
monitoring programs and develop public environmental information resources derived
from timely environmental data collection. BASIN developed partnerships with
various organizations to gather pertinent environmental information about the Boulder
area. As discussed earlier, the BASIN project provided three types of data to the
Boulder community: (1) Web links to external data sources, (2) acquired data, and (3)
direct data (see discussion in Section 3.3). This data can be accessed through links from
the BASIN Web site at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/.
The remainder of this chapter discusses the collection, analysis, transfer and quality
control of the storm water and drinking water quality data (direct data) provided to
BASIN by the City of Boulder. BASIN interacted closely with the City of Boulder to
develop sample collection protocols, determine data format, and to develop QA/QC
procedures.
As mentioned in Chapter 3, BASIN did not have any contact with the providers of the
SNOTEL, weather, toxic releases, stream flow, air quality, or UV exposure index data
posted on the BASIN Web site. As a result, this Handbook does not discuss the
collection, analysis, management, or quality control of these types of data. If you are
interested in learning more about such topics, please refer to the following Web sites:
COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 29
-------
• For SNOTEL data, see http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/factpub/
sntlfctl.html and http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/factpub/
sect_4b.html
• For weather data, see http://www.atd.ucar.edu/weather.html
• For toxic releases, see http://www.epa.gov/tri/general.htm
• For stream flow data, see http://water.usgs.gov/co/nwis/sw
• For air quality data, see http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/
o3_advisory.phtml
• For UV exposure data, see http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/
uvindex.html
Similarly, BASIN did not have any input as to how the data provided by the City of
Longmont or River Watch (the acquired data) was collected, analyzed or controlled. As
a result, this Handbook does not discuss the collection, analysis, management, or quality
control of the City of Longmont or River Watch data.
4.2 Data Collection
BASIN and the City of Boulder collaborated to obtain results from the city's Drinking
Water and Storm Water Programs. The data collection techniques for each program are
described below.
4.2.1 Drinking Water Program
The Drinking Water Program collects monthly water quality samples from 30 locations
such as the Lakewood Reservoir, Barker Reservoir, Middle Boulder Creek, and Boulder
Reservoir. The following procedures are used to prepare sample collection bottles:
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) bottles are obtained from the USGS,
where the bottles are washed with hot, soapy water, rinsed with tap
and distilled water, and heated for 8 hours at 250 degrees C. For the
remaining bottles, each set of sample bottles is cleaned and reused for
one particular sample site.
• Sample bottles are rinsed with tap water immediately after the sample
has been analyzed. All sample bottles (except those used for
chlorophyll, metals, and bacteria) are soaked for at least one hour in a
5% hydrochloric acid (HC1) bath. These bottles are then rinsed twice
30 CHAPTER 4
-------
transported to the field. Clean
field equipment is used to fill a
clean churn with this blank
water. All field blank bottles are
then filled from this blank water
churn. Shown here is a
technician obtaining field blank
samples from the water churn.
[Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/
COBWQ/SourceWater.html]
4.2.2 Storm Water Program
The Storm Water Quality Program conducts
monthly water quality monitoring to assess the impacts of point and non-point sources
of pollutants on Boulder Creek and to help develop mitigation measures to reduce these
impacts. The water quality samples are collected from North Boulder Creek at Boulder
Falls to below the confluence of Boulder Creek with Coal Creek. The following
procedures are used to prepare sample collection bottles as well as collecting samples:
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) bottles are obtained from the USGS,
where the bottles are washed with hot, soapy water, rinsed with tap and
distilled water, and heated for 8 hours at 250 degrees C. The remaining
bottles are cleaned in a dishwasher, which involves a hot water and
detergent wash, steam cycle, and deionized water rinse. Bottles used for
metals are also soaked in 3% HNO3, rinsed with deionized water three
times, and then air-dried.
• Sample are collected in accordance with procedures outlined in
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th
Edition (section 1060).
• In the field, sample bottles are rinsed two times with water from where
the sample will be collected, unless a preservative or dechlorinating
agent has been added to the bottle prior to use. Various types of sample
bottles are used depending on the pollutant to be analyzed and the
method of analysis.
• The sample location is either mid-channel of the flow or the area in the
channel which best represents the flow. At that point, sample bottles
are submerged to approximately 60% of the water depth to obtain the
sample. The sample bottle is capped and shaken. One to two inches of
COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 31
-------
head space is left in the sample bottle to allow for thermal expansion
(unless sample analysis technique requires that the sample to not have
any head space).
Sample preservative is added after sample collection as prescribed by
each analytical method (unless a preservative or dechlorinating agent
has been added to the bottle prior to use). Samples which will be
analyzed for metals are filtered in the laboratory before being acidified.
Samples labels are completed and applied to the sample bottles. The
sample bottles are placed in a cooler with blue ice. The samples are
transported to the laboratory and placed in a refrigerator for storage at
4 °C (39 °F). [Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basm/data/
COBWQ/StormWater.html]
4.3 Data Analysis
4.3.1 Drinking Water Program
The Drinking Water Program measures some parameters in the field with portable
meters and other parameters in the laboratory. The following parameters are measured
in the field:
Water temperature is analyzed with a portable YSI 600 XL multi probe (http://
www.ysi.com/lifesciences.htm). The temperature probe is checked annually.
Dissolved oxygen is analyzed with a portable YSI 600 XL multi probe. Calibrations are
conducted in the field at the sample site with a moist-air saturated bottle.
Specific conductance is analyzed with a portable YSI 600 XL multi probe. The probe is
calibrated in the drinking water laboratory the day of sampling. A potassium chloride
solution of 1412 micromhos/cm at 25 °C is used in the calibration. Standards are
replaced at least monthly.
The following parameters are measured in the laboratory:
Nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, orthophosphorus, and total phosphorus are measured using a Genesis
spectrophotometer. For colorimetric analyses (nitrate + nitrite, sulfate, orthophosphorus, and
total phosphorus), all collection bottles and spectrophotometer cuvettes are HCL-washed
and/or cleaned with phosphate-free soap. The instrument is zeroed with the sample or
with lab millipore water depending on the procedure. Two standards are run, and
bracket the sample value. New standards are prepared monthly. New high- and low-
range 5 point curves are constructed for the spectrophotometer when necessary.
32 CHAPTER 4
-------
.Alkalinity is measured using Standard Method 2320B (American Public Health
Association, 1998). The sample is stirred, and temperature and pH are monitored, as
0.02N sulfuric acid (H^SO^) is slowly added to the sample. The amount of acid
necessary to lower the pH to 4.5 is proportional to the total alkalinity in the sample. This
method assumes that the entire alkalinity consists of bicarbonate, carbonate, and/or
hydroxide.
Ammonia is measured by the wastewater laboratory. Total ammonia (ammonium ion
(NH4+) plus unionized ammonia gas (NH3)) is often measured in a laboratory by
titration. Ammonia and organic nitrogen compounds are separated by distillation, then
an acid (the titrant) is added to a volume of the ammonia portion. The volume of acid
required to change the color of the sample reflects the ammonia concentration of the
sample. The more acid needed, the more ammonia in the sample. Ammonia is the least
stable form of nitrogen, so it can be difficult to measure accurately. The proportion of
unionized ammonia can be calculated, using formulas that contain factors for pH and
temperature [Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/COBWQ/info/NH3.html].
Hardness is measured using Standard Method 2340C. A small amount of dye is added to
the sample, and buffer solution is added until the pH of the sample reaches 10. If
calcium and magnesium are present in the sample, the sample turns red.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is then added until the sample turns blue. The
amount of EDTA required to turn the sample blue represents the hardness of the
sample.
Nitrate + Nitrite is measured using a Hach DR2000 spectrophotometer (http://
www.hach.com) and Method 8192 (low range cadmium reduction). Cadmium metal
reduces nitrate present in the sample to nitrite. The nitrite ion reacts in an acidic medium
with sulfanilic acid to form an intermediate diazonium salt which couples to chromatic
acid to form a pink-colored product. The pink color is then analyzed with a
spectrophotometer; the more intense the pink color, the more nitrate + nitrite is in the
sample.
Total phosphorus is measured using Standard Method 4500-P B.5 and 4500 - PE. In these
methods, phosphorus present in organic and condensed forms is converted to reactive
orthophosphate before analysis. Sulfuric acid (H^SO^) and ammonium persulfate
([NH4]2 &2O^) are added to 50 ml of the sample, and the sample is then boiled. The acid
and heating causes hydrolysis of condensed phosphorous to convert to
orthophosphates. After boiling down the sample to approximately 10 ml, the sample
is cooled and phenolphthalein indicator is added. The sample pH is adjusted to 8.3 using
sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sulfuric acid. The sample is then brought back up to
volume and analyzed for orthophosphorus as discussed below.
hosphorus is measured using Standard Method 4500 - PE. Sulfuric acid, potassium
antimonyl tatrate, ammonium molybdate, and ascorbic acid are added to the sample.
COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 33
-------
The potassium antimonyl, tatrate and ammonium molybdate react in the acid with the
orthophosphate to form phosphomolybdic acid. The phosphomolybdic acid is then
reduced to a blue color by the ascorbic acid. The blue color is then analyzed with a
spectrophotometer. The darker the blue color, the more orthophosphate in the sample.
The detection limit for this method is approximately 0.002 mg of orthophosphorus/
liter. [Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/COBWQ/SourceWater.html]
4.3.2 Storm Water Program
Similar to the Drinking Water Program, the Storm Water
Program measures some parameters in the field with
portable meters as shown here and other parameters in the
laboratory.
Portable field instruments are used to measure pH and
DO. The Orion Model 1230 multi-parameter meter has
ion-selective probes which measure these parameters
(http://www.thermo.com). pH is calibrated using pH
buffers 7 and 10 in the wastewater laboratory before each
sampling event. The probe has automatic temperature
compensation for temperature-corrected buffer values. A
calibration sleeve is used to calibrate DO in the wastewater laboratory before each
sampling event. The instrument automatically measures and compensates for
temperature and total atmospheric pressure.
The Orion Model 130 conductivity meter is used to measure specific conductance (SC) and
water temperature (http://www.thermo.com). The probe is calibrated before each
sampling event with a potassium chloride (KC1) solution of 1,412 micromhos/cm at 25
The Orion Model 840 DO meter and the Orion Model 140 conductivity meter (http:/
/www.thermo.com) are used as backups if a problem with the main meter occurs in the
field.
Flow velocity is measured using the Marsh-McBirney Flo-Mate 2000 portable flowmeter
(http://www.marsh-mcbirney.com/Model%202000.html). USGS midsection
methods, as described in the Water Measurement Manual, are followed. Calibration is
performed at the factory.
34
CHAPTER 4
-------
4.3.3 Laboratory Analysis
Water samples are collected in bottles and taken
to the City of Boulder's laboratory where various
parameters are measured. Shown here are
samples ready for analysis. Alkalinity is measured
using Standard Method 2320B (American Public
Health Association, 1998). The sample is stirred
and the temperature and pH are monitored as
0.02 N sulfuric acid (H^O^ is slowly added to
the sample. The amount of acid required to lower
the sample pH to 4.5 is proportional to the total alkalinity in the sample. This method
assumes that the entire alkalinity consists of bicarbonate, carbonate, and/or hydroxide.
Ammonia is measured using Standard Methods 4500-NH3B and 4500-NH3 C. Both the
ammonium ion (NH4+) and unionized ammonia (NH3) are included in the
measurement. Sodium borate buffer is added to the sample, and the pH is adjusted to
9.5 with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The sample is then distilled into a flask that
contains a boric acid/color indicator solution. The distillation separates ammonia
(which goes into the distillate) from organic nitrogen compounds. The distillate is
titrated with H2SO4 until the solution turns a pale lavender. The volume of acid required
to change the color of the sample reflects the ammonia concentration of the sample.
Hardness is measured using Standard Method 2340C. A small amount of dye is added to
the sample, and buffer solution is added until the pH of the sample reaches 10. If
calcium and magnesium are present in the sample, the sample turns red.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is then added until the sample turns blue. The
amount of EDTA required to turn the sample blue represents the hardness of the
sample.
Nitrate + Nitrite is measured using a Hach DR2000 spectrophotometer, Method 8039
(high range cadmium reduction). Cadmium metal reduces nitrates present in the sample
to nitrite. The nitrite ion reacts in an acidic medium with sulfanilic acid to form an
intermediate diazonium salt. This salt then couples to gentisic acid to form an amber-
colored product. The amber color is then analyzed with a spectrophotometer; the more
intense the amber, the more nitrate + nitrite in the sample. The detection limit for this
method is approximately 0.1 mg/liter. The analysis is performed on filtered samples to
eliminate turbidity interferences.
Total phosphorus is measured using a Hach DR4000 spectrophotometer and Method
8190. In this method, phosphorus present in organic and condensed forms is converted
to reactive orthophosphate before analysis. Sulfuric acid (H^SO^) and potassium
persulfate (K2S2O8) are added to the sample, and then the sample is boiled. The acid,
heating, and persulfate causes organic phosphorous to convert to orthophosphate.
After boiling, the sample is cooled, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is added, alongwith
COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 35
-------
a solution of ascorbic acid and molybdate reagent which turns the sample blue. The
intensity of the blue in the sample is proportional to the orthophosophate
concentration.
bosphorus is measured using a Hach DR4000 spectrophotometer and Method
8114. This method is based on Standard Method 4500 - P.C. Molybdovanadate reagent
is added to the sample. The molybdate reacts in the acid with the orthophosphate to
form a phosphomolybdate complex. In the presence of vanadium, yellow
vanadomolybdophosphoric acid is formed. The yellow color is then analyzed with a
spectrophotometer; the more intense the yellow, the more orthophosphate in the
sample. The detection limit for this method is approximately 0.09 mg PO4/liter.
[Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/COBWQ/StormWater.html]
4.4 Data Transfer
The BASIN IMS is distributed across two Internet connected servers: the private
Environmental Data Network Association (EDNA) database server and the public
BASIN Web site server. A SUN E250 Unix Server, which is networked through the
Boulder Community Network, hosts the private EDNA database server which
generates and delivers public data products to the BASIN Web server upon receipt of
updates from the data providers.
The BASIN IMS has been implemented using the object oriented features of Practical
Extraction and Report Language (PERL) programming in a UNIX environment and
utilizes several freely available supporting software libraries. The system is a
combination of independent L modules which access a common set of PERL object
definitions and operate on a common database structure. Additional programming
support has been obtained from the extensive resources of CPAN (Comprehensive
PERL Archive Network). In particular two primary graphics libraries - GD and
GIFGraph were employed to dynamically construct plot images and merge images with
background gif map images.
The EDNA IMS server is configured to receive and process updated data, preprocess
input data, update the database, and regenerate a static Web-based hierarchy. The
EDNA server also provides a non-public Web site for prototyping information
products by BASIN content developers. Figure 4.1 presents the relationship of the
EDNA database and BASIN information servers.
Data updates supplied by EDNA data providers are received through e-mail and are
preprocessed through a series of routines prior to storage in the EDNA database. Input
data are received in a variety of provider defined formats and each is submitted to a
provider specific preprocessor pipeline. These preprocessors execute a variety of unit
and data format conversions and map each provider's spatial and temporal identifiers
to the global identifier set.
36 CHAPTER 4
-------
EDNA
Data
Providers
Private EDNA
Website
BASIN NET
Information
Developers
EDNA
Database
Server
BASIN NET
Information
Server
Public BASIN
Website
Figure 4.1 Database Servers
Once stored in the EDNA database, a series of batch routines are executed to generate
static Web site elements (plot files and per parameter time series, profiles and image
maps). To ensure data integrity, EDNA database files are exported read only to the
public Web server. Figure 4.2 presents the general data flow for water quality data sent
by the data providers and principle components of the BASIN IMS. [Source: BASIN
FINAL Report, February 2001, Section D, 3.1]
The EDNA Database
BASIN information resources are retained on the server as a series of relational database
files. The relationship of database tables and keys is outlined in Figure 4.3.
The BASIN data model handles each data set as a separate entity with a full set of meta-
data properties. Sets are composed of a vector of parameters representing grab samples
measured periodically at a series of stations. In practice, data sets are defined by the data
providing agent or program. Each set is defined by a record in the main catalog table
(catalog/classes.rdb).Each parameter is defined by a set of general characteristics (label,
units, definition) and a set specific meta-data set containing collection and analysis
procedures, detection limits, global maximum scale). Each parameter set is maintained
in a set specific table catalog/SET.rdb.
COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL DATA 37
-------
Data Provider Data Provider
"\^^^^
DIPPD
/ Public \
/ BASIN \
/ Website \
Per Provider Per Provider
Preprocessor Preprocessor
Batch Processor
f~~ ^ f""1 ^"^
Temp File Temp
File 1 Profiles
Per Data Set
Preprocessor
time series
Forms Interface
Profiles
1
Time Series
inidg^ iviaps imdgc iviaps
f~~~~ ~~=3\
EDNA Database
Figure 4.2 Data Flow for Water Quality Data.
i
Set Name
i
Agency Table
Mapinl
Mapfile
M
Im
Fi
oct table
b Table Photo Name
i
Photo Table
Name Photofilp Name
ap Photo
age Image
es Files
Set Name
Site T ables p
1
Site Name
Data Tables T-
Paramefr r Name
Parameter Tables
Figure 4.3 EDNA Database Structure.
38
CHAPTER 4
-------
Each set also defines a series of stations, defined by a set of identification parameters
(labels, photo index, map index) and physical characteristics (longitude, latitude,
elevation). Site data are maintained in a site/SET.rdb database table.
Dynamic image map
construction is supported by TIGER
combining spatial data
contained in the database site -,- . ,, . , , , ~ , . r ,.
.. Topically Integrated Geographic Encoding
table with a background git , n r
fe fe and Reterencmg
map image obtained from
the Census Bureau's Topically _.„„.. „ n , ,..,,
, . TIGER is the Census Bureau s digital mapping
Integrated Geographic , , , , r ., —
,. r • system used to produce maps tor its Census
Encoding and Referencing k,
-------
As for the IMS, BASIN manages the delivery and display of data obtained from existing
environmental monitoring programs which are subject to their own internal QA/QC
procedures (i.e., the City of Boulder's Drinking Water and Storm Water Quality
monitoring). The BASIN IMS does not generate data and therefore relies on the
existing quality control and quality assurance procedures of the participating data
providers. However, since BASIN combines information from several water quality
monitoring programs, reformats that information in both graphical and spatial context,
and subjects raw data to scientific interpretation, it can rapidly identify data
inconsistencies and incompatibility. All BASIN data projects are subject to a three step
QA/QC process including QA at the data source, during data transfer, and through
final data analysis. Also, all water quality data QA/QC complies with Standard Methods
for Analysis of Wastewater and Water and USGS laboratory standards. [Source: BASIN
Project, 2000 Annual Report]
40 CHAPTER 4
-------
5. DATA PRESENTATION
Once your environmental monitoring network is in place and you have begun to
receive data, you can begin to provide your community with timely
information using data presentation tools to both graphically depict this
information and place it in a geographic community context.
Using data visualization tools, you can create graphical representations of
environmental data that can be downloaded onto Web sites and/or included in reports
and educational/outreach materials for the community. The types of data visualization
utilized by the BASIN EMPACT team include annotated watershed maps, time series
and profile bar graphs, and a water quality index.
In a similar vein, data presentation must address the overall context which may identify
significant factors impacting data values. Often variations in data values are most
directly explained by the locationof the monitoring site in the watershed, particularly in
a watershed with significant variation in elevation, climate, geology, and human
activities such as locations found in the Boulder Creek watershed.
Section 5.1 provides a basic introduction and overview to data presentation and is useful
if you are interested in gaining a general understanding of data presentation. Section 5.2
provides an overview of the BASIN spatial data catalog used to provide an interactive
map-based interface to a variety of Boulder area environmental data. Section 5.3 details
the specific data presentation tools used to organize and present Boulder Creek water
quality data including data visualization procedures used on the BASIN EMPACT
project. You should consult Section 5.2 and Section 5.3 if you are responsible for
designing and developing output pages for your environmental data. Section 5.4
discusses the calculation and presentation of a Water Quality Index which provides a
quick overview of the health of the Boulder Creek watershed.
5.1 What is Data Presentation?
Data presentation is the process of converting raw data to images or graphs so that the
data are easier to visualize and understand. Data presentation also includes providing
supporting meta-data and interpretative text to make the data meaningful to the general
population. Displaying data visually enables you to communicate results to a broader
audience, such as residents in your community; while providing data interpretation can
help the community to understand how it impacts the health of the surrounding
environment.
In addition to offering several data visualization approaches BASIN stresses the
importance of both explanation and interpretation of environmental data. Visual
representation of the data is extremely useful to a knowledgeable professional and
DATA PRESENTATION 41
-------
helpful to the general public but must be supported by additional explanatory material.
For instance a time series plot of DO is only slightly more meaningful to the general
public than a table of DO values; a crucial element is to supplement each data set with
both general tutorial material on each parameter and dataset-specific, narrative
interpretation developed by a qualified analyst.
In addition, it is important to provide specific details of collection and analysis methods
for each parameter so that similar values from independent data sets can be compared
and so that the moresophisticated user can obtain specific details of exactly how the
parameter is measured; which is often useful when results appear to vary from
expectations.
5.2 BASIN Spatial Data Catalog
BASIN has sought to create a general portal site to water and environmental
information for the Boulder Creek watershed in an effort to provide a comprehensive
overview of the watershed. As discussed in Chapter 3, BASIN provides access to data
from three distinct sources; remote data already available on the Web, data obtained
from cooperating sources that is collected independent of the BASIN project and data
provided by active BASIN partners whose collection, analysis and management
procedures are coordinated with BASIN personnel.
In addition to presenting water quality data provided by active data partners, BASIN
sought out any Boulder area environmental data available on the Web and cataloged this
information through a common map-based user interface. Many EMPACT sites will
find that other government agencies may be collecting and posting data for their local
area; particularly through national efforts such as the USGS stream gage network and
the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, each which provides nationwide coverage of their
monitoring and data maintenance efforts. Other local, state and regional resources may
be available in a particular area.
By developing basic meta-data for these resources EMPACT sites can provide a
common user interface to these data resources and supplement the data collected by the
EMPACT team and participants. The BASIN project located and identified several
supplemental resources in the Boulder Creek watershed and assembled URLs,
geographic coordinates and responsible agency information and stores this meta-data in
a format common to that used for internal data resources. This allows BASIN to
provide users with access to this data through a common map based interface. These
resources include USGS stream flow measurements, several local weather stations,
snow pack monitoring in the higher elevations, all of the sites listed in the EDF/EPA
toxic release inventory and a set of online cameras which provide real-time images from
around the watershed. An example of the BASIN data catalog is shown below in Figure
5.1 (water quality data).
42 CHAPTER 5
-------
Data stations currently displayed on map:
onthly water quality data
Figure 5.1 Example of BASIN's Spatial Data Catalog
In addition, in several cases data available through existing Web sites was deemed of
significant interest and has been integrated directly into selected BASIN Web pages.
Stream flow is a significant factor in the Boulder Creek watershed, particularly during
early spring and late summer flood hazard seasons. These values are maintained on
BASIN Web pages by automated processes that periodically obtain the current Web
page from the source site and extracts essential values. For instance, the BASIN home
page is regenerated every 5 minutes to update stream flow, air quality and UV exposure
values. These automated processes are implemented in the PERL programming
language and periodically executed by native UNIX cron procedures. When such
external data is presented within an EMPACT site it is essential that access to the
specific source site be readily apparent to the user, to insure the responsible agency is
identified.
BASIN also includes several data sets provided by independent agencies. This data has
been made available to the public through the BASIN Web site, but its collection is
administered independent of the BASIN project. These data sets are accessed through
the common BASIN spatial data catalog and presented in graphical format similar to
those used for BASIN data sets; but collection, analysis and quality control procedures
are not influenced by BASIN standards. These data sets include water quality data for
South Boulder Creek collected by the Denver Water Board; Saint Vrain River water
quality data collected by the City of Longmont and historic Boulder Creek water quality
data collected by local high school students through the State of Colorado River Watch
DATA PRESENTATION
43
-------
program. While one must exercise care comparing these data sets to those collected by
cooperating agencies, such integration can enhance the compatibility of these data
collection programs. For instance, the personnel from the City of Longmont have made
voluntary efforts to coordinate data collection on the Saint Vrain River with that of the
City of Boulder, resulting in a more comprehensive view of water quality in the larger
Saint Vrain system.
Geographic presentation formats
In all three of the above data set types BASIN provides a uniform user interface to the
available data by developing a common set of basic meta data stored in a common
format such that a common set of processing tools can be employed to generate a user
interface to all the datasets. BASIN provides access to all these data resources through
a geographically oriented map interface using Web site image-map standards.
The most powerful visualization approaches to geographic distributed data are
developed using formal GIS. However, GIS development is a resource intensive task;
requiring sophisticated software applications, powerful computing resources and
extensive human resources to develop basic mapping data and to integrate the available
environmental data into the spatial data context. BASIN sought to stress a
comprehensive data context and concluded the resources required to develop a formal
GIS exceeded those available to the project. BASIN is currently working on an
integration project with EPA Region 8, the USGS and the Denver Regional Council of
Governments (DRCOG) to integrate formal GIS data resources with the current
BASIN system.
BASIN used an alternative approach to develop procedures to manage and display
spatial information. A series of procedures were developed to programmatically
annotate static gif map images using graphical manipulation procedures. BASIN
combines a series of publically available graphics libraries available within the PERL
programming environment with background map images available in the public domain
from the Census Bureau's TIGER Map Server (http://tiger.census.gov).
PERL is a widely used interpretative programming language distributed under a general
public license (GPL) on a wide variety of operating systems. PERL is widely used in the
Web site development community and extensive PERL programming resources are
available on the Internet. PERL is particularly powerful due to the extensive set of freely
available programming libraries (i.e., packages) available through the "Comprehensive
PERL Archive Network" (CPAN). CPAN ftp sites are distributed throughout the
Internet. PERL's Web site (http://www.perl.com) can provide the most convenient
site for your locality. These libraries provide a rich set of well documented
programming libraries to address a wide range of functionalities. These libraries are
distributed in source code so sophisticated developers are free to enhance the basic
procedures.
44 CHAPTER 5
-------
BASIN uses numerous CPAN PERL library packages as detailed in Chapter 4. Two
specific PERL packages are used to provide graphics programming support to develop
the BASIN spatial data catalog. The GD package provides standard graphic primitives
(DrawPoint, DrawPolygon FillArea, etc) to dynamically annotate background GIF
images. The GIFgraph package provides a higher level of abstraction to generate many
standard data plot types including the bar charts used extensively in the BASIN data
catalog. Each of the PERL packages are freely available on any of the CPAN ftp sites.
A set of base Boulder Creek watershed maps have been obtained from the TIGER map
server and manually annotated to highlight the specific stream systems of interest.
Geometric transform procedures have been developed to convert global monitoring
site longitude and latitude parameters to map specific image coordinates. These
procedures, combined with the GD graphics library routines, are used to generate
annotated gif images integrated with HTML image map code and JAVA script to
develop interactive Web-based image-maps interfaces. Users can identify and select
monitoring sites using the mouse through standard Web browsers. These procedures
rely on a small common set of meta data assembled for both local and remote data
resources. Meta-data is maintained on the BASIN server as discussed in Chapter 4; as
additional resources are added to the catalog the data catalog can be quickly regenerated
to update the available resources.
5.3 Generating Data Presentations
The remote data resources provided through the BASIN Web site are designed and
developed by the providers of those data resources so the format and structure of those
resources are beyond the influence of the BASIN team. Local data resources, including
both data sets supplied by non partnering agencies and those data sets developed in
cooperation with the BASIN project are presented in formats designed and
implemented by the BASIN team. The datasets provided by non-partner agencies are
presented as relatively simple graphs based on conversation with the data suppliers. The
remainder of this chapter focuses on the design and development of output pages for
the datasets integral to the BASIN project.
5.3.1 Putting Data And Information In Context
BASIN provides coverage of in-stream water quality for 17 parameters at 19 monitoring
stations throughout the watershed. Water quality parameters represent a complex set of
measurements including interacting constituents. It is essential that the presentation of
the data provide a comprehensive explanation of each parameter and the influences of
the spatial distribution and seasonal effects of the variation of these parameters.
Each dataset is supported by a comprehensive set of meta-data which identify the
collecting agency and describe the specific procedures used to collect the sample and/
DATA PRESENTATION 45
-------
or analyze each parameter, including analysis detection limits. Each monitoring site is
further described using photographs of the collection site and a small TIGER map of
the specific collection site. Each dataset is linked to extensive general information
describing the parameter and how it relates to the overall system behavior. A set of data
set specific interpretive narratives are also provided for each parameter describing how
the parameter varies across the watershed and over the course of the seasons. This
information is maintained by the BASIN IMS as described in Chapter 4.
The procedures which generate the data presentation pages must integrate all the stored
meta-data and supporting information into the display outputs.
5.3.2 Data Visualization Design
User selection interface
The BASIN water quality data user interface (http://basin.org/data/COBWQ) allows
users to select one or more parameters to be displayed as longitudinal profiles for a
selected month, a time series for a selected station or an entire years data displayed as
miniature time series on a watershed map. Users can select stations from a menu or
directly from a watershed map.
Page design
The initial page delivered in response to a user selection provides a summary page of the
selected parameters including small versions of the selected plots, a block of meta-data
describing the data set, data set-specific contextual information, and an optional data
table.
When longitudinal profiles are selected awatershed image map is included which locates
each of the stations included in the profile. Users may jump to time series display of a
specific station by selecting a station from the map or by selecting the listed station in
the data table.
When time series data are selected the contextual information includes a small map of
the region around the monitoring station, specific data about the station, and a link to
a photograph of the collection point. Users can jump to monthly longitudinal profiles
by selecting the month label in the data table.
In both cases users can traverse to adjacent plots (upstream and downstream in the case
of time series and preceding and following months in the case of profiles) through
navigation links provided on each page. When users request a subset of the available
parameters all navigation links retain this selection so users may traverse the data set in
time and space viewing a specific subset of parameters.
46 CHAPTER 5
-------
Further information about each parameter can be obtained by selecting either the
parameter plot or the parameter label in the data table. The resulting page includes a
larger plot and more extensive general information and data set-specific analysis which
seeks to provide users with a definitive explanation of the significance of the parameter,
analysis of how it varies across the watershed and throughout the seasons and specific
details on how the samples are collected and analyzed. Specific contact information is
provided as well as an opportunity to download the data in a portable ASCII text format
suitable for importation into typical spreadsheet and database applications. The user
may also select a full screen plot of the parameter suitable for printing.
Plot elements
When selecting the formats for displaying the watershed data several considerations
arise. The BASIN water quality data set consists of monthly values of 17 parameters
collected from 19 sites throughout the watershed. Since the resulting 3 dimensional
dataset cannot be easily displayed on two dimensional graphs, BASIN provides 3 views
of the dataset.
Longitudinal profiles provide plots of the variation of each parameter over selected
stream channels for each month of the year. Since samples are not collected
simultaneously at all the stations the profiles are represented as bar charts rather than
line plots. Three sizes of plots are generated; one small plot which is used on multiple
parameter pages; a medium size plot used on a single parameter data page, and a full
screen plot design for printer output. An example of a longitudinal profile plot for
nitrate and nitrite is shown in Figure 5.2.
NQ3+NQ2 - May, 2001
10.0(1
Monitoring Site
Figure 5.2. Example BASIN Longitudinal Profiles Plot (medium)
DATA PRESENTATION
47
-------
Annual time series are provided for each month of the year at each station. Time series
plots are presented as bar charts to reflect the discontinuous nature of monthly data.
Four sizes of plots are generated; one small plot used on multiple parameter pages; a
medium size plot used on a single parameter data page, a full screen plot design for a
printer and a miniature plot for full map displays. An example of a longitudinal profile
plot for nitrate and nitrite is shown in Figure 5.3.
03+NQ2 Time Series
10.00
2001 Calendar Month
Figure 5.3 Example of BASIN Time Series Plot (medium)
Map plots summarize the entire annual data set in a single geographic display by
overlaying reduced time series plots on the watershed map. Each miniature time series
plot is generated when the larger time series plot is generated. The plots are overlaid on
the map using the GD plot procedures discussed above and annotated with lines
connecting the miniature time series to an icon at the specific location of the stations.
The map is supported by a client side image map and Java script code such that mousing
over the plot or station icon identifies the station and selecting either image will jump to
the station time series page. An example of a map plot is shown in Figure 5.4.
Some thought should be given to handling missing data, special cases, and the details of
data presentations. For instance, in the BASIN data sets often specific parameter
measurements fall below the practical detection limits of the analysis procedures. By
maintaining these detection limits as part of the parameter meta-data the BASIN
displays can flag these nondetectable levels as separate from missing data. Since
parameters are plotted on a global set of axes, small values may appear missing on data
plots; however, by specifically noting missing data on the plots BASIN insures small
measured values are not overlooked. Alternatively, occasionally values are encountered
that greatly exceed the normal range of a particular parameter. Plot scales must be
ascertained which will provide meaningful display of the bulk of the data while
providing a procedure to handle occasional outliers. The actual value of these outlying
measurements can be obtained from the data tables.
48
CHAPTER 5
-------
Figure 5.4 Example of BASIN Map Plot (Nitrate and Nitrite).
5.3.3 Implementation
The data display pages described above are developed through a combination of batch
processing and interactive page generation. Since data sets are updated monthly but
may be requested more frequently it was determined that better performance would
result from preparing data plots when data sets are updated rather than on request.
When new data is submitted to the system a PERL-based batch processor is executed
and the entire set of annual data plots regenerated. Since each update involves 17
parameters, measured at 19 stations and up to 12 months in multiple sizes, each batch
process generates approximately 1600 plots. Manual construction of this many plots
would be infeasible using interactive spreadsheet or plotting applications. An additional
advantage of this batch approach is the rapid regeneration of all plotting output in the
face of data re-submissions or output design modifications.Batch processor routines are
implemented using PERL object oriented programming techniques as described in
Chapter 4. Upon execution, static database tables are assembled into a complex data
tree which is then used to construct data vectors for each plotting routine. Plots are
generated by GIFgraph library procedures through the PERL object interface and
written into a static Web site directory hierarchy. Batch processors are programmatically
connected with data update and preprocessing procedures such that Web site display
elements are automatically updated upon receipt of data set updates.
Actual page construction occurs when users submit display requests. Summary pages
are constructed by referencing the stored data plots and dynamically generating the
requested data table. Similarly, data files are dynamically prepared for downloading
upon user requests.
DATA PRESENTATION
49
-------
5.4 Water Quality Index (WQI) Computation and
Display
In addition to the variety of data display options described above BASIN has
implemented a water quality index which provides a rapid overview of conditions in the
watershed. BASIN researched several types of water quality indices and selected an
index developed by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) which is used by many
communities for characterizing overall water quality. The BASIN water quality index
is a modified version of the NSF index, based on seven parameters (i.e., DO, fecal
coliform, pH, total phosphate, nitrate, total solids, and turbidity) measured at the
sampling sites. On its Web site, BASIN provides a map of the watershed which presents
the water quality index as calculated at several sites on Boulder Creek (http://basin.org/
data/WQI/index.html). The index (or grade) scale is A through F, with "A"
representing "Excellent" water quality and "F" representing "Very Bad" water quality.
Users who want more information on what parameter affects water quality at a specific
sampling site may select the site grade signpost to view the WQI computation for that
site. Note while the index provides a quick overview of the water quality throughout the
watershed, the BASIN Web site provides more detailed analysis of specific Boulder
Creek water quality data and general discussion of the specific factors that affect water
quality in Boulder Creek as described in the preceding sections.
BASIN computes the NSF Water Quality Index using computational methods
described in the book Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring (Mitchell and Stapp,
Kendall Hunt Publishing, c 2000). This procedure derives a single metric of stream
water quality at a monitoring site using 7 water quality measurements (DO % saturation,
pH, fecal coliform, total phosphates, nitrate, solids and turbidity). The computation
maps the value of each parameter to a theoretically determined "Q value" using graphs
provided by NSF researchers. These Q values are combined with factors to determine
a single "Grade" at each site.
Calculation of the WQI is automated and occurs when data for the 7 required
parameters are available at a site. When direct measurement of DO as a percent of
theoretical saturation is not available at a site, the theoretical saturation is computed for
the measured temperature and the result is corrected to the site elevation (maintained in
the database site table). This derived DO% value is then used to determine the
appropriate Q-value as discussed below.
The BASIN IMS implements the WQI computational algorithm using a graphical
lookup procedure. Q-Value plots have been optically scanned and are maintained on the
EDNA server as monochromatic image files. These files are loaded into memory as
image arrays and Q-values are "read" off the plots for each parameter value using a pixel
color index test. Once Q values are determined weighting factors are applied and the
50 CHAPTER 5
-------
numerical grade is computed. This grade is then converted to a letter grade to assign a
graphical signpost to the site.
BASIN's graphical image annotation procedures are then executed to generate an
image-map with the NSF WQI Grade signpost at each station in the watershed. Each
site and signpost is linked to an automatically generated HTML spreadsheet detailing
the underlying WQI computations at that station. An example of this output procedure
is shown in Figure 5.5. Other examples of the output of this procedure are available at
http://basin.org/data/WQI/.
Figure 5.5 Water Quality Index
5.5 Conclusions
This chapter has described several of the approaches the BASIN EMPACT project has
taken to present environmental data in a meaningful context to encourage community
understanding of the Boulder Creek Watershed. While exhaustive detail on these
techniques is beyond the scope of this manual, it is hoped this chapter has provided
some ideas on a variety of data presentation alternatives and the importance of placing
EMPACT data in an overall interpretative context.
DATA PRESENTATION
51
-------
6. COMMUNICATING TIMELY
Providing timely environmental information to the community is not simply
a matter of placing data files on a Web site. Working directly with members
of the community-at-large, determining user needs and concerns, and going
through an iterative process with key stakeholders will help make your environmental
information more meaningful and accessible to the community you are trying to serve.
This chapter is designed to help you develop an approach for communicating pertinent
environmental information to people in your community, or more specifically, your
target audience. This chapter provides the following:
• the steps involved in developing an outreach plan,
• guidelines for effectively communicating information,
• resources to assist in promoting community awareness, and
• the outreach initiatives implemented by the BASIN team.
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan for
Disseminating Timely Environmental
Monitoring Data
Your outreach program will be most effective if you ask yourself the following
questions:
• Who do we want to reach? (i.e., Who is your target audience or
audiences?)
• What information do we want to distribute or communicate?
• What are the most effective mechanisms to reach our target
audience?
• How do we involve users or target audiences in usability testing and,
if possible, program development?
Developing an outreach plan ensures that you have considered all important elements
of an outreach project before you begin. The plan itself provides a blueprint for action.
An outreach plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. You can develop a plan
simply by documenting your answers to each of the questions discussed below. This will
provide you with a solid foundation for launching an outreach effort.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 53
-------
Your outreach plan will be most effective if you involve a variety of people in its
development. Where possible, consider involving
• a communications specialist or someone who has experience
developing and implementing an outreach plan,
• technical experts in the subject matter (both scientific and policy),
• someone who represents the target audience (i.e., the people or
groups you want to reach), and
• key individuals who will be involved in implementing the outreach
plan.
As you develop your outreach plan, consider whether you would like to invite any
organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing the outreach effort.
Potential partners might include local businesses, environmental organizations, schools,
boating associations, local health departments, local planning and zoning authorities,
and other local or state agencies. Partners can participate in planning, product
development and review, and distribution. Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms
for leveraging resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and success of outreach
efforts. Developing an outreach plan is a creative and iterative process involving a
number of interrelated steps, as described below. As you move through each of these
steps, you might want to revisit and refine the decisions you made in earlier steps until
you have an integrated, comprehensive, and achievable plan.
6.1.1 What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the initial step in developing an outreach plan. Outreach
goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what you hope to
accomplish through outreach. Once you have established your goals, every other
element of the plan should relate to those goals. Here were some project goals for the
BASIN EMPACT project:
• Improve existing environmental monitoring to provide credible, timely
and usable information about the watershed to the public.
• Create a state-of-the-art information management and public access
infrastructure using advanced, Web-based computer technologies.
• Build strong partnerships and an ongoing alliance of governmental,
educational, non-profit and private entities involved in watershed
monitoring, management, and education.
54 CHAPTER 6
-------
• Develop education and communication programs to effectively utilize
watershed information in the public media and schools and facilitate
greater public involvement in public policy formation.
• Increase public awareness of how the hydrologic cycle effects everyday
life, where drinking and irrigation water come from, how it is used, and
what happens downstream.
BASIN's general goals listed above also had specific objectives. For example, BASIN's
specific objective for improving existing environmental monitoring included providing
brochures and posters to all fifth grade teachers and middle school science teachers in
the Boulder Valley School District.
6.1.2 Whom Are You Trying To Reach?
Identifying Your Audience(s)
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target audience or
audiences for your outreach effort. As illustrated in the BASIN project goals above,
outreach goals often define their target audiences (e.g., the public and fisheries). You
might want to refine and add to your goals after you have defined your target
audience (s).
Target audiences for a water quality outreach program might include, for example, the
general public, local decision makers and land management agencies, educators and
students (high school and college), special interest groups (e.g., homeowner
associations, fishing and boating organizations, gardening clubs, and lawn
maintenance/landscape professionals). Some audiences, such as educators and special
interest groups, might serve as conduits to help disseminate information to other
audiences you have identified, such as the general public.
Consider whether you should divide the public into two or more audience categories.
For example: Will you be providing different information to different groups, such as
the citizens vs. businesses? Does a significant portion of the public you are trying to
reach have a different cultural or linguistic background? If so, it may be more effective
to consider these groups as separate audience categories.
Profiling Your Audience(s)
Once you have identified your audiences, the next step is to develop a profile of their
situations, interests, and concerns. Outreach will be most effective if the type, content,
and distribution of outreach products are specifically tailored to the characteristics of
your target audiences. Developing a profile will help you identify the most effective
ways of reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider the following:
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 55
-------
• What is their current level of knowledge about water quality and general
watershed awareness?
• What do you want them to know about water quality? What actions
would you like them to take regarding water quality?
• What information is likely to be of greatest interest to the audience?
What information will they likely want to know once they develop some
awareness of water quality issues?
• How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the
information?
• How does this group generally receive information?
• What professional, recreational, and domestic activities does this group
typically engage in that might provide avenues for distributing outreach
products? Are there any organizations or centers that represent or serve
the audience and might be avenues for disseminating your outreach
products?
Profiling an audience essentially involves putting yourself "in your audience's shoes."
Ways to do this include consulting with individuals or organizations who represent or
are members of the audience, consulting with colleagues who have successfully
developed other outreach products for the audience, and using your imagination.
6.1.3 What Do You Want To Communicate?
The next step in planning an outreach program is to think about what you want to
communicate. In particular, think about the key points, or "messages," you want to
communicate. Messages are the "bottom line" information you want your audience to
walk away with, even if they forget the details.
A message is usually phrased as a brief (often one-sentence) statement. The
following are some examples of messages that are posted on the BASIN Web site:
• Real-time Boulder Creek flowrates.
• BASIN now provides a Water Quality Index for the main stem of
Boulder Creek along with other water quality information for the
Boulder Creek Watershed.
• Online cameras including Niwot Ridge Tundra Cam.
56 CHAPTER 6
-------
Outreach products will often have multiple related messages. Consider what messages
you want to send to each target audience group. You may have different messages for
different audiences.
6.1.4 What Outreach Products Will You Develop?
The next step in developing an outreach plan is to consider what types of outreach
products will be most effective for reaching each target audience. There are many
different types of outreach: print, audiovisual, electronic, events, and novelty items.
TIP!
Include representatives of specific user groups when developing outreach
products. They have valuable input regarding what the various needs and
interests of your larger audience.
The audience profile information you assembled earlier will be helpful in selecting
appropriate products. A communications professional can provide valuable guidance
in choosing the most appropriate products to meet your goals within your resources and
time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting products include:
• How much information does your audience really need? How much
does your audience need to know now? The simplest, most
straightforward product generally is most effective.
• Is the product likely to appeal to the target audience? How much
time will it take to interact with the product? Is the audience likely to
make that time?
• How easy and cost-effective will the product be to distribute or, in
the case of an event, organize?
• How many people is this product likely to reach? For an event, how
many people are likely to attend?
• What time frame is needed to develop and distribute the product?
• How much will it cost to develop the product? Do you have access
to the talent and resources needed for product development?
• What other related products are already available? Can you build on
existing products?
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 57
-------
When will the material be out of date? (You probably will want to
spend fewer resources on products with shorter lifetimes.)
Would it be effective to have distinct phases of products over time?
For example, an initial phase of products designed to raise awareness,
followed by later phases of products to increase understanding.
How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent
news value is more likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the
media.
6.1.5 How Will Your Products Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. You need to
consider how each product will be distributed and determine who will be responsible for
distribution. For some products, your organization might manage distribution. For
others, you might rely on intermediaries (such as the media or educators) or
organizational partners who are willing to participate in the outreach effort. Consult
with an experienced communications professional to obtain information about the
resources and time required for the various distribution options. Some points to
consider in selecting distribution channels include:
• How does the audience typically receive information?
• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past
for this audience? Were these mechanisms effective?
• Can you identify any partner organizations that might be willing to
assist in the distribution?
• Can the media play a role in distribution?
• Will the mechanism you are considering really reach the intended
audience? For example, the Internet can be an effective distribution
mechanism, but certain groups might have limited access to it.
• How many people is the product likely to reach through the
distribution mechanism you are considering?
• Are sufficient resources available to fund and implement distribution
via the mechanisms of interest?
Table 6.1 provides various distribution avenues and outreach products for
communicating your environmental data to the public.
58 CHAPTER 6
-------
TABLE 6.1. METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
Mailing lists
Brochures
Newsletters
Fact sheets
Utility bill inserts or staffers
Phone/fax
Promotional hotline
E-mail/Internet
Newsletters
E-mail messages
Web pages
Subscriber list servers
Radio/TV
Cable TV programs
Public service announcements
Videos
Media interviews
Press conferences/releases
Journals or newsletters
Newsletters
Editorials
Newspaper and magazine articles
Meetings, community events, or
locations (e.g., libraries,
schools, marinas, public
beaches, tackle shops, etc.)
where products are made
available.
Exhibits
Kiosks
Posters
Question-and-answer sheets
Novelty items (e.g., mouse pads, golf tees,
buttons, key chains, magnets, bumper
stickers, coloring books, frisbees, etc.)
Banners
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
Meetings (i.e., one-on-one and public)
Community days
Speeches
Educational curricula
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
59
-------
6.1.6 What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
Successful outreach may cause people to contact you with requests for more
information or expressing concern about issues you have addressed. Consider whether
and how you will handle this interest. The following questions can help you develop this
part of your strategy:
• What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to
have in response to the outreach information?
• Who will handle requests for additional information?
• Do you want to indicate on the outreach product where people can
go for further information (e. g., provide a contact name, number,
address, or establish a hotline)?
The BASIN Web site (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/main/about.html) provides
information so that people can contact the BASIN Project Coordinator by phone, e-
mail, or postal mail. The public can also contact the BASIN Project Coordinator via a
Web site comment form.
6.1.7 What Is the Schedule for Implementation?
Once you have decided on your goals, audiences, messages, products, and distribution
channels, you will need to develop an implementation schedule. For each product,
consider how much time will be needed for development and distribution. Be sure to
factor in sufficient time for product review. Wherever possible, build in time for testing
and evaluation by members or representatives of the target audience in focus groups or
individual sessions so that you can get feedback on whether you have effectively
targeted your material for your audience. Section 6.3 contains suggestions for
presenting technical information to the public. It also provides information about
online resources that can provide easy to understand background information that you
can use in developing your own outreach projects.
6.2 Elements of the BASIN Project's Outreach
Program
The BASIN Project team uses a variety of mechanisms to communicate timely
environmental information, as well as information about the project itself, to the
Boulder area community. The team uses the BASIN Web site as the primary vehicle for
communicating timely information to the public. Their outreach strategy includes a
60 CHAPTER 6
-------
variety of mechanisms (e.g., Internet, brochures, presentations at events, and
community television) to provide the public with information about the BASIN
project.
6.2.1 Outreach Elements
Each element of the project's communication and participation program are discussed
below.
Public Participation. The BASIN project vigorously encouraged public participation.
BASIN continuously invited the public to join the project primarily through their Web
site (which is discussed later). The interested public could join as a BASIN Boulder
Community Network (BCN) Volunteer, join the BASIN Forum, complete the BASIN
Survey, or join local school or neighborhood projects.
BASIN BCN. BASIN invited the public to help with graphic design, Web page
development, scripting or video/audio streaming. BASIN provided an online
"classified ads" (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/news/classifieds.html) to
help the community see the needs of the BASIN project. Potential BCN
Volunteers could contact the BASIN Volunteer Coordinator either by phone or
e-mail or sign up as a BCN Volunteer by completing the online BCN Volunteer
Questionnaire (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/volunteer/register.html). BCN
Volunteers provided over 1000 hours of assistance by offering ideas and
feedback and designing the BASIN Web site.
BASIN FORUM. BASIN provided an online forum for the interested public
to share ideas or information about local environmental and social concerns that
relate to community livability and sustainability. The public could either post
their ideas and comments online or subscribe to the Boulder Creek Watershed
e-mail list serve to obtain information about BASIN forum.
BASIN Survey. For individuals who did not have time to become a BCN
Volunteer, BASIN provided an opportunity for Web site visitors to provide
comments regarding the usefulness and presentation of the information
provided on the BASIN Web site (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/surveys/
index.html). The public could either type their comments in a text field or take
an online 10-question survey.
School or Neighborhood Projects. Schools and neighborhoods could
contact BASIN to find out how they could develop and implement their own
school water monitoring projects.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 61
-------
Bringing together experts. The EMPACT project stakeholders included
representatives from organizations that originally signed the BASIN Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU), as well as other interested individuals in the community who
use or provide environmental information to the public and were supportive of the
BASIN's efforts. The MOU was a non-binding agreement among the BASIN partners
to cooperate fully in the project, including active participation in the project design,
development, and implementation of the project. The originals signers of the MOU are
listed below.
• City of Boulder
• enfo.com
• Local environmental educators and organizers
• University of Colorado Department of Civil Engineering and
Architectural Engineering
• The U.S. Geological Survey
• Boulder Community Network
• Boulder County Healthy Communities Initiative
• Boulder County Health Department
• Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative
• Boulder Valley School District
• Colorado Division of Wildlife - River Watch Network
• Community Access Television
Web site. The BASIN Web site can be accessed at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin.
The EMPACT project is discussed at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/main/
about.html. The Web site was the main avenue used by the team for disseminating the
various environmental monitoring data. Itwas estimated that 80 percent of all residents
in the Boulder area have Internet access [Source: 1998 EMPACT Grant Application,
Draft (5/11)]. Although the BASIN project ended in December 2000, the Web site still
provides a variety of real-time data, maps and live on-line cameras. Data includes
weather, stream flow, water quality, and snow pack. In addition to providing water-
related data, the site provides air quality advisories, which are linked to the Colorado Air
Pollution Control Division's Web site (http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/main.html). The
site also announces the availability of new reports and studies for the Boulder area.
The left side of the BASIN Web page displays a list of "Themes" discussing a variety of
topics such as watersheds, waterworks technology and infrastructure, personal actions
for protecting water quality, recreation, and current events. Via the Web site, the public
can read news about the project or participate in online forums. These are discussed
below:
Newsletter. The project newsletter, BASIN News, featured local, timely
environmental information which focused on water issues and links to other
resources. The newsletter was published bi-monthly in electronic form. The
62 CHAPTER 6
-------
public could read BASIN News online at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/
news/current.html or could subscribe to receive BASIN News in HTML or text
only format for free through their email account. Hard copies were distributed
in various city offices. Appendix C contains a copy of the December 2000 issue.
Online Forums. BASIN hosted an online forum to discuss topics of local
interest and concern on October 23-31. Entitled Drought, Fire e> Flood in the
Boulder Area: Are WePrepared? this electronic seminar explored the background,
current situation, and future concerns relating to climate change, wildfires and
flash flooding in the Boulder area. The public participated by subscribing to the
discussion list serve or could download a daily summary of the discussion from
the BASIN Web site.
Stakeholder Update. Periodically, the BASIN team provided a Stakeholder Update
letter which discussed the recent activities on the project. The Stakeholder Update
announced the availability of new data, outreach and marketing efforts, new studies,
staffing changes, etc. The Stakeholder Update letter was available on the BASIN Web
site.
Television. Students from Sojourner Middle School in Boulder wrote and produced a
television news program about various aspects of Boulder Creek which they had been
studying throughout the school year. The students were assisted by members of BASIN
in researching, developing, and producing the television program. The students
interviewed various experts to gather information on drinking water, kayaking, flash
flood hazards, the importance of snow runoff, the greenback cutthroat trout, ammonia,
and macro invertebrates. The 50 minute program, including a 15 minute documentary
on the making of the program, aired two days a week during July 2000 and won a local
community media award for best student documentary. The program was featured in
the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Mainstream Magazine in May,
2001. In addition, a 13 minute television program entitled "BASIN Kid" showing basic
water quality testing techniques and a 15 minute program providing an overview on the
Millennium Baseline Study were shown on community television.
Presentations. BASIN representatives gave presentations to a variety of groups
including the state Flood and Drought Task Force, Denver Regional Council of
Governments, city advisory boards, EPA Region 8, PLAN Boulder, several EPA
conferences and on the local radio station KGNU. In August 2000, Mark McCaffrey
gave a presentation in Sweden at the Stockholm International Water Symposium. In
September 2000, Mr. McCaffrey and Sheila Murphy gave a presentation at the American
Water Resources Association (AWRA) Colorado State Convention in Vail.
Piggybacking on existing events. BASIN representatives attended many local
events providing brochures and displaying project posters for the attending public.
Such local events included the Boulder Earth Day Festival, the Boulder Creek Festival,
Boulder Farmer's Market, and the Children's Water Festival. Maps of the watershed
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 63
-------
proved to be an excellent icebreaker at public events and a natural segue to providing the
public with brochures about BASIN.
6.2.2 Developing the BASIN Web Site
Experience Gained and Lessons Learned
The BASIN team encountered several challenges as it tried to establish continuity and
maintain momentum for the project. One collaborative challenge involved reaching a
group consensus on the goals for the project. Many individuals had differing opinions
regarding the goal of the project and how resources should be allocated to various
endeavors. One member of the BASIN staff who had experience as a professional
facilitator was able to aid in the dialogue process for reaching consensus and working
through issues of contention and disagreement. By identifying potential areas of
conflict and working to clarify their shared vision, the facilitator assisted the team as they
attempted to pioneer new ways of networking and collaborating together. The
experience also suggests that future teams desiring to implement a similar program
allow time and resources for establishing the team relationships.
The team experienced several obstacles when soliciting partnerships with potential data
providers. The team realized that providing public access to environmental information
is a major paradigm shift. In most of the world, the idea of a public's "right-to-know"
simply does not exist. While in the U.S. there is increasingly the technology and the will
to inform the public about their environmental system's health, there are numerous
political, technological, cultural, and personal challenges involved in pioneering systems
and approaches to involving the public more directly in monitoring their local
environment and taking responsibility for the impact of their actions.
Some institutions that were solicited for data were simply uncomfortable with making
their data publicly available. They were concerned that there would be public inquiries
arising from data without staff resources to address these inquiries. They were also
concerned about the uncompensated in-house costs for preparing and delivering
internal data to the public.
Other potential data providers supported the objectives of the BASIN project and
expressed willingness to provide data; however, ongoing discussions with the potential
data providers resulted in mixed success and a greater clarification of the challenges and
difficulties associated with data partnering. BASIN had established rigorous standards
for supporting meta-data and providing interpretive information along with the data, as
well as standards for quality control and quality assurance. While most of the potential
data providers readily provided access to raw data sets, obtaining or developing
appropriate supportive interpretative information and agreeing to appropriate QA/QC
procedures proved more problematic. [Source: 2000 Annual Report, BASIN Project
EMPACT Grant, January 30, 2001]
64 CHAPTER 6
-------
While several environmental monitoring programs were identified within the
watershed, the team quickly realized that few of the potential data providers were
immediately prepared to make their data available to the general public. The following
concerns were identified:
• The need for comprehensive information context to relay the
significance of the data to the public.
• The need for additional internal quality control before releasing in-
house data.
These early interviews also served to clarify technical challenges of developing the
project's IMS. The team quickly realized that independent data collection programs
involved highly specific collection and analysis procedures, software standards varied
dramatically between monitoring programs, and data was retained in a variety of units.
These factors lead to a restructuring of the project plan. As a result, the project focus
was shifted from a more standard software development cycle of needs assessment,
initial design, user evaluation, implementation and testing to a more responsive and
rapid approach. To ensure both public participation and data provider cooperation, the
initial software development schedule was revised to advance the implementation of
prototype data delivery and Web site information products. Prototype applications
were then applied to additional data sets as providers agreed to participate.
[Source: BASIN Final Report, BASIN EMPACT Project, February 2001]
Key to the development of BASIN's Web site and associated outreach products were
the volunteers of the BCNwho brought a wide variety of skills and perspectives to the
effort. In the early months of the project a series of monthly meetings were held with
some 40 BCN volunteers. After an overview of the goals of the project was given, the
volunteers broke into four primary teams: Web Design, Architecture, Resource
Discovery Group and Outreach. One volunteer— a geography teacher at a local high
school was particularly interested in GIS on the Web, and while it was determined that
GIS was beyond the scope of BASIN's pilot project, he continued to be involved and
has now developed a GIS unit for his class using aerial photos from the BASIN Web
site. A general BCN volunteer list was established to keep all the participants informed
on new developments and to ask for assistance and feedback on particular aspects of the
project. Many of the volunteers were involved with the high-tech field in the region and
were able to bring their expertise and tools to the project.
In addition to the monthly meetings, the teams worked together with BASIN staff on
specific tasks, and a password protected development site was developed to begin
experimenting with approaches and artwork, and much of the actual development of
the Web site including usability testing was conducted on the Web with the active
involvement of key BCN volunteers. The volunteers gained experience and provided a
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 65
-------
valuable community service through their involvement with the project. BASIN's BCN
volunteers proved to be more than just an in-house focus group for on-going feedback
as the Web site and related outreach projects went through their iterative development.
They also served as powerful advocates in their own communities, promoting BASIN
with their families, schools, and work colleagues.
Within six months after first meeting with volunteers of the Boulder Community
Network, the first release of the BASIN Web site was made available to the general
public, and during that six month period much of the "place-based" information
relating to the watershed community's unique history, geography and culture were
developed. Historical photos from the Denver Public Library and the Library of
Congress were added to the Web site, existing watershed education materials and
quizzes were configured for the Web, historical essays and other materials helped to
contextualize the environmental data that was added to the site in the following months.
In addition to enriching the Web site with multi-disciplinary depth, it also served as an
inspiration for other local contributors to ask that their own materials be added to the
network. These include Dr. Pete Palmer's peer reviewed articles on sustainability at
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/local/sustainintro.html and excerpts from Joanna
Sampson's digital book HIGH, WILD AND HANDSOME: The Story of Colorado's
Beautiful South Boulder Creek and Eldorado Canyon at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/
basin/history/Moffat.html.
Among the volunteer efforts that BCN volunteers provided were the BASIN logo
(developed by Linda Mark) which played a key role in establishing "brand recognition"
of BASIN and was used on all BASIN brochures and posters, and the online quizzes (by
Paul von Behren).
6.3 Resources for Presenting Environmental
Information to the Public
As you develop your various forms of communication materials and begin to implement
your outreach plan, you will want to make sure that these materials present your
information as clearly and accurately as possible. There are resources on the Internet to
help you develop your outreach materials. Some of these are discussed below.
6.3.1 How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature and full of jargon, and environmental
monitoring information is no exception. Nonetheless, technical information can be
conveyed in simple, clear terms to those in the general public not familiar with
environmental data. The following principles should be used when conveying technical
information to the public:
66 CHAPTER 6
-------
• avoid using jargon,
• translate technical terms (e.g., reflectance) into everyday language the
public can easily understand,
• use active voice,
• write short sentences,
• use headings and other formatting techniques to provide a clear and
organized structure.
The following Web sites provide guidance regarding how to write clearly and effectively
for a general audience:
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has a guidance
document, Writing User-Friendly Documents, that can be found on the Web
at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
• The American Bar Association has a Web site that provides links to on-
line writing labs (http://www.abanet.org/lpm/bparticlel 1463_front.
shtml). The Web site discusses topics such as handouts and grammar.
As you develop communication materials for your audience, remember to tailor your
information to consider what they are already likely to know, what you want them to
know, and what they are likely to understand. The most effective approach is to provide
information that is valuable and interesting to the target audience. For example, the
kayakers may want to know about the creek flow rates in Boulder Creek. Also, when
developing outreach products, be sure to consider special needs of the target audience.
For example, ask yourself if your target audience has a large number of people who
speak little or no English. If so, you should prepare communication materials in their
native language.
The rest of this section contains information about resources available on the Internet
that can assist you as you develop your own outreach projects. Some of the Web sites
discussed below contain products, such as downloadable documents or fact sheets,
which you can use to develop and tailor your education and outreach efforts.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 67
-------
6.3.2 Federal Resources
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
http://www.epa.gov/surf3
This Web site can be used to locate, use, and share environmental information on
watersheds. One section of this site, "Locate Your Watershed," allows the user to enter
the names of rivers, schools, or zip codes to learn more about watersheds in their local
area or in other parts of the country. The EPA's Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI)
can also be accessed from this site. The IWI is a numerical grade (1 to 6), which is
compiled and calculated based on a variety of indicators that assess the condition of
rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas.
EPA's Office of Water Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/lake
EPA developed this manual to present specific information on volunteer lake water
quality monitoring methods. It is intended both for the organizers of the volunteer lake
monitoring program and for the volunteer(s) who will actually be sampling lake
conditions. It emphasizes identifying appropriate parameters to monitor and listing
specific steps for each selected monitoring method. The manual also includes quality
assurance/quality control procedures to ensure that the data collected by volunteers are
useful to State and other agencies.
EPA's Nonpoint Source Pointers (Fact sheets)
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets (referred to as pointers) on nonpoint source
pollution (e.g., pollution occurring from storm water runoff). The pointers covers
topics including: programs and opportunities for public involvement in nonpoint
source control, managing wetlands to control nonpoint source pollution, and managing
urban runoff.
EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/about.html
EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office Web site includes information about
topics such as human health, visualizing the lakes, monitoring, and pollution
prevention. One section of this site (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/gl2000/lamps/
index.html) has links to Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) documents for each of the
Great Lakes. A LaMP is a plan of action developed by the United States and Canada to
assess, restore, protect and monitor the ecosystem health of a Great Lake. The LaMP
has a section dedicated to public involvement or outreach and education. The program
utilizes a public review process to ensure that the LaMP is addressing their concerns.
68 CHAPTER 6
-------
You could use the LaMP as a model in developing similar plans for your water
monitoring program.
U. S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/wqam
Under "Guidance Documents," there are several documents pertaining to water quality
that can be downloaded or ordered. These documents are listed below.
• A Procedure to Estimate the Response of Aquatic Systems to Changes
in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Inputs
• Stream Visual Assessment Protocol
• National Handbook of Water Quality Monitoring
• Water Quality Indicators Guide
• Water Quality Field Guide
6.3.3 Education Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet
One goal of Project WET is to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and good
stewardship of water resources by developing and making available classroom-ready
teaching aids. Another goal of WET is to establish state- and internationally-sponsored
Project WET programs. The WET site has a list of all the State Project WET Program
Coordinators.
Water Science for Schools
http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
The USGS's Water Science for Schools Web site offers information on many aspects of
water and water quality. The Web site has pictures, data, maps, and an interactive forum
where you can provide opinions and test your water knowledge. Water quality is
discussed under "Special Topics."
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 69
-------
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
http://www.earthforce.org/green
The GREEN provides opportunities for middle and high school-aged youth to
understand, improve and sustain watersheds in their community. This site also includes
a list of water quality projects being conducted across the country and around the world
(http://www.igc.apc.org/green/resources.html).
Adopt-A-Watershed
http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/about.htm
Adopt-A-Watershed is a school-community learning experience for students from
kindergarten through high school. Their goal is to make science applicable and relevant
to the students. Adopt-A-Watershed has many products and services available to
teachers wishing to start an Adopt-A-Watershed project. Although not active in every
state, the Web site has a list of contacts in 25 States if you are interested in beginning a
project in your area.
National Institutes for Water Resources
http://wrri.nmsu.edu/niwr/niwr.html
The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) is a network of 54 research
institutes throughout each of the 50 States, District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico, and Guam/Federated States of Micronesia. Each institute conducts
research to solve water problems unique to their area and establish cooperative
programs with local governments, state agencies, and industry.
Southeast Michigan Watershed Project Participants
http://imc.lisd.kl2.mi.us/SE.html
This Web site discusses water testing projects conducted by various middle schools and
high schools in southeast Michigan. Each school provided QuickTime videos of their
sampling sites.
Water on the Web
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
This Web site is maintained by USGS and provides water science information for
schools. The site has information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data,
maps, and a site where you can test your knowledge.
70 CHAPTER 6
-------
Learning Web
http://www.usgs.gov/education/
Learning Web is a USGS Web site dedicated to K-12 education, exploration, and life-
long learning. The site covers topics such as biology, geology, and hydrology.
Webmonkey for Kids
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/kids/?tw=eg!9990608
This site shows children how to build Web pages.
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District — Education
http://www.ncwcd.org/ncwcd?go_about/education.htm
This site offers an array of water-related educational services for preschoolers to
retirees. It includes facts about water, teacher information, publications, and
information about water festivals.
Bureau of Reclamation Environmental Education
http://www.usbr.gov/env_ed/
The site provides a list of various environmental educational programs and activities in
which the Bureau of Reclamation participates, some of which are offered for general
public participation. The site also provides a list and description of various educational
classes relating to the study and care of water resources that the Bureau of Reclamation
will provide to classes as "hands-on" science presentations.
6.3.4 Other Organizations
North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) Guide to Local
Resources
http://www.nalms.org/
This Web site provides resources for those dealing with local lake-related issues.
NALMS's mission is to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals
to promote the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs. NALMS's Guide
to Local Resources (http://www.nalms.org/resource/lnkagenc/links.htm) contains
various links to regulatory agencies, extension programs, research centers, NALMS
chapters, regional directors, and a membership directory.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 71
-------
The Watershed Management Council
http://watershed.org/wmc/aboutwmc.html
The Watershed Management Council (WMC) is a non-profit organization whose
members represent a variety of watershed management interests and disciplines. WMC
membership includes professionals, students, teachers, and individuals whose interest is
in promoting proper watershed management.
6.3.5 Examples of BASIN Resources
Note!
The Colorado BASIN project should not be confused with the
Environmental Protection Agency's BASINS (Better Assessment Science
Integration Point and Nonpoint Sources) Modeling Course. The BASINS
Modeling Course is a watershed training course offered by the EPA's
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, & Watershed. Please see http://
www.epa.gov/waterscience/BASINS/ for more information about
BASINS.
BASIN's Web site has numerous resources which serves as examples of what other
project's can do to bring a strong community focus on the health of the local
environment. Some of these resources are listed below.
BASIN's Watershed Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/watershed/index.html
BASIN's Watershed link provides information about water quality, geology, stream
flow, weather and climate, flash floods, and tributaries.
BASIN's Water and Community Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/waterworks/index.html
BASIN's Water and Community link provides information about drinking water
systems, wastewater, underground storage tanks, and storm water runoff. The link also
provides links to drinking water treatment and regulations.
BASIN's Personal Action Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/local/index.html
BASIN's Personal Action link provides the public practical guidance on how to protect
the environment. Such topics include household hazards and alternatives and water-
wise landscaping.
72 CHAPTER 6
-------
BASIN's History Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/history/index.html
BASIN's History link provides various historical environmental information about the
Boulder Creek watershed. The site provides historical information about flash floods,
early ditch decrees, pictures, etc.
BASIN's Recreation Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/recreation/index.html
BASIN's Recreation link provides information about rivers in Colorado and other
general recreation links. The site also has links which are of interest to canoers and
kayakers, fishermen, hikers and backpackers, and boaters.
BASIN's Learning Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/learning/index.html
BASIN's Learning link provides information about available watershed learning and
service activities. The link which provides an online resource and teacher's guide, a fifth
grade learning activity, as well as virtual field trips is a valuable resource to teachers.
BASIN's Library Theme
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/gallery/index.html
BASIN's Library link provides a gallery of photographs taken around the watershed, a
450 document Environmental Research Bibliography, and additional learning activities.
6.4 Success Stories
The BASIN Project enjoyed several successes. BASIN provided a framework for
successful collaboration between municipal and regional governments, educators, and
concerned citizens to address a community need for access to environmental
monitoring data and contextual information to explain the significance of that data. The
BASIN project also generated a leveraging of existing resources. By creating a
collaborative process and data repository, the project provided a focal point for
researchers interested in the quality of Boulder Creek. The Boulder Creek Millennium
Baseline Study (http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/BCMB)is one example of a leveraged
resource effort that occurred as a result of the BASIN project. In this way, the BASIN
Web site was able to respond to needs and opportunities not included in the initial
EMPACT project scope.
The BASIN project enabled the City of Boulder's drinking water and storm water
quality programs to develop similar protocols for QA/QC. Prior to the project, the data
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 73
-------
from each of the programs were kept in separate databases. Also, each program used
different units for similar parameters. As a result those parameters could not be easily
compared to each other. The BASIN team and City of Boulder collaborated so that the
parameters measured by the two sampling programs could be easily compared to each
other. The data collected from the two programs were eventually combined into a single
database. Also both programs began measuring additional parameters so that the
BASIN team could generate a water quality index which grades the streams. The index
provides a quick and easy-to-understand assessment of the water quality in that
particular stream. See Section 5 for a more complete discussion of the water quality
index.
The BASIN Web site had become established as a community resource with robust
usership. Daily page requests, distinct hosts served, pages requested, and total data
transferred have continued to increase since the Web site was launched in 1999. The
ongoinguse of the Web site is a strong indication that citizens, students, researchers, and
others both in the Boulder area and outside the watershed have found the BASIN Web
site to be a useful source of environmental information.
BASIN was nominated for the 2001 Stockholm Water Prize that honors outstanding
achievements that help protect the world's water resources. Although BASIN did not
win, they considered their nomination for the award an honor. The $150,000 prize is the
leading international award for outstanding achievements on behalf of the world's
water. It is awarded to an individual, institution, organization, or company that has
made the most contribution to preserve and enhance the world's water resources. The
prize recognizes either outstanding research, action, or education that protects the
usability of water for all life and increases knowledge of water as a resource.
[Source: http://www.worldwaterday.org/events/ev09.html]
User Feedback
Various partners and peers provided positive and complimentary comments to
BASIN regarding their Web site. Some of the comments are listed below.
"I looked at the site - what a lot of info! The links go on for days - it's GREAT!! I"
- Irish McKenzie, U.S. EPA.
"What a fabulous program you have to offer! May we borrow your ideas/
format and implement them into our own plan?" - Denise Leidy, Union Soil &
Water Conservation District, La Grande, Oregon.
"I am impressed with your Web site and have passed it along to our
employees" - Doug Gore, Regional Director, FEMA.
"This is a GREAT Web site" - Ken Margolis, River Network.
74 CHAPTER 6
-------
6.5 Most Frequently Asked Questions and
Answers
The majority of questions that the BASIN team receives are related to water quality. For
example, the team receives questions about pesticides used in the watershed, questions
about water quality issues related to the Boulder Waste Water Treatment Plant, and
questions regarding E. coli bacteria count in the water. The water quality site located on
the BASIN Web page now provides public access to monitoring data to help answer
these questions.
COMMUNICATING TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 75
-------
APPENDIX A
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST
Acre foot: The amount of water that would cover one acre at the depth of
one foot (325,900 gallons).
Anoxia: Absence of oxygen in water.
APCD: Air Pollution Control Division.
AWRA: American Water Resources Association.
AWWA: American Water Works Association.
BASIN: Boulder Area Sustainability Information Network.
BCN: Boulder Community Network.
cfs: cubic feet per second.
Chlorophyll: Green pigment in plants that transforms light energy into
chemical energy by photosynthesis.
CO2: Carbon dioxide.
COB: City of Boulder.
CPAN: Comprehensive Perl Archive Network.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST A-1
-------
Dissolved oxygen (DO): The concentration of oxygen (O2) dissolved
in water, usually expressed in milligrams per liter, parts per million, or
percent of saturation (at the field temperature). Adequate concentrations of
dissolved oxygen are necessary to sustain the life offish and other aquatic
organisms and prevent offensive odors. DO levels are considered a very
important and commonly employed measurement of water quality and
indicator of a water body's ability to support desirable aquatic life. Levels
above 5 milligrams per liter (mg O2/L) are considered optimal and fish
cannot survive for prolonged periods at levels below 3 mg O2/L. Levels
below 2 mg O2/L are often referred to as hypoxic and when O2 is less than
0.1 mg/, conditions are considered to be anoxic.
DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.
DO: Dissolved oxygen.
DRCOG: Denver Region Council of Governments.
DVT(s): Data visualization tools.
Ecosystem: The interacting plants, animals, and physical components
(sunlight, soil, air, water) of an area.
EOF: Environmental Defense Fund.
EDNA: Environmental Data Network Association.
EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.
EM PACT: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community
Tracking.
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency.
F
ft: feet.
A-2 APPENDIX A
-------
FTP: File transfer protocol.
Geographic Information System (GIS): A computer software and
hardware system that helps scientists and other technicians capture, store,
model, display, and analyze spatial or geographic information.
GPL: General Public License.
GREEN: Global Rivers Environmental Education Network.
Groundwater: Water that sinks into the ground and collects over
impermeable rock. It then flows laterally toward a stream, lake, or ocean.
Wells tap it for our use. Its surface is called the "water table."
ug/l: micrograms (10~6 grams)/liter.
uS/cm: microsiemens per centimeter.
H
HCI: Hydrochloric acid.
HNO3: Nitric acid.
H2SO4: Sulfuric acid.
I
1C: Inorganic carbon.
IMS: Information Management System.
IWI: Index of Watershed Indicators.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST A-3
-------
K
KCI: Potassium chloride.
K2S2O8: Potassium persulfate.
L: liter.
LaMP: Lakewide Management Plans.
M
m: meters.
mg: milligrams.
mg/L: milligrams/liter.
mph: miles per hour.
Monitor: To track a characteristic, such as dissolved oxygen, nitrate level,
or fish population, over a period of time using uniform methods to evaluate
change.
N
NALMS: North American Lake Management Society.
NaOH: Sodium Hydroxide.
NH3: Ammonia.
NH4: Ammonium ion.
NIWR: National Institutes for Water Resources.
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A-4 APPENDIX A
-------
nm: Nanometer, 10"9 meter.
Non-point Source: Diffuse, overland runoff containing pollutants.
Includes runoff collected in storm drains.
NRCS: Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NSF: National Sanitation Foundation.
NTU: Nephelometric turbidity unit.
Nutrient loading: The discharge of nutrients from the watershed into a
receiving water body (e.g., wetland). Expressed usually as mass per unit area
per unit time (kg/ hectare/ yr or Ibs/acre/year).
ORD: Office of Research and Development.
Organic: Refers to substances that contain carbon atoms and
carbon-carbon bonds.
pH scale: A scale used to determine the alkaline or acidic nature of a
substance. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and
14 the most basic. Pure water is neutral with a ph of 7.
Parameter: Whatever it is you measure - a particular physical, chemical,
or biological property that is being measured.
PERL: Practical Extraction Report Language.
ppt: parts per thousand.
Point Source: A pipe that discharges effluent into a stream or other body
of water.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST A-5
-------
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC): QA/QC procedures
are used to ensure that data are accurate, precise, and consistent. QA/QC
involves established rules in the field and in the laboratory to ensure that
samples are representative of the water you are monitoring, free from
contamination, and analyzed following standard procedures.
Remote Monitoring: Monitoring is called remote when the operator can
collect and analyze data from a site other than the monitoring location itself.
Salinity: Measurement of the mass of dissolved salts in water. Salinity is
usually expressed in ppt.
SC: Specific Conductance.
Sediment: Fine soil or mineral particles.
SMSA: Standard metropolitan statistical area.
SNOTEL: SNOwpack TELemetry. Automated system that measures
snowpack.
Specific Conductance (SC): The measure of how well water can conduct
an electrical current. Specific conductance indirectly measures the presence
of compounds such as sulfates, nitrates, and phosphates. As a result, specific
conductance can be used as an indicator of water pollution. Specific
conductivity is usually expressed in wS/cm.
STP: sewage treatment plant.
Suspended solids: (SS or Total SS [TSS]). Very small particles that
remain distributed throughout the water column due to turbulent mixing
exceeding gravitational sinking.
A-6 APPENDIX A
-------
TDS: Total dissolved solids.
TIGER: Topically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing.
Timely environmental data: Data that are collected and communicated
to the public in a time frame that is useful to their day-to-day decision-making
about their health and the environment, and relevant to the temporal
variability of the parameter measured.
TOG: Total organic carbon.
TSS: Total suspended solids.
Turbidity: The degree to which light is scattered in water because of
suspended organic and inorganic particles. Turbidity is commonly measured
inNTU's.
UV: Ultraviolet.
USGS: United States Geological Survey.
W
Watershed: The entire drainage area or basin feeding a stream or river.
Includes surface water, groundwater, vegetation, and human structures.
WET: Water Education for Teachers.
WMC: Watershed Management Council.
WQI: Water Quality Index.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST A-7
-------
A-8 APPENDIX A
-------
APPENDIX B
BASIN NfWS Newsletter
BASIN NEWS NEWSLETTER B-'
-------
.•kritiuk rxit*c aril
' OftoJ
WUtffiw Impact Aquatic Habllat and Water Quality
Wldfiras no: my tmpacl vegecalmn and and antrra* -
mcijarxj human teftp and TDM property - they can AIM
Irigjjei framing iind harm ufisurl tiCPTpx/mi •» Ih«
me Hurry Bui it orccpM onto «*tnnw M «twnM ard low {»6QfiJMari aftn- P* fre kepi
fTDSof mrwnil T>* USG& s -ftaikwiq with Pw vdutty to find writs DorpcaJSoni mit
(til
To reM rJic USGS ssurrv faprrl MJJI
trrte.'iVtWi* la fee u^'1irc-Jvufec<'Hil3t"L."'ii.SJ^£- rccorl Irt^i
of nlef«5i«j groups
jQtne>d logettwr n
erfopis rot di
from imo* 20
Ascj&a erosMi
Qjflliiy
rnrt Io
atxl
crl the
For rrote
fltirls. Oil
i. BouWw CcurUj Qwn
Space, all 3W)JW 1-3952
AIM vvl the
rnofB nformglion
•<"*
B-2
APPENDIX B
-------
Spills Contaminate Local Waterways
in July, 54 fish -were teucnJ d«ad at dhe Coal Greet Golf Course after t'Kftiwic^J*. w«ra *>mp*d into ih* cr«efc
lumad Ihfe wal»r whit*. lh« fish included varicwf minrwws sucti 35 white Gucfcws, -eras* chi&s,
. wd long nowd dacs, ranging in lentph >wn 1 1/2 irtetes K> 6 irtetes. The Colora*) Division pf WikM*
sanctions against LOwe'S f-tettwar* for ajmptng 'water - oanbaming nemnarts gf vtttfl 1119 flooding and
mastic down 4h* drain, wtac*i foci into tin* cwrii aortg iiw golf course,
At the and of the wmm«r. Clear Cnw* in ScWem, Coto, was g= Pqq4, locaiBd at
30in and Arapghcw, The fcak»ii cetera sflepwJ ttwowflt» crad^i In ln« nearby pocl raainlenance
ar>d into Ine n&s«*' drain. The Boutdtf County HeaWi Deparirreni srd ihe city's Pubfe:: Worts
ata.ff vs«5r1i*sd tageihew to •^wtjatii ttw impacts to ttw croek Med Wiiiams. Asslaant Dir««;tor d
for Unittre st«*«t. "it's uilcrt-ynale 1ha1 a large rtrfrfi* cf Wt w*r* hillwl m iftis iiKktent. rtowe',-er.
col any fcrea to public tealrti w safely Urcm um spil," A copy of in* Walsh rapon is avaiiai* on tt>e
Weft *rte -il vt*BW o t>.~'.i'dB-' co ij»'c..?rrinr-.-nre
Sfli»S wfirft coftlty TOT Ih* aqitatk Wo as wall as far the ireponsible partws Ph* Aragon o! 1tw
Wildlife estimassKj that a hn» wo^At total £15-.S75, sirwe acocfding to stale iaw eadi fish cart be
worth up TO 535 Cibzeii can wioisrts water Duality r»(^jlaUofis, l>«allrt
, and AiUtiie regulations, fina VounQwoM fro*n ?h* Cottxado D«viskx» oTWiidiite *dw**s Gfliz*ra; io
retort ac»
-------
Colorado Watershed Assembly
Over th« SMTwer, -ready 6U people reorssenting 22 different we:«sted groups ail«rtd*:.HJi wat^rsftBd prowcsicn around tie sta:e The Rivei N&two'h 1acil*j:ed tie nesting, sugar /i
yacDortnet y ihc S'.warcfcriip inaiftire ! .-.v.'.y v.^- ai :v- pir ' .,TJ •. rt coi -i i. **!h Si-cpad rre*if ihe EfiviferirneflW
3ioicciicn A'.jer»tj> Ths golhefing discyssec sJeas tor stanewde Afters-ted organlzir-g f*art>cisar"s Df3«.e *ito
•a at ;tnsicf m ard discus;; a «jrk» d,tg, lack of sut-ie
support and politics barriers.
In voicing iheaa ooffliiwn iteu^tls fc*d cwia^nis. thtt groups idwntfwl wrtpn advantages- %4iich a statevndft
entfiy couM bring, rae overtdrt§ iaea was Lnai a s!*iB-*rfB entity couW mprowj netwo*,ng bf^lw®n tfw many
watwsfted groups In Cotorado. create a oomnwi vok*. and htlp |>fOvid» a varwly n4 rwcwrew
The watwsrwd aa»mtty ifldsd wtti oommlUTieri! from flterriberis irotn !he drrrerfe-il wal«r«h«d groups to ronlinw to
wprt on 3 pfWflS'S lo create an wtcy w s^uppsl walenetied g rojps A second assennbly ia schtdiJed for F»b«u»iy 2001
lo s^art «riplemi8nlir«g a s4ade-levfl4 or^anizakxi. Contact Larry MacDomeH at M3-545-64.B? former* irJwmatirw
News from BASIN: Drought, Fire and Flood
Freffi Oct. 23-31 , BAS*M fioffcti afi Ofl Jin* ^scwstw on the htslory o* drought, ftre and floed Jn !ne Boulfler araa. The
loruni was feared ai answer ing BUS question*: Mfcs*- rrwcft do you rwtty knew about drought fire and flood? HOP*- *
each at Itese events impacl ont artolher? Mo-* anoyld oommunifes 0r»par * for thess events'' Th€' fonjm ir>clijde Seveicfwd w the la&t SO years *hteh allows hurnarts B defiele i^uitois ^*tw than the^'
am he nspwn.shcc hy pneopits'cn 'Aater shofls^ers could 1ir*n into footf s hortagw, a I nee il takes, muchly 1 ,QK> l&n*
of water la ;tnxlu:c .mt iijn ol grgm <>«if1 far more wafer lo c"O3 jce meal:. Brown argues thai governments (rrp«3siurn. offers al»ts on 1f*aa and related
rf .f WAI rma^taflipj «•*? J'An^i I. (if. • BASflP.' Bciii^l'vr Dwy C'w^sia. EilK of Bnatdet s Q^HBIT SpiKsc
-f. f- "A Hcfrnftttyf «»IA '.;.« jr.v
i Wjfr' c;.-HW6rvanrjK CiSJif.1 PA3IN MW=. 6 rtftlta* by Ja'rislie MufosJ«^ and «diled by Mart
i-ur-i Jan" heanr anrt "
B_4 APPENDIX B
-------
Basin Calendar of Events
i ^5**. Wnur -Hwtaij' BouMw Crack Watere^d ^ururn. Or. Canne Woodt'euse *t*n NCAA
Prn^i-ani National GeopHySical Oa» C*fW«MI sJr*fr»ri! ClM^iflf CBiraSn Chatge:
BouW?' Crwfe 5!wanrttcm* fr«r Tree Ring Uata free and apw 8a B-« pubte CKJC*? tvpn
MOB'*
•**"'
1T« CalcfadQ Wata- C^3c»awss ProECBts. *
Dan-.cf, HC Collar? SCO 83? CS!2or »!•( •. *. • , , ,, -i...,., iuy^M.-.f.'
1 /" tntlBi>' The CodxmJo Wuiv OongrHA^ P«***'its, Wnrt'ttxip on l.^gft EWira in Wate"
fil S03-837-n8!t2 w h-
H«alt^v Walsyshorts
nafcnq Co"la
Novemt*» Tn5* Ttiift^ay Htd Tfkp*rs In Kaljral R»S»
Nnturatet ard AI*TOT, i-'roBMlcNa bv tie LiR«vii* f rwuwrr-rtrtniwd Acltoo Foruf A>M; lt» LrAKvrt« Oper Space
&H«d Preif,ifiiiv h*»gin& * J OQpm alt** Lowrtwlte Arts Csnipr 601 Grant Ave Cal JfD3-665-^435 fcn
Office of EnvimunMilBl Afflaim
PO Itox T9i
BoyWftr, CO §0306
BASIN NEWS NEWSLETTER B-5
-------
APPENDIX C
OTHER PRINTED PROMOTIONAL
MATERIAL FOR BASIN
OTHER PRINTED PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL FOR BASIN C-l
-------
n
g
x
n
* *•
=• s | s - I
Boulder flreo Sustoinobility
Informotion Netuuork
uu.bosin.or
fill vo>J ujcint to knouu
about your uuater
. and more
Public Recess to
environmental Information
-------
70
-o
rn
O
70
O
1
o
>
70
O
70
CD
0
CO
Knew
ptategrof h if 'Amps/inc Picki enfl Qw^r t&tw t>v ?4 "C«TI>*« n 158 I "'«" ttw UbiDt
Id
'J&,ilrtar •: •.
ft» dalo providar
:af*afit cr-.p
^
ft 5r .-nONMCNTfil CONOITIO-NS
fl€SOiJfl«S—
Public
Jormabo-i on
udi*r w>iiitv. difncu* CM a savm ftaui
'•> and tMQpoitt'ig rnatenol!
Scicne* education
— UteWnhfO -tii- oaigiiid *•->
QoufctBr Oweh UAatefVied
— liXOl nforWi ' n Wrww of CohM-HJo Utntar
Govarnmcnt and Re-search
- Sourn fortuatff qudltv CIM-J cyjgnUiv n»trmo>Kiiv
tof ,p*Xi- -.odl
Scientific
Environmental
iform
-------
A Sense Of Place
The Greater Boulder Area
The Boulder Area Sustainability
Information Network
www.basm.orq
Educational opportunities for
the entire family
Maps, photos, quizzes, links
and learning activities
• Many ways to participate
A Sense Of Environmental
Conditions
• Public Information
• Science Education
• Government & Research
Information
BASIN Partners include USGS, Boulder Creek
Watershed Initiative, Boulder Community
Network, University of Colorado at Boulder, city of
Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, Naropa
University, Boulder County Health Department,
Community Access TBlevisiort, Rivers of Colorado
Water Watch Network and Boulder County
Healthy Communities Initiative,
Scientific
Data
fe.
f
Environmental
Information
ih
^-f
Personal
Action
C-4
APPENDIX C
-------
KNOW THE FLOW
TEST YOUR H2O IQ
How much water does the average
person in the Boulder area use in a day?
c) 8 gallons
b) 33 gallons
c) 80 gallons
12. In Colorado, what percentage of water
use is by cities and agriculture?
a) -10% city, 90% agricultural
b) 90% city, 10% agricultural
c) ,50% city, 50% agricultural
13. Name two in stream uses of water,
a) car washing, showering
fa) lawn watering, dishwashing
e) habitat protection, recreation
14, Does runoff increase or decrease in
urban areas?
decrease
b) increase.
c) stays the same
15, What agency is responsible for
administering water rights in Colorado15
a) local governments
b) Department of Transportation
c.) State Engineer's Office
FOR MORE WAYS TO TEST YOUR WATER
WISDOM, GO TO www.basin.org/quizes
BASIN- the Boulder Area Sustain ability
Information Network—is a partnership of various
public and private organizations in the Boulder
area funded through an EMPACT grant from the
U.S. EPA.
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based infcs,
Pfease recycle this t)y giving to a friend or colleague.
Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-C, 4-8, 5-C
OTHER PRINTED PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL FOR BASIN
C-5
-------
^
fsa-g
.^ %'.:
f?ou .-Je-r Ar&si ^-Vta^y!-1' Ir'.FoTrncJbion Nt
www.teasiffl.org
. j\ ^ce?s TO rr
C-6
APPENDIX C
-------
------- |