&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The EMPACT Collection
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Providing Timely Drinking
Water and Source Water
Quality Information to You
Community
Des Moines Wat
Works' Project
E M P A C T
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
-------
DISCLAIMER
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recom-
mendation of their use.
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1/006
April
Providing Timely Drinking Water
and Source Water Quality
Information to Your Community
Des Moines Water
Works' Project
Laboratory
Office of
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio
/-r—^ Recycled/Recyclable
C// 7- Printed with vegetable-based ink on
7 \ 4\) paper that contains a minimum of
\ \(/ ^°'/0 Post"consumer f'ber content
—'\-^ processed chlorine free.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of
ERG, Inc., an EPA contractor. Technical guidance was provided by the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW)
staff, EPA's Office of Water, and EPA Region 7. EPA and DMWW would like to thank the following people
and organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Mitch Basefsky Tucson Water
Pat Bruner, Des Moines Water Works
Bob Dunlevy, EPA Region 7
Vince Dwyer, Des Moines Water Works
Ron Hunsinger, East Bay Municipal Utility District
Julie Hutchins Cairn, Seattle Public Utilities
Bruce Macler, EPA Region 9
Dan Quintanar, Tucson Water
Carl Reeverts, EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Dave Scharf, Des Moines Water Works
Carrie Sears, Des Moines Water Works
Connie Steffen, Des Moines Water Works
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ii
Foreword iii
1 . INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 What Do Water Utilities Do? 2
1.2 Why Is It Important to Communicate Timely Drinking Water and Source Water
Quality Information to the Public? 3
1.3 Des Moines Water Works' EMPACT Project 4
2. How TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 5
3. WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW 7
3.1 Introduction to Water Quality Monitoring 8
3-2 Regulation of Drinking Water 8
3-3 Source Water 14
4. DES MOINES WATER WORKS 17
4.1 Overview of DMWW Operations 17
4.2 Support Programs and Systems 19
5. DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT 27
5.1 DMWW's EMPACT Project Phases 27
5.2 DMWW's EMPACT Project Web Site 33
6. COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE
WATER QUALITY INFORMATION 41
6.1 Outreach Plan 41
6.2 Outreach Products 42
6.3 Distribution and Feedback 44
APPENDIX A DMWW DUTREACH MATERIALS 47
APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS 59
APPENDIX C TUCSON WATER'S EMPACT WATER
QUALITY PROJECT 65
APPENDIX D C DM M u N i CATI ON s/D UTREACH
PLANNING AND RESOURCES 67
in
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FOREWORD
The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's)
National Risk Management Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook to help inter-
ested communities, particularly those with medium and large public water systems, learn more about the Des
Moines Water Works (DMWW) EMPACT project. DMWWs EMPACT project provides Des Moines met-
ropolitan community residents with timely information about the factors that affect their drinking water
supply. ORD, working with DMWW, produced this handbook to transfer the lessons learned from the proj-
ect and reduce the resources needed to implement similar projects in other communities.
You can order copies of this handbook (both print and CD-ROM versions) online at ORD's Technology
Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. You can also download a PDF version of the handbook from
this site. In addition, you can order print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook by contacting either ORD
Publications or the Office of Water Resource Center at:
EPA ORD Publications
26 W Martin Luther King Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45268-0001
EPA NSCEP Toll free: 800-490-9198
EPA NSCEP Local: 513-489-8190
EPA Office of Water Resource Center (RC 4100)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Phone: 202-260-7786
E-mail: center.water-resource@epa.gov
Please make sure you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number in your request
We hope that you find this handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use.
IV
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1
INTRODUCTION
Would residents in your community have trouble answering
these types of questions:
• How safe is your drinking water today?
• How healthy are the watersheds in and around
your community?
• Could simple changes in your lifestyle help
improve water quality in your area?
• How would you measure these improvements,
and what would they mean to you and your
family?
If so, your water utility and the community residents it serves would benefit from a project that
uses new and innovative methods and technologies to deliver timely, accurate, and under-
standable information about the quality of drinking water and source water in your area.
This handbook has been designed with this goal in mind:
To show you how one water utility—the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW)—
is implementing a project to provide timely drinking water and source water
quality information to the Des Moines metropolitan community.
The handbook provides a detailed case study of DMWW's project to encourage medium
and large water utilities (or communities responsible for supplying drinking water) to con-
sider adopting strategies for delivering timely data to the public. Although small water
systems and communities not subject to federal drinking water regulations are not likely to
have the resources to implement such a project, these entities may also find some portions
of this handbook valuable.
ABOUT THE EMPACT PROGRAM
This handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
EMPACT program. EPA created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) in 1997- The program is now administered by EPA's Office of
Environmental Information.
The EMPACT program promotes new and innovative approaches to collecting, managing,
and communicating environmental information to the public. Working with communities in
156 of the largest metropolitan areas across the country, the program takes advantage of new
technologies to provide community members with timely, accurate, and understandable
environmental information they can use to make informed, day-to-day decisions about their
lives. EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality,
ground water contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. To
learn more, visit EPA's EMPACT Web site at http://www.epa.gov/'empact.
1 INTRODUCTION
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1.1 WHAT Da WATER UTILITIES Da?
Water utilities are responsible for producing drinking water of consistently high quality for
their consumers. EPA and the states develop and enforce standards to protect the quality of
drinking water, and water utilities must meet these standards. Producing high quality drink-
ing water ideally follows an approach with multiple barriers to prevent contaminants from
reaching consumers. The earliest possible barrier (i.e., the most ideal barrier) is watershed and
wellhead protection, which ensures that contaminants do not enter source water. Therefore,
strong environmental stewardship is an essential element of drinking water supply.
DRINKING WATER VS. SOURCE WATER
When considering the responsibilities of water utilities, it is very important to distinguish
between drinking water and source water:
Drinking water is water that is conveyed to residences and businesses from a public water
system. Typically, this water is treated by a water utility to make it potable. Drinking water is
sometimes referred to as finished water.
Source water (i.e., raw water) is ambient water that is accessed by water utilities to treat for
distribution as drinking water. Source water can originate in either a surface source (such as a
lake, river, or reservoir) or a subsurface source (such as a well).
Water utilities collect and analyze drinking water and source water quality data to facilitate
the following:
• Produce and deliver high quality water.
• Assure consumers and regulators that drinking water is of high quality.
• Continue to improve the quality of drinking water through research.
Water utilities are challenged every day. The regulatory environment is changing. Science
is also changing, as is our knowledge of water quality and how it impacts consumers and
the environment is changing. Water utilities continually strive to improve the performance
of their treatment and distribution systems, make improvements to meet new challenges,
and communicate with consumers in an honest and timely manner.
THE WATER DATA AND TOOLS PROJECTS
DMWW's EMPACT project is one of four Time-Critical Water Data and Tools Projects. These
projects were formed through a partnership between the EMPACT program and EPA's Office
of Water. Through case studies of these four unique projects, the Water Data and Tools
initiative is designed to demonstrate local capability to collect and communicate water quality
data that are meaningful, defensible, and easily accessible, and build a framework to
encourage other communities to do the same through technology transfer and outreach.
1 INTRODUCTION
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WATER DATA AND TOOLS PROJECTS
Project
Locations
Web site
Data and Tools
Chesapeake Bay Baltimore, MD http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/empact Water quality in
Washington, DC
Jefferson Parish New Orleans, LA http://www.jeffparish.net
Ohio Pviver
Des Moines
Cincinnati, OH http://www.orsanco.org/empact
Louiseville, KY
Pittsburgh, PA
Des Moines, IA
http://www. dmww. com/empact
support of
Pfiesteria surveil
lance
Freshwater diver-
sions and algal
blooms
Swimming and
fishing conditions
Drinking water
and source water
quality
Visit http://www.epa.gov/surf2/empact/tools.htmlfor more information on the EMPACT Water Data
and Tools Projects.
1.2 WHY is IT IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE
TIMELY DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE
WATER QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE
PUBLIC?
All members of a community have a right to know about the current quality of their drink-
ing water because drinking water quality affects public health. The need to provide timely
drinking water quality data is most urgent when these data indicate an acute result that can
have immediate effects on a utility's customer population. Your efforts to provide your cus-
tomers with timely information on the quality of their drinking water will build public
confidence in your utility's ability to provide safe, healthy, reliable drinking water.
Businesses relying on consistently high-quality water to support a production process can
use timely water quality information to determine whether to maintain or modify their
processes. By disseminating these timely data on a Web site, you may reduce the number of
phone calls to your utility from consumers or manufacturers seeking specific water quality
test results.
From a human health perspective, the urgency for timely source water quality information
is typically less than that for drinking water quality information. However, the timeliness
of source water quality information may be critical when spills or other environmental
emergencies occur in the watershed. The presentation of timely source water quality data
and trends on a Web site can inform and influence the behavior of residents in your water-
shed. This heightened public awareness would not only enable local residents and public
officials to make informed decisions about land use management and water conservation
measures, but would also encourage affected groups to take a larger and more proactive
role in instituting practices to restore and preserve the quality of source waters.
1 INTRODUCTION
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1.3 DES MOINES WATER WORKS' EMPACT
PROj ECT
DMWW is the largest water utility in the state of Iowa. Serving over 350,000 people,
DMWW operates two major water treatment plants and pumps an average of 43 million
gallons of water per day.
In 1998, EPA's EMPACT program funded DMWW's EMPACT project, which provides
Des Moines metropolitan community residents with timely information about the factors
that affect their drinking water supply. DMWW's EMPACT project is broken into three
phases:
• Phase I is the development of a data management protocol, tools, and electronic
links required to identify, manage, and deliver drinking water quality information
to the project Web site.
• Phase II is the periodic collection, Web posting, and updating of source water
quality information collected from selected monitoring sites within the Racoon
River and Des Moines River watersheds.
• Phase III is the adaptation of the methods and tools developed for Phases I and II
to existing urban runofif studies conducted by DMWW.
DMWW's EMPACT project strives to encourage Des Moines residents, as
well as the entire watershed community, to assume a larger role in restoring
and preserving the quality of source waters in the community. Project part-
ners include EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW),
EPA Region VII, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the United
States Geological Survey (USGS). You can visit DMWW's EMPACT proj-
ect Web site at http://www.dmww.com/empact.
1.3.1 PROJECT COSTS
To plan, design, develop, install, and implement the three phases of its
EMPACT project, DMWW incurred a total cost of approximately $245,000.
This cost should give you an idea of how much a comparable project might
cost your utility. However, every project that communicates timely informa-
tion about drinking water and source water quality is unique to its community.
Therefore, the cost of your project will also be unique.
1 INTRODUCTION
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Z
Haw To USE THIS HANDBOOK
This handbook has been designed to show you how DMWW is implementing a project to
provide timely drinking water and source water quality information to the Des Moines
metropolitan community. The handbook intends to encourage medium and large water
utilities (or communities responsible for supplying drinking water) to consider adopting
strategies for delivering timely data to the public. Although small water systems and com-
munities not subject to federal drinking water regulations are not likely to have the
resources to implement such a project, these entities may also find some portions of this
handbook valuable.
The handbook is organized into the following chapters:
• Chapter 3 presents an overview of water quality monitoring. Specifically, the chap-
ter discusses the federal and state regulations and guidelines applicable to drinking
water and source water. It also discusses typical methods used by water systems to
collect and disseminate information about drinking water and source water qual-
ity. Chapter 3 is targeted toward readers who are not familiar with federal and state
drinking water and source water regulations and guidelines. Therefore, water util-
ity personnel are likely already familiar with the material presented in this chapter.
• Chapter 4 presents an overview of DMWW operations and discusses the key pro-
grams and systems that support these operations. Specifically, the chapter discusses
DMWWs sample collection/analysis program, data management system, and
communications/outreach program. It also discusses the integrated collection of
software and hardware components that further
supports DMWW's operations. This chapter is
targeted toward all readers.
&EPA
Chapter 5 presents a detailed case study of
DMWW's EMPACT project. The chapter
describes the three project phases in detail and
discusses the EMPACT project area on
DMWW's Web site. This chapter is targeted
toward all readers.
Chapter 6 focuses on communications
and outreach. The chapter discusses many of
DMWW's communication/outreach efforts.
Chapter 6 is targeted toward personnel tasked
with implementing an outreach plan.
Appendix A contains brochures and
pamphlets related to DMWW's communica-
tion/outreach plan, including a Consumer
Confidence Report. These materials are dis-
cussed in Chapter 6.
Appendix B presents a glossary of terms used in
the handbook. This glossary is targeted toward
all readers.
Providing Timely Drinking
Water and Source Water
Quality Information to Your
Community
Des Moines
Works' Projec
2 Haw Ta USE THIS HANDBOOK
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• Appendix C presents a brief case study of the EMPACT Water Quality Project
implemented at the Water Quality Division of Tucson Water in Tucson, Arizona.
This appendix is targeted toward all readers.
• Appendix D presents general guidance on creating a comprehensive outreach plan
and provides a list of resources for presenting water quality information to the pub-
lic. This appendix is targeted toward personnel tasked with implementing an
outreach plan.
Throughout this handbook, you will find lessons learned and success stories related to
DMWWs EMPACT project. You will also find references to supplementary information
sources, such as Web sites, guidance documents, and other written materials that will pro-
vide you with a greater level of detail.
2 Haw Ta USE THIS HANDBOOK
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3
WATER QUALITY MONITORING
AN OVERVIEW
All water-even from the healthiest rivers and lakes-contains naturally occurring substances
from the soil, surrounding vegetation and wildlife, and biological, physical, and chemical
processes. Some water sources may be contaminated by man-made chemicals or the by-
products of industrial processes. The purpose of water quality monitoring is to
measure the presence and quantity of these constituents or parameters in water.
This chapter introduces the concept and measurement of water quality from the
perspective of drinking water utilities and discusses some of the regulations and
guidelines that public water systems must follow to protect water quality.
Section 3.1 provides a general introduction to the concept of drinking water and
source water quality monitoring related to drinking water utilities. Sections 3.2 and
3.3 discuss the federal and state regulations and guidelines that public water sys-
tems must follow to protect the quality of drinking water and source water,
respectively. These sections also introduce the water quality monitoring and com-
munication requirements associated with these regulations and guidelines.
TO LEARN MORE
To learn more about water quality, consult the following references and Web sites:
• EPA's Water Projects and Programs page at:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/waterpgram.htm.
• EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) site at:
http://www. epa.gov/safewater/.
• Drinking Water: Past, Present, and Future. USEPA/OW, February 2000,
EPA816-F-00-002.
• National Library of Medicine drinking water page at:
http://www. nlm. nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater. html.
• The National Agricultural Library Water Quality Information Center site at:
httpil/www. nal. usda.gov/wqic.
• For questions about drinking water requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA), contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or via e-mail at
hotline-sdwa @efet.gov.
• See Appendix D for additional references.
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
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3.1 INTRODUCTION TO WATER QUALITY
M ONITORING
The quality of water affects how we are able to use it; conversely, the way we use our water
can affect its overall quality. The federal government, states, and localities are all involved
in the regulation, monitoring, and control of our nation's waters to protect the quality of
water for its intended use. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the quality of
drinking water and the quality of source water.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
There are approximately 170,000 public water systems in the United States. EPA classifies
these water systems according to the number of people they serve, the source of their water,
and whether they serve the same people year-round or on an occasional basis. Public water
systems, which may be either publicly or privately owned, provide water for human
consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service connections
or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days per year. EPA has defined three
types of public water systems:
Community Water System: A public water system that supplies water to the same population
year-round. For example, the water system operated by DMWW (a water utility) is considered
a community water system. There are approximately 54,000 community water systems
operated in the United States.
Non-Transient Non-Community Water System: A public water system that regularly supplies
water to at least 25 of the same people for at least six months per year, but not year-round.
Some examples are water systems at schools, factories, office buildings, and hospitals. There are
approximately 20,000 non-transient non-community water systems operated in the United
States.
Transient Non-Community Water System: A public water system that provides water to at
least 25 people per day in a place such as a gas station or campground where people do not
remain for long periods of time. There are approximately 93,000 transient non-community
water systems operated in the United States.
The federal and state regulations and guidelines designed to protect the quality of these
waters are discussed in the following sections.
3.2 REGULATION OF DRINKING WATER
Federal regulation of drinking water quality began in 1914, when the U.S. Public Health
Service set standards for certain disease-causing microbes. Today, water quality is protected
by a variety of different regulations and guidelines.
Through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) established in 1974 and revised in 1986
and 1996, Congress authorized EPA to set enforceable health standards and required pub-
lic notification of water utility violations and annual customer reports on contaminants
found in drinking water. Under the authority of the SDWA, EPA sets standards for approx-
imately 90 contaminants in drinking water. Currently, standards are set for the following:
• Microorganisms, including (but not limited to) Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia,
Legionella, total coliforms (including fecal coliform and E. colt), and viruses.
Although some of these contaminants occur naturally in the environment, most
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
-------
originate in human and animal fecal waste. Many of these contaminants can cause
gastrointestinal illness if ingested. Legionella can cause Legionnaire's disease.
• Disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, including (but not limited to)
bromate, chloramines, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chlorite, haloacetic acids, and
total trihalomethanes. These contaminants are either water additives used to control
microbes or byproducts of the disinfection process. Potential health effects vary with
each contaminant; they range from eye/nose irritation, stomach discomfort, and
anemia to liver, kidney, and nervous system effects and the increased risk of cancer.
• Inorganic chemicals, including antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium,
cadmium, chromium, copper, cyanide, fluoride, lead, mercury, nitrate, nitrite, sele-
nium, and thallium. These contaminants originate from a variety of different
sources, including (but not limited to) discharges from industrial processes, erosion
of natural deposits, corrosion of pipes, and runoff. Potential health effects are
specific to each contaminant; they can include circulatory system problems, skin
damage, intestinal polyps and lesions, increased blood pressure, kidney damage,
nerve damage, thyroid problems, bone disease, and the increased risk of cancer.
• Various organic chemicals. As with the inorganic chemicals, these contaminants
originate from a variety of different sources, including (but not limited to) dis-
charges from industrial processes, agricultural and municipal runoff, and leaching
from pipes. Potential health effects are specific to each contaminant; they can
include kidney, liver, immune system, nervous system, circulatory system, and gas-
trointestinal problems, reproductive difficulties, anemia, and the increased risk of
cancer.
• Radionuclides, including alpha particles, beta particles and photon emitters, Radium
226 and Radium 228, and uranium. These contaminants may originate through the
erosion and decay of natural and man-made deposits. If ingested, they may
potentially increase the risks of cancer. Uranium may also cause kidney toxicity.
For each of these contaminants, EPA sets a legal limit, called a maximum contaminant level
(MCL), or requires a certain type of treatment. Water utilities may not distribute drinking
water that doesn't meet these standards. Most states have been delegated the authority to
enforce the federal standards; state standards must be at least as strict as the fed-
eral standards.
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations are legally enforceable standards
that apply to public water systems. Primary standards protect public health by
limiting the levels of drinking water contaminants, including microorganisms,
disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemi-
cals, and radionuclides. You can visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html for
detailed information on the contaminants regulated by national primary
drinking water regulations.
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations are non-enforceable guidelines
regulating contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or
aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water. Examples of these contaminants
include metals, pH, total dissolved solids, odor, and color. You can visit
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.htmlfov: detailed information on the contaminants regu-
lated by national secondary drinking water regulations. Although EPA recommends
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
-------
secondary standards to public water systems, the Agency does not require that these sys-
tems comply. States may, however, choose to adopt secondary standards as enforceable
standards.
HEALTH EFFECTS
The health-related contaminants regulated by primary and secondary drinking water
regulations fall into two groups according to the health effects they may cause:
Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant.
People can suffer acute health effects from almost any contaminant if they are exposed to
extraordinarily high levels (as in the case of a spill). In drinking water, microbes such as
bacteria and viruses are contaminants with the greatest chance of reaching levels high enough
to cause acute health effects. Most people's bodies can fight off these microbial contaminants;
acute contaminants typically don't have permanent effects. Nonetheless, when high levels
occur, acute contaminants can make people ill and may be dangerous or deadly for the very
young, the very old, or people with immune systems weakened by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy,
steroid use, or other reasons.
Chronic effects occur after people consume a contaminant at levels over EPA's safety standards
for many years. The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals
(such as disinfection by-products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and
minerals (such as arsenic). Examples of the chronic effects of drinking water contaminants can
include cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive difficulties.
3.2.1 MONITORING DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Water utilities perform a wide range of water quality monitoring to meet several purposes.
First, water utilities routinely monitor and test public water systems to ensure compliance
with the more than 90 contaminants for which EPA has set national primary drinking
water regulations. Second, water utilities must also meet more stringent and additional
monitoring requirements set by the individual states. Finally, water utilities conduct other
routine monitoring as part of their day-to-day operations to ensure treatment effectiveness
and to ensure that finished water quality meets both health and aesthetic objectives. This
testing includes routine sampling as well as check sampling to confirm the results of any
problems discovered during routine sampling. Monitoring locations and frequency are
based on the parameters being monitored and are specific to each water utility based on its
source water type, size, treatment process, and distribution system. Some drinking water
parameters are monitored constantly while others are monitored only every few years.
The table on the following page shows the major groups of contaminants and the minimum
testing frequency to comply with the monitoring requirements under EPA's national pri-
mary drinking water regulations. If a problem is detected, there are immediate retesting
requirements that go into effect and strict instructions for how the public is informed. The
retesting is continued until the water system can reliably demonstrate that it is free of prob-
lems.
10 13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
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CONTAMINANT
MINIMUM MONITORING FREQUENCY
Acute Contaminants
Bacteria
For community water systems, samples are collected
throughout each monthly monitoring period, ranging from
1 sample per month to 480 samples per month depending on
the system size. For non-community water systems, sampling
is conducted once per quarter.
Protozoa and Viruses
Continuous monitoring for turbidity and monthly
monitoring for total coliforms, as indicators.
Nitrate/Nitrite
Quarterly sampling for surface water systems and annual
sampling for groundwater systems.
Chronic Contaminants
Volatile Organics (e.g., benzene)
Quarterly sampling at each entry point into the water
system, reduced to annual (or less frequent) sampling if
no detects.
Synthetic Organics (e.g., pesticides)
Quarterly sampling at each entry point into the water
system, reduced to annual (or less frequent) sampling if
no detects.
Inorganics/Metals
For groundwater systems, sampling is conducted once
every 3 years. For surface water systems, sampling is
conducted annually.
Lead and Copper
Annual sampling is required, with the number of sites
ranging from 5 to 100, based on the size of the system.
Radionuclides
Four consecutive quarters of sampling during initial
annual compliance period; subsequent monitoring
frequency is reduced if levels are below the detection limit.
Sample Compliance Monitoring Schedule Required Under EPA Regulations.
3.2.2 PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF DRINKING WATER
Vl OLATION S
Federal regulations require that water utilities notify the people they serve when any violation of
a drinking water contaminant standard has occurred or any other situation has occurred that
may pose a short-term risk to health. As utilities test their water, they may discover that levels of
certain contaminants are higher than federal or state standards. These conditions may occur due
to a change in local water conditions, heavy rainstorms, or an accidental spill of a hazardous sub-
stance. Water utilities may also fail to collect one or a series of their required samples at the
scheduled interval. Any time a water utility fails to meet any EPA or state standards for drink-
ing water (including missing required samples or collecting them late), the utility must inform
the people who drink the water.
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
11
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Depending on the severity of the situation, water utilities have from 24 hours to 1 year to
notify the people they serve of a violation. EPA specifies three categories, or tiers, of pub-
lic notification. For each tier, water utilities have different amounts of time to distribute the
notice and different ways to deliver the notice:
Immediate notice (Tier 1): Any time a situation creates the potential for immediate human
health impacts, water utilities have 24 hours to take whatever steps are necessary to notify
people who may drink the water. In these situations, water utilities must use mass media
outlets such as television and radio, post their notice in public places, or personally deliver
a notice to the people they serve.
Notice as soon as possible (Tier 2): Any time a water utility distributes water that hasn't
been treated properly or contains contaminants at levels that exceed EPA or state standards,
the utility must notify the people it serves as soon as possible, within 30 days of the viola-
tion as long as the situation does not pose an immediate risk to human health. The water
utility must provide notice through the mail or via hand delivery to residences and through
posting in conspicuous places for other persons served by the water system.
Annual Notice (Tier 3): When a water utility violates a drinking water standard but the
violation does not have a direct impact on human health (for example, failing to take a
required sample on time), the utility has up to 1 year to provide a notice of this situation
to the people it serves. This extra time gives water utilities the opportunity to consolidate
these notices and send them with annual water quality reports (Consumer Confidence
Reports, described below).
Regardless of their tier classifications, all notices must include the following:
• A description of the violation that occurred, including the potential health effects.
• The population at risk and whether alternate water supplies should be used.
• What the water utility is doing to correct the problem.
• Actions consumers can take.
• When the violation occurred and when the water utility expects it to be resolved.
• How to contact the water utility for more information.
• Language encouraging broader distribution of the notice.
In addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2 notices, EPA requires that water utilities place annual
drinking water quality reports into the hands of the people they serve. These reports, called
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), enable consumers to make practical, knowledge-
able decisions about their health and their environment. Water utilities may enhance their
reports as they wish; however, each report must provide consumers with fundamental
information about their drinking water.
The first of these reports came out in 1999; water utilities now publish reports by July 1
every year. CCRs are the centerpiece of the "right-to-know" provisions in the 1996
Amendments to the SDWA. The Amendments contain several other provisions aimed at
improving public access to information about drinking water, including the annual public
water system compliance report and improved public notification in cases where drinking
water is not meeting a contaminant standard. You can read more about these reports at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccrl.html. In addition, examples of CCRs from DMWW are
included in Appendix A.
12 13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
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WHAT DETERMINES THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TIER?
The following violations, situations, or conditions require Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 notifications. For
more information on the Public Notification Rule, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/pn.html.
Tier 1
• Fecal coliform violations; failure to test for fecal coliform after an initial total coliform sample tests
positive.
• Nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate/nitrite maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation; failure to
collect a confirmation sample.
• Chlorine dioxide maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) violation in the distribution
system; failure to collect required samples in the distribution system.
• Exceedence of the maximum allowable turbidity level (if elevated to Tier 1 by the primacy agency).
• Special notice for non-community water systems with nitrate exceedences between 10 mg/L and 20
mg/L, where the system is allowed to exceed 10 mg/L by the primacy agency.
• An outbreak of a waterborne disease or other waterborne emergency.
• Other violations or situations determined by the primacy agency.
Tier 2
• All MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique violations, except where a Tier 1 notice is required.
• Monitoring violations, if elevated to Tier 2 by the primacy agency.
• Failure to comply with variance and exemption conditions.
• Turbidity consultation: When public water systems have a treatment technique violation resulting
from a single exceedence of the maximum allowable turbidity limit or an MCL violation resulting
from an exceedence of the 2-day turbidity limit, they must consult their primacy agency within 24
hours. The primacy agency will then determine whether a Tier 1 notice is necessary. If consultation
does not occur within 24 hours, the violation is automatically elevated to Tier 1.
Tier 3
• Monitoring and testing procedure violations, unless the primacy agency elevates the violation to
Tier 2.
• Operation under a variance and exemption.
• Special public notices such as a fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL)
exceedence or the availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring results.
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW 13
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WHAT'S IN A CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT?
CCRs must provide consumers with the following fundamental information about their
drinking water:
• Identification of the lake, river, aquifer, or other drinking water source.
• A brief summary of the susceptibility of the drinking water source to contamination based
on the source water assessments that states are currently completing.
• Directions on how to get a copy of the water system's complete source water assessment.
• The level (or a range of levels) of any contaminant found in local drinking water along with
EPA's legal limit (MCL) for comparison.
• The likely source of that contaminant in the local drinking water supply.
• The potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of an EPA health
standard and a description of the utility's actions to restore safe drinking water.
• The compliance of the water system with other drinking water-related rules.
• An educational statement for vulnerable populations about avoiding Cryptosporidium.
• Educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where these contaminants are
detected at levels greater than 50% of EPA's standard.
• Phone numbers for additional sources of information, including the water utility and
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
3.3 SOURCE WATER
In contrast with drinking water, federal regulation of source water quality has
been less detailed and has allowed for more flexibility in the monitoring and
reporting of source water quality. While many states, water utilities, and local-
ities have watershed and wellhead protection/management programs, the
1996 SDWA Amendments placed a new focus on source water quality. The
1996 Amendments require states to implement Source Water Assessment
Programs (SWAPs) to assess areas serving as drinking water sources and iden-
tify potential threats to these sources. You can read more about source water
assessments at http:llwww. epa.gov/safewater/protect/assessment. html.
By 2003, states are required to complete a source water assessment for every
public water system. Each SWAP will be uniquely tailored to state water
resources and drinking water priorities. However, each assessment must
include four major elements:
• A delineation (or map) of the source water assessment area.
• The potential sources of contamination in the delineated area.
• The susceptibility of the water supply to those contamination sources.
• Public release of the assessment results.
State SWAPs have been reviewed and approved by EPA; states and localities are currently in
the process of developing source water assessments. These assessment reports will be pro-
vided to the public in a variety of ways. Some states plan to convene public workshops, while
others will have copies available at public libraries, local government offices, or water sup-
14
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
-------
pliers. Many states also plan to post the assessment summaries on the Internet. In addition,
the results of the assessments will be included in the annual water quality reports that
community water systems are required to prepare for the people they serve. You can
find links to each state's drinking water and source water protection pages at
http:llwww. epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo. html.
In addition to the source water assessment requirements of the SDWA Amendments, all
surface source waters are federally regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the rules
and regulations that have been developed under that authority. The CWA impacts those
sources (both point sources and nonpoint sources) that contribute pollutants to the nation's
surface waters. Point sources are stationary locations or fixed facilities from which pollu-
tants are discharged. Nonpoint sources are diffuse sources of pollutants associated with
land use or groundwater flow. Examples include runoff from agriculture, forestry, or urban
activities. You can learn more about the CWA and all associated programs and require-
ments at http://www.epa.gov/ow.
3.3.1 MONITORING SOURCE WATER QUALITY
Typically, source water quality monitoring is conducted by water utilities to determine the
quality of water feeding the water treatment system and adjust the treatment process based
on raw water characteristics. In addition, many localities and water utilities conduct source
water monitoring as part of their watershed and wellhead protection/management
programs.
Water utilities are not required by the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act to
provide source water quality monitoring results to either EPA or the public, but they may
choose to do so through program-specific outreach products, such as Web sites.
13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW 15
-------
CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT SURFACE SOURCE
WATER QUALITY
The Water Quality Criteria and Standards Program. This program includes a compilation of
national recommended water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life and human
health for approximately 150 pollutants. These criteria have been published pursuant to
Section 304(a) of the CWA and provide guidance for states and tribes to use in adopting
water quality standards. These water quality criteria cover the following types: aquatic life,
biological, drinking water, human health, and nutrient. You can find out more about this
program at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program. This
program requires that all point sources discharging pollutants into waters of the United States
obtain an NPDES permit. These permits implement water quality standards and effluent
limitations guidelines that have been developed for specific industrial categories. You can find
out more about this program at http://www.epa.gov/owm/npdes.html.
Nonpoint source programs such as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program.
Under Section 303(d) of the CWA, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to
develop lists of impaired waters. These impaired waters do not meet water quality standards
that states, territories, and authorized tribes have set for them, even after point sources have
installed minimum required levels of pollution control technology. The TMDL rule requires
that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the list and develop TMDLs
for these waters. A TMDL not only specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant (its
loading) that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards but also allocates
pollutant loadings among point and nonpoint sources. While TMDLs have been required by
the CWA since 1972, until recently states, territories, tribes, and EPA have not developed
many. Several years ago, citizens' organizations began bringing legal actions against EPA
seeking the listing of waters and the development of TMDLs. To date, there have been about
40 legal actions in 38 states, and EPA is under court order or consent decrees in many states
to ensure that TMDLs are established, either by the state or by EPA. Currently, EPA is
working to develop changes to the TMDL regulations. Until then, the current TMDL rule
remains in effect. You can find out more about this program at http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl
and at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps.
EPA's Clean Lakes Program. The Clean Lakes Program was established in 1972 as Section
314 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide financial and technical assistance
to states in restoring publicly owned lakes. The early focus of the program was on research
and development of lake restoration techniques and evaluation of lake conditions. The Clean
Lakes Program regulations promulgated in 1980 redirected the program activities to diagnose
the current conditions of individual lakes and their watersheds, determine the extent and
sources of pollution, develop feasible lake restoration and protection plans, and implement
these plans. The CWA Amendments of 1987 expanded the program to include state-wide
assessments of lake conditions. EPA has encouraged states to use these assessment funds to
develop the institutional and administrative capabilities needed to carry out their lake
programs. You can find out more about this program at http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes.
16 13 WATER QUALITY MONITORING—AN OVERVIEW
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DES MOINES WATER WORKS
DMWW is the largest municipal water utility in the state of Iowa. Serving over 350,000
people, DMWW operates two water treatment plants and pumps an average of 43 million
gallons of water per day. This chapter briefly discusses many of the day-to-day operations
conducted at DMWW and introduces some of the key programs and systems that support
DMWW's operations.
4.1 OVERVIEW OF DMWW OPERATIONS
DMWW is located on the banks of the Raccoon River in the city of Des Moines. The util-
ity draws source water from the Raccoon River, the Des Moines River, an infiltration
gallery, and several wells. The infiltration gallery is a large horizontal well constructed in
the sand and gravel adjacent to the Raccoon River. It yields river water and groundwater
that have been naturally filtered through the sand and gravel. DMWW selected these
source water supplies based on the quality of these waters and the utility's ability to treat
these waters.
DMWW maintains an emergency supply of source water in the Maffitt Reservoir. This
reservoir, constructed for DMWW during the 1940s, is located southwest of the Des
Moines metropolitan area within 600 acres of wooded land; the area is popular for fishing
and hiking. To enhance the quality of water in the reservoir, DMWW recently purchased
105 acres of surrounding farmland to provide watershed protection.
DMWW operates two drinking water treatment plants: the Fleur Drive plant and the
Maffitt plant. The Fleur Drive plant (considered the main plant) has the capacity to treat
100 million gallons of source water per day. It is operated by DMWW staff on a continu-
ous basis. The Maffitt plant was constructed to address reliability issues that arose when a
serious flood put the Fleur Drive plant underwater and out of service in 1993. In addition
to providing a backup for the main plant, the Maffitt plant provides an additional 25 mil-
lion gallons of drinking water per day for the growing Des Moines population. The Maffitt
plant is in service on a continuous basis; it is adjacent to the Maffitt Reservoir, located
about 10 miles southwest of the main plant, outside of the Raccoon River flood plain.
Typically, DMWW operates the Maffitt plant remotely.
Both of DMWW's treatment plants use a multi-step process to treat source water. The
typical treatment process used at the Fleur Drive plant is illustrated in the diagram on
page 18 and briefly described below.
• Source water for the Fleur Drive plant is obtained from the Raccoon River, the Des
Moines River, and the infiltration gallery system.
• Powdered activated carbon is fed into river water to remove man-made and natu-
ral organic chemicals (thereby improving the taste and odor). Ferric chloride is
added to remove particulates. The pre-treated river water is then combined with
water from the infiltration gallery.
• The combined water is softened with soda ash and/or lime. Alum or ferric chloride
is added to remove minerals and other particles from the softened water.
4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS 17
-------
RIVER
CHEMICAL
ADDITION
DISTRIBUTION
r\6Ł ^ t
\._LJSaL''''' •—• • i—\*\
* ^~ ^ - TT j \
— - - — _ J ~ ' - . 4—JJ
JIM •iri-nrirt"1'~-J ra IW
;•{••;>•',::;•••:: ••..^•f<'-.;
iA-.Vv;*^'>..v:J..>\
CHLORINATION &
FLUORIDATION
Typical treatment process used at DMWW's Fleur Drive Plant
• The pH of the water is adjusted with carbon dioxide, and the water is stabilized
with polyphosphate.
• The water is filtered through layers of sand to remove any remaining particles.
• When increased levels of nitrate are possible in river water, DMWW treats the
water in its nitrate removal process.
• Fluoride is added to the water to aid in the prevention of tooth decay, and chlorine
is added as a disinfectant to kill bacteria. The treated drinking water is stored in a
clear well until it is pumped into the distribution system.
Water at the Maffitt plant is treated using a similar multi-step process. Because source water
for this plant is usually obtained exclusively from wells, DMWW does not pre-treat this
water as it does river water. Also, DMWW does not operate a nitrate removal process at
the Maffitt plant because nitrate is typically found at low levels in the well water.
Through more than 800 miles of underground water mains and pipe (both iron and plas-
tic), DMWW distributes drinking water from both treatment plants to the Des Moines
18
4 DES MDINES WATER WORKS
-------
metropolitan community. DMWW provides total water service (including distribution sys-
tem maintenance) to the city of Des Moines, Polk County, Windsor Heights, and the
Warren County Water System. Through this total water service, DMWW performs pre-
ventative maintenance on all valves and hydrants, detects main leaks, repairs main breaks,
and replaces and repairs valves and hydrants. In addition, the utility reads meters, makes
service calls, prepares bills, and responds to customer service inquiries. DMWW also sup-
plies water to several other cities, communities, and water systems. For example, the utility
maintains a partnership with the city of Ankeny. Through this partnership, DMWW pro-
vides drinking water, reads meters, manages billing, and responds to customer service
inquiries while the city of Ankeny makes service calls and maintains its own distribution
system.
In addition to its drinking water treatment and distribution responsibilities, DMWW
operates the Water Works Park, about 1,500 acres of land near downtown Des Moines.
4.2 SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS
DMWW relies on several programs and systems to support its day-to-day operations.
Sections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3 discuss a few of DMWWs key support programs and sys-
tems: the sample collection/analysis program, the data management system, and the
communications/outreach program. All of DMWWs operations are further supported by
an integrated collection of software and hardware components; this support system is dis-
cussed in Section 4.2.4.
4.2.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION /A N A LY s i s
DMWW monitors the quality of its drinking water and source water to satisfy both treat-
ment process control and regulatory requirements. (See Chapter 3 for a discussion of
applicable regulatory requirements and guidelines.) The utility maintains an in-house lab-
oratory to conduct a variety of analyses on its water samples. To ensure that data are
accurate and representative, DMWW follows a comprehensive set of procedures for sam-
pling and laboratory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC); many of these procedures
are required by EPA. DMWW has a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) in place to
document its adherence to these procedures.
DMWWS QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN (QAPP)
DMWWs QAPP provides a detailed framework for the utility's sampling and analytical
procedures. Specifically, DMWWs QAPP covers the following:
• The laboratory mission, organizational structure, personnel, the physical facility, laboratory
reagents and supplies, reagent standardization, contamination control, and laboratory
safety.
• Standard sampling procedures, acceptance criteria, chain-of-custody, a sampling plan for
softening analyses, non-routine sampling, and on-site analysis.
• Inorganic, organic, and microbiological analytical procedures.
• Data quality assurance.
• Preventative equipment maintenance schedules, routine maintenance procedures, instru-
ment performance and optimization, protocol for correcting equipment problems, and
equipment use and maintenance record-keeping.
• Equipment inventory.
4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS 19
-------
The Hack19 1720D
Process Turbidimeter
DMWW collects and analyzes samples within its water treatment and distribution system.
The table below lists the drinking water parameters typically monitored by DMWW.
Asterisks identify the parameters monitored to fulfill regulatory requirements for
DMWW's drinking water. [Note that the parameters marked
with asterisks do not add to the 90 federally regulated parameters
because some listed parameters (e.g., HAAs, SOCs, VOCs) rep-
resent more than one standard and others have been omitted
because subsequent monitoring has been waived or is very infre-
quent.] Monitoring frequency (monthly, weekly, daily, or
continuous) varies with each analysis. The utility uses Hach®
CL-17 analyzers to monitor chlorine levels and Hach® 1720D
analyzers to monitor turbidity levels in its drinking water. These
analyzers are connected, with other treatment process control
monitors, to DMWW's supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) system. The SCADA system is equipped with data
monitors and alarms with pre-set parameter levels to assist
DMWW's water production personnel with monitoring the
treatment system around the clock.
DMWW also periodically collects and analyzes source water sam-
ples. The table on the next page lists the source water parameters
that are typically monitored by DMWW. When the utility is
operating its nitrate removal process, DMWW monitors Nitrate-
N to fulfill the requirements of its state operating permit.
Monitoring frequency (monthly, weekly, daily, or continuous)
varies with the source water type and location and each analysis.
Samples are collected from selected sites within the Raccoon
River and Des Moines River watersheds, wells, and the Maffitt
Reservoir.
CL-17
alyzer
DRINKING WATER PARAMETERS TYPICALLY MONITORED BY DMWW
Acetochlor*
Antimony*
Arsenic*
Atrazine*
Barium*
Bromide
Cadmium*
Calcium hardness
CCPP*
Chloride
Chlorine
Chromium*
Conductivity
Copper
Cryptosporidium
R coli*
Fluoride*
HAAs*
HPC*
Iron
Langalier's Index
Lead*
Manganese
Magnesium
hardness
Mercury*
Metolachlor*
Nitrate-N*
Nitrite-N*
Odors
O-phosphate
P-alkalinity
pH*
Potassium
Radionuclides*
Selenium*
SOCs*
Sodium
Sulfate*
SUVA*
Temperature
Thallium*
THMs*
TOC*
Total coliforms*
Total hardness
Turbidity*
UV-254*
VOCs*
*Parameters collected to fulfill regulatory requirements are marked with asterisks.
20
4 DES MDINES WATER WORKS
-------
SOURCE WATER PARAMETERS TYPICALLY MONITORED BY DMWW
Acetochlor Iron Potassium
Ammonia Lead Sodium
Atrazine Manganese Sulfate
Bromide Magnesium hardness SUVA
Calcium hardness Metolachlor Temperature
Chloride Nitrate-N* TOG*
Copper Nitrite-N Total coliforms
Cryptosporidium O-phosphate Total hardness
E. coli Odors Turbidity
Fluoride P-alkalinity UV-254
HPC pH
^Parameters collected to fulfill regulatory requirements are marked with asterisks.
URBAN RUNOFF STUDIES
DMWW conducted a series of urban runoff studies to determine the microbial and chemical
influences of main urban creek watersheds on the utility's source waters. Each of DMWWs
source water rivers has a primary urban creek (Walnut Creek for the Raccoon River and Beaver
Creek for the Des Moines River) with a branch that not only meanders through residential and
business areas but also extends beyond these areas into agricultural land. Walnut Creek is
multi-branched and eventually empties into the Raccoon River 2 miles upstream of DMWWs
water intake. Beaver Creek has one main creek channel plus a small branch. The mouth of
Beaver Creek is located 3 miles upstream of DMWWs Des Moines River water intake.
DMWW conducted its urban runoff studies over a 2-3 year period. To determine the
microbial and chemical influences of these creeks, DMWW tested creek water for total E. coli
counts, nitrate, ammonia, and other chemistry determinations. Samples were collected by a
DMWW laboratory technician during a rainfall event. DMWW performed the creek sampling
using two different approaches. One approach was to sample water from the creek mouth,
water from the river upstream from the creek, and water from DMWWs downstream intake.
The second approach involved a complete or nearly complete study that used the basic
approach above but included several other creek monitoring sites. DMWW selected 12
mapped sampling sites for the Beaver Creek watershed and up to 20 mapped sampling sites for
the Walnut Creek watershed.
The results of DMWWs urban creek studies indicate that bacterial contamination of Des
Moines urban creeks sometimes significantly affects the bacterial counts found in DMWWs
source water rivers, despite the relatively small amounts of flow from these creeks. DMWW
determined that the high bacteria levels in urban creeks are likely the result of pet and wild
animal waste deposited in Des Moines metropolitan storm sewers; however, DMWW did
locate more than one broken sewer line during its studies. DMWWs results also indicate that
urban runoff accounts for very little of the nitrate measured in the utility's source water.
4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS 21
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•4.2.2 DATA MANAGEMENT
DMWW carefully manages and validates its monitoring data to ensure that only data of known
and documented quality are used to make environmental and operational decisions. DMWW's
data validation process is illustrated in the flow diagram on page 23.
Data management begins with DMWW's laboratory analyst. All sample analyses must adhere
to the laboratory QA/QC procedures documented in DMWW's QAPP. The laboratory analyst
enters data that meet these requirements and the QC measurements made during the analysis
into a laboratory information management system (LIMS). The LIMS automatically compares
the data (both the analytical result and the QC measurements) to a range of acceptable values
that DMWW has pre-programmed into the LIMS. The system flags data as suspect if they do
not fall within the range. The laboratory analyst carefully reviews the data she has entered to
ensure that she has not made a typographical error. The control range feature in the LIMS can
help the analyst quickly identify suspect or erroneous data during her review.
After DMWW's data have been reviewed by the laboratory analyst, these data are validated by
either DMWW's QA/QC officer or QA/QC supervisor. These personnel conduct their valida-
tion reviews in light of their extensive experience with the operation and control of DMWW's
treatment process, historical trends in DMWW's water quality, and close communication with
DMWW's treatment process operators and supervisors. Specifically, the QA/QC officer and
QA/QC supervisor perform the following types of analyses:
• Compare data within the LIMS control range with hard-copy analytical results to
locate any incorrectly transcribed data that may have still fallen within the LIMS con-
trol range and were therefore not detected by the laboratory analyst.
• Review records and documentation to ensure that samples were collected and
nalyzed correctly.
• Review data in light of historical water quality measurements, treatment process expert-
ise, and other known factors that may affect the values of certain parameters. During
this review, the QA/QC officer or supervisor determine whether or not the data seem
logical.
When his review is complete, either the QA/QC officer or the QA/QC supervisor marks
validated data as "approved" in the LIMS. Because the LIMS package allows for the valida-
tion of individual analytical results, DMWW can approve one result and reject another
result measured in the same sample. In some cases, DMWW may collect additional samples
and/or repeat laboratory analyses to replace certain erroneous results. DMWW's data man-
agement process can take anywhere from a few hours to one week, depending on the staff
available to perform the separate data reviews. Data are prioritized for review based on the
significance of the results to the operation of DMWW's water treatment process.
4.2.3 COMMUNIC AT ION AND DUTREACH
DMWW follows a comprehensive plan for communication and outreach. Through this
plan, DMWW uses several different mechanisms and products to convey information to the
Des Moines metropolitan community. See Chapter 6 for more detailed information about
DMWW's outreach plan. Some of DMWW's communications/outreach products and
mechanisms are briefly introduced below.
The Monthly Newsletter: H2O Line. DMWW's monthly newsletter provides DMWW's
customers with information on current issues related to drinking water and source water
quality.
Annual Consumer Confidence Report. DMWW's June newsletter typically functions as a
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR, required by federal drinking water regu-
lations, enables DMWW community residents to make practical, knowledgeable decisions
22 4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS
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DMWW's DATA VALIDATION PROCESS
Analysis Performed
Data quality reviewed by analyst
No
oes result
meet QC
quirement?
Data entered into database
by analyst
No
Do data
meet LIMS
criteria?
Data validation by QA/QC officei
or supervisor
Questioned
Not acceptable
Data approved, data marked as
approved in LIMS
Data rejected, data marked as
rejected in LIMS
4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS
23
-------
about their health and their environment. See Chapter 3 of this handbook for more infor-
mation on the CCR and the federal regulations that require its publication.
Welcome Brochure. DMWW sends a "Welcome" brochure to all of its new customers. The
pamphlet contains a variety of useful introductory information, including billing and pay-
ment options, a description of DMWWs treatment process, information about the services
provided by DMWW, and applicable rules/regulations.
Annual Business Report. The main goal of DMWW's annual report is to present financial
information to its customers; however, DMWW also includes a few pages of educational
materials in the report. The content of these materials depends on issues and concerns of
the current year.
Other Outreach Mechanisms. DMWW visits area schools to teach children of all grade
levels about drinking water and source water. The utility also offers tours of its facilities to
school children and adults. DMWW prepares technical outreach information for confer-
ences held by organizations such as the American Water Works Association. In addition,
the utility has prepared a series of fact sheets to answer specific questions from its cus-
tomers.
The DMWW Web Site. DMWW uses its Web site (http://www.dmww.com) to communi-
cate a wide variety of information to the Des Moines community.
4.2.4 SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SYSTEMS
DMWW operates an integrated collection of software packages and hardware devices
designed and programmed to compile, manage, retrieve, and post data and information in
support of DMWW's day-to-day operations. This integrated system consists of three gen-
eral components: the database server, the firewall, and the Web server. Consider these
definitions:
• Database Server. A database server hosts a database management system, a soft-
ware package that allows users to store and modify information in a database.
• Firewall. A firewall is either a hardware device, a software package, or a combina-
tion of these mechanisms designed to protect internal computer systems from
intentional, hostile intrusion from outside sources.
• Web Server. A Web server hosts a software system that allows for data delivery to
outside users over the Internet or internal users over an Intranet.
These system components are briefly discussed below.
DATABASE SERVER
DMWW uses a database server to support both regulatory and treatment process control
requirements for data compilation and management. DMWW's database server, a
Hewlett-Packard® UXTM™ workstation, hosts an Oracle™ DBMS (Version 7.3.2) to
manage the utility's drinking water and source water data. The Oracle™ database is rela-
tional, which means that it allows DMWW to store data in the form of related tables. As
discussed previously, DMWW also uses a laboratory information management system
(LIMS) package developed by PE Nelson to support its analytical data management
requirements. DMWW selected the PE Nelson LIMS package based on its ease of use, sys-
tem security features, flexibility, minimal hardware and equipment requirements, and
compatibility with the utility's existing Oracle™ DBMS.
24 4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS
-------
A request to extract information from the database is made in the form of a query.
Although different database management systems support different types of query lan-
guages, Structured Query Language (SQL) is typically considered to be the most
common format for constructing queries. DMWW's Oracle™ DBMS supports SQL
(PL/SQL); DMWW personnel write code in SQL to query data.
DMWW personnel perform all DBMS maintenance and management. The utility has
found that this maintenance can be very time consuming. DMWW's QA/QC officer
dedicates at least 30 percent of his time to maintaining and managing DMWW's DBMS;
he feels that the system typically requires about 50 percent of his time. DMWW conducts
daily, monthly, and annual tape backups of all data on its internal network; archived data
are stored in a secure location. The utility's monthly archives are maintained for 2 years.
DMWW never discards its annual archives.
FIREWALL
DMWW uses a Borderware™ firewall to protect its internal computer systems and Web
site. A firewall examines all data traffic between two networks to determine if the traffic
pattern meets certain criteria for security. If the criteria are met, the firewall allows data
to flow between the networks. If the criteria are not met, the firewall halts the data trans-
mission. A firewall can filter both inbound and outbound data traffic using a variety of
filtering techniques.
WEB SERVER
DMWW's Web server allows DMWW to serve data over the Internet using Hyper Text
Markup Language (HTML), a program language used for publishing information on the
Web.
DMWW's Web server hosts its Web site, which provides a location on the Internet for
the utility's customers to access information. DMWW has an existing high-speed Internet
connection and a fully functioning Web site to communicate with its customers.
4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS 25
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26 4 DES MOINES WATER WORKS
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DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
In 1998, EPA's EMPACT program funded DMWW's EMPACT project, which provides Des
Moines metropolitan community residents with timely information about the factors that affect
their drinking water supply. This project is designed to enhance DMWW's day-to-day operations
and community outreach program, in part, through the delivery of timely drinking water and
source water quality information. The project strives to encourage Des Moines residents, as well as
the entire watershed community, to assume a larger role in restoring and preserving the quality of
community source waters.
This chapter presents a case study of DMWW's EMPACT project. Section 5-1 discusses the proj-
ect phases. Section 5.2 discusses DMWW's EMPACT project Web site.
B.I DMWW'S EMPACT PROJECT PHASES
DMWW's EMPACT project is broken into three phases:
• Phase I is associated with the Web posting and updating of timely drinking water quality
information.
• Phase II is associated with the Web posting and updating of timely source water quality
information and supporting static information and documents.
• Phase III is associated with the Web posting of static results from DMWW's urban runoff
studies.
These phases are discussed in detail below.
5.1.1 DMWW EMPACT PROJECT—PHASE I
Phase I of DMWW's EMPACT project focuses on the posting and updating of timely drinking
water quality data to the EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site. The table on page 28 pres-
ents the parameters and sampling frequencies for the Phase I data that are available on DMWW's
project Web site. DMWW selected this subset of parameters based on what the utility felt would
be of greatest interest to the Des Moines metropolitan community.
All drinking water data associated with the EMPACT project are validated and processed through
DMWW's data management system (discussed in Chapter 4). Overall, DMWW's data manage-
ment process has not been enhanced to support the utility's EMPACT project; DMWW has always
required timely water quality data to effectively operate its treatment system. DMWW's EMPACT
project does not directly increase or decrease the amount of time required to perform data valida-
tion; however, the implementation of the EMPACT project may in some cases require additional
resources for QA/QC reviews.
All validated data are available for extraction and posting to the EMPACT project area of
DMWW's Web site. Data that fail any of the data management review steps are marked as suspect
or rejected; these data are not delivered to the public. Data are prioritized for review based on the
significance of the results to the operation of the water treatment process. To ensure that most data
are available to Web users within 1 week of collection, DMWW follows a review schedule (e.g., the
QA/QC officer or supervisor plans to review data on Wednesday and Friday of each week).
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT 27
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PARAMETER
REGULATED* SAMPLING FREQUENCY
Alkalinity (Total)
Daily
Carbonate Precipitation Potential
Weekly
Calcium Hardness as CaCO
'3
Daily
Chloride
Weekly
Chlorine (Free)
Continuous online
Conductivity
Weekly
Cryptosporidium
Monthly
Fluoride
Daily
Heterotrophic Plate Count Bacteria
Daily
Langeliers Index
Weekly
Magnesium Hardness as CaCO3
Daily
Metals (potassium, sodium, iron, manganese)
Monthly
Metals (lead, copper)
Monthly
Nitrate - N
Weekly/daily when near MCL
Nitrite - N
Weekly
Ortho-Phosphate
Weekly
Pesticides (Metolachlor, Acetochlor, Atrazine)
Weekly (April-October)
pH
Daily
Silica (Reactive )
Annually
Sulfate
Weekly
Temperature
Daily
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Weekly
Total Hardness as CaCO
Daily
Total Coliforms
Daily
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Weekly
Total Trihalomethanes
Weekly
Turbidity
Continuous online
:(: Regulated constituents must be reported to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) as part of
a regular compliance program. Unregulated constituents are monitored for general water quality and treat-
ment process information but not reported to the IDNR.
Timely data for these drinking water quality constituents are
DMWW's Web site.
on the EMPACTproject area of
28
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
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VALIDATING TIMELY DATA
The analysis of drinking water is well regulated and conducted by certified laboratories using
EPA-approved methods. A very important part of the data management process is data
validation, which must occur before drinking water sample results can be considered final and
ready for public release. The reason for this part of the process is to avoid the unnecessary
public concern that would occur if invalid positive results were released and then found to be
incorrect. For most parameters, the data validation process can occur in only a few days.
Thus, in this context, timely data is that which minimizes the time between the generation of
validated sample results and the availability of these results to the public. Typically, the time
between sampling drinking water and providing the validated sampling results to the public
can range from a few days to a maximum of 3 weeks.
To increase the timeliness of water quality data available to the Des Moines community,
DMWW could post "provisional" data to the EMPACT project area of its Web site shortly
after laboratory analysis. Although provisional data have met the QA/QC requirements for
sample collection and laboratory analysis, these data are not validated. DMWW has chosen
not to post provisional data to its Web site because the utility feels that the potential
disadvantages of posting erroneous data (e.g., causing unnecessary community alarm)
outweigh the advantages of increasing the timeliness of these data.
During the design and construction of Phase I, DMWW dedicated its resources to developing the
data delivery approach, technical systems, and communications/outreach goals required to support
all phases of its EMPACT project. DMWW spent approximately 2 years completing the design and
construction of Phase I.
During the design of the data delivery approach and technical systems, DMWW analyzed its hard-
ware and software systems to determine the utility's existing technical resources and expertise,
identify the key technical issues to be addressed during EMPACT project design, and identify
potential technical challenges. After fully evaluating its existing systems, DMWW chose to dedi-
cate a significant portion of its EMPACT project funding to support the skilled technical labor
(both internal and external) necessary create a new DMWW EMPACT project area on the utility's
existing Web site and build the mechanisms necessary to deliver timely data to that site.
First, DMWW replaced its existing Web server. The new server runs Microsoft® Internet
Information Server (IIS) 4.0™. DMWW selected Microsoft® IIS 4.0™ because it provides the
utility with a platform for building more sophisticated Internet applications. At first, DMWW
attempted to create an electronic link from the new Web server to its existing Oracle™ database.
However, this link proved to be both unreliable and inefficient. DMWW suspects that these issues
arose due to certain differences in communication between the Oracle™ and Microsoft® systems.
To resolve these differences, DMWW converted an existing SQL Server database into a staging area
for the data and electronically linked this database to the Web server. Each night, approved data are
extracted from DMWW's Oracle™ database and stored in the SQL Server database. When a user
requests information from the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site, these data are pulled
from the SQL Server database. See Section 5.2 for more information on DMWW's Web site.
In some ways, DMWW's decision to modify some of its existing technical components conserved
funding and resources: DMWW was not required to purchase many significant pieces of hardware
and software to support its EMPACT project. In other ways, DMWW's decision resulted in some
challenges: DMWW and its contractors were required to dedicate extra resources to closely exam-
ine and redesign specific features of the existing technical components to create a fully functional
and compatible data delivery system.
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT 29
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While designing the data delivery system, DMWW considered its available technical resources
(both internal and external) to support not only the design and development of the system but also
the long-term implementation of the system. DMWW's project phasing approach allowed the util-
ity to dedicate a portion of its internal technical resources to the EMPACT project while the utility
conducted other important non-EMPACT information systems tasks (such as ensuring the Y2K
compliance of DMWW's computer systems).
5.1.2 DMWW'S EMPACT PROJECT—PHASE II
When Phase I of DMWW's EMPACT project was fully implemented, DMWW and its technical
contractors modified the Phase I system to support the Phase II delivery of timely source water
quality data to community residents. DMWW then dedicated its available technical resources to
post key pieces of static data to the EMPACT project area on the utility's Web site to fully imple-
ment the subsequent components of Phase II.
Phase II includes the following three components:
• Component I focuses on the posting and updating of timely source water quality data to
the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site. The complete implementation of this
component took only a few weeks because it uses the data delivery approach and techni-
cal systems developed for Phase I.
• Through Component II, DMWW places its annual CCR on its Web site. DMWW's
CCR enables Des Moines metropolitan community residents to make practical, knowl-
edgeable decisions about their health and their environment. Refer to Chapter 6 for more
information on DMWW's CCR, and refer to Chapter 3 for more information on the fed-
eral regulations that require its publication.
• Component III provides relevant data extracted from the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR) source water assessment program (SWAP), which was developed in
compliance with Section 1453 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). See Chapter 3
for more information on the SWAP and the SDWA.
The table on page 31 presents the parameters and sampling frequencies for the Phase II data avail-
able on the EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site. DMWW selected this subset of
parameters based on what the utility felt would be of greatest interest to the Des Moines metro-
politan community.
Through the execution of Phase II of its EMPACT project, DMWW procured and installed two
early-alert source water monitoring stations at the Racoon River intake and the Des Moines River
intake. DMWW uses these monitoring stations to provide treatment plant operators with as much
warning as possible when rapid changes in source water quality warrant immediate modifications
to the drinking water treatment process. Each early-alert monitoring station contains four Hach®
water analyzers to monitor nitrate, ammonia, pH, and turbidity.
Using the early-alert analyzers, DMWW collects and analyzes source water samples for nitrate every
2.5 minutes, samples for ammonia every 7-5 minutes, and samples for pH and turbidity continu-
ously. The analyzers are currently programmed to collect and analyze samples at their maximum
frequencies; however, DMWW may consider decreasing the monitoring frequency to reduce costs
in the future. The early-alert analyzers are connected, with other treatment process control moni-
tors, to DMWW's SCADA system. Data from these analyzers are not available on the EMPACT
area of DMWW's Web site.
30 B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
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PARAMETER SAMPLING FREQUENCY
Alkalinity (Total) 5/week
Ammonia - N Weekly*
Calcium Hardness as CaCO3 5/week
Chloride Weekly
Cryptosporidium Monthly
E. coli 5/week
Fluoride Weekly
Heterotrophic Plate Count Bacteria 5/week
Magnesium Hardness as CaCO3 5/week
Metals
(potassium, sodium, iron, manganese, lead, copper) Weekly
Nitrate - N Weekly/daily when near MCL*
Ortho-Phosphate Weekly
Pesticides (Metolachlor, Acetochlor, Atrazine) Weekly (April - October)
Sulfate Weekly
Temperature 5/week
Total Hardness as CaCO3 5/week
Total Coliforms 5/week
Total Organic Carbon (TOG) Weekly
Turbidity 5/week*
Timely data for these source water quality constituents are available on the EMPACTproject area of
DMWW's Web site.
*Note: Frequencies marked with an asterisk are for manual monitoring only. These parameters are
monitored on a more frequent basis using automatic analyzers. Only the manual monitoring data are
available on the EMPACT area of DMWW's Web site.
DMWW has found that maintenance of the Hach® early-alert analyzers can be very time-con-
suming. During the spring and summer, DMWW must repeatedly clean mud from the analyzers
due to the seasonal turbidity increase in area source water rivers. The utility spends at least 1 hour
per day cleaning and maintaining the analyzers at each station during this part of the year. During
the fall and winter, the utility spends about 1 hour every 2 weeks maintaining the analyzers at each
station.
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT 31
-------
HACH® ANALYZER WATER QUALITY PARAMETER
APA 6000
Nitrate
APA 6000
Ammonia
EC 310
pH
Surface Scatter 6
Turbidity
-4.
.
The Hack® APA 6000
The Hach® EC 310™
pH Monitor.
The Hach® Surface
Scatter 6 Turbidimeter
The nitrate and ammonia analyzers are self-calibrating; DMWW reviews the calibration periodi-
cally. DMWW manually calibrates the pH and turbidity analyzers each month. Because the Hach®
analyzers are modular instruments, DMWW can repair the analyzers on site simply by removing
and replacing the broken part. DMWW keeps a large supply of spare parts on site to support rou-
tine and emergency replacements.
THE CHALLENGES OF REAL-TIME QA/QC
The data provided by the early-alert analyzers have allowed DMWW to become more pro-
active in modifying its treatment process in response to sudden changes in source water
quality. However, DMWW is still developing a QA/QC protocol for using these analyzers.
When an early-alert analyzer indicates a sudden change in source water quality, DMWW
water production personnel immediately collect and analyze a manual sample to verify the
reading for that parameter. However, when the analyzers indicate a very large change in
source water quality, DMWW personnel sometimes modify the water treatment process prior
to verifying the analyzer reading. To develop a continuing log of accuracy measurements,
DMWW programs its analyzers to collect periodic quality samples. For every seven source
water samples analyzed, the analyzer will collect one sample from a separate intake line that
DMWW has connected to a sample of water with a known quantity of parameters. DMWW
periodically checks the results of the QC sample to ensure the accuracy of the analyzer
readings. With time, DMWW hopes to decrease the amount of manual and QC samples it
takes to verify the accuracy of its early-alert analyzers.
5.1.3 DMWW'S EMPACT PROJECT—PHASE III
Through the execution of Phase III of its EMPACT project, DMWW will post the results from its
urban runoff studies to the EMPACT project area of its Web site to enable its customers to observe
the effects of urban watersheds on the quality of their drinking water. As discussed in Chapter 4,
the urban runoff studies attempted to determine the microbial and chemical influences of main
32
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
-------
urban creek watersheds on the utility's source waters. DMWW expects to post the results of these
studies on its Web site by spring 2002.
When Phase III of the EMPACT project has been fully implemented, DMWW will dedicate its
available technical resources to operating, maintaining, and periodically enhancing its EMPACT
project data delivery system and Web site, while continuing to support other important day-to-day
information systems tasks (such as redesigning the utility's electronic billing system).
5.2 DMWW'S EMPACT PROJECT WEB SITE
Because DMWW's EMPACT project phases represent unique topics and different implementation
schedules, the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is organized around these phases.
The EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is located at http://www.dmww.com/empact.asp.
This site provides the following:
• An answer to the question, "What is safe drinking water?"
• Answers to frequently asked questions about drinking water and source water.
• A diagram of DMWW's drinking water treatment process.
3 Des Moines Water Works - EMPACT - Microsoft Internet Explorer
File Łdit View Favorites Joels jHelp
Address w] http://www.dmww.com/empaci:.asp
_ ^ DCS MOlNŁS
WATER WORKS i
Home General Info | Watec Quality | Water Works Parks Education | Employment | Customer Service Contact Us |
Water Quality
Drinking Water
-FAQ
- Health Effects (EPA)
Source Water
-FAQ
- Assessment Program
- Volunteer Program
Des Moines S.CDA1*
Wafer Works and the OtrA&
bring you
Urban Runoff Study
Safe Drinking Water
Water Quality Report
Treatment Process
Watershed
Factsheets
Links
-Dictionary (EPA)
WHAT IS EMPACT?
EMPACT, Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking, is part of a $3.5
million national campaign sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
EMPACT aims to work with communities to make timely, accurate and understandable environmental
information available to millions of people. Des Moines' project is one of four water quality EMPACT
projects.
PHASE I of the Des Moines Waterworks (DMWW) EMPACT project features
interactive real time information, incorporating the daily collection, analysis,
posling, and updating of all drinking water quality data.
PHASE II is projected for implementation in January 2000. It will feature the
periodic collection, posting, and updating of source water quality data from the
Raccoon, Des Moines Rivers and infiltration gallery. It will also include
contamination source information.
•4.
Internel
The EMPACT project area on the DMWW's Web site.
B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
33
-------
Microsoft Internet Expla
Address ^] http://www.dmiww.corn/ernpact_p2.asp
-~ ^-~ DES Mo
WORKS i .
Home | General Info | Watei Quality Water Works Paiks | Education Employment j Customer Service
water Quality
Project Overview
Drinking Water
-FAQ
- Health Effects (EPA)
Source Water
-FAQ
- Assessment Program
-Volunteer Program
Urban Runoff Study
Safe Drinking Water
Water Quality Report
H
cc
eai 1 ime source water information
supplier draws from to obtain its raw water supply.
.,- „ This water is treated and distributed to the
community. The two main types of source water are
"~ surface water, such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs,
and groundwater. The source water for DesMoines
Waterworks is surface water from the Raccoon and
Des Moines Rivers. The chart below gives you our
real time water quality testing results Tnsppthpnp-
to-the-minute data and get an explanation of the
ntaminants we test for, simply selecta contaminant from the drop down list, select
Surf Your
Watershed
An EPA
information site
Treatment Process your preferred viewing format, and click on the "SHOW ME" button.
Watershed
Factsheets
Links
- Dictionary (EPA)
Select a source water
location:
Select a source water
quality test:
Enter the number of days of
data you want to view:
All Source Water jj
|Ammonia-N (text only) j
from: |03/1 2/2002 [fflj to: \Q4fi 2/2002 [fflj
mm/ddAwy mm/dd/yyyy
•dill JHI1M
•Ł> Internet
A user can request source water data from the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site.
• Information about the Des Moines River and Raccoon River watersheds.
• The DMWW service map.
• The most recent annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
• An overview of the DMWW EMPACT project and descriptions of project
Phases I, II, and III.
• Timely data on the presence and/or quantity of specific parameters found in Des Moines
drinking water or source water.
From this site, Des Moines community residents can request timely water quality information from
two links: Phase I—Drinking Water Information and Phase II—Source Water Information. Users
can learn about the presence and/or quantity of specific parameters found in their drinking water
or source water by selecting the parameter from a drop-down list of options.
From the user's computer, a data request works like this:
• The user selects a specific analytical parameter from a drop-down list.
• The user selects the desired range of sampling dates for that particular parameter. If the
user does not specify a date, the Web site automatically defaults to a range beginning
1 month prior to the present date.
• The user clicks the "Show Me" button.
34
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
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3 Des Homes Water Works - EMPACT - Phase II Lab Data - Microsoft Internet Explorer
File Edit View Favorites Jools Help
Address \&~\ http:^/www.dmwwcom/empact_results_p2.asp?tQolbar=3
MOINES
WATER WORKS I 2201 VALUE* DRIVE I OILS MOINES. IOWA 50321-119O
Home | General Info Water Quality Water Works Parks | Educating Employment | Customer Service | Contact Us |
Water Quality
Project Overview
Drinking Water
-FAQ
- Health Effects (EPA)
Test Description
Ammonia-N is a metabolic waste product formed from the decomposition of proteins
land other nitrogen containing substances. It is also manufactured and sold as
[commercial fertilizer. Nitrogen is recycled in the environment in many different forms,
[including ammonia, and is usually reported in all forms as the concentration of
[nitrogen (IM) present.
Source Water
-FAQ
- Assessment Program
-Volunteer Program
Shown below are the 6 available test results measured in (mg/l) that have been obtained overthe last 31
days between Mar 12, 2002 and Apr 12, 2002.
Urban Runoff Study
Safe Drinking Water
Water Quality Report
There is no Water Quality Standard for this contaminant.
Treatment Process
Watershed
Factsheets
EPA Drinking Water Regulations and Health Advisories Page is WWW.EPA.GOV/OSTn~ools/dwstds.html
Links
-Dictionary (EPA)
1
2
3
4
5
6
DBS MOINES RIVER
GALLERY
RACCOON RIVER
RACCOON RIVER
DES MOINES RIVER
GALLERY
3/13/2002
3/13/2002
3/13/2002
4/3/2002
4/3/2002
4/3/2002
011
g]Done
Internet
Requested source water data are presented to the user in a table on a results page.
At DMWW, the data retrieval process works like this:
• DMWW's Web server accepts the user's request in the form of HTML and repackages the
request into SQL.
• The Web server sends the SQL request through the firewall.
• Inside the firewall, the SQL request is processed by DMWW's SQL Server, and the
requested validated data are extracted from the staging database. Recall that DMWW
uploads data from the LIMS/OracleTM database to the SQL Server database nightly.
• The extracted data are sent back through the firewall to the Web server.
• The Web server formats the data and displays a results page.
The results page contains the following features:
• A brief, succinct description of the selected parameter.
• An explanation of the data returned by the user's inquiry.
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
35
-------
• The MCL and Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) established by EPA for that
parameter (applicable only to the drinking water page).
• A link to EPA's Drinking Water Regulations and Health Advisories page for more infor-
mation about the health effects related to that parameter.
• A tabular or graphical representation of the data.
• A link to EPA's Drinking Water Regulations and Health Advisories page:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html for information about the health effects of certain
parameters in drinking water.
• Links to other Web sites providing information consistent with the topic and message of
DMWW's EMPACT site.
• A link to EPA's "Terms of Environment" site http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms.
• A link that allows the customer to send an email to DMWW
PLUG-INS
A "plug-in" is a software module that works along with an Internet browser to add a specific
feature to a Web site. For example, a plug-in can allow users to listen to music or view videos
on a Web site. If a Web site requires a plug-in to execute a specific feature, users must
download the plug-in program to experience that feature. DMWW selected a software
package, Chart FX™, to display certain pieces of requested data in a chart format on the
EMPACT project area of its Web site. To use this feature, users must download Chart FX™
(a "plug-in"). The first time a user requests charted data from his or her personal computer,
the Web site displays a "warning" asking the user to agree to download the plug-in. The
Internet browser then guides the user through the downloading process. The user is required
to download the plug-in only once; the user's computer will automatically access the plug-in
for viewing charts in the future.
DMWW feels that this plug-in increases the number of options for viewing data on the site,
thereby enhancing the user-friendliness of the site. Although DMWW could program its site
to display charts, the plug-in allows DMWW to offer this feature without dedicating valuable
resources to formatting data. DMWW has found that many of its customers are comfortable
and familiar with plug-ins; the utility has received only a few questions and concerns about
the requirement to download this module.
The EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is programmed to present data in either a table
or a chart. The table format allows the user to view individual analytical results for a selected param-
eter measured on selected dates at selected sampling locations. The chart format allows the user to
view and compare analytical results for a selected parameter over the entire range of selected dates
and sampling locations. The charting function also allows the user to view information about a spe-
cific data point (e.g., parameter concentration, sample collection date, and sample description) by
holding the cursor over that data point in the chart.
5.2.1 DESIGNING THE WEB SITE
The designers of the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site included water treatment and
laboratory personnel, information systems personnel, technical contractors, and a communications
specialist. This team found the design process to be iterative. The team's design initially focused on
answering the following question: "Is my drinking water safe?" However, when the initial design
36 B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
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Address \1&~\ http://www.dmww.CDm/empact_p1.asp
— DES MOINES
WATER WORKS i
Home General Info Water Quality | Water Works Parks Education | Employment | Customer Service | Contact Us |
Water Quality
Project Oveiview
Drinking Water Quality Data
Drinking Water
-FAQ
- Health Effects (EPA)
Source Water
-FAQ
-Assessment Program
-Volunteer Program
Urban Runoff Study
Safe Drinking Water
Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) takes pride in providing our
customers with the highest quality drinking water. The chart below
gives you our real time water quality testing results on our treated
drinking water. To see the up-to-the-minute data and get an
explanation of the contaminants we test for. simply select a
contaminant from the drop down list, select your preferred viewing
format and click on the "SHOW ME" burton
Surf Your
Watershed
An EPA
information srte
Water Quality Report
Treatment Process
Watershed
Links
- Dictionary (EPA)
Select a water quality
est location:
Regulated tests
Unregulated tests
Select the range of
days of data you want to
view:
•3 | Chlorine (Free)
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation I
J
" Regulated
Unregulated
from: |03/12/2002
rnrnJdd/yyyy
| to: |04/12/2002
mmMdJyyyy
Done
The EMPACTproject area on DMWW's Web site. Note
and explained links (in the right frame) for
left frame).
simple instructions (in the center frame)
or experienced users (in the
was reviewed, the team determined that a simple answer to this question would not necessarily ben-
efit DMWW's customers. The team also considered that this question cannot always be answered
simply. For example, when DMWW measured high levels of nitrate in its treated drinking water
in 1999, the utility felt that customers should have access to detailed information about the con-
dition of the water due to the increased risk of "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) to
infants under 6 months of age. However, DMWW could not simply answer "no" to the above ques-
tion because nitrate levels in the water never exceeded the legal limits (MCLs) established for
nitrate. (Refer to Chapter 3 of this handbook for public notification requirements and additional
information on the regulation of drinking water.)
WEB SITE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS
There are many software packages available to assist you with designing and constructing your
Web site. These programs prompt you to design your Web pages in desktop publishing
format and automatically convert your designs into HTML. These programs can greatly
simplify Web page design and construction for inexperienced users. However, DMWW relied
only partially on these tools—a large amount of automatically generated code can increase the
complexity of a site's technical architecture. DMWW used Microsoft® FrontPage™ to create a
conceptual design of the EMPACT project area on its Web site; the utility then passed these
conceptual designs over to its technical contractor, who coded this area of the site based on
the design proofs.
DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
37
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After reviewing the initial design, DMWW moved to a news-style design format with water qual-
ity data charting options prominently featured on both the drinking water and source water
portions of the site. The team decided to address drinking water and source water on separate areas
of the site because the information and messages associated with these water types differ greatly. The
news-style design format allows DMWW to address water quality issues currently of interest to the
media on the "front page" of the EMPACT project area on its Web site. DMWW feels that the cur-
rent design of its site provides customers with direct access to important information while ensuring
user friendliness, functionality, and user confidence in the information provided.
The EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site is designed to keep written content brief, suc-
cinct, informative, and enhanced with illustrations. To maintain the attention and interest of the
user, the site provides "quick hits" of written information followed by graphical representations of
applicable data. DMWW feels that one of its biggest communication challenges is making sure that
the timely water quality information presented on the Web is not too technical for the average audi-
ence member. When deciding on the content and technical detail to include on the site, DMWW
was careful to avoid re-creating information that could already be accessed via links to other sites.
DMWW's Web site design included common navigational features (drop-down lists, radio buttons,
dialogue boxes, and action buttons) that are familiar to Web users. DMWW felt that these features
would make users more comfortable with navigating about the site. Also, by incorporating these
common features, DMWW controlled user request options, streamlining data requests with avail-
able data to reduce error messages and user frustration. By making direct links constantly accessible
on the site's left frame, DMWW organized the site to make navigational options simple and logi-
cal. The team also ensured that all links for additional information were related to the concept and
purpose of the site to avoid leading users away from the site's topic and message.
Early in the design planning of DMWW's EMPACT site, the team realized that users would need
to scroll down to fully view data charts. The team felt that this requirement diminished the overall
effect of the results display, so the team had the page reconstructed to remove the DMWW
EMPACT header when data results and charts are displayed. The trade-off, however, is that results
are depicted on a separate Web page, and users must use the browser's "back" button (rather than
a site link) to return to the previous page and continue navigation through the site.
DMWW designed the EMPACT project area of its Web site to be fairly complex. The project area
includes several Web pages and offers different options for timely data requests and display. Many
different SQL statements are required to support these options. The Web pages in the EMPACT
project area are designed in framed format. Although this format simplified the initial technical
design of the project area, DMWW feels that the frames now limit certain modifications to the look
and organization of this area on the Web site.
To quantify the effectiveness and overall success of the EMPACT project area on its Web site,
DMWW uses the following measurements:
• Total number of visits to the site.
• Visit patterns vs. time of day.
• The number of visits made by each type of user.
• Customer surveys.
• Customer feedback from the Web site.
38 B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
-------
LESSON LEARNED: USING CONTRACTORS
DMWW's first Web contractor went out of business during the design and construction of
the EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site. DMWW hired a second Web contractor
to move ahead with the design and construction. In light of project resource and schedule
constraints, DMWW chose to move ahead with the frame format initiated by the first
contractor. DMWW feels that this format currently limits some of its options for revising the
Web design. Eventually, the utility would like to eliminate the frames from the EMPACT
project area of its Web site.
It is important for a utility to require detailed and thorough written documentation of the
work performed by contractors, especially when the utility plans to use internal personnel to
implement technical systems that have been developed by its contractors.
FEEDBACK
DMWW receives feedback on its Web site through its e-mail system. Most of the feedback
regarding the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site has been positive and
congratulatory in nature. Many times, customers request additional or more detailed
information about a specific topic after having visited the Web site in search of basic
information. DMWW sees this trend as a very positive sign that it is reaching out to its
customers and sparking a new level of interest in community water quality—especially source
water quality. DMWW has received some negative feedback as well. Some customers have
asked to see more detailed technical information posted on DMWW's site, but DMWW feels
that responding individually to requests for more information is the best way to ensure that
the Web site is reaching out to the average member of its target audience.
A water utility in Sydney, Australia had some specific technical questions about the EMPACT
project area on DMWW's Web site. After repeated communications with DMWW, the
Sydney Water System is in the process of constructing a similar Web site for disseminating
timely water quality data to its customers!
B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT 39
-------
40 B DMWW's EMPACT PROJECT
-------
6
COMMUNICATING DRINKING
WATER AND SOURCE WATER
QUALITY INFORMATION
Even the best programs and systems for data collection/analysis, data management, and data
delivery won't ensure project success unless information has been accurately and effectively com-
municated with community residents and consumers. This chapter discusses DMWW's
communication/outreach program. For general guidance on creating an outreach plan and a list of
resources you can use to enhance your outreach efforts, see Appendix D.
6.1 DUTREACH PLAN
At DMWW, a communications specialist coordinates and leads all outreach efforts. She works
closely with DMWW's experts in water quality and information systems to implement the utility's
outreach plan.
DMWW has an ongoing partnership with three municipal organizations in Des Moines: Metro
Waste Authority, the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Facility, and the Storm
Water Division of the City of Des Moines. DMWW and these organizations have joined to form
the Urban Environmental Partnership. The partnership will implement a series of cooperative out-
reach efforts to communicate the importance of water quality protection in the urban environment.
Working together, they avoid duplicating outreach efforts, increase their resources, and reach a
greater number of people with their cohesive outreach message. The partnership is advertised with
a flyer.
DMWW also partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to offer a watershed tour
that provided information about existing voluntary programs for watershed conservation and
efforts to reduce nitrate in agricultural runoff. In addition, DMWW is partnering with Pheasants
Forever, a group that promotes environmental responsibility as a way to conserve recreational
opportunities like hunting. This partnership strives to communicate the importance of environ-
mental responsibility to children in Des Moines.
The overall goal of DMWW's outreach program is to educate all members of the Des Moines com-
munity. DMWW is currently running a public relations campaign called "DMWW: Your Pipeline
to Water Information." Through this campaign, DMWW is teaching its customers that the util-
ity's purpose is not only to provide them with clean, safe drinking water but also to respond to any
questions or concerns they may have about their drinking water and source water.
DMWW tailors many of its outreach efforts to fulfill the overall goal of the information pipeline
campaign. Here are some examples of DMWW's specific outreach goals:
1. Provide Des Moines community residents with information on current issues related to
drinking water and source water quality.
2. Enable Des Moines community residents to make practical, knowledgeable decisions
about their health and their environment.
3- Present DMWW business and financial information to its customers.
4. Provide Des Moines community residents with convenient access to timely drinking
water and source water quality information.
COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION 41
-------
Urbap
Ef^iro
partnership
The Des Moines area utilities believe that
source water protection is essential for our
community and future generations. Oes Moines
Water Works (DMWW), Metro Waste Authority
(MWA), the Des Moines Metropolitan
Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRA), and
the Storm Water Division of the City of Des
Moines have formed a partnership to help
protect and preserve our water resources.
This tri-party coalition, sharing a common
customer base, will implement a series of
program initiatives designed to educate the
public on the importance of water quality
protection in the urban environment. This
partnership will identify meaningful practices the
urban dweller can implement in their daily lives
to provide effective water quality protection.
Metro Waste Authority
Des Moines
Water Works
MISSION SmtMINT: The Urban Environmental
Partnership is dedicated to providing an
integrated education program designed to
protect water quality in the urban watershed.
The primary focus is to assist the community -
individuals, businesses, and public utilities - in
understanding its roles and responsibilities in
water and waste management.
DMWW has formed a partnership with three municipal
organizations to communicate the importance of water quality
protection in the urban area.
DMWW's broad and diversified target audience
includes the entire Des Moines community. DMWW
has divided its audience into several categories, includ-
ing youngsters, students, parents, senior citizens, new
customers, business owners, and various organizations.
DMWW has become familiar with the characteristics
of its audience categories by providing over 80 years of
water utility service to the Des Moines metropolitan
area. DMWW continues to profile its audience cate-
gories by soliciting public feedback through a variety of
different mechanisms. These mechanisms are discussed
in Section 6.3.
6.2 DUTREACH PRODUCTS
DMWW has developed several different outreach
products to communicate with its target audience cat-
egories. Some of these products are discussed below.
THE DMWW WEB SITE
DMWW uses its Web site (http://www.dmww.com) to
communicate a variety of information to the Des
Moines community. The Web site provides community
residents with convenient access to the following:
• General information about DMWW
• Information on area parks and recreation.
• A customer service page.
• Utility engineering and construction
information.
• Education for all users, from businesses and
parents to teachers and students.
• Employment opportunities.
• A video clip and photos of the Des Moines
flood of 1993-
• The DMWW EMPACT project area.
In response to customer requests, DMWW hopes to
expand the Web services available to its customers by
spring 2002.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: HZD LINE
DMWW's monthly newsletter provides DMWW's
customers with information on current issues related to
drinking water and source water quality. DMWW
introduced its information pipeline campaign in its
January 2001 newsletter. Subsequent newsletters have
42
COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER DUALITY INFORMATION
-------
Address |^] http://www.dmww.corn^defaul(.asp
,— DES MO1NES
WATER WORKS t 2201
| Home | General Info | Water Quality | Water Works Parks | Education | Employment | Customer Service | Contact Us |
Welcome to Des Moines Water Works
In tfte News • Water and Pharmaceutics
Pharmaceuticals, hormones and other orgs
the news recently. The U.S. Geological Soc
the USGS press release or obtain more inft
http://www.usgs.gov
Water S
Water is a necessary item in the home and
water straight from the faucet. Wise use oft;
water wisely also means using it safely to p
your family from potential water-related acci
1. Water spills on slick floor surfaces can c;
pets!} away from freshly mopped floors.
2. Small children should never be left atom
allow distractions such as the doorbell orte
3. Do not put electrical appliances near star
i
raramv/ni*«
MimmmaM.
File Edit View Favorites Tools Help
- MS] h^p ftvww; drn.-jw corn/'delault asp
Ours to Protect and Defend
Protecting our precious water resources is essential. Even the smallest contributions can make a significant impact in preserving
and protecting our water How can you help?
• Be Informed and Involved. Learn about our watershed and the issues that affect it within our community and state. Volunteer as
a water quality monitor. Local volunteers take water quality measurements to track pollutants and the progress of protection and
restoration programs.
• Practice Backyard Water Basics. Use a simple soil testing kit from a gardening supply store to determine if and how much
fertilizer is needed. Apply only the amount necessary, reducing your costs and potentially harmful runotf. Introduce natural
pesticides, such as ladybugs, instead of applying chemical pesticides. Water your lawn conservatively (see article in this issue)
and avoid applying fertilizer or pesticides when rain is predicted to reduce harmful runoff. In addition, plant new trees, shrubs, or
grass to help prevent soil erosion.
•Good Housekeeping. Learn proper disposal methods for harmful household cleaners Pick up litter, pet waste, and lawn refuse
to keep them out of storm sewers, which lead directly to our rivers. Repair or replace leaking, dripping faucets and install water-
saving shower heads and toilets. Keep septic systems in good working order.
For more information on how YOU can help, contact DMWW at (515) 283-8700 or visit our website atwwwdmwwcom.
Board Meeting Dates • 2002
Des Moines Waterworks Board of Trustees 2002 meeting dates are listed below. Agendas for each meeting will be
postedŁnbsp;on-line approximately oneweekpriortoeachmeetingdate.Boardagendasmaybe viewed on tnis site by clicking
on the "General Info" tab, then clicking on the "Board Agenda" link.
DMWW's Web site at http:lwww.dmww.com
discussed the watersheds and watershed protection, the presence of nitrate in treated drinking water, and
"pros and cons" of water filtering devices. DMWW's monthly newsletters for January 2001 through April
2001 are included in Appendix A
ANNUAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
DMWW's June newsletter typically functions as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR,
required by federal drinking water regulations, enables DMWW community residents to make practical,
knowledgeable decisions about their health and their environment. See Chapter 3 of this handbook for more
information on the CCR and the federal regulations that require its publication. An example of DMWW's
CCR is included in Appendix A.
WELCOME BROCHURE
DMWW sends a "Welcome" brochure to all of its new customers. The pamphlet contains information about
the following topics:
• DMWW's mission, location, business hours, and contact information.
• Billing information and payment options.
• Responsibilities of DMWW and its customers.
• Procedures for water meter readings and maintenance.
COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
43
-------
• DMWW's drinking water treatment process.
• Utility tours.
• Parks and recreation.
• Community tree plantings.
• Rules/regulations.
ANNUAL BUSINESS REPORT
The main goal of DMWW's annual report is to present financial information to its customers;
however, DMWW also includes a few pages of educational materials. The content of these materi-
als depends on issues and concerns of the current year. To encourage customers to keep its 2001
report, DMWW incorporated a note pad into the report. For 2002, DMWW has incorporated a
planning calendar into the report. The calendar includes water and health facts, in addition to
DMWW's contact information, on each page.
DTHER DUTREACH PRODUCTS AND TOOLS
In addition to the products and tools discussed above, DMWW uses these
outreach mechanisms:
• DMWW visits area schools to teach children of all grade levels about drinking water and
source water.
• DMWW offers tours of its facilities to adults and school children.
• DMWW prepares technical outreach information for conferences held by organizations
such as the American Water Works Association.
• DMWW has prepared a series of fact sheets to answer specific questions from its cus-
tomers. These fact sheets provide information on a wide range of topics, including the
presence of alkalinity, lead and copper, nitrate, and Cryptosporidium in drinking water.
SPECIAL DUTREACH EFFORTS
Occasionally, DMWW will prepare outreach products to address specific issues. For example,
DMWW prepared one fact sheet on how to winterize a home. The target audience for this fact
sheet lived in one particular Des Moines metropolitan neighborhood. This neighborhood had a
higher percentage of water pipes break during the winter months due to poor maintenance prac-
tices. Because the occupants of this neighborhood were predominantly Hispanic, DMWW had the
fact sheet prepared in Spanish. The fact sheet was disseminated to neighborhood residents by
DMWW service workers.
6.3 DISTRIBUTION AND FEEDBACK
DMWW uses a variety of mechanisms to distribute its outreach products. For example, DMWW's
Web site is "distributed" to Web users via the Internet. Many of DMWW's newsletters, pamphlets,
and fact sheets are distributed through the mail; some outreach flyers are included in customer bills.
Also, through school visits, during tours of DMWW and area watersheds, and even through cus-
tomer phone calls, DMWW conveys outreach messages by speaking directly with its customers.
DMWW tries to increase the longevity of many of its outreach products, thereby increasing the
number of product distribution mechanisms available to the utility. For example, by making its
44 6 COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
-------
Annual Business Report into a notepad or a calendar, DMWW can distribute this product through-
out the year not only to customers but also to visitors and convention groups.
DMWW has established several mechanisms for outreach follow-up and public feedback. For
example, the utility held focus group meetings to solicit customer input and feedback on
DMWW's CCR. Also, through its information pipeline campaign, DMWW encourages its cus-
tomers to contact the utility with any questions or concerns they have about Des Moines drinking
water or source water.
FOCUS GROUP SUCCESS
DMWW conducted two focus group meetings on its CCR. The first meeting was held prior
to the publication of the CCR to solicit input from customers on the ideal format and
content of the report. A follow-up meeting was then held after the publication of the first
CCR to solicit feedback. One of the CCR features that especially pleased this follow-up focus
group was the "kids corner," which has games and activities for children. The customer
feedback indicated that this tool is a very effective way to increase the longevity of the CCR
and encourage parents and children to talk about Des Moines water issues.
DMWW's Web site provides customers with the option of providing feedback directly to the util-
ity via e-mail. A central point of contact (DMWW's communications specialist) is responsible for
either responding directly to the feedback or forwarding the comment, question, or request to the
appropriate team member at DMWW. Technical feedback about water quality information is for-
warded to the water laboratory or water production department, feedback about DMWW's
history or educational opportunities is forwarded to DMWW's education specialist, and feedback
about the general appearance and functionality of the Web site is forwarded to DMWW's
information systems department. In all cases, DMWW responds to each customer's feedback as
soon as possible.
COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION 45
-------
46 6 COMMUNICATING DRINKING WATER AND SOURCE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
-------
APPEN DIX A
DMWW DUTREACH
MATERIALS
DBMNBinVfl
City of Anliany • Gityof Clra Water D«fMrbn.aat • Cily of Cummin^, • Dai Mciiiaa Wotar Worki
Johnston Watar Department • Cil^ of Noiw Jk • City of Pliant Hill
Folk County Rural Water Diitricttfl • SB Polk Rural Watar District
Ui-l-ing-
modifications in 1999 to
increase the capacity of
the Nitrate Removal
Facility.
Cutting Edge Science
One of the ongoing microbial
studies being conducted at
DMWW is on ike cutting edge
of water industry science. One
method of studying bacteria,
called culturing-, grows bacteria
in a lab environment. Recent
studies conducted in molecular
biology have confirmed that
there are bacteria that have not
been previously cultured.
DMWWs microbiologist has
grown bacteria believed to be
previously uncultured. DMWWs
microbiologist has grown uncul-
tured bacteria using river water.
While the significance of these
uncultured bacteria is unknown,
Des Moines metro area cus-
tomers can rest assured that
DMWW has the ability to stay
current with rater quality trends
in order to have solutions in
place should a problem arise.
VMiat's On Our Plates?
DMWWs daily water quality
testing determines the tD'&l num-
ber of bacteria present in a water
sample, including: the harmless
ones. Beyond standard utility
water testing, DMWW routinely
performs Heterotropic Plate
Count (HPC) studies on its dis-
tribution system water, an impor-
tant indicator of the on-going
bacterial condition of the water.
DMWWs arerage HPC is very
low. These bacteria are harm'
less, but can reduce the residue
chlorine that is available to pro-
tect the distribution system from
bacterial contamination. That is
why DMWW monitors both
HPC and free chlorine residual
in the distribution system - to
ensure good, safe water quality at
the p oint of de hvery to our cus-
tomers .
Up A Creek
Recent studies have revealed
that large amounts of bacteria
enter Walnut Creek after hard
rains. DMWWs bacterium study
on Walnut Creek, initiated last
summer, will help determine if
human waste is leaking into the
watershed. Preliminary studies
have shown that these contami-
nants are in the raw water of the
creeks. Evidence of a specific
cause is still unknown. DMWW
laboratory professio nals are striv-
ing to ascertain the cause of the
large bacterial loads in our urban
creels and find a solution to the
problem.
DMWW will continue to
ensure that you are provided
with safe, high quality water. We
are commit-
ted to being
an industry
leader in
water treat-
ment and
quality now
and in the
future. _ * *tJl
J^wWe
Drinl
Treat Your
Drinking Water
begin by feeding powdered actuated car-
bon into the river waterfor removal of man-made
and natural organic c hemitals. The mater is then
pretreatedto remove din and debris and combined
with waterfrom the infiltration gallery system. The
combined water then flows into lime softening
basins. The pH of the water is adjusted before the
final filtering process. The water is passed through
layers of sand and various sizes of gravel to remove
any remaining particles. Des Moines Waterworks
actuates its nitrate removal facility to remove this
contaminantfromyourwater during periods of high
nitrate levels. After this final phase, fluoride is
added to aid in the prevention of tooth decay and
chlorine is added as a disinfectant to Mil bacteria.
The clean water is stored in a clearrnell until
pumped into the pipes of the distribution system.
Des Moines Waterworks laboratory and mater
production staff collect and test water samples
from throughout the system several times a day.
These tests ensure that the proper chemical levels
are maintained and that the mater remains free of
unwanted contaminants.
DBT8IEUIION
There are three sources of water fulfillingthe needs of Des Moines Waterworks cus-
tomers. ApproMmatelytwo-thirds is supplied by eitherthe Raccoon or Des Moines Rivers.
The remaining one-third comes from the infiltration gallerysystem (shallom groundwater).
A.S rain and snorn run across the slope of land in our watershed, they carry soil and
pollution, depositing them in creeks leadingto the Raccoon and Des Moines Rwers.
Some precipitation sinks into the ground, dissolving substances that mayenter our
groundwater supplies. Everyone can contribute to improving matershed health by utiliiing
conservation practices that protect the land and the qualrty of water in our rivers.
Improving environmental quality improves our quality of life now and in the future.
APPENDIX A DMWW OUTREACH MATERIALS
47
-------
Turbidity
Fluoride
Nitrate (asN)
Sodium
Sulfate
tlKIHC&T LEVEL
4D mg/l
JDD mg/l
unregulated
unregulated
ntlWWHAHfiE
IffiHW
DK1WW
H1AXH1UH1
EPAHCUI
(EPA OKMUL]
MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
n/tl-O.lD NTU fl/d-O.B NUI 0.10 NTU
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
0.60-13 mg/l 0.81-12 mj/l 13 m|/l
Atrazine 3D
Metolaehlor tyA
Total Trihalomethane 100Q
13-30.0 me/I
7B-20.0 m|/l
28.0-930 mg/l
n/d-0.21 Mg/l
n/d-0.27 M|/
27JO-41JO Mg/l
1.1-83 me/I 1DO mg/l
9.4-260 me/I 260 me/I
38.0-64.0 me/I 930 me/I
ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
0.20 |4/l 021 Me/I
n/tf 027 pe/
N/A
40 me/I
3DO me/I
unregulated
30
N/A
25.0300 |
410
SOURCES OF CVNTAHNflNT
Mdhiiie to Promote Stong Teeth
Runoff from Fertilizer Use
Erosion of Natural Deposits
Erosion of Natural Deposits
Runoff from Herbicide Use
Run off from Per til izer Use
By-product of Chlorine Disinfection
Copper
ACTION IEVELCAL] DH1WW BQUl reBCEHTlLE ** COUBCE&OFCONTAMNANT
DMWW COFPEB ANB LEAD -Hegukted at CustonKr Tap
13 mg/l n/d Corrosion of Home Plumbing
JJj.U pg/1 dO.O m:,,'l (5 sites aboire AL) Corrosion of Home Plumbing
I
samples mifstbe be tow Action Level
LEAD: hfants and young children are tftjically more vulnerable to lead In drinking water than the general population. It Is possible Hi at lead levels at your home maybe higher
than at other homes in your community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elei/atd lead lei/els in your home's water, you may
wish to haire your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotiine at
(800)4264791.
NOTE: The EPA requires monitoring of over SO drinking water contaminants. Those listed above are the only contaminants detected in your drinking water. For a complete list,
contactDesMoines wJater UUorksor your local mater utility.
Cityof Gumming" .
The following utilities had distribution violations in 1999. The specifics of each violation and corrective actions are
provided in detail. If you have anv questions, please contact the utility.
VIOLATION
. Home iwater filtration system nonatute Coliform detect
CityofNoitvalk
Cityof^ukee ..
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Repeat samples at origination point; notice
mailed to customers
. .Unsatisfactory Coliform Bacteria test 6/99 Four repeat samples 6/19/99; all nejatrve;
5 routine samplings in 7/99
Bacterial Coliform monitoring® reporting Need to meet resampling requirements;
violation 9/99 -5 samples not collected 7/99; Resampled; implemented new scheduling
12/99 Coliform monitoring system for testing
. Nonacute conform bacteria violation Resampled; implemented new scheduling
6/99 & 11/93; 12/99 Coliform monitoring system fortesting
. Lead exceeded 90th perc entile Action Level Resume lead a coppertesting; educated
customers about lead
Action Level (AD-The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers a
treatment or other require me nt that a water system must follow.
Inorganic Chemicals - Che mical substances of mineral origin, such as lead and copper.
nti
-------
Inadequately treated water may contain dis-
ease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and para sits s, which
can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps,
diarrhea, and associated headaches. Some
people maybe more vulnerable to contami-
nants in drinking watertfian the general popula-
tion.
Immuno-compromised persons such as per-
sons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ trans-
plants, people with HIV/ AIDS or other immune
J system disorders, some elderly,
and infants can be particularly
at risk from infections. These
people should seek advice
about drinking water from their
"healthcare providers. The
Center for Disease Control has
guidelines on appropriate
means to lessen the risk of
infection by Gryptvsporiditjm
and otfier microbial contaminants. They are
available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to
drink, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA.) prescribes regulations, which limitthe
amount of certain contaminants in water provid-
ed by public water systems.
Nitrate in drinking
water at levels above 10
ppm is a health riskfor
infants of lesstlian SK
months of age. High
nitrate levels in drinking
water can cause blue
baby syndrome. Nitrate
levels may rise quickly
for short periods oftime
because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you
are caringfor an infant; you should askfor
advice from your health care provider.
FDA regulations establish limits for contami-
nants in bottled waterthat must provide the
same protection for public health. Any bottled
waterthat is labeled "drinkingwater" hasto
meetEPA's drinking water regulations. Drinking
water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts
of some conta minants. The presence of con-
taminants does not necessarily indicate that
water p ose s a h ealth risk.
More information about contaminants and
potential health effects can be obtained by call-
ing the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
SAFE
DRINKING
WATER
HOTLINE:
1-800-426-4791
Cryptosporidiumis a microscopic organism
found inmiers and streams thatc an cause dni:-
rhea, fever and gastrointe stinal distress if
ingested It finds its way into the watershed
tht ough animal and human waste s.
Cryptosp oridium. is effectively eliminated by a
tre atment proce s s 1hat includes sedimentation,
filtration, and disinfection.
Cf yptosp oridium. has NEVER been Found
m yout drinking; \yater.
DMWvfr" recently concluded a stucty to
determine the amount of C^ta^oftM&MW wa
eliminate from our source water through the
treatment process. Crj/pfospatw&itff is a micro-
scopic organism, ktio\Mi to cause i±itastinal ill-
nesses, found in the fe ce s of infec te d animals
and humans. It is rarely found in the nvers
from which we draw water.
After extensive studies, DMW\$s microbiol-
ogj.st dete rmi±ie d that we e ffec tive ly eliminate
99.99V* of the Cr^taijtoitM^wfrom the raw
water. The combination of DMWv#s water
tre atment capability and the fact that the Des
Moines and Raccoon
Rivers contain very low
numbers of
jire very
encouraging data.
To promote both improved service to our
customers and environmental protection of
our watershed, Des Moines Water Works
^JTW) has formed a new partners hip with
three other Des Moines area utilities:
Waste water Reclamation Authority (WRA),
Ivietro Waste Authority (MWA^l, and the City
of Des Moines1 Storm Water Utility. The part--
tiers hip is targeting1 three areas to enhance
customer education and communication:
* Training; of Customer Service employees
in the functions and operations of each utility
to assist them in answering1 customer calls
about other local water utilities.
* Developing1 and presenting; curriculum in
the Des Moines area schools, emphasising the
interdependent relationship between the utili--
ties and teaching children about protecting;
our water resources.
* Educating; our customers about good •mater
stewardship as it relates to all of the water util-
ities through publications such as existing; util"
ity newsletters, bill inserts, web pages, and
press releases.
Contact DMWW or any of the Urban
Environmental I^rtners for more information.
«
4 Baking soda, borax, and white vinegar are
effective, earth-friendly cleaning products.
4 The greatest single cause of an increased
water bill is a leaking or running toilet, wasting
250 to 5000 gallons of water a (fay!
4 Bottled water costs up to 1000 times more
than DMWWwater from yourtap.
4 Using mulch around gardens, bushes, and
trees is a great way to trap moisture, reducing
your need to water more often. Mulch also
becomes a rich nutrient for plants.
4 An acre of corn contributes more to humidity
than a lake of the same size.
4 A I/8th inch crack in a pipe can spew up to
250 gallons of water a day, wrecking floors, fur-
niture, and valuable possessions in addition to
wasting water.
4 A leak of one drop per second wastes 2,400
gallons of water peryear.
4 As waterflows in streams, sits in lakes, orfil-
tersthrough layers of soil and rack in the
ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances
that it touches.
4 Dispose used motor oil, antifreeie, paints,
and other hazardous materials at the Regional
Collection Center ratherthan down the drain.
APPENDIX A DMWW OUTREACH MATERIALS
49
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"WprJ rlrxf Tupl MSE
Z TRBHKGNINE TFO S E M I LSI _ j
5* \Vora
List
CCR
chlorine
Cliire
contaminant
Cryptosporidiuin
Gumming
distribution
DMWW
EM PACT
EPA
filtration
fluoride
ho nine
infiltration gallery
Johnston
laboratory
lime softening
Maffitt
monitoring
nitrate
Morwalk
Pleasant Hill
FV)lh County
pumps
quality
Raccoon
safe
sedimentation
SE Polk
Urbandale
Warren
Waukee
Windsor Heights
Xania
I
A C C R R M J
S A F E L A B
S P W A T E R
S M R H N J L
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VATE
VOW)
Use a blue crayon or
pencil to color in all
the fetters with a •
or a * ijjut not the
') to reveal the type
of water made at
DMWW.
Aftwr rmwaling the
cdcr the
WAR
E R T
R U S
0 S D
S T E
0 M
T H
A I
K L
T L
e«cot»nŁe otfir ciatamefi to &tend. dnd-pdyticiptlte in the 7KŁttzn& qfov
. Pubki TtxtHs^ tnfarmatim ii iiitt d befow.
AN KENT
Atilxtrr City Council • lit ati>l 3d Monday of eack montk at 5:00 p jn.
410 West lit Street • AtuMny, Iowa 50021
OJVC
Cli™ Cily Council • lit, 3d, &. 5tk" Tkuraday of eack montk
f-J™A™«JW
Cine City Hall • 1SOO MW 114tL St. • Oiiie, Iowa 50325
CUMIHIHe
Cununing City Council • 2nd and 4tk Monday eack fnontk
City Hat • CunuTunp, bwa 50031
DESMOINES
Boani of TOiter TOjsln Trmteei • 4tk Tuesday eack montk at 9:00 a.m.
Dei MJU«! TOiter Woil • 2201 Valley D.™ • Dei M=i™, lorn 50321
JOHNSTON
Joktuton City Council • lit and 3rd kbnday of eack montk
City Hal • 6221 Msrle Hay Road • Joktuton, IOTM 50131
NOKWALK
1'Jomn.lk City Gou±iail • lit an-i 3rd TlatiMdj.y of tiizU mo±rtk at 530 p.m.
705 NortkAsnu= • Norwali, Iowa 50211
PLEASANT HILL
Pkaiant Hill City Council • 2nd and 4tk Tuesday of eack irontk at 6 30 p .m.
Pleaiant Hill City Hall • 5151 Maple Djire • Pkaant Hi4 Iowa 5031?
POLK COUNTY RURAL WATER DISTRICT #1
Annual Meeting in Janrafy «ack year • Calllbf date
660 MW 66tk Annus, Suits 2 • D« Mointi, fcwa 50313
SOUTHEAST POLK RURAL WATER DISTRICT
TK^teu Boaj>l • 3id Wedtieiday of eaok montk • Conuct offijo; fop tiine
6540 ME 12tkAnnue • Altoona, Iowa 50009
URBANDALE
VKiter BDBd?d of Trustees • Meets montkV • Cafl 273-3940 for information
UAandale TOLter Department "3720 8Gtk Stffiet • Urtandalt, Iowa 50322
WARREN WATER
Eoaid of Diiecton • 3rd Monday sack montk at 7:30 pm.
Wamn Water Office • 1204 Eait 2nd A=nue • Lldianok, Iowa 50125
WAUKEE
Wauiee Cily Council "lit and 3m Monday eacU montk
Wauiee City Hall • 230 Hifkway 6 • Waulee, Iowa 502«3
WINDSOR HEIGHTS
Windsor Heigkts Cily Council "1st and 3fd Monday eack montk at 4 p.m.
Windsor Heijkts Cily Hal • 1133 66tk Street • Windsor Heijkls, Iowa 50311
KEHIA - Southwest a Wuxfcvo-d
Boafd of Difecton • Tkunday of 3d full wee]c of eack montk
239S 141it Street • Eouton, Iowa 50039
For more inJbrmation on tke Consumer Confidence
Report or water Quality, please contact your local
mater utility:
• City of Ankeny: Customer Service
410 West 1st Street, Ankeny, Ionia 50021
Phone:(515)283-8700 • Fax:(515) 283-S727
E-mail: jmtkenH20@aol.tom
• 01} of Mi H: Water Department
BartWeller, Publit Works Director
9289 Sraanson Blvd., Clwe, Iowa 50325
Phone: (515) 223-6231 • Fax: (515) 223-6013
E-mail: braeller@ci.clive.ia.us
• City of Gumming Kathie Hungerford
P.O. Box 100, Cumminj, loraa 50061
Phone:(515)981-9214 • Fax:(515)981-9214
• Des Moines Water Works: Customer Service
22 01 Valley Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Phone:(515)283-8700 • Fax:(515)283-8727
E-mail: iiyebmaster@dmiiwu.com
• Johnston Water Department Jerry R. Meyers or Donna Kluss
P.O. Box 410, Johnston, loraa 50131-0410
Phone:(515)278-0822 • Fax (515) 727-8092
• City of Norwalk: Dean Yordi, Directorof Public Works
705 North Avenue, Norraalk, loraa 50211
Phone:(515)981-0808 • Fax:(515)981-0933
E-mail: deanyordi@ci.norwalkia.us
• City of Pleasant Hill: Gary Patterson, Public Works Director
5151 Maple Drwe, Suite 1, Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50317-8494
Phone:(515)262-9368 • Fax:(515)262-9570
• Polk County Rural Water District#1: Francis E. Schlueter
6666 NWSth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50313
Phone:(515)289-1877 • E-mail: feschlueten8worlcinet.att.net
• Southeast Polk Rural Water District: Shirley J. Bos, General Manager
6540 N E 12th Avenue, Altoona, Iowa 50009
Phone:(515)262-8581- Fax:(515)2624536
E-mail: shirley.bosSworidnet.att.net
• UrbanrlalK Water Department: CustomerService
3720 86th Street, Urbandale, loraa 50322
Phone:(515)278-3940 • Fax:(515)278-3944
• Warren Water District: Pejjy Crabbs, Systems Manager
1204 East 2nd Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125
Phone:(515)962-1200 • Fax:(515)962-9328
• City of Waukee: John R. Gibson - Director of Public Works
230 Highraay6,Box847, Waukee, Iowa 50263
Phone:(515)9874363- Fax:(515)987-3979- E-mail: Jibsonjon®aol.torn
• City of Windsor Heights: CustomerService
1133 66th Street, Windsor Heights, loraa 50311
Phone:(515)283-8700 • Fax:(515)283-8727
•Xenia Rural Water District - Southwest & Woodward: Dave Modlin
2398 141st Street, P.O.Box39, Bouton, Iowa 50039-0039
Phone:(515)676-2117 • Fax: J515) 676-2208 • E-mail: Xenia@netins.net
50
APPENDIX A DMWW OUTREACH MATERIALS
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Pure water has been said to be our
most important nutrient, and possibly
most underestimated. Drinking water i
only quenches our thirst, but it aids in
building and maintenance of a healthy
body. Some of the numerous health
fits of drinking water include maintainin
fitness, fighting illness, reducing effects i
aging, and boosting energy. Simply •
on the faucet for a drink that works •
ders for your body!
A Drinking adequate amounts of water
helps your digestion and metabolism '
at full capacity.
* Water can boost your endurance, me
exercise more effective and helping ;
work out at higher levels.
A You can hold off hunger and prevent
over eating by drinking more water.
^Research has found that water plays i
active role in reducing the risk of some i
eases or ailments like bladder cancer, ur
nary tract cancer, and kidney stones.
* Health officials consider water to be a I
weapon against the common cold and
cough.
^Consuming plenty of water keeps ;
skin supple, helping you look younger.
^Drinking water when traveling can he
reduce fatigue.
•Dehydration can contribute to migrair
headaches; getting enough water is imp
tant in fighting them.
Health experts recommend
drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of
water each day. DMWW has some tips on
how to make sure you get enough water.
* Drink moderate-sized portions of water
spread throughout the day.
• Drink a glass when you wake up, before
and after exercising, and make water
available at all times.
• Try carrying a water bottle with you dur-
ing the day.
» Have one glass of water for each caf-
feinated beverage you drink.
-fat. tunejjj.
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
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2001
>/^
Water is an essential element in life.
Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is
your water authority. We will provide
you with the information about drinking
water, our treatment process, and impor-
tant health issues that affect you every
day.
As an industry leader, DMWW has
provided high-quality drinking water to its
customers for over 80 years. One of our
duties as a utility is to provide you with
information pertinent to your health and
well being. DMWW uses informational
vehicles such as the f^O Line, the
Consumer Confidence Report, and other
water-related newsletters to educate cus-
tomers and young people about water
treatment and quality. You canre/y on
DMWW as a water expert when it comes
to research and distribution of informa-
tion concerning water-related issues.
DMWW will gladly provide you with
information on several water-quality relat-
ed topics. Fact sheets, such as those on
lead and copper, fluoride, and nitrate;
treatment brochures; and other printed
materials-are available upon request by
calling our Customer Service department
at 283-8700.
In order to maintain high standards
for water quality, DMWW believes it is
important to advocate source water pro-
tection. DMWW teamed up with Metro
Waste Authority, Wastewater Reclamation
Authority, and the City of Des Moines-
Storm Water Division, forming the Urban
Environmental Partnership. This group
emphasizes the importance of water qual-
ity protection and other environmental
subjects through educational programs.
Another project DMWW coordinated was
the Volunteer Monitoring Project in the
Raccoon River Watershed. Residents
within the water-
shed provided
river water samples
to DMWW for
analysis to deter-
mine the nitrate
concentrations
throughout the
watershed. Results
from that study are
available on the
EMPACT Web site.
gftction
DMWW takes a proactive approach in
keeping your drinking water safe. Using
state of the art facilities and innovative
scientific research methods, we consis-
tently produce high-quality drinking water
that meets or exceeds Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Daily
water-quality testing and ongoing scientif-
ic studies enable us to closely monitor the
source water for contaminants. We can
then ensure proper treatment techniques
are maintained to produce safe, clean
drinking water. With the Treatment Plants
at Fleur and Maffirt Reservoir, DMWW
provides reliable quantities of water to
Des Moines and the surrounding commu-
nities.
It is our civic and legal duty to inform
our customers of any health alerts or EPA
violations affecting your drinking water.
An example is a nitrate level higher than
the maximum contaminant level set by
the EPA. In the rare event that this were
to occur, DMWW would issue a public
notice explaining precautionary measures
for customers. However, DMWW built the
Nitrate Removal Facility in 1991, greatly
reducing the probability of a nitrate viola-
tion in your drinking water and reaffirm-
ing our commitment to bring you safe
drinking water.
DMWW is committed to remain an industry leader in water treatment and quality.
The next time you have a question about water, tap into DMWW for the answer.
r EMPACT Web site -www.dwiww.com/empact
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M~*ra you need to filter your tap
water to receive clean,
delicious tasting water?
Many companies say they can rid your water of'
minerals and contaminants, making your water ami
I'Hni taste better in your home. However, the water
you receive from DMAVW is a safe, pleasaM-tastutg
product to prepare
food and U> clean
fruits and vegeta-
bles. DMWW'i
water is also /c.v>
eipcntr*'? far your
cooking needs
and has no
adverse
effects.
r DMWW adds powdered >
activated carbon to absorb our
source water's natural organic
material and man-made chemi-
cals, allowing removal during
treatment. This significantly
improves the taste and odor of
your drinking water. Using acti-
vated carbon filters in your
home, such as tlwe found in
filter pitchers or faucet-
mounted filters, is not neces-
sary because this process takes
place at the treatment plant.
I ow much maintenance is
required for
home filtration systems?
Consumers do not always recognize the.
importance of properly maintaining a home
filtration system- Failing to change filters on a
routine schedule can lead to bacteria build-up.
causing serious health risks tor your house-
hold. A number of filtration system.- require
you to change the filter on a monthly basis
This can be an ejcpenstw /tn/m'j com-
pared to .simply turning on the tap. Let
t DM\VW maintain safe, clean water for you!
The real question should
be... why aren't more Americans
drinking tap water? We would be glad to
hear from you at 283-8700 or through our
Web site at www.clmww.com
Forget filtering, just turn on the tap!
Treating Water Right
Water treatment is a vital step to make sure a
safe high quality product is delivered to your tap. Des
Moines Water Works operates two facilities, the new
Treatment Plant at Maffitt Reservoir and the
Treatment Plant on Fleur Drive, treating up to 123
million gallons of water per day.
The Matfitt plant draws its water from shallow
groundwater collector wells that run along the
Raccoon River. This water is naturally filtered by the
earth's course sand and gravel delivering water free
from river sediment. Mamtt Reservoir also serves as
an emergency water supply for the plant. At the
Fleur Drive plant, water can he drawn from either
the Raccoon or Des Moines Rivers in addition to the
infiltration gallery, a groundwater collection system.
DMWW plant operators and laboratory staff screen
all source water daily to determine which has the
highest quality water for treatment and distribution.
Treatment Process
1. Addition of powdered activated carbon to remove
organic matter, silt, and dirt. This is used only at the
Fleur plant due to river water as source water. The
Mamtt plant begins treatment with lime softening.
i?. Lime softening to remove hardness compounds,
germs, and bacteria.
.-:. Filtration through sand and gravel to remove
remaining particles. When necessary at the Fleur
plant, a nitrate removal process is used to keep the
filtered river water sate tor drinking.
-K Addition of fluoride to help prevent dental cavities
and chlorine to disinfect the water.
.V Treated, clean, safe water enters storage tanks,
eventually to he pumped through the distribution
network right to your tap!
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
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Februaru 20O1
What
are uou reaiiu
Have you heard claims about
improving the drinking water in
your home? Numerous water
treatment and filtration companies
say they can provide you with
higher quality drinking water.
However, many of these claims
can be misleading. As your
pipeline to water information, Des
Moines Water Works (DMWW)
has the answers you need to know
about your high quality drinking
water - right from the tap!
DMWW is a leader among the
municipal water treatment facili-
ties that help make America's
drinking water supply one of the
safest in the world. Yet, it is esti-
mated that nearly 40 percent of
Americans use some sort of home
water treatment device instead of
relying on dependable, safe, and
clean tap water. Households use
anything from simple filter pitch-
ers to complex water filtration
systems. What it may boil down to
is creating an unnecessary expense
in your home.
U
II.
A
out?
re home nitration systems necessary to
remove ana reduce contaminants?
DMWWs number one priority is to provide you with
safe, high quality water. Our source water is tested several
times a day to ensure proper chemical levels are added in
the treatment process, so that the treated water remains
safe according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
standards. By taking pre-
cautionary measures
r Some home filtration systems may >
actually be removing valuable nutrients and
disinfection chemicals found in your tap
water. Fluoride is an additive, not a con-
taminant, beneficial to your dental health
by helping to prevent tooth decay. While
most simple filtration systems do not
remove fluoride, more complex types do
take this additive out. Chlorine - the
number one chemical removed in filtra-
tion systems - is vital in eliminating
harmful bacteria from your drinking
water. These minerals are not harmful to
you, and are ^,
necessary for j Hyme filtration sys-
during the treatment
process, DMWW
makes certain your
drinking water is safe
when it reaches
/ft
o 1 need to use a water softener or
filter to soften mtj tap water?
Some home filtration systems use brass faucets, a
combination of copper and lead. As water stands in the
faucet, it dissolves the metal and increases the lead con-
tent of your drinking water. Filtered water can also be
more corrosive due to its deficiency in mineral content,
possibly raising the amount of lead dissolving into your
water. The consumption of lead may cause delays in
physical and mental development in children, and kidney
problems or high blow) pressure in adults.
maintaining
good health
and clean
water.
tems are not necessary to
remove nitrate because
DMWW treats the source
water according to EPA stan-
dards for nitrate. In fact, most
home filtration systems do not
remove nitrate. DMWW has
the capability of running its
nitrate removal facility when
source water nitrate levels
exceed EPA standards.
Heipjul Hint: To
convert the
hardness level
from milligrams
per liter (rng/L)
to grains per
gallon (gpg),
divide the mg/L
value by 17.1.
Some appliance
optimum per-
formance stan-
dards ask for
hardness in en*.
Lead and copper are not found in >^
DMWW's treated water, but may enter from
the plumbing in your home. DMWW leaves
enough hardness compounds in the \\ater to coat
your pipes as it travels to your tap. This protects
the pipes from the corrosh eness of water. The
water DMWW sends
to your tap is softened
f Soft water helps soap and other >
cleaning products work more effective-
ly. It is less likely to leave "scum" rings
and other traces of mineral deposits in
your home. DMWW strives to maintain
the total hardness of the drinking
water to less than 150 milligrams per
liter (mg/L), the moderate range. This
pro\ides you with sufficiently suft water
to make cleaning products work more
effectively,
V
during the lime-treat-
ment process. If you
choose to use a water
softener in your
home, the benefits
may not outweigh
the costs.
Keep "filtering tKrou^h* this information for
more clues about water quality.
H2O Line
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Recent studies target-
ng the water industry have
provided evidence that tap water is
as safe, if not safer, and contains less
bacteria than some types of bottled
water.
Fluoride, the number one tooth decay
fighting agent, is an additive lhat most bottled
water manufactures remove during their filter-
,,J,ng process. Fxtensive denial research nitS"-*
shown that tooth decay among children and
adults has been significantly reduced due to
the presence of fluoride in public drinking
water. The American Dental Association
(ADAI has endorsed the addition of fluoride
to community water supplies for over 40
years.
Des Moines Water Works IDMWW)
adds fluoride to its water according to the
J ADA'S recommended levels. Bottled water
| manufacturers are regulated by the Food and
& Drug Administration (FDA) and are not
required to disclose the amount of fluoride
contained in their product. Most brands f<
:>', the H'.Vs guidelines tor healthful flu-
oride content.
In addition, bottled water manufacturers
make claims of greater purity than tap water.
This is not completely accurate. I wo different
federal agencies regulate the testing processes
and standards of the water sources. I he fcPA
is responsible for monitoring tap water, while
the FDA monitors bottled water. Tap water is
required to be tested more frequently and
more stringently, providing greater scrutiny of
its quality and bacterial content.
I he next time you're looking for an
inexpensive, healthy thirst-quencher, /usf
; turn on the tap!
Facts and Figures
about
Firs Hydrants
• Fire hydrants serve purposes
other than fire protection.
DMWW uses hydrants to flush
stagnant water from water
mains during maintenance and
to release air after repairs have DMWW's employees
been made in order to prevent panting a hydrant.
damage to home plumbing. The city also uses fire
hydrants for street and sewer cleaning.
B DMWW owns and maintains the fire hydrants in
the public right-of-way. Some fire hydrants are
installed only for maintenance purposes because
their capacity for water pressure is not high enough
for fire protection. You can identify maintenance
hydrants by their red-colored tops.
5 Fire hydrant tops come in colors other than red.
A color-coding system indicates how much water is
available in gallons per minute (gpm) from the
hydrants.
Red hydrant tops under 500 gpm
Orange hydrant tops - 500-1000 gpm
Green hydrant tops - 1000 or more gpm
Green-topped hydrants with green caps designate
high-volume hydrants connected to feeder mains.
K Fire hydrants are painted to make them visible
for the fire department. DMWW has standardized
on a yellow color for the body of the hydrant.
a You can help DMWW and the fire department
access and locate hydrants more easily for repair
and protection. Shovel snow away from hydrants,
keep grass or weeds trimmed low around them,
and please, do not plant flowers or shrubs around
hydrants - hydrants exist for your protection!
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
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Mirch 2001
across
Winding Through Your Watershed
No matter where we live, we are all in a
waters/led.
Watersheds are areas where water flows across
or under the land and drains into a river, lake,
stream, pond, or other body of water. It includes
the people who live in the area as well as land,
air, plants, and animals. According to the Iowa
Watershed Task Force, "A watershed is everything
between the rain and the stream."
Water works Watershed
Several features make watersheds unique.
Watersheds vary in shape and size. Some are
large, including millions of acres of land and small-
er watersheds within them. Others can be as small
as a city block, or a puddle in your back yard. As a
Des Moines Water Works' customer, you live in
both the Raccoon and Des Moines River water-
sheds. Each is a part of the Mississippi River water-
shed, which is made up of thousands of smaller
watersheds.
A geographical boundary around the water-
shed is formed by a ridge or high area. This forces
water to drain toward or away from your water-
shed. But watersheds are also interconnected. The
water that travels through one land area - including
farm fields, forestland, suburban lawns, and city
streets - will eventually affect and flow through
another.
Watersheds are composed of different terrain.
The flatness or steepness of the land (terrain)
impacts how quickly the water empties into a body
of water. If the water drains faster, there is more
potential for flooding and soil erosion.
Different soil types are found within water-
sheds. Those that consist of sandy
—i soil soak up water faster, reducing
"k runoff. A watershed that has clay
/ soil does not allow as much water
to seep into the ground, leading to
greater runoff.
Watersheds are affected
by the land use. The activ-
ities and residents of the
land area nearest the
water impact the
watershed. Cities,
homes, roads, facto-
ries, farming, recre-
ation, mining, and
construction all
modify the watershed and
affect the natural resources
within it.
You play an important role in helping
maintain a healthy watershed.
Pollutants traveling through your watershed
affect your entire home, work, and play areas.
Water and other natural resources are necessary to
live, and what we do in the watershed can change
the quality and availability of these materials.
There are two types of watershed pollution:
point-source and nonpoint-source. Point-source
pollution begins from the leakage of contaminants
from a specific, easily identifiable source. Examples
include pollution coming from industrial or sewage
discharge pipes, hog lots, or storm sewers.
Nonpoint-source pollution comes from many dif-
ferent areas as water runs across or through the
ground. This type of pollution is harder to identify,
measure, and control. Some examples include
runoff from fields or forestland, parking lots, failing
septic systems, construction sites, and automobile
exhaust.
By following Best Management Practices
(BMPs), you can help keep your watershed clean
and safe. BMPs are positive ways to control pollu-
tants and prevent them from contaminating the
water supply. You can use BMPs in your home,
yard, and community to enjoy and maintain a
healthy living environment.
BMF i . . it
in your co/Anunity
• Do not dump hazardous household chemicals, such as fertiliz-
er, oil-based paint, or antifree?e, down the drain! Take -them to
the MWA's Regional Collection Center in Bondurant (967-5512)
for safe disposal, or use environmentally safe cleaning products.
* Recycle your newspapers, magazines, milk jugs, juice bottles,
metal cans, clear glass, and anything else possible to reduce the
quantity of garbage you send to the landfill.
Plant grass, trees, and shrubs to prevent soil from blowing or
ishmg away. Bag leaves and grass clippings for compost collec-
to keep them from washing into storm sewers,
* Do not dump chemicals or anything else down storm sewers -
most lead straight to our rivers.
! • Keep your vehicles in good condition to prevent oil and
antifreeze leaks from entering storm sewers from the street or
your drive way,
* Do not litter! You can volunteer to help clean up area
r120 Line
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.-
•••
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--
-
-
n
:
:
pe in
DMWW is committed to providing you with
I safe drinking water by helping to reduce or elimi-
I nate nitrate in our source water. We have built
I coalitions, implemented cost effective technolo-
I gies, and developed landscapes that will protect
I our watershed. Some of these projects include:
• A formalized tiducation program. Classroom
presentations are available for grade levels
K-8. The information focuses on daily
water use, water conservation, the water
treatment process, and the importance of
protecting our watersheds. DMWW is the
only water utility in Iowa with this type of
program.
• Participation in the Urban Environmental
Partnership (UEPj. This group was formed
to educate the public on the importance of
water quality protection through watershed
protection in an urban area. DMWW part-
ners with Metro Waste Authority,
Wastewater Reclamation Authority, and the
City of Des Moines' Storm Water Division.
• Volunteer Monitoring Project on the
Raccoon River Watershed. Along with
DMWW, volunteers collected over 1000
water samples during a year-long project
surveying the nitrate concentrations in vari-
ous locations of the Raccoon River water-
shed.
• Environmental Monitoring for Public
Access and Community Tracking
IEMPACT). DMWW was awarded an EPA
grant to develop a Web site that provides
Des Moines' treated water and source water
quality information to anyone with Internet
access. Visit the Web site at
wwvv.dmvvw.com/empaet.
DMWW continually looks for new ways to
I address nitrate issues while consistently providing
I you with clean, safe drinking water.
1 There are 8 nitrate removal vessels
with a total operating capacity of 15
million gallons of water per day locat-
ed in DMWW's Nitrate Removal
Facility.
• Each vessel is 132 inches in diameter,
14 feet 2-7/8 inches high, and weighs
11,000 pounds.
1 The vessels contain a total of 450 cubic
feet of ion exchange resin and 232
cubic feet of support gravel for the
resin.
• The Nitrate Removal Facility has
enough spaee to add 2 more vessels, if
necessary.
O
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
-------
D
X
:
'
\pri 2OOI
trat \
oncentratmg
DMWW is Your Source for Important
fhe word nitrate may generate some
questions in your mind when you associate it
with water quality and your health. Newspaper
and television coverage about nitrate frequent-
ly discusses how it can harm the environment.
water supply, or humans. Nitrate can lead to
some serious consequences concerning your
well-being, but Des Moines Water Works
(DMWW) uses several methods to ensure that
your drinking water remains below the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stan- ,
dards for nitrate concentrations, providing you ;
with safe, healthy drinking water.
DMWW's Fleur Plant has the ontibn of
selecting from three \vater sources ,*J|4e
Raccoon River, Des Moines River, and infiltra-
tion gallery - lor use in our drinking walLi
treatment process. Our lab monitors the source
water through daily testing oftliL water quality
in each rhw. We then choose the one «iih the
lowest nitrate concentrations to pro\ ide you
with the best quality drinkingtfeter possible.
Another alternative is ruunifflg our Nitrate
Removal Facility uheij-^rale levels are high
in the source water (see'"Nixing Nitrate in
Your Water").
The maximum contaminant level (MCL)
set by the EPA is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/1)
of water. DMWW maintains a level below the
MCL. If the nitrate level in your drinking
water were to exceed the MCL, we are
required to notify you of the necessary precau-
tions to follow.
So what exactly is nitrate and how might
it affect you? Nitrate is a chemical compound
of nitrogen and oxygen that easily dissolves in
water. It is typically used as a plant nutrient
found in fertilizer, but it can form in septic
t
Inside Our Nitrate Removal Facility
Nitrate Information
lots, manure,
Unitary landfills as
inters our source water
urban and rural watershed
fer contamination of groundwa-
n the application of fertilizers.
the unlikely event that nitrate
exceed the MCL in your drinking
water, a major
concern exists for
inlants under the
lie of six
months. Nitrate
can enter the
infant's body
transforming into
nitrite, which
wduccs the abili-
ty of HcH>d to
Exterior view of the Nitrate Removal
Facility and underground clear wells.
! cause
^Syndrome, a life threatening condi-
es immediate medical attention.
bis condition include the infant
nd having shortness of breath.
i nitrate to other
^development of
(Its. However, a
|ts because their
uvc a more- difficult lime
Blue I
tion l
Indicate
appearing I
Research!
health conceri
certain lyr:
higher risk is
immature orfj
processing nitrate.
Although the"p^wffmity of a nitrate warn-
ing exists, the likelihood of this event is very
rare due to the preventative measures DMWW
has built into the treatment process. We make
it our priority to provide you with healthful,
safe, and clean drinking water.
Qne of the
largest water
qualify issues that
DMWW faces is
the level of nitrate
in the Raccoon
add D«s Moines
River, two of our
water sources.
Date trends over
ihc post 25 years
show that the
concentrations of
nitrate have
Steadily
increased. This
problem rrsay be
caused by the continuing use
end heavier application of fertil-
izer on the land in our water-
jshed. DMWW built the Nitrate
Removal Facility in the winter of
1990-1991 as a preventotive
measure to keep your drinking
woter sefe oi times when nitrate
concentrations are extremely high
in our source wafer.
The Nitrate Removal Facility
consists of eight nilrofe removal
vessels that coo treat up to 15 mil-
lion gallons of water per day.
Depending on the nitrate concert- .
tration level and plant flow,
DMWW
and ail ei
The factlit
frorn zerc
with an a
operation
operate between four
ssels ot one time.
been operated
'6 days in the year,
; of 45 days of
ear since 1991.
DWWW uses a process called
*ton exchange" to remove nitrate
from the water. Nifrate Soils are
captured by resin material as the
water passes through the nitrate
removal vessel, and chloride ions
are released into the water to
reduce the amount of nitrate ions.
This process is similar to a home
water softening device that
removes calcium and magnesium
ions from the water, exchanging
them for sodium ions. The riftrate-
reduced water is then blended
with pre4reated drinking water to
produce a safe, clean product with -
nitrate concentrations below the
EPA's 10 mg/l MCL.
After the nitrate has bsfen col-
lected in the remove! vessete,
DMWW pumps water concentrat-
ed with sodium chloride through
trie vessels to exchange the cap-
tured nitrate for chloride. The
water containing the collected-•'
nitrate is then difytea1 wttri infiltra-
tion gallery water and dischafged
back into the Raccoon River. Due
to the large volume of nitrate con-
centrations already in the river
and the small amount of water
DMWW discharges, this process
does not add to nitrate concentra-
tion problems in other cities and
Although the Nitrate Removal
Facility is a proactive approach in
keeping the drinking water safe
frorn nitrate contamination, the
best way to keep nitrate from
entering the source water is
through watershed protection pro-
grams. With your help in protect-
ing our water sources,, the need to
use the Nitrate Removal Facility in
the future could be greatly
reduced, or even eliminated.
-------
APPEN DIX B
GLOSSARY OF TERM
Acetochlor: A herbicide sold under the trade name of Harness. It is an unregulated contaminant
with no maximum contaminant level (MCL).
Alkalinity: A measure of the acid-neutralizing property of water.
Anion: A negatively charged ion.
Aquifer: A water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel.
Atrazine: A herbicide and SDWA-regulated contaminant with a maximum contaminant level
(MCL) of 0.003 mg/1.
B
C
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Potential (CCPP): The amount of hardness that can come out
of the water to form protective scale on plumbing surfaces.
Calcium Hardness as CaCO3: A measure of the calcium mineral contribution to total hardness.
Chloride: A common table salt component found in all natural waters. Concentrations greater
than 250 mg/1 can cause the water to taste salty and contribute to metal corrosion.
Chlorine: A gas that is commonly added to drinking water as a disinfectant to make the water
safe to drink.
Coliforms: Microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. The detection
of coliform bacteria in treated drinking water suggests that a treatment or distribution system is
not working properly.
Conductivity: The ability to carry an electric current. Its measurement in water indicates the
amount of dissolved salts or minerals in the water.
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR): An annual drinking water quality report required by the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for customers of public water supply systems.
Copper: A metal that can be present in drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing mate-
rials such as copper pipes.
Cryptosporidium: A microscopic organism found in rivers and streams that can cause diarrhea,
fever, and gastrointestinal distress if ingested. It finds its way into the watershed through animal
and human wastes.
D
Disinfection byproduct: A compound formed by the reaction of a disinfectant such as chlorine
with organic material in the water supply.
APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS 59
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Database: A collection of data organized by fields, records, and files. A field is a single piece of information,
a record is a complete set of fields, and a file is a collection of records.
(Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Database management system: A collection of computer programs that enables you to store, modify, and
extract information from a database. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Domain name: A name that identifies one or more Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Domain names are used
in Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to identify particular Web pages.
(Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Drinking water: Water that is conveyed to residences and businesses from a public water system. Typically,
this water is treated by a water utility to make it potable. Drinking water is sometimes referred to as finished
water.
E
E. colt: Bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.
Ecosystem: All of the interacting organisms in a defined space in association with their interrelated physical
and chemical environment.
Fecal Coliform: Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. The presence of fecal col-
iform in water is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens.
Finished water: See "Drinking Water."
Firewall: A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be
implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Fluoride: A naturally occurring mineral added to water to help reduce cavities in young people.
G
H
Hardness: The amount of soap-precipitating minerals in the water. Both calcium and magnesium combine
with soap to make it less effective. A hardness measurement is expressed as the amount of CaCOj (pure
limestone) that would produce the hardness.
Hardware: Computer devices that you can actually touch, such as disks, disk drives, display screens, key-
boards, printers, boards, and chips. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) bacteria: All bacteria found growing on a non-selective food media.
These are not indicators of disease, but large numbers in a drinking water distribution system indicate stale
water, minimal disinfection and, therefore, an increased risk of disease. HPC bacteria can also cause unpleas-
ant tastes and odor in the water.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML): Programming language for publishing hypertext on the Web.
(Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
60 APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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I
Infiltration Gallery: A sub-surface groundwater collection system, typically shallow in depth, constructed
with open-jointed or perforated pipes that discharge collected water into a watertight chamber from which
the water is pumped to treatment facilities and into the distribution system. Usually located close to streams
or ponds.
Inorganic Contaminants: Mineral-based compounds such as metals, nitrates, and asbestos. These contami-
nants are naturally-occurring in some water, but can also get into water through farming, chemical
manufacturing, and other human activities. EPA has set legal limits on 15 inorganic contaminants.
Internet Browser: A software application used to locate and display Web pages. The two most popular
browsers are Netscape® Navigator™ and Microsoft® Internet Explorer™. (Definition from
http:llwww. webopedia. com.)
J
K
Langeliers Index: A corrosion indicator based on pH. A positive number means that the water will deposit
protective minerals on plumbing to prevent metal pipe corrosion.
Lead: A metal that can be present in drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing materials such as
lead solder.
M
Magnesium Hardness as CaCO3: The magnesium contribution to total hardness. It is measured and
expressed as the equivalent amount of CaCO3 (pure limestone) that would produce this hardness.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking
water. MCLs ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. EPA sets
MCLs at levels that are economically and technologically feasible. Some states set MCLs that are more strict
than EPA's.
Methemoglobinemia: A blood disorder caused when nitrite interacts with the hemoglobin in red blood
cells. Unlike hemoglobin, the methemoglobin formed in this interaction cannot carry sufficient oxygen to
the body's cells and tissues. Although methemoglobinemia is rare among adults, cases have been reported
among infants, where nitrate-contaminated water was used to prepare formula and other baby foods.
Metolachlor: A herbicide sold under the trade name of Dual. It is an unregulated contaminant with no
maximum contaminant level (MCL); however, a health advisory concentration for this pesticide has been set
at 0.070 mg/1.
Microorganisms: Tiny living organisms that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Some microor-
ganisms can cause acute health problems when consumed in drinking water. Also known as microbes.
N
Nitrate-N: A form of nitrogen fertilizer that is readily available to plants. This form of nitrogen is very water
soluble and moved through the soil into groundwater and surface water.
APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS 61
-------
Nitrite-N: The actual form of nitrogen that can combine with hemoglobin to form methemoglobinemia or
"blue baby syndrome." It is an intermediate compound that is formed when ammonia is converted to
nitrate by bacteria.
Nonpoint source: Any source of pollution not associated with a distinct discharge point.
O
Organic Contaminants: Carbon-based chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides, which can get into water
through runoff from cropland or discharge from factories. EPA has set legal limits on 56 organic contami-
nants.
Ortho-phosphate: A naturally occurring substance that is sometimes added to the water for additional cor-
rosion protection.
Pfiesteria: toxic dinoflagellate (microscopic, free-swimming, single-celled organisms, usually classified as a
type of alga) associated with fish lesions and fish kills in mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters.
pH: A measure of the strength of an acid on a 0-14 scale, where 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and
greater than 7 is basic.
Plug-in: A hardware or software module that adds a specific feature or service to a larger system. For exam-
ple, there are a number of plug-ins for Internet browsers to enable the display of different types of audio or
video messages.
Point source: A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged or emitted. Also,
any single identifiable source of pollution, e.g., a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit, factory smokestack.
Pollutant loading: The quantity of a pollutant entering the environment (soil, water, air).
Potable (drinking) water: Water that meets U.S. EPA and/or state water quality standards and is considered
safe and fit for human consumption.
Potassium: A common element found at low levels in drinking water.
Protazoa: Single-celled, eucaryotic microorganisms without cell walls. Most protozoa are free-living although
many are parasitic.
Q
R
Radionuclides: Any man-made or natural element that emits radiation. Radionuclides may cause cancer
after many years of exposure through drinking water.
Server: A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a database server
is a computer system that processes database queries. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Silica (SiO2): A common, naturally occurring substance in the earth's crust. It can contribute to scale forma-
tion and reduce pipe corrosion.
62 APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS
-------
Sodium: One of the two components in ordinary table salt (sodium chloride). It is a common substance in
nature and is a needed mineral in the diet. The amount of sodium in water is generally small relative to the
amount present in food.
Software: Computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically.
(Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Source water: Ambient water that is accessed by water utilities to treat for distribution as drinking water.
Source water can originate in either a surface source (such as a lake, river, or reservoir) or a subsurface source
(such as a well). Source water is sometimes referred to as raw water.
Structured Query Language (SQL): A standardized query language for requesting information from a data-
base. SQL was first introduced as a commercial database system in 1979 by Oracle Corporation.
(Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Sulfate: A stable form of sulfur common in natural waters, especially where gypsum is present. It can pro-
duce a taste in drinking water when present in concentrations over 200 mg/1 and may produce a laxative
effect when present in concentrations over 750 mg/1.
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs): Man-made (anthropogenic) organic chemicals. Some SOCs are
volatile; others tend to stay dissolved in water instead of evaporating.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): The amount of dissolved substances, such as salts or minerals, in water.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC): A measure of carbon compounds in water that are from an organic (living)
origin. In combination with a disinfectant such as chlorine, the presence of TOC can result in the formation
of trihalomethanes.
Trihalomethane (THM): One of a class of compounds known as disinfection byproducts that result from
chlorinating water containing naturally occurring organic material.
Turbidity: A measurement of scattered light (cloudiness) in a column of water. Light is scattered when it
strikes suspended particles such as clay, silt, or microscopic organisms.
Volatile Organics: Chemicals that, as liquid, evaporate into the air.
W
Quality: A measure of the presence and quantity of certain constituents or parameters (like naturally occur-
ring substances, man-made chemicals, and industrial contaminants) in water.
Web server: A computer that delivers (serves up) Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possi-
bly a domain name. Any computer can be turned into a Web server by installing server software and
connecting the machine to the Internet. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Wellhead: A particular well site location, as differentiated from other well site locations, that exist in the
same water system.
Wetland: an area that is regularly saturated by surface or groundwater and subsequently is characterized by
prevalence of vegetation that is adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Examples include swamps, bogs,
fens, marshes, and estuaries.
APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS 63
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64 APPENDIX B GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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APPEN DIX C
TUCSON WATER'S EMPACT WATER
QUALITY PROJECT
The Water Quality Management Division of Tucson Water, in Tucson, Arizona, delivers more than
37 billion gallons of water annually to approximately 675,000 customers. The city of Tucson,
Arizona is one of the largest U.S. cities that currently obtains its drinking water supply from
groundwater wells. To ensure future sustainability, Tucson has started to supplement its groundwa-
ter supply with water from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project (CAP).
Tucson's selected blend of recharged Colorado River water and groundwater is known as the
Clearwater Supply. The Tucson Water EMPACT project seeks to introduce this alternate and nec-
essary supply of water to the public by providing timely information on the quality of the blended
drinking water at taps in homes and businesses. Tucson's EMPACT project not only provides a
resource for water quality information, but also results in environmental benefits through a focused
consumer outreach effort.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Tucson Water has received a 2-year grant from EPA's EMPACT program. Tucson's EMPACT proj-
ect partners include the following:
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Tucson Unified School District, David T Smith Resource Center
• Tucson-Pima Public Library
• University of Arizona, Water Resources Research Center
• University of Arizona, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
• Pima County Health Department
• Pima County Waste Water Management
• Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• University of Arizona, National Science Foundation, Water Quality Center
• Citizens and Neighborhood Services
SAMPLE COLLECTION /A N A LY s i s
Tucson Water's EMPACT project increases the number of water quality parameters currently
measured by the utility and adds continuous on-line monitoring. Specifically, the utility has added
continuous on-line monitoring of the quality of potable water and the quantity and general qual-
ity of recycled wastewater and secondary effluent discharged to the Santa Cruz River. One objective
of the EMPACT project is to expand the utility's monitoring technology to include a new process
for measuring total trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes are suspected human carcinogens that can
form when drinking water that contains organic material is disinfected with chlorine.
Also under the EMPACT project, Tucson Water has selected 22 locations for on-line monitoring
to track the conveyance of finished water throughout the utility's distribution system. Tucson is
installing the on-line instrumentation over the next year to continuously track chlorine residual,
conductivity, estimated total dissolved solids, pH, and temperature. This special monitoring pro-
APPENDIX C TUCSON WATER'S EMPACT WATER QUALITY PROJECT 65
-------
gram will provide Tucson Water's customers with information on water quality throughout the util-
ity's distribution system.
DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA DELIVERY
The objective of Tucson Water's EMPACT project data management, processing, and delivery sys-
tem is to improve the time relevancy of water quality data related to the potable distribution system.
To do this, Tucson Water is developing timely methods for transmitting and verifying the quality
of data from the on-line and manual monitoring programs and posting these data to the project
Web site. The EMPACT project will allow community residents to identify their street addresses
on a Web site map, receive easily understandable results from nearby water monitoring stations, and
obtain a timely report on the quality of their drinking water.
C OM M U N I CAT I ONS/DUTREACH
The outreach objectives for Tucson's EMPACT project include identifying the water quality/quan-
tity data desired by targeted groups and developing effective, state-of-the art methods to
communicate these data. Building on existing city programs, the EMPACT project will identify
specific constituencies and solicit feedback on the water quality data desired and the best formats
for individualizing data by location and creating a context for understanding water resources.
Through its outreach products, Tucson hopes to eliminate any misperception about community
water quality and provide a source of reliable, authoritative information on fast-breaking water
quality issues.
FOR MORE IN FORM ATI ON
For more information about Tucson Water's EMPACT water quality project, visit
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/water.
66 APPENDIX c TUCSDN WATER'S EMPACT WATER QUALITY PROJECT
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APPEN DIX D
C OM M U NICATIONS/D UT REACH
PLANNINC3 AND RESOURCES
This appendix will assist you with developing and implementing an outreach plan for communi-
cating a variety of information to the public. Section D.I provides general step-by-step guidance
on creating an outreach plan. Section D.2 includes guidelines for effectively communicating tech-
nical information and provides a list of resources you can use to enhance your outreach efforts.
D.I CREATING AN DUTREACH PLAN
Your outreach efforts will be most effective if you plan them carefully. An outreach plan ensures
that you have thoroughly considered all aspects of your outreach efforts before you begin. Your
plan does not need to be lengthy or complicated! You can develop a plan simply by documenting
your answers to these questions, which are discussed in the following subsections:
• Who are your partners?
• What are your outreach goals?
• Whom are you trying to reach?
• What information do you want to communicate?
• What outreach products will you develop?
• How will your outreach products reach your audiences?
• What follow-up mechanisms will you establish?
• What is your schedule for implementation?
TIP: Outreach planning is a creative and iterative process that involves a number of interrelated
steps. As you move through each of the planning steps discussed below, you should revisit the deci-
sions you have made for previous steps to make sure you are creating a fully integrated,
comprehensive, and achievable outreach plan.
D.I.I WHO ARE YOUR PARTNERS?
Try to involve a variety of people in the design and development of your outreach plan. When pos-
sible, consider involving the following:
• A communications specialist or someone who has experience with developing and
implementing outreach plans.
• Technical experts (e.g., experts in water quality, policy, information systems).
• Representatives of your target audience categories.
• Key individuals who will be involved in implementing your outreach plan.
Consider inviting community organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing
your outreach efforts. Potential partners might include local businesses and trade associations,
environmental organizations, schools, community groups, local health departments, local plan-
ning and zoning authorities, and other local or state agencies. Partners can help you with outreach
APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES 67
-------
planning, product development and review, and/or product distribution. Partnerships can be valu-
able mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhancing the quality, credibility, and overall success
of your outreach efforts.
D.I .2 WHAT ARE YOUR DUTREACH GOALS?
Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what you hope to accom-
plish through your outreach efforts. Every other aspect of your outreach plan should relate to your
goals.
Try to rank and prioritize your goals in terms of relative importance. Consider the importance of
your goals as you move through the planning process. For goals of greater importance, you will want
to tailor your partnerships, outreach products, and information dissemination strategies to allow you
to reach a greater number of affected people in a shorter amount of time.
D.I.3 WHOM ARE You TRYI NB TO REACH?
To answer this question, you must both identify and profile your target audience. The identification
and profiling processes are discussed below.
IDENTIFYING YOUR AUDIENCE
As you design your outreach plan, you will need to clearly identify the target audience for your out-
reach efforts. The types of audiences targeted for a water quality outreach program might include
the general public, local businesses and trade associations, decision-makers, educators and students,
and community groups (e.g., homeowners associations, fishing/boating organizations, and garden-
ing clubs). Some types of target audiences, such as educators and community groups, might serve
as pathways to help you disseminate information to other types of audiences, such as students and
the general public.
If you have more than one target audience, you may want to consider dividing the group into audi-
ence categories. For example, if the water quality information you intend to provide to the general
public differs from the information you intend to provide to businesses, you may want to consider
these targets as separate audience categories.
PROFILING YOUR AUDIENCE CATEGORIES
Your outreach efforts will be most effective if you tailor the type, content, and distribution of your
outreach products to the characteristics of your target audience categories. To do this, you will want
to profile the situations, interests, and concerns of your audience members. These profiles will help
you identify the most effective ways to reach each audience category. Consider how you would
describe your audience members:
• What is their current level of knowledge about drinking water and source water?
• What is their average education level? What language do they speak?
• What should they know about drinking water and source water quality in your commu-
nity? What actions would you like them to take?
• What information is likely to be of immediate interest to them?
• Once they develop an awareness of water quality issues in your community, what infor-
mation will they want to know?
68 APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES
-------
• How much information will they want to see? How much time are they willing to spend
to understand the information?
• How do they generally receive information? How would they prefer to receive your infor-
mation?
• In what types of professional, recreational, and domestic activities do they typically
engage? Are there any organizations or centers that might represent pathways for your
outreach efforts?
When you answer these questions, talk with representatives of your target audience categories and
with colleagues who have successfully reached out to your audience categories.
D.I.4 WHAT INFORMATION Do You WANT To
C O M M U N I C AT E 7
In this step, think about the key points, or "messages," you want to relate to your audience. A mes-
sage is the "bottom-line" information you want your audience to remember, even if they forget the
details. A message is usually phrased in a brief (often one-sentence) statement. Outreach products
often have multiple related messages.
D.I. 5 WHAT DUTREACH PRODUCTS WILL You DEVELOP?
You will want to determine what types of outreach products or tools will most effectively reach each
of your target audience categories. There are many different types of outreach products available in
print, audiovisual, electronic, event, and novelty formats.
Your outreach goals and target audience profiles will help you select appropriate and effective out-
reach products and tools. A communications specialist can provide you with valuable guidance on
choosing the most appropriate products to meet your goals within your resource and time con-
straints. When selecting your products, consider your answers to the following questions:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does your
audience need to know immediately? (Keep in mind that the simplest, most straightfor-
ward product is generally the most effective.)
• Is the outreach product likely to appeal to your audience? How much time will it take
your average audience member to interact with the product? Is your audience likely to
make that time?
• Will the distribution and organization of your product be easy and cost-effective?
• How many people will the product reach?
• What time frame is needed to develop and distribute/organize 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?
• When will the information be out of date? (Keep in mind that you will want to spend
fewer resources on products with shorter life spans.)
APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES 69
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Would it be effective to have distinct phases of products over time? (For example, con-
sider the first phase of a product designed to raise awareness, followed by a second phase
of products at later dates to encourage changes in behavior.)
How newsworthy is the information you are trying to communicate? (Information with
inherent news value is more likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.)
OUTREACH PRODUCTS
Print
Brochures
Educational curricula
Newsletters
Posters
Question-and-answer sheets
Editorials
Fact sheets
Newspapers and magazine articles
Press releases
Utility bill inserts
Audiovisual Cable television programs
Exhibits and kiosks
Public service announcements (radio)
Videos
Electronic
E-mail messages
Web pages
Subscriber list servers
Interactive compact disks
Events
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
One-on-one meetings
Public meetings
Community days
Media interviews
Press conferences
Speeches
Novelty Items Banners Bumper stickers
Buttons Coloring books
Floating key chains for boaters Frisbee discs
Magnets Mouse pads
D.I.6 Haw WILL YOUR DUTREACH PRODUCTS REACH
YOUR AUDIENCES?
You have many outreach product distribution options available to you. Consider the following examples:
• Mailing lists belonging to your organization or partner organizations.
• Phone and fax.
• E-mail.
• Internet.
• Journals or newsletters put out by partner organizations.
• Television.
• Radio.
• Print media.
• A hotline that distributes products upon request.
• Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, schools, community centers) where products
are made available to the public.
70
APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES
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You should consider how each of your products will be distributed and determine who will be
responsible for distribution. For some products, your organization might manage the distribution.
For other products, you might rely on intermediaries (e.g., the media or educators) or organizational
partners. You should consult with a communications specialist to obtain information about the time
and resources required for various distribution options. Consider the following issues when you
select your distribution mechanisms:
• How does your audience typically receive information? How would they prefer to receive
your information?
• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past for this audience
category? Were these mechanisms effective?
• Can you identify a partner organization that would be willing to assist you with
distribution?
• Can the media play a role in distribution?
• Will your distribution mechanism really reach the intended audience? For example,
although the Internet can be an effective distribution mechanism, certain audience cate-
gories may have limited access to it.
• How many people will your product reach through the distribution mechanism you are
considering?
• Do you have sufficient resources available to fund and implement the distribution mecha-
nisms you are considering?
D. 1 .7 WHAT FOLLOW-UP MECHANISMS WILL You
E STAB LI sn7
If you have successfully reached out to your target audiences, you may receive requests for additional
information. Your audience members may become concerned about the issues you have communi-
cated to them. As part of your outreach plan, you should determine if and how you will respond to
the follow-up interests of people in your community. Consider the following questions:
• What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to have in response to
the outreach information?
• Who will be responsible for handling requests for additional information?
• Should you indicate on your outreach products where people can go for additional infor-
mation? Will you provide a contact name, phone number, and/or Internet, mail, or
e-mail address? Will you establish a hotline?
• How will you track and analyze feedback?
• How and when will you use feedback to improve your outreach efforts?
D.I . B W H AT i s Yo UR SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMEN TAT ION?
Once you have selected the most effective combination of goals, audience categories, messages, prod-
ucts, and distribution mechanisms for your project, you should develop an implementation schedule
for your outreach plan. First, consider the relative importance of each of your outreach goals. You
APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES 71
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should have a shorter implementation schedule associated with your most important goals. For each
of your outreach products, consider how much time will be needed for design, development, and
distribution. Be sure to factor in sufficient time for product review. When possible, also factor in
some time for testing and evaluation by representatives of your target audience category to solicit
feedback on the effectiveness of your product.
D.Z RESOURCES FOR PRESENTING WATER QUALITY
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop outreach products, you should make
sure that these products present your messages and information as clearly and accurately as possible.
This section discusses methods for effectively communicating technical information to the public
and provides resources to help you shape the style and content of your outreach products.
D.2.1 Haw Da You PRESENT TECHNICAL
INFORM AT ION TO THE PUBLIC?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and water quality is no exception. Nevertheless,
this information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to nonspecialists. Principles of effective writ-
ing for the public include avoiding jargon, translating technical terms into everyday language, using
the active voice, keeping sentences short, and using headings and other formatting devices to pro-
vide a very clear, well-organized structure. You can refer to the following Web sites for more ideas
about how to write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a guidance docu-
ment, Writing User-Friendly Documents, which is available at
http://www.plamlanguage.gov/.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association,
http://www.abanet.org/lpm/writing/styl.html, has links to important online style manuals,
dictionaries, and grammar primers.
• The Web site of the Environmental Education and Training Partnership,
http://eee.eetap.org, has guides for developing environmental education documents.
As you develop outreach products for a specific audience, remember to consider what your audience
members are already likely to know, what you want them to know, and what they are likely to under-
stand. Then tailor your information accordingly. Provide only the information that will be valuable
and interesting to the target audience. For example, local businesses might be interested in the hard-
ness of the potable water they are using for manufacturing processes; however, senior citizens
interested in the overall safety of their drinking water are not likely to be engaged by this topic.
When developing outreach products, you should consider any special needs of the target audience.
For example, if your community has a substantial number of people who speak little or no English,
you will need to prepare communication materials in their native language.
The remainder of this section provides some online resources that you can consult when developing
your outreach projects. Some of the Web sites listed below contain products, such as downloadable
fact sheets, that you can use to support your communication and outreach efforts.
72 APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES
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FEDERAL RESOURCES
EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW)
http: //www. ep a. gov/safewater
This site provides information on a variety of topics, from drinking water and health, source water
protection, and training to applicable regulations, standards, and guidance. The site also includes a
kid's page, which contains games and activities to help children learn about drinking water.
EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW)
http: IIwww. epA.gov/owow
This site provides a variety of information related to wetlands, oceans, and watersheds. The site pro-
vides new information, resources for concerned citizens, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Specific to watersheds, the site provides information on water quality monitoring and watershed pol-
lution issues.
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
http: IIwww. epa.gov/surf5
EPA provides this service to locate, use, and share environmental information on watersheds. One
section of this site, "Locate Your Watershed," allows users to enter the names of rivers, schools, or a
zip code to learn more about the water resources in their local watersheds. Users can also access the
Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI) from this site. The IWI is a compilation of information on the
health of aquatic resources in the U.S. The index uses a variety of indicators to determine whether
rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas can be described as "well" or "ailing".
EPA's NonPoint Source Pointers
http:'//www. epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets on nonpoint source pollution. The series covers topics
including programs and opportunities for public involvement in nonpoint source control, manag-
ing urban runoff, and managing nonpoint pollution from various sources (e.g., agriculture, boating,
households).
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
http://www. wcc. nrcs. usda.gov/water/quality/jrame/wqam
This site includes guidance documents that provide the following resources: a simple tool to estimate
the sensitivity of a water body to nutrients, a procedure to evaluate the conditions of a stream based
on visual characteristics, and information on how to design a monitoring system to observe changes
in water quality associated with agricultural nonpoint source controls.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
http://www. montana. edu/wwwwet
The goal of Project WET is to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of
water resources by developing and disseminating classroom-ready teaching aids and establishing state
and internationally sponsored Project WET programs. This site includes a list of all state Project
WET Program Coordinators to help you locate a contact in your area.
APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES 73
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Water Science for Schools
httpillwwwmt. usgs.gpvledulindex. html
L O O O
The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) Water Science for School Web site offers information on
many aspects of water quality, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive forum where
students can give opinions and test their water knowledge.
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
httpillwww. earthforce. c
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) helps young people protect the
rivers, streams, and other vital water resources in their communities. This program merges hands-
on, scientific learning with civic action. GREEN is working with EcoNet to compile pointers on
water-related resources on the Internet. This site (http://www.igc.apc.org/green/resources.html)
includes a comprehensive list of water quality projects across the country and around the world.
Adopt-A-Watershed
http:llwww.adopt-a-watershed. orglabout. htm
Adopt-A-Watershed is a K-through-12 school/community learning experience that uses local water-
sheds as living laboratories in which students can engage in hands-on activities. The goal is to make
science applicable and relevant to students' lives.
National Institutes for Water Resources
httpillwrri. nmsu. edulniwrlniwr. html
The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) is a network of 54 research institutes through-
out the U.S. They conduct basic and applied research to solve water problems unique to their areas
and establish cooperative programs with local governments, state agencies, and industries.
DTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The Watershed Management Council
http://watershed, org/wmc/aboutwmc. html
The Watershed Management Council is a not-for-profit organization whose members represent a
broad range of watershed management interests and disciplines. Members include professionals,
students, teachers, and individuals who are interested in promoting proper watershed management.
74 APPENDIX D COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PLANNING AND RESOURCES
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Providing Timely Drinking Water
and Source Water Quality
Information to Your Community
Des Moines Water
Works' Project
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Providing Timely Drinking
Water and Source Water
Quality Information to Your
Community
Des Moines Water
Works' Project
ACT
ul Monitoring lot Pubik Access
in. f .(immunity Tracking
Continue »
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Foreword
The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's)
National Risk Management Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook to help interested
communities, particularly those with medium and large public water systems, learn more about the Des Moines
Water Works (DMWW) EMPACT project. DMWWs EMPACT project provides Des Moines metropolitan
community residents with timely information about the factors that affect their drinking water supply. ORD, working
with DMWW, produced this handbook to transfer the lessons learned from the project and reduce the resources
needed to implement similar projects in other communities.
You can order copies of this handbook (both print and CD-ROM versions) online at ORD's Technology Transfer
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. You can also download a PDF version of the handbook from this site. In
addition, you can order print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook by contacting either ORD Publications or the
Office of Water Resource Center at:
EPA ORD Publications
26 W. Martin Luther King Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45268-0001
EPA NSCEP Toll free: 800-490-9198
EPA NSCEP Local: 513-489-8190
EPA Office of Water Resource Center (RC 4100)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Phone: 202-260-7786
E-mail: center.water-resource@.epa.gov
Please make sure you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number in your request.
We hope that you find this handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Acknowledgments
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,Office
of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of ERG, Inc.,
an EPA contractor. Technical guidance was provided by the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) staff, EPA's Office
of Water, and EPA Region 7. EPA and DMWW would like to thank the following people and organizations for their
substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Mitch Basefsky, Tucson Water
Pat Bruner, Des Moines Water Works
Bob Dunlevy, EPA Region 7
Vince Dwyer, Des Moines Water Works
Ron Hunsinger, East Bay Municipal Utility District
Julie Hutchins Cairn, Seattle Public Utilities
Bruce Macler, EPA Region 9
Dan Quintanar, Tucson Water
Carl Reeverts, EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Dave Scharf, Des Moines Water Works
Carrie Sears, Des Moines Water Works
Connie Steffen, Des Moines Water Works
Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
of their use.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
1. Introduction
1.1 What Do Water Utilities Do?
1.2 Why Is It Important to Communicate Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to the
Public?
1.3 Des Moines Water Works' EMPACT Project
2. How to Use This Handbook
3. Water Quality Monitoring—An Overview
3.1 Introduction to Water Quality Monitoring
3.2 Regulation of Drinking Water
3.3 Source Water
4. Des Moines Waterworks
4.1 Overview of DMWW Operations
4.2 Support Programs and Systems
5. DMWWs EMPACT Project
5.1 DMWW's EMPACT Project Phases
5.2 DMWWs EMPACT Project Web Site
6. Communicating Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information
6.1 Outreach Plan
6.2 Outreach Products
6.3 Distribution and Feedback
Appendix A DMWW Outreach Materials (PDF. 6.63MB)
Appendix B Glossary of Terms
Appendix C Tucson Water's EMPACT Water Quality Project
Appendix D Communications/Outreach Planning and Resources
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
1. Introduction
Would residents in your community have trouble answering these types
of questions:
• How safe is your drinking water today?
• How healthy are the watersheds in and around your
community?
• Could simple changes in your lifestyle help improve water quality
in your area?
• How would you measure these improvements, and what would they mean to you and your family?
If so, your water utility and the community residents it serves would benefit from a project that uses new and
innovative methods and technologies to deliver timely, accurate, and understandable information about the quality
of drinking water and source water in your area.
This handbook has been designed with this goal in mind:
To show you how one water utility—the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW)—is implementing
a project to provide timely drinking water and source water quality information to the Des
Moines metropolitan community.
The handbook provides a detailed case study of DMVWV's project to encourage medium and large water utilities
(or communities responsible for supplying drinking water) to consider adopting strategies for delivering timely data
to the public. Although small water systems and communities not subject to federal drinking water regulations are
not likely to have the resources to implement such a project, these entities may also find some portions of this
handbook valuable.
ABOUT THE EMPACT PROGRAM
iis handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT program.
created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) in 1997. The program is
now administered by EPA's Office of Environmental Information.
The EMPACT program promotes new and innovative approaches to collecting, managing, and communicating
environmental information to the public. Working with communities in 156 of the largest metropolitan areas
across the country, the program takes advantage of new technologies to provide community members with
timely, accurate, and understandable environmental information they can use to make informed, day-to-day
decisions about their lives. EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, including water quality,
ground water contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. To learn more, visit EPA's
EMPACT Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact.
1.1 What Do Water Utilities Do?
Water utilities are responsible for producing drinking water of consistently high quality for their consumers. EPA
and the states develop and enforce standards to protect the quality of drinking water, and water utilities must meet
these standards. Producing high quality drinking water ideally follows an approach with multiple barriers to prevent
contaminants from reaching consumers. The earliest possible barrier (i.e., the most ideal barrier) is watershed and
wellhead protection, which ensures that contaminants do not enter source water. Therefore, strong environmental
stewardship is an essential element of drinking water supply.
DRINKING WATER VS. SOURCE WATER
considering the responsibilities of water utilities, it is very important to distinguish between drinking water
and source water:
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Drinking water is water that is conveyed to residences and businesses from a public water system. Typically,
this water is treated by a water utility to make it potable. Drinking water is sometimes referred to as finished
water.
Source water (i.e., raw water) is ambient water that is accessed by water utilities to treat for distribution as
drinking water. Source water can originate in either a surface source (such as a lake, river, or reservoir) or a
subsurface source (such as a well).
Water utilities collect and analyze drinking water and source water quality data to facilitate the following:
• Produce and deliver high quality water.
• Assure consumers and regulators that drinking water is of high quality.
• Continue to improve the quality of drinking water through research.
Water utilities are challenged every day. The regulatory environment is changing. Science is also changing, as is
our knowledge of water quality and how it impacts consumers and the environment is changing. Water utilities
continually strive to improve the performance of their treatment and distribution systems, make improvements to
meet new challenges, and communicate with consumers in an honest and timely manner.
R DATA AND TOOLS PROJECTS
DMWW's EMPACT project is one of four Time-Critical Water Data and Tools Projects. These projects were
formed through a partnership between the EMPACT program and EPA's Office of Water. Through case studies of
these four unique projects, the Water Data and Tools initiative is designed to demonstrate local capability to
collect and communicate water quality data that are meaningful, defensible, and easily accessible, and build a
framework to encourage other communities to do the same through technology transfer and outreach.
WATER DATA AND TOOLS PROJECTS
Project
Locations
(Chesapeake Bay Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC
Web site
http://mddnr.chesaDeakebav.net/emDact
Water quality in support of
Pfiesteria surveillance
Jefferson Parish New Orleans, LA
http://www.ieffparish.net
Cincinnati, OH
Louiseville, KY
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.orsanco.ora/empact
Des Moines, IA
http://www.dmww.com/empact
Freshwater diversions and
algal blooms
Swimming and
fishing conditions
Drinking water and source
water quality
Visit htto://www.eoa.aov/surf2/emoact/tools.html for more information on the EMPACT Water Data and Tools Projects.
1.2 Why is it Important to Communicate Timely Drinking Water and Source
Water Quality Information to the Public?
All members of a community have a right to know about the current quality of their drinking water because
drinking water quality affects public health. The need to provide timely drinking water quality data is most urgent
when these data indicate an acute result that can have immediate effects on a utility's customer population. Your
efforts to provide your customers with timely information on the quality of their drinking water will build public
confidence in your utility's ability to provide safe, healthy, reliable drinking water. Businesses relying on
consistently high-quality water to support a production process can use timely water quality information to
determine whether to maintain or modify their processes. By disseminating these timely data on a Web site, you
may reduce the number of phone calls to your utility from consumers or manufacturers seeking specific water
quality test results.
From a human health perspective, the urgency for timely source water quality information is typically less than that
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
for drinking water quality information. However, the timeliness of source water quality information may be critical
when spills or other environmental emergencies occur in the watershed. The presentation of timely source water
quality data and trends on a Web site can inform and influence the behavior of residents in your watershed. This
heightened public awareness would not only enable local residents and public officials to make informed decisions
about land use management and water conservation measures, but would also encourage affected groups to take
a larger and more proactive role in instituting practices to restore and preserve the quality of source waters.
1.3 Des Moines Waterworks' EMPACT Project
DMWW is the largest water utility in the state of Iowa. Serving over 350,000 people, DMWW operates two major
water treatment plants and pumps an average of 43 million gallons of water per day.
In 1998, EPA's EMPACT program funded DMWWs EMPACT project, which provides Des Moines metropolitan
community residents with timely information about the factors that affect their drinking water supply. DMWWs
EMPACT project is broken into three phases:
• Phase I is the development of a data management protocol, tools, and electronic
links required to identify, manage, and deliver drinking water quality information
to the project Web site.
• Phase II is the periodic collection, Web posting, and updating of source water
quality information collected from selected monitoring sites within the Racoon
River and Des Moines River watersheds.
• Phase III is the adaptation of the methods and tools developed for Phases I and II
to existing urban runoff studies conducted by DMWW.
DMWWs EMPACT project strives to encourage Des Moines residents, as well as
the entire watershed community, to assume a larger role in restoring and
preserving the quality of source waters in the community. Project partners
include EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW), EPA
Region VII, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the United States
Geological Survey (USGS). You can visit DMWWs EMPACT project Web site at
http://www.dmww.com/empact.
1.3.1 Project Costs
To plan, design, develop, install, and implement the three phases of its EMPACT
project, DMWW incurred a total cost of approximately $245,000. This cost should
give you an idea of how much a comparable project might cost your utility.
However, every project that communicates timely information about drinking
water and source water quality is unique to its community. Therefore, the cost of
your project will also be unique.
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2. How To Use This Handbook
This handbook has been designed to show you how DMWW is implementing a project to provide timely drinking
water and source water quality information to the Des Moines metropolitan community. The handbook intends to
encourage medium and large water utilities (or communities responsible for supplying drinking water) to consider
adopting strategies for delivering timely data to the public. Although small water systems and communities not
subject to federal drinking water regulations are not likely to have the resources to implement such a project, these
entities may also find some portions of this handbook valuable.
The handbook is organized into the following chapters:
• Chapter 3 presents an overview of water quality monitoring. Specifically, the chapter discusses the federal
and state regulations and guidelines applicable to drinking water and source water. It also discusses
typical methods used by water systems to collect and disseminate information about drinking water and
source water quality. Chapter 3 is targeted toward readers who are not familiar with federal and state
drinking water and source water regulations and guidelines. Therefore, water utility personnel are likely
already familiar with the material presented in this chapter.
• Chapter 4 presents an overview of DMWW operations and discusses the key programs and systems that
support these operations. Specifically, the chapter discusses DMWWs sample collection/analysis program,
data management system, and communications/outreach program. It also discusses the integrated
collection of software and hardware components that further supports DMWWs operations. This chapter is
targeted toward all readers.
• Chapter 5 presents a detailed case study of DMWWs EMPACT
project. The chapter describes the three project phases in detail and
discusses the EMPACT project area on DMWWs Web site. This
chapter is targeted toward all readers.
• Chapter 6 focuses on communications and outreach. The chapter
discusses many of DMWWs communication/outreach efforts.
Chapter6 is targeted toward personnel tasked with implementing an
outreach plan.
• Appendix A (PDF. 6.63MB) contains brochures and pamphlets
related to DMWWs communication/outreach plan, including a
Consumer Confidence Report. These materials are discussed in
Chapter 6.
• Appendix B presents a glossary of terms used in the handbook. This
glossary is targeted toward all readers.
• Appendix C presents a brief case study of the EMPACT Water Quality Project implemented at the Water
Quality Division of Tucson Water in Tucson, Arizona. This appendix is targeted toward all readers.
• Appendix D presents general guidance on creating a comprehensive outreach plan and provides a list of
resources for presenting water quality information to the public. This appendix is targeted toward personnel
tasked with implementing an outreach plan.
Throughout this handbook, you will find lessons learned and success stories related to DMWWs EMPACT project.
You will also find references to supplementary information sources, such as Web sites, guidance documents, and
other written materials that will provide you with a greater level of detail.
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3. Water Quality Monitoring—An Overview
All water—even from the healthiest rivers and lakes—contains naturally occurring
substances from the soil, surrounding vegetation and wildlife, and biological,
physical, and chemical processes. Some water sources may be contaminated by
man-made chemicals or the byproducts of industrial processes. The purpose of
water quality monitoring is to measure the presence and quantity of these
constituents or parameters in water. This chapter introduces the concept and
measurement of water quality from the perspective of drinking water utilities and
discusses some of the regulations and guidelines that public water systems must
follow to protect water quality.
Section 3.1 provides a general introduction to the concept of drinking water and
source water quality monitoring related to drinking water utilities. Sections 3.2
and 3J3 discuss the federal and state regulations and guidelines that public water
systems must follow to protect the quality of drinking water and source water,
respectively. These sections also introduce the water quality monitoring and
communication requirements associated with these regulations and guidelines.
EARN MOR
To learn more about water quality, consult the following references and Web sites:
EPA's Water Projects and Programs page at:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/waterpgram.htm.
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) site at:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/.
Drinking Water: Past, Present, and Future. USEPA/OW, February 2000, EPA 816-F-00-002
National Library of Medicine drinking water page at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater.html.
The National Agricultural Library Water Quality Information Center site at:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic.
For questions about drinking water requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), contact the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or via e-mail at hotline-sdwatiSepa.gov.
See Appendix D for additional references.
•
3.1 Introduction to Water Quality Monitoring
The quality of water affects how we are able to use it; conversely, the way we use our water can affect its overall
quality. The federal government, states, and localities are all involved in the regulation, monitoring, and control of
our nation's waters to protect the quality of water for its intended use. Therefore, it is important to distinguish
between the quality of drinking water and the quality of source water.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
There are approximately 170,000 public water systems in the United States. EPA classifies these water systems
according to the number of people they serve, the source of their water, and whether they serve the same people
year-round or on an occasional basis. Public water systems, which may be either publicly or privately owned,
provide water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service
connections or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days per year. EPA has defined three types
of public water systems:
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Community Water System: A public water system that supplies water to the same population year-round. For
example, the water system operated by DMWW (a water utility) is considered a community water system. There
are approximately 54,000 community water systems operated in the United States.
Non-Transient Non-Community Water System: A public water system that regularly supplies water to at least
25 of the same people for at least six months per year, but not year-round. Some examples are water systems at
schools, factories, office buildings, and hospitals. There are approximately 20,000 non-transient non-community
water systems operated in the United States.
Transient Non-Community Water System: A public water system that provides water to at least 25 people per
day in a place such as a gas station or campground where people do not remain for long periods of time. There
The federal and state regulations and guidelines designed to protect the quality of these waters are discussed in
the following sections.
3.2 Regulation of Drinking Water
Federal regulation of drinking water quality began in 1914, when the U.S. Public Health Service set standards for
certain disease-causing microbes. Today, water quality is protected by a variety of different regulations and
guidelines.
Through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) established in 1974 and revised in 1986 and 1996, Congress
authorized EPA to set enforceable health standards and required public notification of water utility violations and
annual customer reports on contaminants found in drinking water. Under the authority of the SDWA, EPA sets
standards for approximately 90 contaminants in drinking water. Currently, standards are set for the following:
• Microorganisms, including (but not limited to) Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Legionella, total coliforms
(including fecal coliform and E. coli), and viruses. Although some of these contaminants occur naturally in
the environment, most originate in human and animal fecal waste. Many of these contaminants can cause
gastrointestinal illness if ingested. Legionella can cause Legionnaire's disease.
• Disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, including (but not limited to) bromate, chloramines, chlorine,
chlorine dioxide, chlorite, haloacetic acids, and total trihalomethanes. These contaminants are either water
additives used to control microbes or byproducts of the disinfection process. Potential health effects vary
with each contaminant; they range from eye/nose irritation, stomach discomfort, and anemia to liver,
kidney, and nervous system effects and the increased risk of cancer.
• Inorganic chemicals, including antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium,
copper, cyanide, fluoride, lead, mercury, nitrate, nitrite, selenium, and thallium. These contaminants
originate from a variety of different sources, including (but not limited to) discharges from industrial
processes, erosion of natural deposits, corrosion of pipes, and runoff. Potential health effects are specific
to each contaminant; they can include circulatory system problems, skin damage, intestinal polyps and
lesions, increased blood pressure, kidney damage, nerve damage, thyroid problems, bone disease, and the
increased risk of cancer.
• Various organic chemicals. As with the inorganic chemicals, these contaminants originate from a variety
of different sources, including (but not limited to) discharges from industrial processes, agricultural and
municipal runoff, and leaching from pipes. Potential health effects are specific to each contaminant; they
can include kidney, liver, immune system, nervous system, circulatory system, and gastrointestinal
problems, reproductive difficulties, anemia, and the increased risk of cancer.
• Radionuclides, including alpha particles, beta particles and photon emitters, Radium 226 and Radium
228, and uranium. These contaminants may originate through the erosion and decay of natural and man-
made deposits. If ingested, they may potentially increase the risks of cancer. Uranium may also cause
kidney toxicity.
For each of these contaminants, EPA sets a legal limit, called a maximum contaminant level (MCL), or requires a
certain type of treatment. Water utilities may not distribute drinking water that doesn't meet these standards. Most
states have been delegated the authority to enforce the federal standards; state standards must be at least as
strict as the federal standards.
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National Primary Drinking Water Regulations are legally enforceable standards that apply to public water
systems. Primary standards protect public health by limiting the levels of drinking water contaminants, including
microorganisms, disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and
radionuclides. You can visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html for detailed information on the contaminants
regulated by national primary drinking water regulations.
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations are non-enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that
may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color)
in drinking water. Examples of these contaminants include metals, pH, total dissolved solids, odor, and color. You
can visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html for detailed information on the contaminants regulated by national
secondary drinking water regulations. Although EPA recommends secondary standards to public water systems,
the Agency does not require that these systems comply. States may, however, choose to adopt secondary
standards as enforceable standards.
HEALTH EFFECTS
The health-related contaminants regulated by primary and secondary drinking water regulations fall into two
groups according to the health effects they may cause:
Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant. People can suffer
acute health effects from almost any contaminant if they are exposed to extraordinarily high levels (as in the case
of a spill). In drinking water, microbes such as bacteria and viruses are contaminants with the greatest chance of
reaching levels high enough to cause acute health effects. Most people's bodies can fight off these microbial
contaminants; acute contaminants typically don't have permanent effects. Nonetheless, when high levels occur,
acute contaminants can make people ill and may be dangerous or deadly for the very young, the very old, or
people with immune systems weakened by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, steroid use, or other reasons.
,
Chronic effects occur after people consume a contaminant at levels over EPA's safety standards for many
years. The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals (such as disinfection by-
products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and minerals (such as arsenic). Examples of
the chronic effects of drinking water contaminants can include cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive
difficulties.
3.2.1 Monitoring Drinking Water Quality
Water utilities perform a wide range of water quality monitoring to meet several purposes. First, water utilities
routinely monitor and test public water systems to ensure compliance with the more than 90 contaminants for
which EPA has set national primary drinking water regulations. Second, water utilities must also meet more
stringent and additional monitoring requirements set by the individual states. Finally, water utilities conduct other
routine monitoring as part of their day-to-day operations to ensure treatment effectiveness and to ensure that
finished water quality meets both health and aesthetic objectives. This testing includes routine sampling as well as
check sampling to confirm the results of any problems discovered during routine sampling. Monitoring locations
and frequency are based on the parameters being monitored and are specific to each water utility based on its
source water type, size, treatment process, and distribution system. Some drinking water parameters are
monitored constantly while others are monitored only every few years.
The table on the following page shows the major groups of contaminants and the minimum testing frequency to
comply with the monitoring requirements under EPA's national primary drinking water regulations. If a problem is
detected, there are immediate retesting requirements that go into effect and strict instructions for how the public is
informed. The retesting is continued until the water system can reliably demonstrate that it is free of problems.
CONTAMINANT
MINIMUM MONITORING FREQUENC
Acute Contaminants
Bacteria
For community water systems, samples are collected
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Protozoa and Viruses
Nitrate/Nitrite
Chronic Contaminants
throughout each monthly monitoring period, ranging from
1 sample per month to 480 samples per month depending on
the system size. For non-community water systems, sampling
is conducted once per quarter.
Continuous monitoring for turbidity and monthly
monitoring for total coliforms, as indicators.
Quarterly sampling for surface water systems and annual
sampling for groundwater systems.
Volatile Organics (e.g., benzene)
Quarterly sampling at each entry point into the water
system, reduced to annual (or less frequent) sampling if
no detects.
Synthetic Organics (e.g., pesticides)
Inorganics/Metals
Quarterly sampling at each entry point into the water
system, reduced to annual (or less frequent) sampling if
no detects.
-or groundwater systems, sampling is conducted once
every 3 years. For surface water systems, sampling is
conducted annually.
Lead and Copper
Annual sampling is required, with the number of sites
ranging from 5 to 100, based on the size of the system.
Radionuclides Four consecutive quarters of sampling during initial
annual compliance period; subsequent monitoring
frequency is reduced if levels are below the detection limit.
Sample Compliance Monitoring Schedule Required Under EPA Regulations.
3.2.2 Public Notification of Drinking Water Violations
Federal regulations require that water utilities notify the people they serve when any violation of a drinking water
contaminant standard has occurred or any other situation has occurred that may pose a short-term risk to health.
As utilities test their water, they may discover that levels of certain contaminants are higher than federal or state
standards. These conditions may occur due to a change in local water conditions, heavy rainstorms, or an
accidental spill of a hazardous substance. Water utilities may also fail to collect one or a series of their required
samples at the scheduled interval. Any time a water utility fails to meet any EPA or state standards for drinking
water (including missing required samples or collecting them late), the utility must inform the people who drink the
water.
Depending on the severity of the situation, water utilities have from 24 hours to 1 year to notify the people they
serve of a violation. EPA specifies three categories, or tiers, of public notification. For each tier, water utilities have
different amounts of time to distribute the notice and different ways to deliver the notice:
Immediate notice (Tier 1): Anytime a situation creates the potential for immediate human health impacts, water
utilities have 24 hours to take whatever steps are necessary to notify people who may drink the water. In these
situations, water utilities must use mass media outlets such as television and radio, post their notice in public
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places, or personally deliver a notice to the people they serve.
Notice as soon as possible (Tier 2): Any time a water utility distributes water that hasn't been treated properly or
contains contaminants at levels that exceed EPA or state standards, the utility must notify the people it serves as
soon as possible, within 30 days of the violation as long as the situation does not pose an immediate risk to human
health. The water utility must provide notice through the mail or via hand delivery to residences and through
posting in conspicuous places for other persons served by the water system.
Annual Notice (Tier 3): When a water utility violates a drinking water standard but the violation does not have a
direct impact on human health (for example, failing to take a required sample on time), the utility has up to 1 year
to provide a notice of this situation to the people it serves. This extra time gives water utilities the opportunity to
consolidate these notices and send them with annual water quality reports (Consumer Confidence Reports,
described below).
Regardless of their tier classifications, all notices must include the following:
• A description of the violation that occurred, including the potential health effects.
• The population at risk and whether alternate water supplies should be used.
• What the water utility is doing to correct the problem.
• Actions consumers can take.
• When the violation occurred and when the water utility expects it to be resolved.
• How to contact the water utility for more information.
• Language encouraging broader distribution of the notice.
In addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2 notices, EPA requires that water utilities place annual drinking water quality reports
into the hands of the people they serve. These reports, called Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), enable
consumers to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and their environment. Water utilities
may enhance their reports as they wish; however, each report must provide consumers with fundamental
information about their drinking water.
The first of these reports came out in 1999; water utilities now publish reports by July 1 every year. CCRs are the
centerpiece of the "right-to-know" provisions in the 1996 Amendments to the SDWA. The Amendments contain
several other provisions aimed at improving public access to information about drinking water, including the annual
public water system compliance report and improved public notification in cases where drinking water is not
meeting a contaminant standard. You can read more about these reports at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr1.html. In addition, examples of CCRs from DMWW are included in Appendix A
(PDF 6.63MB).
WHAT DETERMINES THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TIER?
The following violations, situations, or conditions require Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 notifications. For more information
on the Public Notification Rule, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/pn.html.
Tier!
Fecal coliform violations; failure to test for fecal coliform after an initial total coliform sample tests positive.
Nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate/nitrite maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation; failure to collect a
confirmation sample.
• Chlorine dioxide maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) violation in the distribution system; failure to
collect required samples in the distribution system.
• Exceedence of the maximum allowable turbidity level (if elevated to Tier 1 by the primacy agency).
• Special notice for non-community water systems with nitrate exceedences between 10 mg/L and 20
mg/L, where the system is allowed to exceed 10 mg/L by the primacy agency.
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n outbreak of a waterborne disease or other waterborne emergency
• Other violations or situations determined by the primacy agency.
Tier 2
• All MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique violations, except where a Tier 1 notice is required.
• Monitoring violations, if elevated to Tier 2 by the primacy agency.
• Failure to comply with variance and exemption conditions.
• Turbidity consultation: When public water systems have a treatment technique violation resulting from a
single exceedence of the maximum allowable turbidity limit or an MCL violation resulting from an
exceedence of the 2-day turbidity limit, they must consult their primacy agency within 24 hours. The
primacy agency will then determine whether a Tier 1 notice is necessary. If consultation does not occur
within 24 hours, the violation is automatically elevated to Tier 1.
TierS
Monitoring and testing procedure violations, unless the primacy agency elevates the violation to Tier 2.
Operation under a variance and exemption.
Special public notices such as a fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) exceedence or
the availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring results.
WHAT'S IN A CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT?
CCRs must provide consumers with the following fundamental information about their
drinking water:
• Identification of the lake, river, aquifer, or other drinking water source.
• A brief summary of the susceptibility of the drinking water source to contamination based on the source
water assessments that states are currently completing.
• Directions on how to get a copy of the water system's complete source water assessment.
• The level (or a range of levels) of any contaminant found in local drinking water along with EPA's legal
limit (MCL) for comparison.
• The likely source of that contaminant in the local drinking water supply.
• The potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of an EPA health standard and a
description of the utility's actions to restore safe drinking water.
• The compliance of the water system with other drinking water-related rules.
• An educational statement for vulnerable populations about avoiding Cryptosporidium.
• Educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where these contaminants are detected at
levels greater than 50% of EPA's standard.
• Phone numbers for additional sources of information, including the water utility and EPA's Safe Drinking
Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
3.3 Source Water
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In contrast with drinking water, federal regulation of source water quality has been less detailed and has allowed
for more flexibility in the monitoring and reporting of source water quality. While many states, water utilities, and
localities have watershed and wellhead protection/management programs, the 1996 SDWA Amendments placed a
new focus on source water quality. The 1996 Amendments require states to implement Source Water Assessment
Programs (SWAPs) to assess areas serving as drinking water sources and identify potential threats to these
sources. You can read more about source water assessments at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/protect/assessment.html.
By 2003, states are required to complete a source water assessment for every public water system. Each SWAP
will be uniquely tailored to state water resources and drinking water priorities. However, each assessment must
include four major elements:
• A delineation (or map) of the source water assessment area.
• The potential sources of contamination in the delineated area.
• The susceptibility of the water supply to those contamination sources.
• Public release of the assessment results.
State SWAPs have been reviewed and approved by EPA; states and localities are currently in the process of
developing source water assessments. These assessment reports will be provided to the public in a variety of
ways. Some states plan to convene public workshops, while others will have copies available at public libraries,
local government offices, or water suppliers. Many states also plan to post the assessment summaries on the
Internet. In addition, the results of the assessments will be included in the annual water quality reports that
community water systems are required to prepare for the people they serve. You can find links to each state's
drinking water and source water protection pages at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/source/contacts.html.
In addition to the source water assessment requirements of the SDWA Amendments, all surface source waters
are federally regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the rules and regulations that have been developed
under that authority. The CWA impacts those sources (both point sources and nonpoint sources) that contribute
pollutants to the nation's surface waters. Point sources are stationary locations or fixed facilities from which
pollutants are discharged. Nonpoint sources are diffuse sources of pollutants associated with land use or
groundwater flow. Examples include runoff from agriculture, forestry, or urban activities. You can learn more about
the CWA and all associated programs and requirements at http://www.epa.gov/ow.
3.3.1 Monitoring Source Water Quality
Typically, source water quality monitoring is conducted by water utilities to determine the quality of water feeding
the water treatment system and adjust the treatment process based on raw water characteristics. In addition,
many localities and water utilities conduct source water monitoring as part of their watershed and wellhead
protection/management programs.
Water utilities are not required by the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide source water
quality monitoring results to either EPA or the public, but they may choose to do so through program-specific
outreach products, such as Web sites.
CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT SURFACE SOURCE WATER QUALITY
The Water Quality Criteria and Standards Program. This program includes a compilation of national
recommended water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life and human health for approximately 150
pollutants. These criteria have been published pursuant to Section 304(a) of the CWA and provide guidance for
states and tribes to use in adopting water quality standards. These water quality criteria cover the following types:
aquatic life, biological, drinking water, human health, and nutrient. You can find out more about this program at
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Program. This program requires
that all point sources discharging pollutants into waters of the United States obtain an NPDES permit. These
permits implement water quality standards and effluent limitations guidelines that have been developed for
specific industrial categories. You can find out more about this program at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/.
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Nonpoint source programs such as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program. Under Section 303(d)
of the CWA, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters. These
impaired waters do not meet water quality standards that states, territories, and authorized tribes have set for
them, even after point sources have installed minimum required levels of pollution control technology. The TMDL
rule requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the list and develop TMDLs for these
waters. A TMDL not only specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant (its loading) that a water body can receive
and still meet water quality standards but also allocates pollutant loadings among point and nonpoint sources.
While TMDLs have been required by the CWA since 1972, until recently states, territories, tribes, and EPA have
not developed many. Several years ago, citizens' organizations began bringing legal actions against EPA seeking
the listing of waters and the development of TMDLs. To date, there have been about 40 legal actions in 38
states, and EPA is under court order or consent decrees in many states to ensure that TMDLs are established,
either by the state or by EPA. Currently, EPA is working to develop changes to the TMDL regulations. Until then,
the current TMDL rule remains in effect. You can find out more about this program at
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl and at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps.
EPA's Clean Lakes Program. The Clean Lakes Program was established in 1972 as Section 314 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act to provide financial and technical assistance to states in restoring publicly owned
lakes. The early focus of the program was on research and development of lake restoration techniques and
evaluation of lake conditions. The Clean Lakes Program regulations promulgated in 1980 redirected the program
activities to diagnose the current conditions of individual lakes and their watersheds, determine the extent and
sources of pollution, develop feasible lake restoration and protection plans, and implement these plans. The
CWA Amendments of 1987 expanded the program to include state-wide assessments of lake conditions. EPA
has encouraged states to use these assessment funds to develop the institutional and administrative capabilities
needed to carry out their lake programs. You can find out more about this program at
ittD://www.eDa.aov/owow/lakes.
Table of Contents
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4. Des Moines Waterworks
DMWW is the largest municipal water utility in the state of Iowa. Serving over 350,000 people, DMWW operates
two water treatment plants and pumps an average of 43 million gallons of water per day. This chapter briefly
discusses many of the day-to-day operations conducted at DMWW and introduces some of the key programs and
systems that support DMWW's operations.
4.1 Overview of DMWW Operations
DMWW is located on the banks of the Raccoon River in the city of Des Moines. The utility draws source water
from the Raccoon River, the Des Moines River, an infiltration gallery, and several wells. The infiltration gallery is a
large horizontal well constructed in the sand and gravel adjacent to the Raccoon River. It yields river water and
groundwaterthat have been naturally filtered through the sand and gravel. DMWW selected these source water
supplies based on the quality of these waters and the utility's ability to treat these waters.
DMWW maintains an emergency supply of source water in the Maffitt Reservoir. This reservoir, constructed for
DMWW during the 1940s, is located southwest of the Des Moines metropolitan area within 600 acres of wooded
land; the area is popular for fishing and hiking. To enhance the quality of water in the reservoir, DMWW recently
purchased 105 acres of surrounding farmland to provide watershed protection.
DMWW operates two drinking water treatment plants: the Fleur Drive plant and the Maffitt plant. The Fleur Drive
plant (considered the main plant) has the capacity to treat 100 million gallons of source water per day. It is
operated by DMWW staff on a continuous basis. The Maffitt plant was constructed to address reliability issues that
arose when a serious flood put the Fleur Drive plant underwater and out of service in 1993. In addition to
providing a backup for the main plant, the Maffitt plant provides an additional 25 million gallons of drinking water
per day for the growing Des Moines population. The Maffitt plant is in service on a continuous basis; it is adjacent
to the Maffitt Reservoir, located about 10 miles southwest of the main plant, outside of the Raccoon River flood
plain. Typically, DMWW operates the Maffitt plant remotely.
Both of DMWWs treatment plants use a multi-step process to treat source water. The typical treatment process
used at the Fleur Drive plant is illustrated in the diagram on page 18 and briefly described below.
• Source water for the Fleur Drive plant is obtained from the Raccoon River, the Des Moines River, and the
infiltration gallery system.
• Powdered activated carbon is fed into river water to remove man-made and natural organic chemicals
(thereby improving the taste and odor). Ferric chloride is added to remove particulates. The pre-treated
river water is then combined with water from the infiltration gallery.
• The combined water is softened with soda ash and/or lime. Alum or ferric chloride is added to remove
minerals and other particles from the softened water.
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RIVER ^ CHEMICAL
ADDITION
DISTRIBUTION
CHLORINATION&
FLUORIDATION
Typical treament process used at DMWWs Fleur Drive Plant
The pH of the water is adjusted with carbon dioxide, and the water is stabilized with polyphosphate.
The water is filtered through layers of sand to remove any remaining particles.
When increased levels of nitrate are possible in river water, DMWW treats the water in its nitrate removal process.
Fluoride is added to the water to aid in the prevention of tooth decay, and chlorine is added as a disinfectant to kill
bacteria. The treated drinking water is stored in a clear well until it is pumped into the distribution system.
Water at the Maffitt plant is treated using a similar multi-step process. Because source water for this plant is
usually obtained exclusively from wells, DMWW does not pre-treat this water as it does river water. Also, DMWW
does not operate a nitrate removal process at the Maffitt plant because nitrate is typically found at low levels in the
well water.
Through more than 800 miles of underground water mains and pipe (both iron and plastic), DMWW distributes
drinking water from both treatment plants to the Des Moines metropolitan community. DMWW provides total water
service (including distribution system maintenance) to the city of Des Moines, Polk County, Windsor Heights, and
the Warren County Water System. Through this total water service, DMWW performs preventative maintenance on
all valves and hydrants, detects main leaks, repairs main breaks, and replaces and repairs valves and hydrants. In
addition, the utility reads meters, makes service calls, prepares bills, and responds to customer service inquiries.
DMWW also supplies water to several other cities, communities, and water systems. For example, the utility
maintains a partnership with the city of Ankeny. Through this partnership, DMWW provides drinking water, reads
meters, manages billing, and responds to customer service inquiries while the city of Ankeny makes service calls
and maintains its own distribution system.
In addition to its drinking water treatment and distribution responsibilities, DMWW operates the Water Works Park,
about 1,500 acres of land near downtown Des Moines.
4.2 Support Programs and Systems
DMWW relies on several programs and systems to support its day-to-day operations. Sections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3
discuss a few of DMWWs key support programs and systems: the sample collection/analysis program, the data
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management system, and the communications/outreach program. All of DMWWs operations are further supported
by an integrated collection of software and hardware components; this support system is discussed in Section
4.2.4.
4.2.1 Sample Collection/Analysis
DMWW monitors the quality of its drinking water and source water to satisfy both treatment process control and
regulatory requirements. (See Chapter 3 for a discussion of applicable regulatory requirements and guidelines.)
The utility maintains an in-house laboratory to conduct a variety of analyses on its water samples. To ensure that
data are accurate and representative, DMWW follows a comprehensive set of procedures for sampling and
laboratory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC); many of these procedures are required by EPA. DMWW has
a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) in place to document its adherence to these procedures.
DMWW'S QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN (QAPP)
DMWWs QAPP provides a detailed framework for the utility's sampling and analytical procedures. Specifically,
DMWWs QAPP covers the following:
The laboratory mission, organizational structure, personnel, the physical facility, laboratory reagents and
supplies, reagent standardization, contamination control, and laboratory safety.
Standard sampling procedures, acceptance criteria, chain-of-custody, a sampling plan for softening
analyses, non-routine sampling, and on-site analysis.
Inorganic, organic, and microbiological analytical procedures.
Data quality assurance.
Preventative equipment maintenance schedules, routine maintenance procedures, instrument
performance and optimization, protocol for correcting equipment problems, and equipment use and
maintenance record-keeping.
Equipment inventory.
DMWW collects and analyzes samples within its water treatment and distribution system. The
table below lists the drinking water parameters typically monitored by DMWW. Asterisks
identify the parameters monitored to fulfill regulatory requirements for DMWWs drinking
water. [Note that the parameters marked with asterisks do not add to the 90 federally
regulated parameters because some listed parameters (e.g., HAAs, SOCs, VOCs) represent
more than one standard and others have been omitted because subsequent monitoring has
been waived or is very infrequent] Monitoring frequency (monthly, weekly, daily, or
continuous) varies with each analysis. The utility uses Hach® CL-17 analyzers to monitor
chlorine levels and Hach® 1720D analyzers to monitor turbidity levels in its drinking water.
These analyzers are connected, with other treatment process control monitors, to DMWWs
supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The SCADA system is equipped
with data monitors and alarms with pre-set parameter levels to assist DMWWs water
production personnel with monitoring the treatment system around the clock.
DMWW also periodically collects and analyzes source water samples. The table on the next
page lists the source water parameters that are typically monitored by DMWW. When the
utility is operating its nitrate removal process, DMWW monitors Nitrate-N to fulfill the
requirements of its state operating permit. Monitoring frequency (monthly, weekly, daily, or
continuous) varies with the source water type and location and each analysis. Samples are
collected from selected sites ithin the Raccoon River and Des Moines River watersheds,
wells, and the Maffitt Reservoir.
Process
SB&
The Hac/i® CL- J 7
Chlorine Analyzer
DRINKING WATER PARAMETERS TYPICALLY MONITORED BY DMWW
Acetochlor*
Conductivity
Mercury*
Sulfate*
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I Antimony*
Arsenic*
Atrazine*
Barium*
Bromide
Cadmium*
Calcium hardness
CCPP*
Chloride
Chlorine
Chromium*
I Copper
Cryptosporidium
E. co//*
Fluoride*
HAAs*
HPC*
Iron
Langalier's Index
Lead*
Manganese
Magnesium hardness
SUVA*
Temperature
Thallium*
THMs*
TOC*
Total coliforms
Total hardness
Turbidity*
UV-254*
VOCs*
Metolachlor*
Nitrate-N*
Nitrite-N*
Odors
O-phosphate
P-alkalinity
pH*
Potassium
Radionuclides
Selenium*
SOCs*
Sodium
"Parameters collected to fulfill regulatory requirements are marked with asterisks.
SOURCE WATER PARAMETERS TYPICALLY MONITORED BY DMWW
Acetochlor
Ammonia
Atrazine
Bromide
Calcium hardness
Chloride
Copper
Cryptosporidium
E. co//
Fluoride
HPC
Iron
Lead
Manganese
Magnesium hardness
Metolachlor
Nitrate-N*
Nitrite-N
O-phosphate
Odors
P-alkalinity
PH
Potassium
Sodium
Sulfate
SUVA
Temperature
TOC*
Total coliforms
Total hardness
Turbidity*
UV-254
"Parameters collected to fulfill regulatory requirements are marked with asterisks.
URBAN RUNOFF STUDIES
DMWW conducted a series of urban runoff studies to determine the microbial and chemical influences of main
urban creek watersheds on the utility's source waters. Each of DMWW's source water rivers has a primary urban
creek (Walnut Creek for the Raccoon River and Beaver Creek for the Des Moines River) with a branch that not
only meanders through residential and business areas but also extends beyond these areas into agricultural land.
Walnut Creek is multi-branched and eventually empties into the Raccoon River 2 miles upstream of DMWW's
water intake. Beaver Creek has one main creek channel plus a small branch. The mouth of Beaver Creek is
located 3 miles upstream of DMWW's Des Moines River water intake.
DMWW conducted its urban runoff studies over a 2-3 year period. To determine the microbial and chemical
influences of these creeks, DMWW tested creek water for total Ł. co// counts, nitrate, ammonia, and other
chemistry determinations. Samples were collected by a DMWW laboratory technician during a rainfall event.
DMWW performed the creek sampling using two different approaches. One approach was to sample water from
the creek mouth, water from the river upstream from the creek, and water from DMWWs downstream intake. The
second approach involved a complete or nearly complete study that used the basic approach above but included
several other creek monitoring sites. DMWW selected 12 mapped sampling sites for the Beaver Creek watershed
and up to 20 mapped sampling sites for the Walnut Creek watershed.
The results of DMWWs urban creek studies indicate that bacterial contamination of Des Moines urban creeks
sometimes significantly affects the bacterial counts found in DMWW's source water rivers, despite the relatively
small amounts of flow from these creeks. DMWW determined that the high bacteria levels in urban creeks are
likely the result of pet and wild animal waste deposited in Des Moines metropolitan storm sewers; however,
DMWW did locate more than one broken sewer line during its studies. DMWW's results also indicate that urban
runoff accounts for very little of the nitrate measured in the utility's source water.
4.2.2 Data Management
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DMWW carefully manages and validates its monitoring data to ensure that only data of known and documented
quality are used to make environmental and operational decisions. DMWWs data validation process is illustrated
in the flow diagram on page 23.
Data management begins with DMWWs laboratory analyst. All sample analyses must adhere to the laboratory
QA/QC procedures documented in DMWWs QAPP. The laboratory analyst enters data that meet these
requirements and the QC measurements made during the analysis into a laboratory information management
system (LIMS). The LIMS automatically compares the data (both the analytical result and the QC measurements)
to a range of acceptable values that DMWW has pre-programmed into the LIMS. The system flags data as
suspect if they do not fall within the range. The laboratory analyst carefully reviews the data she has entered to
ensure that she has not made a typographical error. The control range feature in the LIMS can help the analyst
quickly identify suspect or erroneous data during her review.
After DMWWs data have been reviewed by the laboratory analyst, these data are validated by either DMWWs
QA/QC officer or QA/QC supervisor. These personnel conduct their validation reviews in light of their extensive
experience with the operation and control of DMWWs treatment process, historical trends in DMWWs water
quality, and close communication with DMWWs treatment process operators and supervisors. Specifically, the
QA/QC officer and QA/QC supervisor perform the following types of analyses:
• Compare data within the LIMS control range with hard-copy analytical results to locate any incorrectly
transcribed data that may have still fallen within the LIMS control range and were therefore not detected by
the laboratory analyst.
• Review records and documentation to ensure that samples were collected and analyzed correctly.
• Review data in light of historical water quality measurements, treatment process expertise, and other
known factors that may affect the values of certain parameters. During this review, the QA/QC officer or
supervisor determine whether or not the data seem logical.
When his review is complete, either the QA/QC officer or the QA/QC supervisor marks validated data as
"approved" in the LIMS. Because the LIMS package allows for the validation of individual analytical results,
DMWW can approve one result and reject another result measured in the same sample. In some cases, DMWW
may collect additional samples and/or repeat laboratory analyses to replace certain erroneous results. DMWWs
data management process can take anywhere from a few hours to one week, depending on the staff available to
perform the separate data reviews. Data are prioritized for review based on the significance of the results to the
operation of DMWWs water treatment process.
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.]i In i ..... ,| I.-,
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DMWWs Data Validation Process
4.2.3 Communication and Outreach
DMWW follows a comprehensive plan for communication and outreach. Through this plan, DMWW uses several
different mechanisms and products to convey information to the Des Moines metropolitan community. See
Chapter 6 for more detailed information about DMWWs outreach plan. Some of DMWWs
communications/outreach products and mechanisms are briefly introduced below.
The Monthly Newsletter: H2O Line. DMWWs monthly newsletter provides DMWWs customers with information
on current issues related to drinking water and source water quality.
Annual Consumer Confidence Report. DMWWs June newsletter typically functions as a Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR). The CCR, required by federal drinking water regulations, enables DMWW community residents to
make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and their environment. See Chapters of this handbook
for more information on the CCR and the federal regulations that require its publication.
Welcome Brochure. DMWW sends a "Welcome" brochure to all of its new customers. The pamphlet contains a
variety of useful introductory information, including billing and payment options, a description of DMWWs
treatment process, information about the services provided by DMWW, and applicable rules/regulations.
Annual Business Report. The main goal of DMWWs annual report is to present financial information to its
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customers; however, DMWW also includes a few pages of educational materials in the report. The content of these
materials depends on issues and concerns of the current year.
Other Outreach Mechanisms. DMWW visits area schools to teach children of all grade levels about drinking
water and source water. The utility also offers tours of its facilities to school children and adults. DMWW prepares
technical outreach information for conferences held by organizations such as the American Water Works
Association. In addition, the utility has prepared a series of fact sheets to answer specific questions from its
customers.
The DMWW Web Site. DMWW uses its Web site (http://www.dmww.com) to communicate a wide variety of
information to the Des Moines community.
4.2.4 Software and Hardware Systems
DMWW operates an integrated collection of software packages and hardware devices designed and programmed
to compile, manage, retrieve, and post data and information in support of DMWWs day-to-day operations. This
integrated system consists of three general components: the database server, the firewall, and the Web server.
Consider these definitions:
• Database Server. A database server hosts a database management system, a software package that
allows users to store and modify information in a database.
• Firewall. A firewall is either a hardware device, a software package, or a combination of these
mechanisms designed to protect internal computer systems from intentional, hostile intrusion from outside
sources.
• Web Server. A Web server hosts a software system that allows for data delivery to outside users over the
Internet or internal users over an Intranet.
These system components are briefly discussed below.
Database Server
DMWW uses a database server to support both regulatory and treatment process control requirements for data
compilation and management. DMWWs database server, a Hewlett-Packard® UXTM™ workstation, hosts an
Oracle™ DBMS (Version 7.3.2) to manage the utility's drinking water and source water data. The Oracle™
database is relational, which means that it allows DMWW to store data in the form of related tables. As discussed
previously, DMWW also uses a laboratory information management system (LIMS) package developed by PE
Nelson to support its analytical data management requirements. DMWW selected the PE Nelson LIMS package
based on its ease of use, system security features, flexibility, minimal hardware and equipment requirements, and
compatibility with the utility's existing Oracle™ DBMS.
A request to extract information from the database is made in the form of a query. Although different database
management systems support different types of query languages, Structured Query Language (SQL) is typically
considered to be the most common format for constructing queries. DMWWs Oracle™ DBMS supports SQL
(PL/SQL); DMWW personnel write code in SQL to query data.
DMWW personnel perform all DBMS maintenance and management. The utility has found that this maintenance
can be very time consuming. DMWWs QA/QC officer dedicates at least 30 percent of his time to maintaining and
managing DMWWs DBMS; he feels that the system typically requires about 50 percent of his time. DMWW
conducts daily, monthly, and annual tape backups of all data on its internal network; archived data are stored in a
secure location. The utility's monthly archives are maintained for 2 years. DMWW never discards its annual
archives.
Firewall
DMWW uses a Borderware™ firewall to protect its internal computer systems and Web site. A firewall examines
all data traffic between two networks to determine if the traffic pattern meets certain criteria for security. If the
criteria are met, the firewall allows data to flow between the networks. If the criteria are not met, the firewall halts
the data transmission. A firewall can filter both inbound and outbound data traffic using a variety of filtering
techniques.
Web Server
DMWWs Web server allows DMWW to serve data over the Internet using Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML),
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a program language used for publishing information on the Web.
DMWWs Web server hosts its Web site, which provides a location on the Internet for the utility's customers to
access information. DMWW has an existing high-speed Internet connection and a fully functioning Web site to
communicate with its customers.
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5. DMWW's EMPACT Project
In 1998, EPA's EMPACT program funded DMWWs EMPACT project, which provides Des Moines metropolitan
community residents with timely information about the factors that affect their drinking water supply. This project is
designed to enhance DMWW's day-to-day operations and community outreach program, in part, through the
delivery of timely drinking water and source water quality information. The project strives to encourage Des Moines
residents, as well as the entire watershed community, to assume a larger role in restoring and preserving the
quality of community source waters.
This chapter presents a case study of DMWW's EMPACT project. Section 5.1 discusses the project phases.
Section 5.2 discusses DMWWs EMPACT project Web site.
5.1 DMWW's EMPACT Project Phases
DMWWs EMPACT project is broken into three phases:
• Phase I is associated with the Web posting and updating of timely drinking water quality
information.
• Phase II is associated with the Web posting and updating of timely source water quality
information and supporting static information and documents.
• Phase III is associated with the Web posting of static results from DMWWs urban runoff
studies.
These phases are discussed in detail below.
5.1.1 DMWW EMPACT Project—Phase I
Phase I of DMWW's EMPACT project focuses on the posting and updating of timely drinking water quality data to
the EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site. The table on page 28 presents the parameters and sampling
frequencies for the Phase I data that are available on DMWWs project Web site. DMWW selected this subset of
parameters based on what the utility felt would be of greatest interest to the Des Moines metropolitan community.
All drinking water data associated with the EMPACT project are validated and processed through DMWW's data
management system (discussed in Chapter 4). Overall, DMWW's data management process has not been
enhanced to support the utility's EMPACT project; DMWW has always required timely water quality data to
effectively operate its treatment system. DMWWs EMPACT project does not directly increase or decrease the
amount of time required to perform data validation; however, the implementation of the EMPACT project may in
some cases require additional resources for QA/QC reviews.
All validated data are available for extraction and posting to the EMPACT project area of DMWWs Web site. Data
that fail any of the data management review steps are marked as suspect or rejected; these data are not delivered
to the public. Data are prioritized for review based on the significance of the results to the operation of the water
treatment process. To ensure that most data are available to Web users within 1 week of collection, DMWW
follows a review schedule (e.g., the QA/QC officer or supervisor plans to review data on Wednesday and Friday of
each week).
PARAMETER
Alkalinity (Total)
Carbonate Precipitation Potential
Calcium Hardness as CaCO
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SAMPLING FREQUENC
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Chlorine (Free
Conductivity
Continuous online
Cryptosporidium
Heterotrophic Plate Count Bacteria
Langehers Index
Magnesium Hardness as CaCO3
Metals (potassium, sodium, iron, manganese)
Metals (lead, copper)
Weekly/daily when near M
Ortho-Phosphate
Pesticides (Metolachlor, Acetochlor, Atrazme)
eekly (April-October)
Silica (Reactive
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Hardness as CaCO3
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Total Coliforms
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Total Trihalomethanes
Turbidity
^Regulated constituents must be reported to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) as part of a regular compliance
program. Unregulated constituents are monitored for general water quality and treatment process information but not reported to the
Timely data for these drinking water quality constituents are available on the EMPACT project area of
DMWWs Web site.
VALIDATING TIMELY DATA
The analysis of drinking water is well regulated and conducted by certified laboratories using EPA-approved
methods. A very important part of the data management process is data validation, which must occur before
drinking water sample results can be considered final and ready for public release. The reason for this part of the
process is to avoid the unnecessary public concern that would occur if invalid positive results were released and
then found to be incorrect. For most parameters, the data validation process can occur in only a few days. Thus,
in this context, timely data is that which minimizes the time between the generation of validated sample results
and the availability of these results to the public. Typically, the time between sampling drinking water and
providing the validated sampling results to the public can range from a few days to a maximum of 3 weeks.
To increase the timeliness of water quality data available to the Des Moines community, DMWW could post
"provisional" data to the EMPACT project area of its Web site shortly after laboratory analysis. Although
provisional data have met the QA/QC requirements for sample collection and laboratory analysis, these data are
not validated. DMWW has chosen not to post provisional data to its Web site because the utility feels that the
potential disadvantages of posting erroneous data (e.g., causing unnecessary community alarm) outweigh the
During the design and construction of Phase I, DMWW dedicated its resources to developing the data delivery
approach, technical systems, and communications/outreach goals required to support all phases of its EMPACT
project. DMWW spent approximately 2 years completing the design and construction of Phase I.
During the design of the data delivery approach and technical systems, DMWW analyzed its hardware and
software systems to determine the utility's existing technical resources and expertise, identify the key technical
issues to be addressed during EMPACT project design, and identify potential technical challenges. After fully
evaluating its existing systems, DMWW chose to dedicate a significant portion of its EMPACT project funding to
support the skilled technical labor (both internal and external) necessary create a new DMWW EMPACT project
area on the utility's existing Web site and build the mechanisms necessary to deliver timely data to that site.
First, DMWW replaced its existing Web server. The new server runs Microsoft® Internet Information Server (IIS)
4.0™. DMWW selected Microsoft® IIS 4.0™ because it provides the utility with a platform for building more
sophisticated Internet applications. At first, DMWW attempted to create an electronic link from the new Web server
to its existing Oracle™ database. However, this link proved to be both unreliable and inefficient. DMWW suspects
that these issues arose due to certain differences in communication between the Oracle™ and Microsoft®
systems. To resolve these differences, DMWW converted an existing SQL Server database into a staging area for
the data and electronically linked this database to the Web server. Each night, approved data are extracted from
DMWWs Oracle™ database and stored in the SQL Server database. When a user requests information from the
EMPACT project area on DMWWs Web site, these data are pulled from the SQL Server database. See Section
5.2 for more information on DMWWs Web site.
In some ways, DMWWs decision to modify some of its existing technical components conserved funding and
resources: DMWW was not required to purchase many significant pieces of hardware and software to support its
EMPACT project. In other ways, DMWWs decision resulted in some challenges: DMWW and its contractors were
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required to dedicate extra resources to closely examine and redesign specific features of the existing technical
components to create a fully functional and compatible data delivery system.
While designing the data delivery system, DMWW considered its available technical resources (both internal and
external) to support not only the design and development of the system but also the long-term implementation of
the system. DMWWs project phasing approach allowed the utility to dedicate a portion of its internal technical
resources to the EMPACT project while the utility conducted other important non-EMPACT information systems
tasks (such as ensuring the Y2K compliance of DMWWs computer systems).
5.1.2 DMWW's EMPACT Project—Phase II
When Phase I of DMWWs EMPACT project was fully implemented, DMWW and its technical contractors modified
the Phase I system to support the Phase II delivery of timely source water quality data to community residents.
DMWW then dedicated its available technical resources to post key pieces of static data to the EMPACT project
area on the utility's Web site to fully implement the subsequent components of Phase II.
Phase II includes the following three components:
• Component I focuses on the posting and updating of timely source water quality data to the EMPACT
project area on DMWW's Web site. The complete implementation of this component took only a few weeks
because it uses the data delivery approach and technical systems developed for Phase I.
• Through Component II, DMWW places its annual CCR on its Web site. DMWW's CCR enables Des Moines
metropolitan community residents to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and their
environment. Refer to Chapter 6 for more information on DMWWs CCR, and refer to Chapter 3 for more
information on the federal regulations that require its publication.
• Component III provides relevant data extracted from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
source water assessment program (SWAP), which was developed in compliance with Section 1453 of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). See Chapter 3 for more information on the SWAP and the SDWA.
The table on page 31 presents the parameters and sampling frequencies for the Phase II data available on the
EMPACT project area of DMWWs Web site. DMWW selected this subset of parameters based on what the utility
felt would be of greatest interest to the Des Moines metropolitan community.
Through the execution of Phase II of its EMPACT project, DMWW procured and installed two early-alert source
water monitoring stations at the Racoon River intake and the Des Moines River intake. DMWW uses these
monitoring stations to provide treatment plant operators with as much warning as possible when rapid changes in
source water quality warrant immediate modifications to the drinking water treatment process. Each early-alert
monitoring station contains four Hach® water analyzers to monitor nitrate, ammonia, pH, and turbidity.
Using the early-alert analyzers, DMWW collects and analyzes source water samples for nitrate every 2.5 minutes,
samples for ammonia every 7.5 minutes, and samples for pH and turbidity continuously. The analyzers are
currently programmed to collect and analyze samples at their maximum frequencies; however, DMWW may
consider decreasing the monitoring frequency to reduce costs in the future. The early-alert analyzers are
connected, with other treatment process control monitors, to DMWW's SCADA system. Data from these analyzers
are not available on the EMPACT area of DMWWs Web site.
SAMPLING FREQUENCY
Calcium Hardness as CaCO3
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Chloride
Cryptosporodium
Ł. co//
Fluoride
Heterotrophic Plate Count Bacteria
Magnesium Hardness as
Metals (potassium, sodium, iron, manganese, lead, copper)
Nitrate - N
Weekly/daily when near MCL
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Ortho-Phosphate
Pesticides (Metolachlor, Acetochlor, Atrazin>
Sulfate
Temperature
Total Hardness as
Total Coliforms
Turbidity
Timely data for these source water quality constituents are available on the EMPACT project area of DMWW's Web site.
'Note: Frequencies marked with an asterisk are for manual monitoring only. These parameters are monitored on a more frequent basis
using automatic analyzers. Only the manual monitoring data are available on the EMPACT area of DMWW's Web site.
DMWW has found that maintenance of the Hach® early-alert analyzers can be very time-consuming. During the
spring and summer, DMWW must repeatedly clean mud from the analyzers due to the seasonal turbidity increase
in area source water rivers. The utility spends at least 1 hour per day cleaning and maintaining the analyzers at
each station during this part of the year. During the fall and winter, the utility spends about 1 hour every 2 weeks
maintaining the analyzers at each station.
HACH® ANALYZER
WATER QUALITY PARAMETER
APA 6000
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The Hach®APA 6000 Series
Analyzer.
TheHach®EC310™ pH
Monitor.
The Hach® Surface Scatter 6
Turbidimeter
The nitrate and ammonia analyzers are self-calibrating; DMWW reviews the calibration periodically. DMWW
manually calibrates the pH and turbidity analyzers each month. Because the Hach® analyzers are modular
instruments, DMWW can repair the analyzers on site simply by removing and replacing the broken part. DMWW
keeps a large supply of spare parts on site to support routine and emergency replacements.
CHALLENGES OF REAL-TIME QA
The data provided by the early-alert analyzers have allowed DMWW to become more proactive in modifying its
treatment process in response to sudden changes in source water quality. However, DMWW is still developing a
QA/QC protocol for using these analyzers. When an early-alert analyzer indicates a sudden change in source
water quality, DMWW water production personnel immediately collect and analyze a manual sample to verify the
reading for that parameter. However, when the analyzers indicate a very large change in source water quality,
DMWW personnel sometimes modify the water treatment process prior to verifying the analyzer reading. To
develop a continuing log of accuracy measurements, DMWW programs its analyzers to collect periodic quality
samples. For every seven source water samples analyzed, the analyzer will collect one sample from a separate
intake line that DMWW has connected to a sample of water with a known quantity of parameters. DMWW
periodically checks the results of the QC sample to ensure the accuracy of the analyzer readings. With time,
DMWW hopes to decrease the amount of manual and QC samples it takes to verify the accuracy of its early-alert
analyzers.
5.1.3 DMWW's EMPACT Project—Phase III
Through the execution of Phase III of its EMPACT project, DMWW will post the results from its urban runoff studies
to the EMPACT project area of its Web site to enable its customers to observe the effects of urban watersheds on
the quality of their drinking water. As discussed in Chapter 4. the urban runoff studies attempted to determine the
microbial and chemical influences of main urban creek watersheds on the utility's source waters. DMWW expects
to post the results of these studies on its Web site by spring 2002.
When Phase III of the EMPACT project has been fully implemented, DMWW will dedicate its available technical
resources to operating, maintaining, and periodically enhancing its EMPACT project data delivery system and Web
site, while continuing to support other important day-to-day information systems tasks (such as redesigning the
utility's electronic billing system).
5.2 DMWW's EMPACT Project Web Site
Because DMWWs EMPACT project phases represent unique topics and different implementation schedules, the
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is organized around these phases.
The EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is located at http://www.dmww.com/empact.asp. This site
provides the following:
• An answer to the question, "What is safe drinking water?"
• Answers to frequently asked questions about drinking water and source water.
• A diagram of DMWWs drinking water treatment process
• Information about the Des Moines River and Raccoon River watersheds.
• The DMWW service map.
• The most recent annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
• An overview of the DMWW EMPACT project and descriptions of project Phases I, II, and III.
• Timely data on the presence and/or quantity of specific parameters found in Des Moines drinking water or
source water.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
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From this site, Des Moines community residents can request timely water quality information from two links: Phase
I—Drinking Water Information and Phase II—Source Water Information. Users can learn about the presence
and/or quantity of specific parameters found in their drinking water or source water by selecting the parameter
from a drop-down list of options.
From the user's computer, a data request works like this:
• The user selects a specific analytical parameter from a drop-down list.
• The user selects the desired range of sampling dates for that particular parameter. If the user does not
specify a date, the Web site automatically defaults to a range beginning 1 month prior to the present date.
• The user clicks the "Show Me" button.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
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Requested source water data are presented to the user in a table on a results page.
At DMWW, the data retrieval process works like this:
• DMWWs Web server accepts the user's request in the form of HTML and repackages the request into
SQL.
• The Web server sends the SQL request through the firewall.
• Inside the firewall, the SQL request is processed by DMWWs SQL Server, and the requested validated
data are extracted from the staging database. Recall that DMWW uploads data from the LIMS/OracleTM
database to the SQL Server database nightly.
• The extracted data are sent back through the firewall to the Web server.
• The Web server formats the data and displays a results page.
The results page contains the following features:
• A brief, succinct description of the selected parameter.
• An explanation of the data returned by the user's inquiry.
• The MCL and Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) established by EPA for that parameter
(applicable only to the drinking water page).
• A link to EPA's Drinking Water Regulations and Health Advisories page for more information about the
health effects related to that parameter.
• A tabular or graphical representation of the data.
• A link to EPA's Drinking Water Regulations and Health Advisories page:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html for information about the health effects of certain parameters in
drinking water.
• Links to other Web sites providing information consistent with the topic and message of DMWWs EMPACT
site.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
• A link to EPA's "Terms of Environment" site http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms.
• A link that allows the customer to send an email to DMWW.
PLUG-INS
A "plug-in" is a software module that works along with an Internet browser to add a specific feature to a Web site.
For example, a plug-in can allow users to listen to music or view videos on a Web site. If a Web site requires a
plug-in to execute a specific feature, users must download the plug-in program to experience that feature.
DMWW selected a software package, Chart FX™, to display certain pieces of requested data in a chart format on
the EMPACT project area of its Web site. To use this feature, users must download Chart FX™ (a "plug-in"). The
first time a user requests charted data from his or her personal computer, the Web site displays a "warning"
asking the user to agree to download the plug-in. The Internet browser then guides the user through the
downloading process. The user is required to download the plug-in only once; the user's computer will
automatically access the plug-in for viewing charts in the future.
V). The
DMWW feels that this plug-in increases the number of options for viewing data on the site, thereby enhancing the
user-friendliness of the site. Although DMWW could program its site to display charts, the plug-in allows DMWW
to offer this feature without dedicating valuable resources to formatting data. DMWW has found that many of its
customers are comfortable and familiar with plug-ins; the utility has received only a few questions and concerns
about the requirement to download this module.
The EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site is programmed to present data in either a table or a chart. The
table format allows the user to view individual analytical results for a selected parameter measured on selected
dates at selected sampling locations. The chart format allows the user to view and compare analytical results for a
selected parameter over the entire range of selected dates and sampling locations. The charting function also
allows the user to view information about a specific data point (e.g., parameter concentration, sample collection
date, and sample description) by holding the cursor over that data point in the chart.
5.2.1 Designing the Web Site
The designers of the EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site included water treatment and laboratory
personnel, information systems personnel, technical contractors, and a communications specialist. This team
found the design process to be iterative. The team's design initially focused on answering the following question:
"Is my drinking water safe?" However, when the initial design was reviewed, the team determined that a simple
answer to this question would not necessarily benefit DMWW's customers. The team also considered that this
question cannot always be answered simply. For example, when DMWW measured high levels of nitrate in its
treated drinking water in 1999, the utility felt that customers should have access to detailed information about the
condition of the water due to the increased risk of "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) to infants under 6
months of age. However, DMWW could not simply answer "no" to the above question because nitrate levels in the
water never exceeded the legal limits (MCLs) established for nitrate. (Refer to Chapters of this handbook for
public notification requirements and additional information on the regulation of drinking water.)
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Early in the design planning of DMWW's EMPACT site, the team realized that users would need to scroll down to
fully view data charts. The team felt that this requirement diminished the overall effect of the results display, so the
team had the page reconstructed to remove the DMWW EMPACT header when data results and charts are
displayed. The trade-off, however, is that results are depicted on a separate Web page, and users must use the
browser's "back" button (rather than a site link) to return to the previous page and continue navigation through the
site.
DMWW designed the EMPACT project area of its Web site to be fairly complex. The project area includes several
Web pages and offers different options for timely data requests and display. Many different SQL statements are
required to support these options. The Web pages in the EMPACT project area are designed in framed format.
Although this format simplified the initial technical design of the project area, DMWW feels that the frames now
limit certain modifications to the look and organization of this area on the Web site.
To quantify the effectiveness and overall success of the EMPACT project area on its Web site, DMWW uses the
following measurements:
• Total number of visits to the site.
• Visit patterns vs. time of day.
• The number of visits made by each type of user.
• Customer surveys.
• Customer feedback from the Web site.
-ESSON LEARNED:
DMWW's first Web contractor went out of business during the design and construction of the EMPACT project
area of DMWW's Web site. DMWW hired a second Web contractor to move ahead with the design and
construction. In light of project resource and schedule constraints, DMWW chose to move ahead with the frame
format initiated by the first contractor. DMWW feels that this format currently limits some of its options for revising
the Web design. Eventually, the utility would like to eliminate the frames from the EMPACT project area of its
Web site.
It is important for a utility to require detailed and thorough written documentation of the work performed by
contractors, especially when the utility plans to use internal personnel to implement technical systems that have
been developed by its contractors.
FEEDBACK
DMWW receives feedback on its Web site through its e-mail system. Most of the feedback regarding the
EMPACT project area on DMWW's Web site has been positive and congratulatory in nature. Many times,
customers request additional or more detailed information about a specific topic after having visited the Web site
in search of basic information. DMWW sees this trend as a very positive sign that it is reaching out to its
customers and sparking a new level of interest in community water quality—especially source water quality.
DMWW has received some negative feedback as well. Some customers have asked to see more detailed
technical information posted on DMWWs site, but DMWW feels that responding individually to requests for more
information is the best way to ensure that the Web site is reaching out to the average member of its target
audience.
A water utility in Sydney, Australia had some specific technical questions about the EMPACT project area on
DMWW's Web site. After repeated communications with DMWW, the Sydney Water System is in the process of
constructing a similar Web site for disseminating timely water quality data to its customers!
Table of Contents | Next »
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
6. Communicating Drinking Water and Source Water Quality
Information
Even the best programs and systems for data collection/analysis, data management, and data delivery won't
ensure project success unless information has been accurately and effectively communicated with community
residents and consumers. This chapter discusses DMWW's communication/outreach program. For general
guidance on creating an outreach plan and a list of resources you can use to enhance your outreach efforts, see
Appendix D.
6.1 Outreach Plan
At DMWW, a communications specialist coordinates and leads all outreach efforts. She works closely with
DMWWs experts in water quality and information systems to implement the utility's outreach plan.
DMWW has an ongoing partnership with three municipal organizations in Des Moines: Metro Waste Authority, the
Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Facility, and the Storm Water Division of the City of Des
Moines. DMWW and these organizations have joined to form the Urban Environmental Partnership. The
partnership will implement a series of cooperative outreach efforts to communicate the importance of water quality
protection in the urban environment. Working together, they avoid duplicating outreach efforts, increase their
resources, and reach a greater number of people with their cohesive outreach message. The partnership is
advertised with a flyer.
DMWW also partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to offer a watershed tour that provided
information about existing voluntary programs for watershed conservation and efforts to reduce nitrate in
agricultural runoff. In addition, DMWW is partnering with Pheasants Forever, a group that promotes environmental
responsibility as a way to conserve recreational opportunities like hunting. This partnership strives to communicate
the importance of environmental responsibility to children in Des Moines.
The overall goal of DMWWs outreach program is to educate all members of the Des Moines community. DMWW
is currently running a public relations campaign called "DMWW: Your Pipeline to Water Information." Through this
campaign, DMWW is teaching its customers that the utility's purpose is not only to provide them with clean, safe
drinking water but also to respond to any questions or concerns they may have about their drinking water and
source water.
DMWW tailors many of its outreach efforts to fulfill the overall goal of the information pipeline campaign. Here are
some examples of DMWWs specific outreach goals:
1. Provide Des Moines community residents with information on current issues related to drinking water and
source water quality.
2. Enable Des Moines community residents to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health
and their environment.
3. Present DMWW business and financial information to its customers.
4. Provide Des Moines community residents with convenient access to timely drinking water and source
water quality information.
DMWWs broad and diversified target audience includes the entire Des Moines community. DMWW has divided its
audience into several categories, including youngsters, students, parents, senior citizens, new customers, business
owners, and various organizations. DMWW has become familiar with the characteristics of its audience categories
by providing over 80 years of water utility service to the Des Moines metropolitan area. DMWW continues to profile
its audience categories by soliciting public feedback through a variety of different mechanisms. These mechanisms
are discussed in Section 6.3.
6.2 Outreach Products
DMWW has developed several different outreach products to
communicate with its target audience categories. Some of these
products are discussed below.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
II
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Annual Consumer Confidence Report
DMWWs June newsletter typically functions as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR, required by
federal drinking water regulations, enables DMWW community residents to make practical, knowledgeable
decisions about their health and their environment. See Chapter 3 of this handbook for more information on the
CCR and the federal regulations that require its publication. An example of DMWWs CCR is included in Appendix
A (PDF, 6.63MB).
Welcome Brochure
DMWW sends a "Welcome" brochure to all of its new customers. The pamphlet contains information about the
following topics:
• DMWWs mission, location, business hours, and contact information.
• Billing information and payment options.
• Responsibilities of DMWW and its customers.
• Procedures for water meter readings and maintenance.
• DMWWs drinking water treatment process.
• Utility tours.
• Parks and recreation.
• Community tree plantings.
• Rules/regulations.
Annual Business Report
The main goal of DMWWs annual report is to present financial information to its customers; however, DMWW also
includes a few pages of educational materials. The content of these materials depends on issues and concerns of
the current year. To encourage customers to keep its 2001 report, DMWW incorporated a note pad into the report.
For 2002, DMWW has incorporated a planning calendar into the report. The calendar includes water and health
facts, in addition to DMWWs contact information, on each page.
Other Outreach Products and Tools
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In addition to the products and tools discussed above, DMWW uses these outreach mechanisms:
• DMWW visits area schools to teach children of all grade levels about drinking water and source water.
• DMWW offers tours of its facilities to adults and school children.
• DMWW prepares technical outreach information for conferences held by organizations such as the
American Water Works Association.
• DMWW has prepared a series of fact sheets to answer specific questions from its customers. These fact
sheets provide information on a wide range of topics, including the presence of alkalinity, lead and copper,
nitrate, and Cryptosporidium in drinking water.
Special Outreach Efforts
Occasionally, DMWW will prepare outreach products to address specific issues. For example, DMWW prepared
one fact sheet on how to winterize a home. The target audience for this fact sheet lived in one particular Des
Moines metropolitan neighborhood. This neighborhood had a higher percentage of water pipes break during the
winter months due to poor maintenance practices. Because the occupants of this neighborhood were
predominantly Hispanic, DMWW had the fact sheet prepared in Spanish. The fact sheet was disseminated to
neighborhood residents by DMWW service workers.
6.3 Distribution and Feedback
DMWW uses a variety of mechanisms to distribute its outreach products. For example, DMWWs Web site is
"distributed" to Web users via the Internet. Many of DMWWs newsletters, pamphlets, and fact sheets are
distributed through the mail; some outreach flyers are included in customer bills. Also, through school visits, during
tours of DMWW and area watersheds, and even through customer phone calls, DMWW conveys outreach
messages by speaking directly with its customers.
DMWW tries to increase the longevity of many of its outreach products, thereby increasing the number of product
distribution mechanisms available to the utility. For example, by making its Annual Business report into a notepad
or a calendar, DMWW can distribute this product throughout the year not only to customers but also to visitors and
convention groups.
DMWW has established several mechanisms for outreach follow-up and public feedback. For example, the utility
held focus group meetings to solicit customer input and feedback on DMWWs CCR. Also, through its information
pipeline campaign, DMWW encourages its customers to contact the utility with any questions or concerns they
have about Des Moines drinking water or source water.
FOCUS GROUP SUCCESS
DMWW conducted two focus group meetings on its CCR. The first meeting was held prior to the publication of the
CCR to solicit input from customers on the ideal format and content of the report. A follow-up meeting was then
held after the publication of the first CCR to solicit feedback. One of the CCR features that especially pleased this
follow-up focus group was the "kids corner," which has games and activities for children. The customer feedback
indicated that this tool is a very effective way to increase the longevity of the CCR and encourage parents and
children to talk about Des Moines water issues.
DMWWs Web site provides customers with the option of providing feedback directly to the utility via e-mail. A
central point of contact (DMWWs communications specialist) is responsible for either responding directly to the
feedback or forwarding the comment, question, or request to the appropriate team member at DMWW. Technical
feedback about water quality information is forwarded to the water laboratory or water production department,
feedback about DMWWs history or educational opportunities is forwarded to DMWWs education specialist, and
feedback about the general appearance and functionality of the Web site is forwarded to DMWWs information
systems department. In all cases, DMWW responds to each customer's feedback as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
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DES MOINES NinillOl
City of Anlifcrr? • Gityof Cli™ Watflr D«fMrhn.*n.t • Ciisr of dimming, « Ds« Moinai Wat
Johnston Watar Department • City of Notvr Jli • Cii^ of Pleasant Hill
Folk County Rural Water Diitricttfl • SB Polk Rural Water District
UrtMQoVU Water Dspartmant • Waittiia Water D iatrict • City of Waukea
City of Windsor Hai^Uta • Xenia Rural Watsr District-- SouttiHfftit
For Your Future
Des MDines TEater Work
CDMWW) is an industry leader,
providing our customers with
high quality drinking -rater for
80 years . Q ur co utinued, proven
treatment pro cesse s, along with
new, innovative techniques and
studies mil ensure that DMWW
remains an industry leader into
the new millenui- j
DMWW tabs
a pro active
approach ID con'
trolling water
taste and odor,
an indicator of
water quality.
Our laboratory
performs total
organic carbon
(TOO and UV-ZS4 testa on the
risers daily to determine which
source water has the lowest con'
centratiou of dissolved organic
material. Based ou these tests,
the Water Production
Department will select which
river ID use and will adjust the
dosage of powdered activated car-
bon to absorb these natural
organic materials, allowing them
to be removed during the treat-1
ment processes. This step signifi-
cantly improves the taste and
odor of your water.
Record Nitrate fear
DMWWs Nitrate Removal
Facility was operated a record set--
ting ID 6 daj5 during 1999, at a
total operating cost of approxi'
malely $230,000. Witrate concen-
trations reached record levels in
the Raccoon River and
Infiltration Gallery.
DkLWW monitors nitrate con-
centrations weekly until levels
begin to increase, then daily dur-
ing peak nitrate season. When
nitrate concentrations in our
treated water exceed 3 5 mil-
ligrams per liter (mg/1), we begin
operating the Nitrate Removal
Facility. Water is diverted to the
facility for treatment, to tnaiti^
tain a nitrate concentration of
8 5 mg/1 or lower in the finished
or drinking water. The drinking
water standard for nitrate
is 10 mg/1.
Trending data indicates
that nitrate concentrations
in our rivers are continual-
ly increasing. In an effort
to address this challenge,
DMWW made pŁ>ing
modifications in 1999 to
increase the capacity of
the Nitrate Removal
Facility.
Cutting Edge Science
One of the ongoing microbial
studies being conducted at
DMWW is on ike cutting edge
of water industry science. One
method of stud fin g bacteria,
called culturing, grows bacteria
in a lab environment. Recent
studies conducted in molecular
biology have confirmed that
there are bacteria that have not
been previously cultured.
DMWWs microbiologist has
grown bacteria believed to be
previously uncultured. DMWWs
microbiologist has grown uncul-
tured bacteria using river water.
While the significance of these
uncultured bacteria is unknown,
Des Moines metro area cus-
tomers can rest assured that
DMWW has the ability ID stay
current with water quality trends
in order to have solutions in
place should a problem arise.
VMiat's On Our Plates?
DMWWs daily water Duality
testing determines tie tntal tmtn--
ber of bacteria present in a water
sample, including the harmless
ones. Beyond standard utility
water testing, DMWW routinely
performs Heterotropic Plate
Count (HPC) studies ou its dis-
tribution system water, an impor-
tant indicator of the on'going
bacterial condition of the water.
DMWWs arcrage HFC is very
low. These bacteria are harm-
less, but can reduce the residue
chlorine that is available to pro-
tect the distribution system from
bacterial contamination. That is
why DMWW monitors both
HFC and free chlorine residual
in the distribution system - to
ensure good, safe water quality at
the p oint of de hvery to our cus-
tomers .
Up A Creek
Recent studies have revealed
that large amounts of bacteria
enter TEalnut Creek after hard
rains. DMWWs bacterium study
on Walnut Creek; initiated last
summer, will help determine if
human waste is leaking into the
watershed. Preliminary studies
have shown that these contami-
nants are in the raw water of the
creeks. Evidence of a specific
cause is still unknown. DMWW
laboratory professio nals are striv-
ing to ascertain the cause of the
large bacterial loads in our urban
creels and find a solution to the
problem.
DMWW will continue to
ensure that you are provided
with safe, high quality water. We
are commit-
ted to being
an industry
leader in
water treat-
ment and
quality now
and in the _
future. _"* ^0
How We Trent Your
Drinking Water
begin by feeding powdered ettwated car-
bon into the river waterfor removal of man-made
and natural organic chemicals. The mater is then
pretreated to remove dirt and debris and combined
with materfrom the infiltration gallery system. The
combined water then flows into lime softening
basins. The pH of the water is adjusted before the
final filtering process. The water is passed through
layers of sand and various sizes of gravel to remove
any remaining particles. Des Moines Waterworks
actuates its nitrate removal facility to remove this
contaminantfromyourwater during periods of high
nitrate levels. After this final phase, fluoride is
added to aid in the prevention of tooth decay and
chlorine is added as a disinfectant to kill bacteria.
The clean water is stored in a clearwell until
pumped into the pipes of the distribution system.
Des Moines Waterworks laboratory and mater
production staff collect and test water samples
from throughout the system several times a day.
These tests ensure that the proper chemical levels
are maintained and that the water remains free of
unwanted contaminants.
DSTfilEUIION
There are three sources of water fulfilling the needs of Des Moines Waterworks cus-
tomers. ApproMmatelytmio-thirds is supplied by eitherthe Raccoon or Des Moines Rivers.
The remaining one-third comes from the infiltration gallerysystem (shallomi groundiruater).
A.S rain and snouu run across the slope of land in our watershed, they carry soil and
pollution, depositing them in creeks leadingto the Raccoon and Des Moines Rwers.
Some precipitation sinks into the ground, dissolving substances that mayenter our
groundwater supplies. Everyone can contribute to improving watershed health by utiliiing
conservation practices that protect the land and the quality of water in our rivers.
Improving environmental quality improves our quality of life now and in the future.
-------
Turbidity
Fluoride
Nitrate (asN)
Sodium
Sulfate
tlKIHC&T LEVEL
4D mg/l
JDD mg/l
unregulated
unregulated
DMIrlrWHAIHE
mlWWHAHQE
VHIH
EHUtlCLD
-------
Inadequately treated water may contain dis-
ease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and para sits s, which
can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps,
diarrhea, and associated headaches. Some
people maybe more vulnerable to contami-
nants in drinking watertfian the general popula-
tion.
Immuno-compromised persons such as per-
sons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ trans-
plants, people with HIV/ AIDS or other immune
J system disorders, some elderly,
and infants can be particularly
at risk from infections. These
people should seek advice
ab out drinking wate r fro m th eir
"healthcare providers. The
Center for Disease Control has
guidelines on appropriate
means to lessen the risk of
infection by Gryptesporidium
and otfier microbial contaminants. They are
available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to
drink, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA.) prescribes regulations, which limitthe
amount of certain contaminants in water provid-
ed by public water systems.
Nitrate in drinking
water at levels above 10
ppm is a health riskfor
infants of lesstlian SK
months of age. High
nitrate levels in drinking
water can cause blue
baby syndrome. Nitrate
levels may rise quickly
for short periods oftime
because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you
are caringfor an infant; you should askfor
advice from your health care provider.
FDA regulations establish limits for contami-
nants in bottled waterthat must provide the
same protectionfor public health. Acy bottled
waterthat is labeled "drinkingwater" hasto
meetEPA's drinking water regulations. Drinking
water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts
of some conta minants. The presence of con-
taminants does not necessarily indicate that
water p ose s a h ealth risk.
More information about contaminants and
potential health effects can be obtained by call-
ing the EPA's Safe DrinkingWater Hotline.
SAFE
DRINKING
WATER
HOTLINE:
1-800-4264791
Cryptospotidiurnis a microscopic organism
found innvers and streams thatc an cause diar-
rhea, fever and gastrointe stmal distress if
ingested. It finds its way into the watershed
tht ough animal and human waste s.
Cryptosp oridium. is effectively eliminated by a
tre atment proce s s that includes sedimentation,
filtration, and disinfection.
Cf yptosp oridiuni has NEVER been Found
m yout dunking water.
DMWvfr" recently concluded a stucty to
determine the amount of CjjjDjtJ-j&CTa&MW we
eliminate from our source water through the
treatment process. Crpptospatx&itft is a micro-
scopic organism, known to cause intestinal ill-
nesses, found in the fe ce s of infec te d animals
and humans. It is rarely found in. the nvers
from which we draw water.
After extensive studies, DMWtfs mJcrobiol-
ogj.st dete rmine d that we e ffec tive ly eliminate
99.99% of the Crfliiasfptif&aKfrom the raw
water. The combinatioti of DMWO^s water
tre atment c apatslity and the fact that the De s
Moines and Raccoon
Rivers contain very low
numbers of
fire very
encouraging data.
partnership
To promote both improved service to our
customers and environmental protection, of
our watershed, Des Moines Water Works
^JTW) has formed a new partners hip with
three other Des Moines area utilities:
Waste water Reclamation Authority (WRA),
Metro Waste Authority (tvfWAX and the City
of Des Moines1 Storm Water Utility. The part--
tiers hip is targeting' three areas to enhance
customer education and communication:
* Training1 of Customer Service employees
in the functions and operations of each utility
to assist them in answering1 customer calls
about other local water utilities.
* Developing1 and presenting1 curriculum in
the Des Moines area schools, emphasising1 the
interdependent relationship between the utili--
ties and teaching childrenabout protecting-
our water resources.
* Educating; our customers about good water
stewardship as it relates to all of the water util-
ities through publications such as existing1 util"
ity newsletters, bill inserts, web pages, and
press releases.
Contact DMWW or any of the Urban
Enyironmental I^rtners for more information.
«
* Baking sod a, borax, and white vinegar are
effective, earth-friendly cleaning products.
* The greatest single cause of an increased
water bill is a leaking or running toilet, wasting
250 to 5000 gallons of water a day!
4 Bottled water costs up to 1000 times more
than DMViW water from yourtap.
4 Using mulch around gardens, bushes, and
trees is a great way to trap moisture, reducing
your need to water more often. Mulch also
becomes a rich nutrient for plants.
4 An acre of corn contributes more to humidity
than a lake of the same size.
4 A I/8th inch crack in a pipe can spew up to
250 gallons of water a day, wrecking floors, fur-
niture, and valuable possessions in addition to
wasting water.
4 A leak of one drop per second wastes 2,400
gallons of water peryear.
4 As waterflows in streams, sits in lakes, orfil-
tersthrough layers of soil and rock in the
ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances
that it touches.
4 Dispose used motor oil, antifreeze, paints,
and other hazardous materials at the Regional
Collection Center ratherthan down the drain.
-------
"WprJ FlDQ TUP! lylSE
Z TRBHKGNINE TFO S E M I LSI _ j
ssfWopa
List
CCR
chlorine
Cliira
contaminant
Cryptosporidium
Cumming r-
*
filtration
fluoride
ho Uine
infiltration gallery
Johnston
laboratory
lime softening
Maffitt
monitoring
nitrate
Noruialk
Pleasant Hill
Rjlk County
pumps
quality
Raccoon
safe
sedimentation
SE Polk
Urbandale
Warren
Wlaukee
(Windsor Heights
Xenia
:
A C C R R M J
S A F E L A B
S P W A T E R
S M R H N J L
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VATE
VOW)
Use a blue crayon or
pencil to color in all
the fetters with a •
era * (Jjut not the
') to reveal the type
of wyat e r made at
DMWW.
avmling the
ji\ answer, cdcr the
Y S A U
T H G I E H R
T Y
A R
T V Q
N I R
RLE
M K IAI
B N 0
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A S A N T H
K E R E A
R HI A L K
I T A R T L I
C
I
I N
L E
ettcot»nŁŁ ottr C
. Pubki
to &tend. l 3d Monday of cack montk at 5:00 p jn.
410 Weit lit St«et • Anls«y, loroa 50021
CLIVE
Cliw City Council • lit, 3d, &. 5tk" Tkunday oteidi montk
f-J™A™«JW
CliT* City Hall • 1SOO MW 114tL St. • Cli™, Io«i 50325
GUMMING
Cuirunuig City Council • 2nd and 4tk Monday «ack fnontk
City Hat • Cununinff, bwa 50031
DES MOINES
Bcai^l of Water TOjsln Trmteei • 4tk Tuesday eack mc*itk at S?:00 a.m.
Dei MJU«! TOiter Woil • 2201 Valley D.™ • Dei Ivtma, IDHI 50321
JOHNSTON
Joktuton City Council • lit and 3rd kbnday of eack montk
City Hal • 6221 Msrle Hay Road • Joktuton, IOTM 50131
NORWALK
1'Jomn.lk City Gou±iail • lit an-i 3rd Tlaui^day of eada tno±rtk at 530 p.m.
705 NortnA*nu= • Norwali, Iowa 50211
PUASANT HILL
Pkaiant Hill City Council • 2nd and 4tk Tuesday of eacn iTEntli at 6 30 p .
Pleaiant Hul C«y Hall • 5151 Maple Djire • Ptaant Hill. Iowa 50317
POLK COUNTY RURAL WATER DISTRICT #1
Annual Meeting in Janrafy eackytar • Calllbf date
660 MW 66tk Annus, Suits 2 • D« Mointi, fcwa 50313
SOUTHEAST POLK RURAL WATER DISTRICT
TK^teu Boai>d • 3ul Wedneiday of eack montk • Contact office fop time
6540 ME 12tkAnnue • Altoona, Iowa 5000?
URBANDALE
Water BDai?d of Trusteei • Meets montkj/ • Call 2783SMO for informati>n
Umandale Water Department "3720 8Gtk Stffiet • Urtandale, Iowa 50322
WARREN WATER
Boaid of Diiecton • 3rd Monday eack montk at 7:30 pin.
Wara.i Wit-r 0Łfi~ • 1204 Eait 2nd A=nue • Indianola, fowa 50125
WAUKEE
Waulcee Cily Council "lit and 3rd Monday eack montk
Wauiee City Hall • 230 Hifkway 6 • TOiulee, fcwa 502«3
WINDSOR HEIGHTS
-iifliti City Council • 1st a±iil 3d Llo±vlay eacii
siffkts City Hall • 1133 66tli Stieet • Wi±Aor
XENIA - Southweft & Woodwivd
Eoari of DirtctoTi • Tkund^ of 3d iull TTOC^ of eack montk
23?* Hist Street • Eoutoti, lorn 50039
tli at 4 p.m.
50311
For inure inibfiliation on tke Consumer Confidence
Report or water quality, please contact wjur local
mater utility:
• City of An ken y: Customer Service
410 West 1st Street, Ankeny, lorn a 50021
Phone:(515)283-8700 • Fax:(515)283-8727
E-mail: jmckenH20@aol.tom
• City of dire Water Department
Bart Weller, Public Works Director
9289 Swanson Blvd., Clwe, Iowa 50325
Phone: (515) 223-6231 • Fax (515) 223-6013
E-mail: bKyeller@ci.clive.ia.us
• City of Gumming Kathie Hungerford
P.O. Box 100, Cummin?, towa 50061
Phone:(515)981-9214 • Fax:(515)981-9214
• Des Moines Water Works: Customer Service
2201ValleyOrive, Des Moines, louua 50321
Phone:(515)283-8700 • Fax:(515)283-8727
E-mail: nyebmaster@dmuuw.com
• Johnston Water Department: Jerry R. Meyers or Donna Kluss
P.O. Box 410, Johnston, Iowa 50131-0410
Phone:(515)278-0822 • Fax:(515)727-8092
• City of Norwalk: Dean Yondi, Directorof Public Works
705 North Avenue, Norraalk, Iowa 50211
Phone:(515)981-0808 • Fax:(515)981-0933
E-mail: deanyordi@ei.norwalkia.us
• City of Pleasant Hill: Gary Patterson, Public Works Director
5151 Maple Drwe, Suite 1, Pleasant Hill, low a 50317-8494
Phone:(515)262-9368 • Fax:(515)262-9570
• Polk County Rural Water District#1: Francis E. Schlueter
6666 NWSth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50313
Phone:(515)289-1877 • E-mail: feschlueten8iworldnet.att.net
• Southeast Polk Rural Water District: Shirley J. Bos, General Manager
6540 NE12thfeenue,«toona, Iowa 50009
Phone:(515)262-8581- Fax:(515)2624536
E-mail: shirley.bosSvyoridnet.att.net
• Urtaandale Water Department: CustomerService
3720 86th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
Phone:(515)278-3940 • Fax:(515)278-3944
• Warren Water District: Peggy Crabbs, Systems Manager
1204 East 2nd Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125
Phone:(515)962-1200 • Fax:(515)962-9328
• Cityof Waukee: John R. Gibson - Director of Public Works
230 Highway6,Box847, Waukee, Iowa 50263
Phone:(515)9874363- Fax:(515)987-3979- E-mail: gibsonjon@aol.com
• Cityof Windsor Heights: CustomerService
1133 66th Street, Windsor Heights, Iowa 50311
Phone:(515)283-8700 - Fax:(515)283-8727
•Xenia Rural Water District - Southwest * Woodward: Dave Modlin
2398 141st Street, P.O.Box39, Bouton, Iowa50039-0039
Phone:(515)676-2117 • Fax: J515) 676-2208 • E-mail: Xenia@netins.net
-------
Wotefc
^fout
Pure water has been said to be our
most important nutrient, and possibly
most underestimated. Drinking water i
only quenches our thirst, but it aids in
building and maintenance of a healthy
body. Some of the numerous health
fits of drinking water include maintain!!]
fitness, fighting illness, reducing effects <
aging, and boosting energy. Simply •
on the faucet for a drink that works '
ders for your body!
4 Drinking adequate amounts of water
helps your digestion and metabolism <
at full capacity.
*Water can boost your endurance, me
exercise more effective and helping ]
work out at higher levels.
*You can hold off hunger and prevent
over eating by drinking more water.
^Research has found that water plays \
active role in reducing the risk of some i
eases or ailments like bladder cancer, ur
nary tract cancer, and kidney stones.
* Health officials consider water to be a '
weapon against the common cold and
cough.
^Consuming plenty of water keeps ;
skin supple, helping you look younger.
^Drinking water when traveling can he
reduce fatigue.
^Dehydration can contribute to migrair
headaches; getting enough water is imp
tant in fighting them.
Health experts recommend
drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of
water each day. DMWW has some tips on
how to make sure you get enough water.
* Drink moderate-sized portions of water
spread throughout the day.
» Drink a glass when you wake up, before
and after exercising, and make water
available at all times.
• Try carrying a water bottle with you dur-
ing the day.
« Have one glass of water for each caf-
feinated beverage you drink.
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
-------
200?
Racket* of in
Water is an essential element in life.
Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) is
your water authority. We will provide
you with the information about drinking
water, our treatment process, and impor-
tant health issues that affect you every
day.
As an industry leader, DMWW has
provided high-quality drinking water to its
customers for over 80 years. One of our
duties as a utility is to provide you with
information pertinent to your health and
well being. DMWW uses informational
vehicles such as the H^D Line, the
Consumer Confidence Report, and other
water-related newsletters to educate cus-
tomers and young people about water
treatment and quality. You canre/y on
DMWW as a water expert when it comes
to research and distribution of informa-
tion concerning water-related issues.
DMWW will gladly provide you with
information on several water-quality relat-
ed topics. Fact sheets, such as those on
lead and copper, fluoride, and nitrate;
treatment brochures; and other printed
materials-are available upon request by
calling our Customer Service department
at 283-8700.
In order to maintain high standards
for water quality, DMWW believes it is
important to advocate source water pro-
tection. DMWW teamed up with Metro
Waste Authority, Wastewater Reclamation
Authority, and the City of Des Moines-
Storm Water Division, forming the Urban
Environmental Partnership. This group
emphasizes the importance of water qual-
ity protection and other environmental
subjects through educational programs.
Another project DMWW coordinated was
the Volunteer Monitoring Project in the
Raccoon River Watershed. Residents
within the water-
shed provided
river water samples
to DMWW for
analysis to deter-
mine the nitrate
concentrations
throughout the
watershed. Results
from that study are
available on the
EMPACT Web site.
gftction
DMWW takes a proactive approach in
keeping your drinking water safe. Using
state of the art facilities and innovative
scientific research methods, we consis-
tently produce high-quality drinking water
that meets or exceeds Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Daily
water-quality testing and ongoing scientif-
ic studies enable us to closely monitor the
source water for contaminants. We can
then ensure proper treatment techniques
are maintained to produce safe, clean
drinking water. With the Treatment Plants
at Fleur and Maffitt Reservoir, DMWW
provides reliable quantities of water to
Des Moines and the surrounding commu-
nities.
It is our civic and legal duty to inform
our customers of any health alerts or EPA
violations affecting your drinking water.
An example is a nitrate level higher than
the maximum contaminant level set by
the EPA. In the rare event that this were
to occur, DMWW would issue a public
notice explaining precautionary measures
for customers. However, DMWW built the
Nitrate Removal Facility in 1991, greatly
reducing the probability of a nitrate viola-
tion in your drinking water and reaffirm-
ing our commitment to bring you safe
drinking water.
DMWW is committed to remain an industry leader in water treatment and quality.
The next time you have a question about water, tap into DMWW for the answer.
•' EMPACT Web site -www.dtnww.com/empact
-------
M~*ra you need to filter your tap
water to receive clean,
delicious tasting water?
Many companies say they can rid your water of
minerals and contaminants, making your water ami
t'HHi ta^te better in your home. However, the water
you receive from DMWW is a safe, pleasaM-tastUtg
priiihtcl tt> prepare
food arid to clean
fruits and vegeta-
bles. DMYVVV's
water is also /c.v.v
iTptnuTt' for your
cooking needs
and has no
adverse
effects.
T DMWW adds powdered >
activated carbon to absorb our
source water's natural organic
material and man-made chemi-
cals, allowing removal during
treatment. This significantly
improves the taste and odor of
your drinking water. Using acti-
•ated carbon filters in your
me, such as tliose found in
filter pitchers or faucet-
mounted filters, is not neces-
sary because this process takes
place at the treatment plant.
LJ .
» I ow much maintenance is
required for
nome filtration systems?
Consumers do not always recognize Un-
importance of pro[>erlv maintaining a home
filtration system- Failing to change filters on a
routine schedule can lead to bacteria build-up,
causing serious health risks tor your house-
hold. A number of filtration systems require
you to change the filter on a monthly basis
This can be an expensive />n«vw com-
pared to simply turning on the tap. Let
DMWW maintain safe, clean \vater for VOL
The real question should
be... why aren't more Americans
drinking tap water? We would be glad to
hear from you at 283-8700 or through our
Web site at www.dmww.com
Forget filtering, just turn on the tap!
Treating Water Right
Water treatment is a vital step to make sure a
safe high quality product is delivered to your tap. Des
Monies Water Works operates two facilities, the new
Treatment Plant at Maffitt Reservoir and the
Treatment Plant on Fleur Drive, treating up to 123
million gallons of water per day.
The Maffitt plant draws its water from shallow
groundwater collector wells that run along the
Raccoon River. This water is naturally filtered by the
earth's course sand and gravel delivering water free
from river sediment. Maffitt Reservoir also serves as
an emergency water supply tor the plant. At the
Fleur Drive plant, water can he drawn from either
the Raccoon or Des Moines Rivers in addition to the
infiltration gallery, a groundwater collection system.
DMWW plant operators and laboratory staff screen
all source water daily to determine which has the
highest quality water for treatment and distribution.
Treatment Process
I. Addition of powdered activated carbon to remove
organic matter, silt, and dirt. This is used only at the
Fleur plant due to river water as source water. The
Mafh'tt plant begins treatment with lime softening.
'2. Lirne softening to remove hardness compounds,
germs, and bacteria.
."!. Filtration through sand and gravel to remove
remaining particles. When necessary at the Fleur
plant, a nitrate removal process is used to keep the
filtered river water sate for drinking.
-k Addition of fluoride to help prevent dental cavities
and chlorine to disinfect the water.
.'">. Treated., clean, safe water enters storage tanks,
eventually to he pumped through the distribution
network right to your tap!
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
-------
Februaru 20O1
What
are uou reaiiu
Have you heard claims about
improving the drinking water in
your home? Numerous water
treatment and filtration companies
say they can provide you with
higher quality drinking water.
However, many of these claims
can be misleading. As your
pipeline to water information, Des
Moines Water Works (DMWW)
has the answers you need to know
about your high quality drinking
water - right from the tap!
DMWW is a leader among the
municipal water treatment facili-
ties that help make America's
drinking water supply one of the
safest in the world. Yet, it is esti-
mated that nearly 40 percent of
Americans use some sort of home
water treatment device instead of
relying on dependable, safe, and
clean tap water. Households use
anything from simple filter pitch-
ers to complex water filtration
systems. What it may boil down to
is creating an unnecessary expense
in your home.
U
IL
out?
re home filtration systems necessary to
remove and reduce contaminants?
DMWW's number one priority is to provide you with
safe, high quality water. Our source water is tested several
times a day to ensure proper chemical levels are added in
the treatment process, so that the treated water remains
safe according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
standards. By taking pre-
cautionary measures
f Some home filtration systems may >
actually be removing valuable nutrients and
disinfection chemicals found in your tap
water. Fluoride is an additive, not a con-
taminant, beneficial to your dental health
by helping to prevent tooth decay. While
most simple filtration systems do not
remove Quoride, more complex types do
take this additive out. Chlorine - the
number one chemical removed in filtra-
tion systems - is vital in eliminating
harmful bacteria from your drinking
water. These minerals are not harmful to
you. and are ^,
necessary for/ Home nitration sys-
cluring the treatment
process, DMWW
makes certain your
drinking water is safe
when it reaches
tap.
o I need to use a water softener or
filter to soften mtj tap water?
Some home filtration systems use brass faucets, a
combination of copper and lead. As water stands in the
faucet, it dissolves the metal and increases the lead con-
tent of your drinking water. Filtered water can also be
more corrosive due to its deficiency in mineral content,
possibly raising the amount of lead dissolving into your
water. The consumption of lead may cause delays in
physical and mental development in children, and kidney
problems or high blood pressure in adults.
Lead and copper are not found in >
DMWWs treated water, but may enter from
the plumbing in your home. DMWW leaves
enough hardness compounds in the water to coat
your pipes as it travels to your tap. Thi.s protects
the pipes from the corrosiveness of water. The
water DMWW sends
maintaining
good health
and clean
water.
terns are not necessary to
remove nitrate because
DMWW treats the source
water according to EPA stan-
dards for nitrate. In fact, most
home filtration systems do not
remove nitrate. DMWW has
the capability of running its
nitrate removal facility when
source water nitrate levels
exceed EPA standards.
Hctftfut Hint- To
convert the
hardness level
from milligrams
per liter (mg/L)
to grains per
gallon (gpg),
divide the mg/L
value by 17.1.
Some appliance
optimum per-
formance stan-
dards ask for
hardness in epjt
f Soft water helps soap and other ^
cleaning products work more effective-
ly. It is less likely to leave "scum" rings
and other traces of mineral deposits in
your home. DMWW strives to maintain
the total hardness of the drinking
water to less than 1 GO milligrams per
liter (mg/L), the moderate range. This
pnmdes you with suffictentlv soft water
to make cleaning products work more
effectively.
to your tap is softened
during the lime-treat-
ment process, [f you
choose to use a water
softener in your
home, the benefits
may not outweigh
the costs.
"filtering fcnrou^i* this information for
more clues about water quality.
H2O Line
-------
WatŁ
Recent studies target-
,g the water industry have
provided evidence that tap water is
as safe, if not safei, and contains less
bacteria than some types of bottled
water.
Fluoride, the number one tooth decay
fighting agent, is an additive lhat most bottled
water manufactures remove during their filter-
ipg process. Fxtensive dental research has -"'
shown that tooth decay among children and
I adults has been significantly reduced due to
the presence of fluoride in public drinking
water. The American Dental Association
(ADAI has endorsed the addition of fluoride
to community water supplies for over 40
years.
Des Moines Water Works (DMWW)
adds fluoride to its water according to the
it ADA'S recommended levels. Bottled water
| manufacturers are regulated by the Food and
Drug Administration {FDA} and are not
required to disclose the amount of fluoride
contained in their product. Most brands taU'^
of the H'.-Vs guidelines tor healthful flu-
oride content.
In addition, bottled water manufacturers
make claims of greater purity than lap water.
This is not completely accurate. I wo different
federal agencies regulate the testing processes
and standards of the water sources. The tPA
is responsible for monitoring tap water, while
the FDA monitors bottled water. Tap water is
required to be tested more frequently and
more stringently, providing greater scrutiny of
its quality and bacterial content.
The next time you're looking for an
inexpensive, healthy thirst-quencher, just
turn on tin.' top.'
Facts and Figures
about
Firs Hydrants
• Fire hydrants serve purposes
other than fire protection.
DMWW uses hydrants to flush
stagnant water from water
mains during maintenance and
to release air after repairs have DMWWs employees
been made in order to prevent punting a hydrant.
damage to home plumbing. The city also uses fire
hydrants for street and sewer cleaning.
6 DMWW owns and maintains the fire hydrants in
the public right-of-way. Some fire hydrants are
installed only for maintenance purposes because
their capacity for water pressure is not high enough
for fire protection. You can identify maintenance
hydrants by their red-colored tops.
8 Fire hydrant tops come in colors other than red.
A color-coding system indicates how much water is
available in gallons per minute (gpm) from the
hydrants.
Red hydrant tops under 500 gpm
Orange hydrant tops - 500-1000 gpm
Green hydrant tops - 1000 or more gpm
Green-topped hydrants with green caps designate
high-volume hydrants connected to feeder mains.
• Fire hydrants are painted to make them visible
for the fire department. DMWW has standardized
on a yellow color for the body of the hydrant.
ffl You can help DMWW and the fire department
access and locate hydrants more easily for repair
and protection. Shovel snow away from hydrants,
keep grass or weeds trimmed low around them,
and please, do not plant flowers or shrubs around
hydrants - hydrants exist for your protection!
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
-------
March 2001
Winding Through Your Watershed
No matter where we live, we are all in a
waters/led.
Watersheds are areas where water flows across
or under the land and drains into a river, lake,
stream, pond, or other body of water. It includes
the people who live in the area as well as land,
air, plants, and animals. According to the Iowa
Watershed Task Force, "A watershed is everything
between the rain and the stream."
Water works Watershed
S r,j* C ty
Several features make watersheds unique.
Watersheds vary in shape and size. Some are
large, including millions of acres of land and small-
er watersheds within them. Others can be as small
as a city block, or a puddle in your back yard. As a
Des Moines Water Works' customer, you live in
both the Raccoon and Des Moines River water-
sheds. Each is a part of the Mississippi River water-
shed, which is made up of thousands of smaller
watersheds.
A geographical boundary around the water-
shed is formed by a ridge or high area. This forces
water to drain toward or away from your water-
shed. But watersheds are also interconnected. The
water that travels through one land area - including
farm fields, forestland, suburban lawns, and city
streets - will eventually affect and flow through
another.
Watersheds are composed of different terrain.
The flatness or steepness of the land (terrain)
impacts how quickly the water empties into a body
of water. If the water drains faster, there is more
potential for flooding and soil erosion.
Different soil types are found within water-
sheds. Those that consist of sandy
soil soak up water faster, reducing
runoff. A watershed that has clay
soil does not allow as much water
to seep into the ground, leading to
greater runoff.
Watersheds are affected
by the land use. The activ-
ities and residents of the
land area nearest the
water impact the
watershed. Cities,
homes, roads, facto-
ries, farming, recre-
ation, mining, and
construction all
modify the watershed and
affect the natural resources
Within it.
You play an important role in helping
maintain a healthy watershed.
Pollutants traveling through your watershed
affect your entire home, work, and play areas.
Water and other natural resources are necessary to
live, and what we do in the watershed can change
the quality and availability of these materials.
There are two types of watershed pollution:
point-source and nonpoint-source. Point-source
pollution begins from the leakage of contaminants
from a specific, easily identifiable source. Examples
include pollution coming from industrial or sewage
discharge pipes, hog lots, or storm sewers.
Nonpoint-source pollution comes from many dif-
ferent areas as water runs across or through the
ground. This type of pollution is harder to identify,
measure, and control. Some examples include
runoff from fields or forestland, parking lots, failing
septic systems, construction sites, and automobile
exhaust.
By following Best Management Practices
(BMPs), you can help keep your watershed clean
and safe. BMPs are positive ways to control pollu-
tants and prevent them from contaminating the
water supply. You can use BMPs in your home,
yard, and community to enjoy and maintain a
healthy living environment.
BMPS. . . at
n your eowunfty
• Do not dump hazardous household chemicals, such as fernliz-
I er, oil-based paint, or antifree/e, down the drain! Take them to
j the MWA's Regional Collection Center in Bondurant (967-5552)
for safe disposal, or use environmentally safe cleaning products.
* Recycle your newspapers, magazines, mitk jugs, juice bottles,
metal cans, clear glass, and anything else possible to reduce the
quantity Of garbage you send to the landfill.
Plant grass, trees, and shrubs to prevent soil from blowing Of
ihing away. Bag leaves and grass clippings lor compost collec-
:iont to keep them from washing into storm sewers.
• Do not dump chemicals or anything else down storm sewers -
most lead straight to our nvefs.
! • Keep your vehicles in good condition to prevent oil and
antifreeze leaks from enter ing storm sewers from the street or
your driveway.
• Do not litter! You can volunteer to help clean up area parks.
HZ0 Line
-------
v_yur |x
\e moving | \jrbrwte
pe in
DMWW is committed to providing you with
I safe drinking water by helping to reduce or elimi-
I nate nitrate in our source water. We have built
I coalitions, implemented cost effective technolo-
I gies, and developed landscapes that will protect
I our watershed. Some of these projects include:
• A formalized education program. Classroom
presentations are available for grade levels
K-8. The information focuses on daily
water use, water conservation, the water
treatment process, and the importance of
protecting our watersheds. DMWW is the
only water utility in Iowa with this type of
program.
• Participation in the Urban Environmental
Partnership (UEP). This group was formed
to educate the public on the importance of
water quality protection through watershed
protection in an urban area. DMWW part-
ners with Metro Waste Authority.
Wastewater Reclamation Authority, and the
City of Des Moines' Storm Water Division.
• Volunteer Monitoring Project on the
Raccoon River Watershed. Along with
DMWW, volunteers collected over 1000
water samples during a year-long project
surveying the nitrate concentrations in vari-
ous locations of the Raccoon River water-
shed.
• Environmental Monitoring for Public
Access and Community Tracking
IEMPACT). DMWW was awarded an EPA
grant to develop a Web site that provides
Des Moines' treated water and source water
quality information to anyone with Internet
access. Visit the Web site at
www.dmww.com/empact
DMWW continually looks for new ways to
I address nitrate issues while consistently providing
I you with clean, sale drinking water.
|\] 1{. T a t e
!<. e m o v a I
a c i
I t L)
e s s e I s
1 There are 8 nitrate removal vessels
with a total operating capacity of 15
million gallons of water per day locat-
ed in DMWW's Nitrate Removal
Facility.
1 Each vessel is 132 inches in diameter,
14 feet 2-7/8 inches high, and weighs
11,000 pounds.
1 The vessels contain a total of 450 cubic
feet of ion exchange resin and 232
cubic feet of support gravel for the
resin.
• The Nitrate Removal Facility has
enough space to add 2 more vessels, if
necessary.
A monthly publication of
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
2201 Valley Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-283-8700
www.dmww.com
-------
Ap™ "2OOI
trat \
oncentratmg
DMWW is Your Source for Important
fhe word nitrate may generate some
questions in your mind when you associate it
with water quality and your health. Newspaper
and television coverage about nitrate frequent-
ly discusses how it can harm the environment.
water supply, or humans. Nitrate can lead to
some serious consequences concerning your
well-being, but Des Moines Water Works
(DMWW) uses several methods to ensure that
your drinking water remains below the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stan-
dards for nitrate concentrations, providing you
with safe, healthy drinking water.
DMWW's Fleur Plant has the (
selecting from three water sources^
Raccoon River, Des Moines Riv
tion gallery - for use in our drinjs
treatment process. Uur lab monitors the source
water through daily testing of the water quality
in each river. We then chouse the one wiffi the
lowest nitrate concentrations to provide you
with the best quality drinking Water possible.
Another alternative is running our Nitrate
Removal Facility when jSJrale levels are high
in the source water (see"'Nixing Nitrate in
Your Water").
The maximum contaminant level (MCL)
set by the EPA is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/1)
of water. DMWW maintains a level below the
MCL. If the nitrate level in your drinking
water were to exceed the MCL, we are
required to notity you of the necessary precau-
tions to follow.
So what exactly is nitrate and how might
it affect you? Nitrate is a chemical compound
of nitrogen and oxygen that easily dissolves in
water. It is typically used as a plant nutrient
found in fertilizer, but it can form in septic
o $••• j \j i. t T a t e
Nitrate Information
' * "•:••:•''
lots, manure,
nitary landfills as
our source water
urban and rural watershed
ror contamination of groundwa-
the application of fertilizers.
the unlikely event that nitrate
!s exceed the MCL in your drinking
a major
icern exists for
'ants under the
of six
months. Nitrate
can enter the
infant's body
transforming into
nitrate, W'hich
I^luccs the abili-
ty of bloi.J to
ThJBBr cause
Blue ftaby Syndrome, a life threatening condi-
tion that requires immediate medical attention.
Indicalorsfljpihis condition include the infant
appearing blue and having shortness of breath.
Research feas also linked nitrate to other
health concerns, such as the development of
certain types of cancer in adults. However, a
higher risk is present for infant-- because their
immature organs nine a more dilficult time
processing nitrate,
Although theTHUwflity of a nitrate warn-
ing exists, the likelihood of this event is very
rare due to the preventative measures DMWW
has built into the treatment process. We make
it our priority to provide you with healthful,
safe, and clean drinking water.
Inside Our Nitrate Removal Facility
Exterior view of the Nitrate Removal
Facility and underground clear wells.
Qne of the
largest water
quality issues that
DMWW faces is
Data trends over
the past 25 years
Show that the
concentrations of
nitrate have
Steadily
increased. This
problem may be
caused by the continuing use
and heavier application t>f fertil-
izer on the land in our wafer-
jshed. DMWW buift the Nitrate
Removal Facility in the winter of
1990-1991 as a preventative
measure to keep your drinking
water safe at times when nitrate
concentrations are extremely high
in our source water.
The Nitrate Removal Facility
Consists of eight nitrate removal
vessels thcrt con treat up to 15 mil-
lion gallons of water per day.
Depending on the nitrate concen-
tration level and plant flow,
DMWW will operate between four
and atf eight vessels at one time-
The facility has been operated
from zero to 106 days in the year,
with an average ot 45 days of
operation per year since 1991.
DMWW uses a process called
"ion exchange" to remove nitrate
from the water. Nitrate ioris are
captured by resin material 0s the
water passes through the nitrate
removal vessel, and chloride ions
are released into the water to
reduce the amount of nitrate ions.
This process is similar to a Home
water softening device that
removes calcium arid niaQ,R©sium
ions from the water, exchanging
them for sodium ions. The nitrate-
reduced water is ihen blended
with pre-treated drinking water to
produce a safe, clean product with.
nitrate concentrations below the
EPA's 10 mg/l MCL.
After the nitrate has been col-
lected in the removal vessels, • ';
DMWW pumps water concenfrejt-
ed with sodium chloride through
#ie vessels to exchange the cap-
tured nitrate for chloride. The
water containing the collected
nitrate is then diluted with infiltra-
tion gallery water and di$cbt»r0ed
back into the Raccoon River. Due
to the large volume of nitrate con-
centrations already in the river
and the small amount of wateV
DMWW discharges, this process
does not add to nitrate concetitfa-
tion problems in other cities arid :i
water utilities downstream.
Although the Nitrate Removal
Facility is a proactive approach in
keeping the drinking water safe
from nitrate contamination, the
best way to keep nitrate from
entering the source water is
through watershed protection pro-
grams. With your help in protect-
ing our water sources, the need to
use the Nrfrate Removed Facility in
the future could be greatly
reduced, or even eliminated.
-------
Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Appendix B—Glossary of Terms
Acetochlor: A herbicide sold under the trade name of Harness. It is an unregulated contaminant with no
maximum contaminant level (MCL).
Alkalinity: A measure of the acid-neutralizing property of water.
Anion: A negatively charged ion.
Aquifer: A water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel.
Atrazine: A herbicide and SDWA-regulated contaminant with a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.003 mg/l.
B
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Potential (CCPP): The amount of hardness that can come out of the water to
form protective scale on plumbing surfaces.
Calcium Hardness as CaCO3: A measure of the calcium mineral contribution to total hardness.
Chloride: A common table salt component found in all natural waters. Concentrations greater than 250 mg/l can
cause the water to taste salty and contribute to metal corrosion.
Chlorine: A gas that is commonly added to drinking water as a disinfectant to make the water safe to drink.
Coliforms: Microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. The detection of coliform
bacteria in treated drinking water suggests that a treatment or distribution system is not working properly.
Conductivity: The ability to carry an electric current. Its measurement in water indicates the amount of dissolved
salts or minerals in the water.
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR): An annual drinking water quality report required by the Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA) for customers of public water supply systems.
Copper: A metal that can be present in drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing materials such as copper
pipes.
Cryptosporidium: A microscopic organism found in rivers and streams that can cause diarrhea, fever, and
gastrointestinal distress if ingested. It finds its way into the watershed through animal and human wastes.
Disinfection byproduct: A compound formed by the reaction of a disinfectant such as chlorine with organic
material in the water supply.
Database: A collection of data organized by fields, records, and files. A field is a single piece of information, a
record is a complete set of fields, and a file is a collection of records. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Database management system: A collection of computer programs that enables you to store, modify, and
extract information from a database. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Domain name: A name that identifies one or more Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Domain names are used in
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to identify particular Web pages. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Drinking water: Water that is conveyed to residences and businesses from a public water system. Typically, this
water is treated by a water utility to make it potable. Drinking water is sometimes referred to as finished water.
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Ł. co//: Bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.
Ecosystem: All of the interacting organisms in a defined space in association with their interrelated physical and
chemical environment.
Fecal Coliform: Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. The presence of fecal coliform in
water is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens.
Finished water: See "Drinking Water."
Firewall: A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be
implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Fluoride: A naturally occurring mineral added to water to help reduce cavities in young people.
H
Hardness: The amount of soap-precipitating minerals in the water. Both calcium and magnesium combine with
soap to make it less effective. A hardness measurement is expressed as the amount of CaCO3 (pure limestone)
that would produce the hardness.
Hardware: Computer devices that you can actually touch, such as disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards,
printers, boards, and chips. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) bacteria: All bacteria found growing on a non-selective food media. These are
not indicators of disease, but large numbers in a drinking water distribution system indicate stale water, minimal
disinfection and, therefore, an increased risk of disease. HPC bacteria can also cause unpleasant tastes and odor
in the water.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML): Programming language for publishing hypertext on the Web. (Definition
from http://www.weboDedia.com.)
Infiltration Gallery: A sub-surface groundwater collection system, typically shallow in depth, constructed with
open-jointed or perforated pipes that discharge collected water into a watertight chamber from which the water is
pumped to treatment facilities and into the distribution system. Usually located close to streams or ponds.
Inorganic Contaminants: Mineral-based compounds such as metals, nitrates, and asbestos. These contaminants
are naturally-occurring in some water, but can also get into water through farming, chemical manufacturing, and
other human activities. EPA has set legal limits on 15 inorganic contaminants.
Internet Browser: A software application used to locate and display Web pages. The two most popular browsers
are Netscape® Navigator™ and Microsoft® Internet Explorer™. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
K
L
Langeliers Index: A corrosion indicator based on pH. A positive number means that the water will deposit
file:///P|/...20J341%20(J)/Drinldng>20Storm%20Water%20Qm
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
protective minerals on plumbing to prevent metal pipe corrosion.
Lead: A metal that can be present in drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing materials such as lead
solder.
M
Magnesium Hardness as CaCO3: The magnesium contribution to total hardness. It is measured and expressed
as the equivalent amount of CaCO3 (pure limestone) that would produce this hardness.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water. MCLs
ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. EPA sets MCLs at levels that
are economically and technologically feasible. Some states set MCLs that are more strict than EPA's.
Methemoglobinemia: A blood disorder caused when nitrite interacts with the hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Unlike hemoglobin, the methemoglobin formed in this interaction cannot carry sufficient oxygen to the body's cells
and tissues. Although methemoglobinemia is rare among adults, cases have been reported among infants, where
nitrate-contaminated water was used to prepare formula and other baby foods.
Metolachlor: A herbicide sold under the trade name of Dual. It is an unregulated contaminant with no maximum
contaminant level (MCL); however, a health advisory concentration for this pesticide has been set at 0.070 mg/l.
Microorganisms: Tiny living organisms that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Some microorganisms
can cause acute health problems when consumed in drinking water. Also known as microbes.
N
Nitrate-N: A form of nitrogen fertilizer that is readily available to plants. This form of nitrogen is very water soluble
and moved through the soil into groundwaterand surface water.
Nitrite-N: The actual form of nitrogen that can combine with hemoglobin to form methemoglobinemia or "blue baby
syndrome." It is an intermediate compound that is formed when ammonia is converted to nitrate by bacteria.
Nonpoint source: Any source of pollution not associated with a distinct discharge point.
Organic Contaminants: Carbon-based chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides, which can get into water
through runoff from cropland or discharge from factories. EPA has set legal limits on 56 organic contaminants.
Ortho-phosphate: A naturally occurring substance that is sometimes added to the water for additional corrosion
protection.
Pfiesteria: toxic dinoflagellate (microscopic, free-swimming, single-celled organisms, usually classified as a type of
alga) associated with fish lesions and fish kills in mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters.
pH: A measure of the strength of an acid on a 0-14 scale, where 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater
than 7 is basic.
Plug-in: A hardware or software module that adds a specific feature or service to a larger system. For example,
there are a number of plug-ins for Internet browsers to enable the display of different types of audio or video
messages.
Point source: A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged or emitted. Also, any
single identifiable source of pollution, e.g., a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit, factory smokestack.
Pollutant loading: The quantity of a pollutant entering the environment (soil, water, air).
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Potable (drinking) water: Water that meets U.S. EPA and/or state water quality standards and is considered safe
and fit for human consumption.
Potassium: A common element found at low levels in drinking water.
Protazoa: Single-celled, eucaryotic microorganisms without cell walls. Most protozoa are free-living although
many are parasitic.
Q
Radionuclides: Any man-made or natural element that emits radiation. Radionuclides may cause cancer after
many years of exposure through drinking water.
Server: A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a database server is a
computer system that processes database queries. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Silica (SiO2): A common, naturally occurring substance in the earth's crust. It can contribute to scale formation
and reduce pipe corrosion.
Sodium: One of the two components in ordinary table salt (sodium chloride). It is a common substance in nature
and is a needed mineral in the diet. The amount of sodium in water is generally small relative to the amount
present in food.
Software: Computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically. (Definition from
http://www.webopedia.com.^
Source water: Ambient water that is accessed by water utilities to treat for distribution as drinking water. Source
water can originate in either a surface source (such as a lake, river, or reservoir) or a subsurface source (such as a
well). Source water is sometimes referred to as raw water.
Structured Query Language (SQL): A standardized query language for requesting information from a database.
SQL was first introduced as a commercial database system in 1979 by Oracle Corporation. (Definition from
http://www.webopedia.com.;)
Sulfate: A stable form of sulfur common in natural waters, especially where gypsum is present. It can produce a
taste in drinking water when present in concentrations over 200 mg/l and may produce a laxative effect when
present in concentrations over 750 mg/l.
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs): Man-made (anthropogenic) organic chemicals. Some SOCs are volatile;
others tend to stay dissolved in water instead of evaporating.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): The amount of dissolved substances, such as salts or minerals, in water.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC): A measure of carbon compounds in water that are from an organic (living) origin. In
combination with a disinfectant such as chlorine, the presence of TOC can result in the formation of
trihalomethanes.
Trihalomethane (THM): One of a class of compounds known as disinfection byproducts that result from
chlorinating water containing naturally occurring organic material.
Turbidity: A measurement of scattered light (cloudiness) in a column of water. Light is scattered when it strikes
suspended particles such as clay, silt, or microscopic organisms.
U
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
V
Volatile Organics: Chemicals that, as liquid, evaporate into the air.
W
Water Quality: A measure of the presence and quantity of certain constituents or parameters (like naturally
occurring substances, man-made chemicals, and industrial contaminants) in water.
Web server: A computer that delivers (serves up) Web pages. Every Web server has an IP address and possibly
a domain name. Any computer can be turned into a Web server by installing server software and connecting the
machine to the Internet. (Definition from http://www.webopedia.com.)
Wellhead: A particular well site location, as differentiated from other well site locations, that exist in the same water
system.
Wetland: an area that is regularly saturated by surface or groundwater and subsequently is characterized by
prevalence of vegetation that is adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Examples include swamps, bogs, fens,
marshes, and estuaries.
X
Y
Z
Table of Contents
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Providing Timely Drinking Water and Source Water Quality Information to Your Community
Appendix C—Tucson Water's EMPACT Water Quality Project
The Water Quality Management Division of Tucson Water, in Tucson, Arizona, delivers more than 37 billion
gallons of water annually to approximately 675,000 customers. The city of Tucson, Arizona is one of the largest
U.S. cities that currently obtains its drinking water supply from groundwater wells. To ensure future sustainability,
Tucson has started to supplement its groundwater supply with water from the Colorado River through the Central
Arizona Project (CAP). Tucson's selected blend of recharged Colorado River water and groundwater is known as
the Clearwater Supply. The Tucson Water EMPACT project seeks to introduce this alternate and necessary supply
of water to the public by providing timely information on the quality of the blended drinking water at taps in homes
and businesses. Tucson's EMPACT project not only provides a resource for water quality information, but also
results in environmental benefits through a focused consumer outreach effort.
Partner Organizations
Tucson Water has received a 2-year grant from EPA's EMPACT program. Tucson's EMPACT project partners
include the following:
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Tucson Unified School District, David T. Smith Resource Center
• Tucson-Pima Public Library
• University of Arizona, Water Resources Research Center
• University of Arizona, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
• Pima County Health Department
• Pima County Waste Water Management
• Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• University of Arizona, National Science Foundation, Water Quality Center
• Citizens and Neighborhood
Services
Sample Collection/Analysis
Tucson Water's EMPACT project increases the number of water quality parameters currently measured by the
utility and adds continuous on-line monitoring. Specifically, the utility has added continuous on-line monitoring of
the quality of potable water and the quantity and general quality of recycled wastewater and secondary effluent
discharged to the Santa Cruz River. One objective of the EMPACT project is to expand the utility's monitoring
technology to include a new process for measuring total trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes are suspected human
carcinogens that can form when drinking water that contains organic material is disinfected with chlorine.
Also under the EMPACT project, Tucson Water has selected 22 locations for on-line monitoring to track the
conveyance of finished water throughout the utility's distribution system. Tucson is installing the on-line
instrumentation over the next year to continuously track chlorine residual, conductivity, estimated total dissolved
solids, pH, and temperature. This special monitoring program will provide Tucson Water's customers with
information on water quality throughout the utility's distribution system.
Data Management/Data Delivery
The objective of Tucson Water's EMPACT project data management, processing, and delivery system is to
improve the time relevancy of water quality data related to the potable distribution system. To do this, Tucson
Water is developing timely methods for transmitting and verifying the quality of data from the on-line and manual
monitoring programs and posting these data to the project Web site. The EMPACT project will allow community
residents to identify their street addresses on a Web site map, receive easily understandable results from nearby
water monitoring stations, and obtain a timely report on the quality of their drinking water.
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Commu n ications/Outreach
The outreach objectives for Tucson's EMPACT project include identifying the water quality/quantity data desired
by targeted groups and developing effective, state-of-the art methods to communicate these data. Building on
existing city programs, the EMPACT project will identify specific constituencies and solicit feedback on the water
quality data desired and the best formats for individualizing data by location and creating a context for
understanding water resources. Through its outreach products, Tucson hopes to eliminate any misperception
about community water quality and provide a source of reliable, authoritative information on fast-breaking water
quality issues.
For More Information
For more information about Tucson Water's EMPACT water quality project, visit
http://www. ci. tucson. az. us/water.
Table of Contents
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Appendix D — Communications/Outreach Planning and Resources
This appendix will assist you with developing and implementing an outreach plan for communicating a variety of
information to the public. Section D.1 provides general step-by-step guidance on creating an outreach plan.
Section D.2 includes guidelines for effectively communicating technical information and provides a list of resources
you can use to enhance your outreach efforts.
D.1 Creating an Outreach Plan
Your outreach efforts will be most effective if you plan them carefully. An outreach plan ensures that you have
thoroughly considered all aspects of your outreach efforts before you begin. Your plan does not need to be lengthy
or complicated! You can develop a plan simply by documenting your answers to these questions, which are
discussed in the following subsections:
• Who are your partners?
• What are your outreach goals?
• Whom are you trying to reach?
• What information do you want to communicate?
• What outreach products will you develop?
• How will your outreach products reach your audiences?
• What follow-up mechanisms will you establish?
• What is your schedule for implementation?
TIP: Outreach planning is a creative and iterative process that involves a number of interrelated steps. As you
move through each of the planning steps discussed below, you should revisit the decisions you have made for
previous steps to make sure you are creating a fully integrated, comprehensive, and achievable outreach plan.
D.1.1 Who Are Your Partners?
Try to involve a variety of people in the design and development of your outreach plan. When possible, consider
involving the following:
• A communications specialist or someone who has experience with developing and implementing outreach
plans.
• Technical experts (e.g., experts in water quality, policy, information systems).
• Representatives of your target audience categories.
• Key individuals who will be involved in implementing your outreach plan.
Consider inviting community organizations to partner with you in planning or implementing your outreach efforts.
Potential partners might include local businesses and trade associations, environmental organizations, schools,
community groups, local health departments, local planning and zoning authorities, and other local or state
agencies. Partners can help you with outreach planning, product development and review, and/or product
distribution. Partnerships can be valuable mechanisms for leveraging resources while enhancing the quality,
credibility, and overall success of your outreach efforts.
D.1. 2 What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action -oriented statements about what you hope to accomplish through
your outreach efforts. Every other aspect of your outreach plan should relate to your goals.
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Try to rank and prioritize your goals in terms of relative importance. Consider the importance of your goals as you
move through the planning process. For goals of greater importance, you will want to tailor your partnerships,
outreach products, and information dissemination strategies to allow you to reach a greater number of affected
people in a shorter amount of time.
D.1.3 Whom Are You Trying to Reach?
To answer this question, you must both identify and profile your target audience. The identification and profiling
processes are discussed below.
Identifying Your Audience
As you design your outreach plan, you will need to clearly identify the target audience for your outreach efforts.
The types of audiences targeted for a water quality outreach program might include the general public, local
businesses and trade associations, decision-makers, educators and students, and community groups (e.g.,
homeowners associations, fishing/boating organizations, and gardening clubs). Some types of target audiences,
such as educators and community groups, might serve as pathways to help you disseminate information to other
types of audiences, such as students and the general public.
If you have more than one target audience, you may want to consider dividing the group into audience categories.
For example, if the water quality information you intend to provide to the general public differs from the information
you intend to provide to businesses, you may want to consider these targets as separate audience categories.
Profiling Your Audience Categories
Your outreach efforts will be most effective if you tailor the type, content, and distribution of your outreach products
to the characteristics of your target audience categories. To do this, you will want to profile the situations, interests,
and concerns of your audience members. These profiles will help you identify the most effective ways to reach
each audience category. Consider how you would describe your audience members:
• What is their current level of knowledge about drinking water and source water?
• What is their average education level? What language do they speak?
• What should they know about drinking water and source water quality in your community? What actions
would you like them to take?
• What information is likely to be of immediate interest to them?
• Once they develop an awareness of water quality issues in your community, what information will they
want to know?
• How much information will they want to see? How much time are they willing to spend to understand the
information?
• How do they generally receive information? How would they prefer to receive your information?
• In what types of professional, recreational, and domestic activities do they typically engage? Are there any
organizations or centers that might represent pathways for your outreach efforts?
When you answer these questions, talk with representatives of your target audience categories and with
colleagues who have successfully reached out to your audience categories.
D.1.4 What Information Do You Want To Communicate?
In this step, think about the key points, or "messages," you want to relate to your audience. A message is the
"bottom-line" information you want your audience to remember, even if they forget the details. A message is
usually phrased in a brief (often one-sentence) statement. Outreach products often have multiple related
messages.
D.1.5 What Outreach Products Will You Develop?
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You will want to determine what types of outreach products or tools will most effectively reach each of your target
audience categories. There are many different types of outreach products available in print, audiovisual, electronic,
event, and novelty formats.
Your outreach goals and target audience profiles will help you select appropriate and effective outreach products
and tools. A communications specialist can provide you with valuable guidance on choosing the most appropriate
products to meet your goals within your resource and time constraints. When selecting your products, consider
your answers to the following questions:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does your audience need to
know immediately? (Keep in mind that the simplest, most straightforward product is generally the most
effective.)
• Is the outreach product likely to appeal to your audience? How much time will it take your average
audience member to interact with the product? Is your audience likely to make that time?
• Will the distribution and organization of your product be easy and cost-effective?
• How many people will the product reach?
• What time frame is needed to develop and distribute/organize 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?
• When will the information be out of date? (Keep in mind that you will want to spend fewer resources on
products with shorter life spans.)
• Would it be effective to have distinct phases of products over time? (For example, consider the first phase
of a product designed to raise awareness, followed by a second phase of products at later dates to
encourage changes in behavior.)
• How newsworthy is the information you are trying to communicate? (Information with inherent news value
is more likely to be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.)
OUTREACH PRODUCTS
Editorials
Fact sheets
Newspapers and magazine articles
Press releases
Utility bill inserts
Public service announcements (radio)
Videos
Print
Audiovisual
Electronic
Events
Novelty Items
Brochures
Educational curricula
Newsletters
Posters
Question-and-answer sheets
Cable television programs
Exhibits and kiosks
E-mail messages
Web pages
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
One-on-one meetings
Public meetings
Banners
Subscriber list servers
Interactive compact disks
Community days
Media interviews
Press conferences
Speeches
Bumper stickers
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Floating key chains for boaters Frisbee discs
Magnets Mouse pads
D.1.6 How Will Your Outreach Products Reach Your Audiences?
You have many outreach product distribution options available to you. Consider the following examples:
• Mailing lists belonging to your organization or partner organizations.
• Phone and fax.
• E-mail.
• Internet.
• Journals or newsletters put out by partner organizations.
• Television.
• Radio.
• Print media.
• A hotline that distributes products upon request.
• Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, schools, community centers) where products are made
available to the public.
You should consider how each of your products will be distributed and determine who will be responsible for
distribution. For some products, your organization might manage the distribution. For other products, you might rely
on intermediaries (e.g., the media or educators) or organizational partners. You should consult with a
communications specialist to obtain information about the time and resources required for various distribution
options. Consider the following issues when you select your distribution mechanisms:
• How does your audience typically receive information? How would they prefer to receive your information?
• What distribution mechanisms has your organization used in the past for this audience category? Were
these mechanisms effective?
• Can you identify a partner organization that would be willing to assist you with distribution?
• Can the media play a role in distribution?
• Will your distribution mechanism really reach the intended audience? For example, although the Internet
can be an effective distribution mechanism, certain audience categories may have limited access to it.
• How many people will your product reach through the distribution mechanism you are considering?
• Do you have sufficient resources available to fund and implement the distribution mechanisms you are
considering?
D.1.7 What Follow-up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
If you have successfully reached out to your target audiences, you may receive requests for additional information.
Your audience members may become concerned about the issues you have communicated to them. As part of
your outreach plan, you should determine if and how you will respond to the follow-up interests of people in your
community. Consider the following questions:
• What types of reactions or concerns are audience members likely to have in response to the outreach
information?
• Who will be responsible for handling requests for additional information?
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• Should you indicate on your outreach products where people can go for additional information? Will you
provide a contact name, phone number, and/or Internet, mail, or e-mail address? Will you establish a
hotline?
• How will you track and analyze feedback?
• How and when will you use feedback to improve your outreach efforts?
D.1.8 What is Your Schedule for Implementation?
Once you have selected the most effective combination of goals, audience categories, messages, products, and
distribution mechanisms for your project, you should develop an implementation schedule for your outreach plan.
First, consider the relative importance of each of your outreach goals. You should have a shorter implementation
schedule associated with your most important goals. For each of your outreach products, consider how much time
will be needed for design, development, and distribution. Be sure to factor in sufficient time for product review.
When possible, also factor in some time for testing and evaluation by representatives of your target audience
category to solicit feedback on the effectiveness of your product.
D.2 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop outreach products, you should make sure that these
products present your messages and information as clearly and accurately as possible. This section discusses
methods for effectively communicating technical information to the public and provides resources to help you
shape the style and content of your outreach products.
D.2.1 How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and water quality is no exception. Nevertheless, this information
can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to nonspecialists. Principles of effective writing for the public include
avoiding jargon, translating technical terms into everyday language, using the active voice, keeping sentences
short, and using headings and other formatting devices to provide a very clear, well-organized structure. You can
refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about how to write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a guidance document, Writing User-
Friendly Documents, which is available at http://www.plainlanguage.gov/.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association, http://www.abanet.org/lpm/bp160_front.shtml. has links to
important online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers.
• The Web site of the Environmental Education and Training Partnership, http://eetap.org/. has guides for
developing environmental education documents.
As you develop outreach products for a specific audience, remember to consider what your audience members
are already likely to know, what you want them to know, and what they are likely to understand. Then tailor your
information accordingly. Provide only the information that will be valuable and interesting to the target audience.
For example, local businesses might be interested in the hardness of the potable water they are using for
manufacturing processes; however, senior citizens interested in the overall safety of their drinking water are not
likely to be engaged by this topic.
When developing outreach products, you should consider any special needs of the target audience. For example, if
your community has a substantial number of people who speak little or no English, you will need to prepare
communication materials in their native language.
The remainder of this section provides some online resources that you can consult when developing your outreach
projects. Some of the Web sites listed below contain products, such as downloadable fact sheets, that you can use
to support your communication and outreach efforts.
Federal Resources
EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water (OGWDW)
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http://www.epa.gov/safewater
This site provides information on a variety of topics, from drinking water and health, source water protection, and
training to applicable regulations, standards, and guidance. The site also includes a kid's page, which contains
games and activities to help children learn about drinking water.
EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW)
http://www.epa.gov/owow
This site provides a variety of information related to wetlands, oceans, and watersheds. The site provides new
information, resources for concerned citizens, and answers to frequently asked questions. Specific to watersheds,
the site provides information on water quality monitoring and watershed pollution issues.
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
http://www.epa.gov/surf3
EPA provides this service to locate, use, and share environmental information on watersheds. One section of this
site, "Locate Your Watershed," allows users to enter the names of rivers, schools, or a zip code to learn more
about the water resources in their local watersheds. Users can also access the Index of Watershed Indicators
(IWI) from this site. The IWI is a compilation of information on the health of aquatic resources in the U.S. The index
uses a variety of indicators to determine whether rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas can be
described as "well" or "ailing".
EPA's NonPoint Source Pointers
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets on nonpoint source pollution. The series covers topics including
programs and opportunities for public involvement in nonpoint source control, managing urban runoff, and
managing nonpoint pollution from various sources (e.g., agriculture, boating, households).
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/wqam
This site includes guidance documents that provide the following resources: a simple tool to estimate the sensitivity
of a water body to nutrients, a procedure to evaluate the conditions of a stream based on visual characteristics,
and information on how to design a monitoring system to observe changes in water quality associated with
agricultural nonpoint source controls.
Educational Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet
The goal of Project WET is to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources
by developing and disseminating classroom-ready teaching aids and establishing state and internationally
sponsored Project WET programs. This site includes a list of all state Project WET Program Coordinators to help
you locate a contact in your area.
Water Science for Schools
http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) Water Science for School Web site offers information on many aspects of
water quality, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive forum where students can give opinions and test
their water knowledge.
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
http://www.earthforce.org/green
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) helps young people protect the rivers, streams, and
other vital water resources in their communities. This program merges handson, scientific learning with civic action.
GREEN is working with EcoNetto compile pointers on water-related resources on the Internet. This site
fhttp://www.areen.ora/resources/^ includes a comprehensive list of water quality projects across the country and
around the world.
Adopt-A-Watershed
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http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/about.htm
Adopt-A-Watershed is a K-through-12 school/community learning experience that uses local watersheds as living
laboratories in which students can engage in hands-on activities. The goal is to make science applicable and
relevant to students' lives.
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 the U.S.
They conduct basic and applied research to solve water problems unique to their areas and establish cooperative
programs with local governments, state agencies, and industries.
Other Organizations
The Watershed Management Council
http://watershed.org/wmc/aboutwmc.html
The Watershed Management Council is a not-for-profit organization whose members represent a broad range of
watershed management interests and disciplines. Members include professionals, students, teachers, and
individuals who are interested in promoting proper watershed management.
Table of Contents
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AIRNOW - Delivering Time-Relevant Water Quality Information to Your Community
1. Introduction
People who spend time in, on, or close to lakes in and near your community can use timely and accurate
information about lake water quality to help make day-to-day decisions about lake use and lake issues. For
example, swimmers can use information about fecal coliform levels to protect their health when levels of these
bacteria near swimming beaches are high. Anglers can use water quality information (e.g., temperature and
oxygen levels) to help them decide where and when to go fishing. Time-relevant information can help recreational
lake users, businesses, resource managers, lakeshore residents, and other landowners located farther from the
lakeshore understand how a lake's water quality is affected by land use practices within its watershed.
This handbook offers step-by-step instructions about how to provide time- relevant water quality data to your
community. It was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT program. EPA created
EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) in 1996, at President Clinton's
direction. The program takes advantage of new technologies that make it possible to provide time-relevant
environmental information to the public.
EMPACT is working with the 86 largest metropolitan areas of the country to help communities in these areas:
• Collect, manage, and distribute time-relevant environmental information.
• Provide residents with easy-to-understand information they can use in making informed, day-to-day
decisions.
To make EMPACT more effective, EPA is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
the US Geological Survey. EPA will work 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 86 EMPACT-designated metropolitan
areas. These projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, including groundwater contamination, water
quality, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and overall ecosystem quality. Some of these projects were initiated directly by
EPA. Others were launched by EMPACT communities themselves. Local governments from any of the 86 EMPACT
metropolitan areas are eligible to apply for EPA-funded Metro Grants to develop their own EMPACT projects. The
86 EMPACT metropolitan areas are listed in the table at the end of this chapter.
Communities selected for Metro Grant awards are responsible for building their own time-relevant 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 Lake Access-Minneapolis project. The project provides the public with time-
relevant and historical water quality data for lakes within the largest, most populated watershed districts in
Minnesota.
The Lake Access Project team is using Remote Underwater Sampling System (RUSS) devices to collect time-
relevant water quality data from three locations—two in Lake Minnetonka and one in Lake Independence. The Lake
Access team has developed an Internet interface for the RUSS units that allows data from the RUSS sensors to be
displayed in near-real time on the Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org. The project is a cooperative
effort of the Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the University of
Minnesota Water on the Web Investigators (i.e., the Natural Resources Research Institute, the University of
Minnesota-Duluth Department of Education, and Minnesota Sea Grant), and Apprise Technologies, which holds the
license to RUSS technologies. The project team also collects data from monitoring stations established as part of
other monitoring programs. The team integrates data supplied by these non-RUSS sites with RUSS-generated data
to track conditions in area lakes. Many of the project Web site's key features, such as the Limnology Primer and
the Data Visualization Tools, were developed under a grant from The National Science Foundation's Advanced
Technology Education Program.
The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's) National
Risk Management Research Laboratory initiated development of this handbook to help interested communities learn
more about the Lake Access Project. The handbook also provides technical information communities need to
develop and manage their own time-relevant lake water monitoring, data visualization, and information
dissemination programs. ORD, working with the Lake Access Project team, produced this handbook to maximize
EMPACT's investment in the project and minimize the resources needed to implement similar projects in other
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communities.
Both print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct on-line ordering from EPA's Office of
Research and Development Technology Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. You can also download
the handbook from the Lake Access—Minneapolis Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org. You can also obtain a
copy of the handbook by contacting the EMPACT program office at:
EMPACT Program US EPA (2831)
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202 564-6791
Fax: 202 565-1966
We hope you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use. We welcome your comments, and you
can send them by e-mail from EMPACT's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact/comments.htm.
EMPACT Metropolitan Areas
IAIbany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Albuquerque, NM
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA
Anchorage, AK
Atlanta, GA
Austin- San Marcos, TX
Bakersfield, CA
Billings, MT
Birmingham, AL
Boise, ID
Boston, MA-NH
Bridgeport, CT
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Burlington, VT
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill,
NC- SC
Cheyenne, WY
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KT-IN
Cleveland-Akron, OH
Columbus, OH
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Dayton-Springfield, OH
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI
El Paso, TX
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Fresno, CA
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland,
MI
Greensboro-Winston Salem-High
Point, NC
Greenville-Spartan burg-Anderson, SC
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA
Hartford, CT
Honolulu, HI
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Kansas City, MO-KS
Knoxville, TN
Las Vegas, NV
Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA
Louisville, KY-IN
Memphis, TN-AR-MS
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Milwaukee-Racine, WI
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,
NY-NJ-CT-PA
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC
Oklahoma City, OH
Omaha, NE-IA
Orlando, FL
Philadelphia- Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-
NJ-DE-MD
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, ME
Portland-Salem, OR-WA
Providence-Fall River-
Warwick, RI-MA
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill,
NC
Richmond-Petersburg, VA
Rochester, NY
Sacramento-Yolo, CA
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-San
Jose, CA
San Juan, PR
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-
Hazleton, PA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton,
WA
Sioux Falls, SD
Springfield, MA
St. Louis-E. St. Louis, MO-IL
Stockton-Lodi, CA
Syracuse, NY
Tampa-St. Petersburg-
Clearwater, FL
Toledo, OH
Tucson, AZ
Tulsa, OK
Washington-Baltimore, DC-
MD-VA- WV
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton,
FL
Wichita, KS
Youngstown-Warren, OH
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
3. WATER QUALITY MONITORING
3.1 Water Quality Monitoring—An Overview
3.2 Designing a Time-Re levant Water Quality Monitoring Project
3.3 Selecting Your Sampling Frequency
3.4 Selecting Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipment
3.6 Siting Monitors
3.7 Installing RUSS Units
3.8 Operating RUSS Units
3.9 Maintaining RUSS Units
3.10 Other Local Monitoring Efforts
4. COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
4.1 System Overview
4.2 Getting Your Equipment and Software in Place
4.3 Programming Your System for Scheduled Transfers of Data
4.4 Managing Data at the Base Station
4.5 Troubleshooting Q&A
5. DEPICTING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
5.1 What is Data Visualization?
5.2 Data Visualization Software
6. COMMUNICATING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Time-Relevant Water Quality Reporting
6.2 Elements of the Lake Access Project's Outreach Program
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public
APPENDIX A Glossary of Terms
APPENDIX B Lake Access Brochure
APPENDIX C Lake Access Survey
CONTRIBUTORS
Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
of their use.
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Contributors
Dr. Dan Petersen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], National Risk Management Research Laboratory)
served as principal author of this handbook, and managed its development with the support of Eastern Research
Group, Inc., an EPA contractor. Contributing authors included the following:
Rich Axler, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth
John Barten, Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District
Jose Coin, Apprise Technologies, Inc.
Cindy Hagley, Minnesota Sea Grant
George Host, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Barbara Liukkonen, University of Minnesota-Extension
Dr. Bruce Munson, Department of Education, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Chris Owen, Apprise Technologies, Inc.
Barb Peichel, Minnesota Sea Grant
Elaine Ruzycki, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Brian Vlach, Suburban Hennepin Regional Park District
Norm Will, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3
6. COMMUNICATING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY
INFORMATION
As your community develops its time- relevant water quality monitoring and reporting systems, you will want to
think about the best ways to communicate the information these systems will yield. This chapter of the handbook
is designed to help you do so:
• It outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan.
• It profiles the outreach initiatives implemented by the Lake Access Team.
• It also provides guidelines for effectively communicating information and includes resources for water quality
monitoring and promoting awareness, which you can incorporate into your own communication and outreach
materials.
6.1 Creating an Outreach Plan for Time- Relevant Water Quality
Reporting
Outreach will be most effective if you plan it carefully, considering such issues as: Who do you want to reach?
What information do you want to disseminate? What are the most effective mechanisms to reach people?
Developing a 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.
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).
• 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 shoreline and lakeshore
property owner associations, 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.
Whom Are You Trying To Reach?
Identifying Your Audience(s)
The first step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target audience or audiences for your
outreach effort. As illustrated in the sample goals above, outreach goals often define their target audiences. You
might want to refine and add to your goals after you have specifically considered which audiences you want to
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reach.
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 certain groups, such as citizens and businesses? Does a significant portion of the
public you are trying to reach have a different cultural or linguistic background from other members? If so, it
likely will be most effective to consider these groups as separate audience categories.
Profiling Your Audience(s)
Outreach will be most effective if the type, content, and distribution of outreach products are specifically tailored
to the characteristics of target audiences. Once you have identified your audiences, the next step is to develop a
profile of their situations, interests, and concerns. This profile will help you identify the most effective ways of
reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider:
• What is their current level of knowledge about water quality?
• 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.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the next 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 (for example, a goal might be
to encourage the public to improve its shoreline management practices).
What Do You Want To Communicate?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In particular at this stage, 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. For example:
• The Lake Access Web site allows you to track daily changes on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence.
• You can improve water quality in area lakes by reducing the amount of fertilizer you apply to your lawn.
Outreach products will often have multiple related messages. Consider what messages you want to send to each
target audience group. You might have different messages for different audiences.
What Outreach Products Will You Develop?
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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. The table below provides some examples.
Outreach Products
Print
Audiovisual
Electronic
Events
Novelty Items
Brochures
Educational curricula
Newsletters
Posters
Question-and-answer sheets
Cable television programs
Exhibits and kiosks
E-mail messages
Web pages
Briefings
Fairs and festivals
One-on-one meetings
Public meetings
Banners
Buttons
Floating key chains for boaters
Magnets
Editorials
Fact sheets
Newspaper and magazine articles
Press releases
Utility bill inserts or stuffers
Public service announcements
Videos
Subscriber list servers
Community days
Media interviews
Press conferences
Speeches
Bumper stickers
Coloring books
Frisbee discs
Mouse pads
(radio)
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 resource and time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting products include:
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does your audience need to
know now? The simplest, most effective, 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
development?
• What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing products?
• 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, a first phase of products
designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date by a second phase of products to encourage changes in
behavior.
• How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value is more likely to be rapidly and
widely disseminated by the media.
How Will Your Products Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are many avenues for distribution.
The table below lists some examples.
Examples of Distribution
Avenues
Your mailing list
Partners' mailing list
Phone/Fax
E-mail
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Internet
Journals or newsletters of partner organizations
TV
Radio
Print media
Hotline that distributes products upon request
Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, schools, marinas,
where products are made available
public beaches, tackle shops, and sailing clubs)
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?
What Follow- up Mechanisms Will You Establish?
Successful outreach might generate requests for further information or concern about issues you have made the
audience aware of. 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, or address, or establish a hotline)?
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 Lake Access Project's Outreach Program
The Lake Access team uses a variety of mechanisms to communicate time- relevant water quality information— as
well as information about the project itself— to the affected public in Hennepin County and the nearby area. The
team uses the project Web site as the primary vehicle for communicating time- relevant information to the public.
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Their outreach strategy includes a variety of mechanisms among them, a brochure, kiosks, and teacher training—
to provide the public with information about the Lake Access project. Elements of the project's communication
program are highlighted below.
Bringing together experts. As a first step, project coordinators brought together a group of naturalists, museum
officials, teachers, and other experts to discuss ways to implement the Lake Access Project's outreach efforts. The
group identified target audiences, discussed the key points and messages that they felt needed to be
communicated, the types of outreach products they thought should be developed, and what mechanisms should be
used to distribute the information.
Designing attractive, user- friendly brochures. The team developed an attractive 2- page, 4- color brochure,
entitled Seeing Below the Surface, which features basic, easy- to- follow information about the Lake Access
project. The target audience is the general public. A reproduction of the brochure is contained in Appendix B.
Survey. Before moving further ahead with project outreach, the Lake Access team needed to know how much
general knowledge the public had about water quality and land use issues in the Hennepin County area. To do so,
they conducted a survey intended to help the team target its outreach efforts and tailor products to be most
useful to lake users and community residents. The survey included a cover page that provided easy- to-
understand information about the Lake Access project, and it contained questions about lake use, level of concern
about lake water quality, interest in learning more about local lakes, and preferred mechanisms for receiving Lake
Access project information. Appendix C contains the entire survey text.
Hennepin County Taxpayer Services provided the team with 450 randomly selected addresses throughout the
county. The team sent surveys to these addresses, along with a cover letter, the project brochure, and a postcard
that residents returned if they wanted to participate in a focus group. They sent the surveys out again to those
who did not initially respond, and in the end, approximately 40 percent of recipients completed the surveys. The
survey results revealed a general concern and curiosity about the lake, as well as interest in many aspects of
water quality.
Web site. The Lake Access Web site, http://www.lakeaccess.org, is the Project's centerpiece for conveying time-
relevant water quality data to the public. The site is organized to present information to four target audiences:
swimmers, boaters, anglers, and land owners. Users can retrieve water quality data in various forms, as well as
background information on water quality. The site's design includes a rolling banner that presents time-relevant
information from the three RUSS unit sites in Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence. The Web site includes an
interactive CIS mapping capability (described in Chapter 5.2) as well as other user- friendly features, such as a
"Frequently Asked Questions" page and a "What's New" page.
In addition, one of the project's partners, Water on the Web (WOW), http://wow.nrri.umn.edu, has created an
interactive educational Web site with National Science Foundation funding. The site provides teachers with online
lessons on water quality issues and provides high school and college students with study guides on various water
quality subjects.
Kiosks. The Lake Minnetonka Regional Parks Visitor's Center, the Eastman Nature Center, the Science Museum of
Minnesota, and the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth have installed touch- screen computer kiosks that feature the
same information as the Lake Access project Web site. Kiosk users can access time- relevant water quality data
from the three Lake Access Project RUSS units. Kiosks provide a mechanism for people without ready access to
the Internet to view the time- relevant data generated by the project.
Training teachers. The project team trained a group of local school teachers on the RUSS unit and the project
through a number of workshops, including a two-week summer workshop held at the lake.
Piggybacking on existing events. The team found it simple and efficient to promote the project in conjunction
with pre- existing events. The team has found that one of the most effective ways to reach a large number of
people is to promote the project at local summer festivals, which attract large crowds.
Developing the Lake Access Web Site
Experience Gained and Lessons Learned
The Lake Access Web site, http://www.lakeaccess.org, is the principal vehicle the Lake Access team uses to
disseminate the time- relevant water quality data gathered by the RUSS units. The site's development was
initiated through a partnership with Water on the Web, and for the most part, the same people were involved in
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developing both sites. So by the time the Lake Access Project Web site was designed, many team members had
learned valuable lessons from their work on the Water on the Web site (http://wow.nrri.umn.edu).
Team members started from scratch when they developed the Water on the Web site. Using Microsoft FrontPage
(a website development and management software tool), they designed and built the site's first release and
maintained it for 18 months. Eventually, the team decided to hire a graphic designer to help "spruce up" some of
the site's design features. Nine months later, they launched a completely redesigned and rebuilt Water on the Web
site. With many individuals working simultaneously to rebuild the structure and content of the site, the team
learned that they needed to frequently back up the site to another computer to avoid accidentally overwriting one
another's content.
The team followed a very similar process to create the Lake Access Web site. They started with an initial "shell"
that has emerged into the full structure and content of the current site. The project team feels that the best
features of the site are the time- relevant data it conveys, the solid information base it provides, including the
limnological primer, and the data visualization tools it features. (These are described in detail in Chapter 4.) Now
that the Web site is fully up and running, the Lake Access Project team plans to add "focused" studies to the site.
In other words, the team plans to take portions of time- relevant and manually collected water quality data and,
using data visualization tools, explain what lake activity the data are illustrating and what they mean in the
context of lake management. The team hopes that these focused studies will help community members become
more aware of the factors that affect lake water quality.
The Lake Access Project team recommends having a graphic designer on hand, if your project's resources allow,
from the onset of your Web site design and construction process. Using any number of Web- based applications,
an experienced Web designer can help you design, develop, and maintain a Web site that most effectively
communicates your time- relevant data and the associated messages you want to convey.
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public
As you begin to implement your outreach plan and develop the products selected in the plan, you will want to
make sure that these products present your messages and information as clearly and accurately as possible. You
also might want to review the available resources on the Internet to help you develop your outreach products, or
serve as additional resource materials (e. g., fact sheets).
How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature, and water quality is no exception. Nevertheless, this
information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to nonspecialists, such as the public. Principles of effective
writing for the public include avoiding jargon, translating technical terms into everyday language the public can
easily understand, using the active voice, keeping sentences short, and using headings and other format devices
to provide a very clear, well- organized structure. You can refer to the following Web sites for more ideas about
how to write clearly and effectively for a general audience:
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government has developed a guidance document, Writing User-
Friendly Documents, that can be found on the Web at http://www.plainlanguage.gov.
• The Web site of the American Bar Association (http://www.abanet.org/lpm/writing/styl.html) has links to
important online style manuals, dictionaries, and grammar primers.
As you develop communication materials for a specific audience, remember to consider what the audience
members are already likely to know, what you want them to know, and what they are likely to understand. Then
tailor your information accordingly. Provide only information that will be valuable and interesting to the target
audience. For example, environmentalists in your community might be interested in why dissolved oxygen levels
are important to aquatic life. However, it's not likely that school children will be engaged by this level of detail.
When developing outreach products, be sure to consider any special needs of the target audience. For example, if
your community has a substantial number of people who speak little or no English, you will need to prepare
communication materials in their native language.
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The rest of this section contains information about online resources that can provide easy to understand
background information that you can use in developing your own outreach projects. Some of the Web sites listed
contain products, such as downloadable fact sheets, that you can use to support your education and outreach
efforts.
Federal Resources
EPA's Surf Your Watershed
http://www.epa.gov/surf3
EPA provides this service 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 their zip code to learn
more about the water resources in their local watershed. Users can also access the Index of Watershed Indicators
(IWI) from this site. The IWI is a compilation of information on the "health" of aquatic resources in the U. S. The
index uses a variety of indicators that point to whether rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and coastal areas are
"well" or "ailing."
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 who will
actually be sampling lake conditions. Its emphasis is on identifying appropriate parameters to monitor and setting
forth specific steps for each selected monitoring method. The manual includes quality assurance/ quality control
procedures to help ensure that the data collected by volunteers are useful to States and other agencies.
EPA's Non Point Source Pointers
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts
This Web site features a series of fact sheets on nonpoint source pollution. The series covers topics including:
programs and opportunities for public involvement in nonpoint source control, managing urban runoff, and
managing nonpoint pollution from various sources (e. g., agriculture, boating, households).
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,
monitoring, pollution prevention, and visualizing the lakes. One section of this site
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/gl2000/lamps/index.html) includes the Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) for each
of the Great Lakes. A LaMP is an action plan to assess, restore, protect and monitor the ecosystem health of a
Great Lake. It is used to coordinate the work of all the government, tribal, and non- government partners working
to improve the Lake ecosystem. The program uses a public consultation process to ensure that the Lamp is
addressing the public's concerns. Lamps could be used as models to assist interested parties in developing similar
plans for their lakes.
U. S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/wqam
Go to this site and click on "Guidance Documents." The resources there include a simple tool to estimate water
body sensitivity to nutrients, a procedure to evaluate the conditions of a stream based on visual characteristics,
plus information on how to design a monitoring system to observe changes in water quality associated with
agricultural nonpoint source controls.
Education Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet
The goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water
resources by developing and disseminating classroom- ready teaching aids and establishing state and
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internationally sponsored Project WET programs. This site includes a list of all the State Project WET Program
Coordinators to help you locate a contact in your area.
Water Science for Schools
http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
The U. S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) Water Science for School Web site offers information on many aspects of
water quality, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive forum where students can give opinions and test
their water knowledge.
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
http://www.earthforce.org/green
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) helps young people protect the rivers, streams, and
other vital water resources in their communities. This program merges hands- on, scientific learning with civic
action. GREEN is working with EcoNet to compile pointers on water- related resources on the Internet. This site
(http://www.igc.apc.org/green/resources.html) includes a comprehensive list of water quality projects across the
country and around the world.
Adopt- A- Watershed
http://www.adopt-a-watershed.org/about.htm
Adopt- A- Watershed is a K- 12 school- community learning experience. Adopt- A-Watershed uses a local
watershed as a living laboratory in which students engage in hands- on activities. The goal is to make science
applicable and relevant to students' lives.
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 the U. S.
They conduct basic and applied research to solve water problems unique to their area and establish cooperative
programs with local governments, state agencies, and industry.
Other Organizations
North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) Guide to Local Resources
http://www.nalms.org/
This is a one- stop resource for local lake- related resources. NALMS's mission is to forge partnerships among
citizens, scientists, and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs. NALMS's
Guide to Local Resources contains links to state and provincial agencies, local offices of federal agencies, extension
programs, water resources research centers, NALMS chapters, regional directors, and a membership directory.
The Watershed Management Council
http://watershed.org/wmc/aboutwmc.html
The Watershed Management Council is a nonprofit organization whose members represent a broad range of
watershed management interests and disciplines. Membership includes professionals, students, teachers, and
individuals whose interest is in promoting proper watershed management.
Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN)
http://www.great-lakes.net
The Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) is a partnership that provides online information about the bi-
national Great Lakes- St. Lawrence region of North America. GLIN provides data about the region's environment,
including issues related to water quality, diversion of water out of the Great Lakes basin, and the introduction of
nonindigenous species and airborne toxins into the basin.
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
I his handbook provides you with step-by-step information on how to develop a program to provide time-relevant
water quality data to your community, using the Lake Access Project in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, area
as a model. It contains detailed guidance on how to:
Design, site, operotc.
and maintain a
system to gather
time-relevant water
quality data.
Design, operate, and
maintain a system to
retrieve, manage,
and rn^|,-r . -.1.
time-relevant water
quality Join.
Lie data visuoliialion
loolslo graphically
depid these dala.
Develop a plan to
(ommuniiale the
results of your
lime-relevant waler
quality monitoring
efforts to resident; in
your community.
• Chapter 3 provides information about water quality monitoring—the first step in the process of generating time-
relevant information about water quality and making it available to residents in your area. The chapter begins
with an overview of water quality monitoring in freshwater systems and then focuses on the remote time-
relevant water quality monitoring conducted as part of the Lake Access Project. It also provides step-by-step
instructions on how to install, operate, and maintain the Remote Underwater Sampling Station (RUSS) units used
by the Lake Access Project team to gather time-relevant water quality data.
• Chapter 4 provides step-by-step instructions on how to operate and maintain an automated system to transmit,
store, retrieve, and analyze the water quality data collected from the remote time-relevant water quality
monitors. The chapter focuses on the software used by the Lake Access Project team from their RUSS units to
their base station, and it also contains information on data quality assurance and control.
• Chapter 5 provides information about using data visualization tools to graphically depict the time-relevant water
quality data you have gathered. The chapter begins with a brief overview of data visualization. It then provides a
more detailed introduction to selected data visualization tools developed by the Lake Access team. You might
want to use these software tools to help analyze your data and in your efforts to provide time-relevant water
quality information to your community.
• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to communicate information about water
quality in your community's lakes. It also provides information about the Lake Access Project's outreach efforts.
The chapter includes a list of resources to help you develop easily understandable materials to communicate
information about your time relevant water quality monitoring program to a variety of audiences.
This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to implement a time-relevant water quality
monitoring program in their communities and for technicians responsible for implementing these programs.
Managers and decision-makers likely will find the initial sections of Chapters 3, 4, and 5 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. Interspersed throughout
the handbook are text boxes that describe some of the lessons learned by the Lake Access team in developing and
implementing its time-relevant water quality monitoring, data management, and outreach program.
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5
4. COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIME-
RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
I o effectively assess the water quality of a lake or river, it is necessary to collect representative field samples
over a time span that takes into account as many influences on the water body as possible. However, conducting a
comprehensive manual sampling program that covers different times of the day, as well as different seasons and
seasonal events, presents distinct challenges. As a result, many water quality monitoring programs, such as the
Lake Access Project, rely on automated systems in which remote water sampling units collect data at programmed
intervals and then transmit the data to a land- based station for storage, retrieval, and analysis.
Using the Lake Access Project as a model, this chapter provides you and your community with "how- to"
instructions on how to operate and maintain such data collection systems. If you are responsible for or interested
in implementing this system, you should carefully read the technical information presented in the sections on
setting up and using RUSS- Base software for data collection and transfer, and managing the data at the base
station (Sections 4.2 through 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
A data collection, transfer, and management system can benefit your community in two ways: It enables you to
automate the collection of water quality samples, and it enables you to control the resulting data flexibly and
easily. By using the system's software, you can program your remote in- water sampling units (in this case, RUSS
units) to collect water quality data at specified intervals. Then you can call the sampling units as needed for data
transmission or program your system to call for transmissions of data at specified times. Once the data arrive, the
information can be formatted and stored or otherwise prepared for export to another database, or it can be
analyzed using geographical information system (CIS) or data visualization software.
The data collection, transfer, and management system used in the Lake Access project consists of two main parts
(see the figure below):
* &mole
sampling
Base Station
RUSS-Bas* System
Software
dpla (olledion
Level1 Two
BOH Station
Dafa Management
System
Perform OA/OC
Convert data
End User
Visualization
Model dola
Analyzedala
• Remote Underwater Sampling Station (RUSS) units, which are deployed in the water and programmed to
collect water quality data in the water column at specified depths and intervals.
• A land- based station, which is basically a computer equipped with two main parts:
• RUSS- Base software. You use this software to create profile schedules of sampling parameters and to
communicate with the RUSS units to transmit schedules and receive sampling data.
• A database management system. You use this system to format, quality check, and store collected data.
The RUSS units and the base station computer are equipped with communications hardware featuring either a
modem/ cell phone or modem/ radio transceiver. This equipment allows the RUSS units and computer to "talk" to
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each other over long distances. Because of this communication ability, each RUSS unit becomes part of a remote
data acquisition system controlled from the land- base station. At the base station, an operator runs the RUSS-
Base software to connect to the RUSS units for data collection and transfer.
The system's flexibility enables you to establish sampling and data transfer protocols based on your specific
monitoring needs. For example, you might program your RUSS units to sample every 4 hours, 7 days a week, to
monitor general trends. You might also want to conduct sampling specific to certain events, such as storms or
heavy rainfalls, during which you might monitor water quality at a single depth on an hourly basis.
The system can collect and store data for future use, or it can retrieve and transmit collected data in near- real
time. Each RUSS unit stores collected data in its on- board computer (RePDAR), making the data available for
download on demand by the base station. The RUSS unit can hold up to 3 weeks of collected data (assuming
average sampling intervals) in its on- board computer. The unit also can serve as a temporary archive by retaining
a copy of all transmitted data files. Once the unit runs out of space, it will overwrite data as necessary, beginning
with the oldest files.
A single base station can control an array of RUSS units, and an individual RUSS unit can transmit data to more
than one base station.
The remainder of this chapter provides information on how to program a data collection and transfer system and
how to manage the collected data, using the system used by the Lake Access project as an example.
How often should data be collected?
The Lake Access team generally collects samples every 4 to 6 hours to observe daily changes in water quality
parameters (see Chapter 3.1). The RUSS units collect samples at 6: 00 a. m., 12: 00 noon, 6: 00 p. m. and 12:
00 midnight, and the data are transmitted to the land- based station at 7: 30 a. m. the following morning. The
team also collects intermittent samples to determine the effect of storm events on lake stratification and nutrient
mixing.
4.2 Getting Your Equipment and Software in Place
In addition to deploying your RUSS units for data collection and transfer, you will need to assess whether your
base station computer equipment meets minimum technical requirements. Once you have determined that it does,
you will be ready to obtain and install the software needed to communicate with your RUSS units. Before you
receive the software from Apprise Technologies, you will need to determine which type of telemetry equipment
should be used on the RUSS units.
Minimum Requirements
To use a land- based computer as a base station, you will need:
• An IBM- compatible PC with a Pentium II processor (300 megahertz [MHZ])
• Windows 95, 98, or 2000 or Windows NT
• 16 megabytes of RAM
• 10 megabytes of free disk space
• An industry standard internal or external dial- up modem
Telemetry Equipment
As a next step, you will need to determine what kind of data communication or telemetry equipment to install on
your RUSS units. Telemetry equipment enables data to be transferred from a remote sampling station (i. e., the
RUSS unit) to a receiving station (i. e., the base station). You can choose between a cellular telephone modem
(CTM) and a 900- MHz transceiver. To make this choice, you should consider the following factors:
• The initial expense associated with CTM units is relatively low. (They generally cost about $1,000 each.)
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However, CTM unit connection costs can be somewhat higher than transceiver unit connection costs. In
contrast, the up- front costs for transceiver units is relatively high (generally about $3,000 each), but
connection costs are likely to be much lower. In addition, maintenance costs tend to be lower for
transceivers.
• Establishing a connection between a CTM unit and RUSS units can be problematic at times if local circuits
are overloaded or if tower- switching issues arise.
Even when a connection is established, the signal strength might not be strong enough to allow data transmission.
A signal strength of less than 50 MHz is usually too weak, while a signal strength between 50 and 60 MHz is
marginal.
To test the connection between a CTM unit and a RUSS unit, you can call the test line maintained by
Apprise Technologies, which is usually pre- programmed into the CTM. (Before you dial, be sure to
switch the unit to the proper pre- programmed number by using the key pad.) On certain CTMs, you
can call the test line by pressing "C" on the key pad. The status of the call will be displayed in the
phone's message window, as follows:
• "No service" indicates insufficient signal strength
• "System busy" indicates overloaded local cell capacity
• "No carrier" or "busy" or "dropped call" indicates call interruption
• "Connect" indicates successful connection
(Note: Apprise Technologies does not guarantee the accessibility of its test line.)
Transceiver unit communications can be affected by radio interference on the transmission channel. The
channel's path also can be inadequate to maintain the connection. In such cases, it might be possible to
switch to a different channel. Using a dedicated or leased line can help ensure the reliability of data
transmission.
Depending on the distance between the land- based station and a RUSS unit, you may need to deploy a
sequence of transceivers. Transceivers can transmit and receive over a distance of no more than 5 miles.
The figure below shows different transceiver deployment configurations based on the distance between the
land- based station and the RUSS unit.
/
Smiles
Base Station
RUSS Unit
with Transceiver '
/
ID mile;
\
Base Station
I
Transceiver
/ -I-
/
S miles
RUSS Unit
N> with Transceiver
\ y
I I
Installing Level 1 Base Station Software
Once you have determined that your computer meets minimum technical requirements and you have selected and
set up your telemetry system, you are ready to obtain and install RUSS- Base, the level 1 base station software.
RUSS- Base enables you to create profile schedules with sampling parameters, transmit the schedules to your
RUSS units, and receive transmissions of sampling data. Additional software (discussed below) allows you to run
RUSS- Base automatically.
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RUSS- Base Software
RUSS- Base, a DOS- based software program available from Apprise Technologies, is provided as part of a RUSS
unit's data collection and transfer system.
To install RUSS- Base:
1. Copy R-Base.exe from the disk or CD- ROM to a directory on your computer.
2. Double click on the executable file. This will load the program onto your computer and create an icon to
access RUSS- Base from your desktop. It will also create two directories on your hard drive. One directory,
C:\RUSS, contains the RUSS- Base program. The other directory, C:\RUSSdata, is the default directory in
which downloaded data from the RUSS unit will be automatically placed.
3. Verify that the RUSS- Base program is working by double clicking on the desktop icon or navigating to the
C:\RUSS directory and double clicking on R-Base.exe.
Note that Apprise Technology provides customers with update notifications by telephone or e- mail and delivers
the actual updates via e- mail, disk, or CD- ROM. We suggest that you implement these updates as you receive
them.
Additional Software
ClockerPro and Clocker are personal/ network program schedulers for use on the Windows platform. They are
designed to schedule programs (or reminders)— such as the upload and download of data from RUSS units— to
run at specified times. Registration for a single copy of these schedules costs $24.95.
To obtain and install ClockerPro or Clocker:
1. Download ClockerPro and Clocker from
http://www.winnovation.com/clocker.htm.
2. Click on the file clkpr311. zip (for ClockerPro) or clk2403. Zip (for Clocker) and save it to a temporary
directory on your computer (such as C:\ imp}.
3. Navigate to the location of clkpr311. Zip or clk2403. Zip
4. Run setup, exe and follow the instructions provided. For instructions on using ClockerPro or Clocker, select
Help from the software's main screen.
Anticipating Support Needs
As with any computer system, you will need to ensure the availability of technical support to attend to software,
hardware, and security needs. A staff person who is familiar with providing general computer support should be
able to maintain your system. You should enlist the services of a technical support person before you deploy the
system so that guidance is available when you need it.
4.3 Programming Your System for Scheduled Transfers of Data
Now that the components of your system are in place, you are ready to program the system components for data
collection and transfer using RUSS- Base software and Clocker/ ClockerPro. The RUSS- Base software application
is relatively easy to use, particularly if you have some experience with DOS programs and telemetry equipment.
This section focuses primarily on:
• Using RUSS- Base to program your RUSS units for sample collection.
• Programming your land- base station to automatically call the RUSS units for scheduled data feeds.
The first time you perform these functions, you will need to be attentive to a variety of details. Once you have
established the appropriate protocol, however, implementing these functions should be quick and easy.
The figure below provides an overview of the data collection and transfer process.
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RUSS Unit
Collect Doto at
Specified Times
and Depths
,
Send Collection Profile
Base Station Initiated
Store Data for
Download
Transfer Data
Base Station Initiated
End User
Base Station
R-Base Data
Collection
and Transfer
Incoming Data
Data Conversion
I
QA/QC
1
Database
(archived)
_l
Outgoing Data
Getting Familiar with the RUSS- Base Startup Screen
With RUSS- Base installed on your land- based computer, you can launch the program by double clicking on either
the desktop icon or the R- base, exe file in the C:/RUSS directory. This will open the program to the startup
screen, which serves as the gateway to program functions.
The startup screen orients you to the overall format of screens throughout the program. The screen content is
organized into four main areas, as shown in the screen below and described in the legend that follows.
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r
06-ii-jOOO fKi:4s:
Section 1
jni t Call sign: plPrJ -
Location: Hals te20Lake%20a^
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will appear on your computer screen.
06-15-2000 10:36:1
Call Sign: EHPT2 ^Edit intc
ted!: Ha Sted Bay
l^ site at ITl- 612-749- 1006
Profile from 1
Set Minimum 0.5
step 1 to 8
naxnmjm B
time data every 10 seconds for 1
se another*- ease station: BASE <.etu|
Last poll on: 05-07-2000 18:14:}l>
Poll for data since 05-07-2000 18:11:58
every 05:00:00 since 11-01-1999 00:00:00
and parking 4 depth
inutes and hang up
Modem CCW*: 2
Baud Rate: 1200
Irit string: ATS7
Dial Prefix: 9w
Dial Suffix:
inish Editing
R-BASE v.l.2 ease Statics Proqran (c) 1993,1999 Apprise Techno!cgies inc.
On the Setup screen, enter the information requested for various parameters, explained in the table below:
Parameter
Description
Base
station call
sign
Enter name of the base station computer. This function will track which computer is calling a RUSS
unit.
Time zone
Enter in Standard UNIX format: EST5EDT for Eastern time, CST6CDT for Central time, MST7MDT
for Mountain time, and PST8PDT for Pacific time.
Modem
CDM#
Enter modem CDM#. The default value will work with most modems.
Baud rate
Enter the proper baud rate for your modem: 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, or 38400. The
default value will work with most modems.
Init string
Enter the initialization string for your modem. The default value will work with most modems.
Dial prefix
Dial prefix If necessary, enter a dial prefix. For example, your organization might require you to
dial "9" to reach an outside line.
Dial suffix
If necessary, enter a dial suffix. For example, your organization might require you to enter a
project charge code.
Last poll on
This date and time tells you the last time your base station called data from a particular RUSS unit.
It also keeps track of the last data point downloaded from the RUSS unit, so only new data will be
downloaded.
Profile
from...
This sets the depth and time at which the RUSS unit will collect data. The screen shot above shows
the following profile: Profile from 1 Step 1 to 8 every 05:00:00 since 11-01-99 00:00:00 This
means that data will be collected from 1 to 8 meters at 1-meter intervals. The RUSS unit will
collect data every 5 minutes from November 1, 1999, starting at midnight. Note: The more
frequently the data are collected, the more battery power is used by the RUSS unit. To conserve
battery voltage, you might want to limit sampling frequency.
Collect real
time data
This sets the time when real-time data will be downloaded from the RUSS unit to the base station.
The screen shot above shows the following parameters: Collect Real Time data every 10 seconds
for 1 minute and hang up. In this example, real-time data will be sent by the RUSS unit every 10
seconds for 1 minute. This process provides the base station operator with a sample of real-time
data measurements and the ability to QA/QC the data.
Poll for
data since
This sets the time when both stored and real-time data will be downloaded from the RUSS unit to
the base station. The screen shot above shows the following parameters: Poll for data since 05-07-
2000 18:14:58 Data will be downloaded from May 7, 2000 at 6:14 p.m. (and 58 seconds) to the
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present time.
Set
minimum...
Maximum...
and
parking
depth
This sets the minimum and maximum depths of the profiler in the lake or river. It also sets the
parking depth at which maximum... the profiler will remain when inactive. The screen shot above
shows the following parameters: and parking depth Set minimum 0.5 maximum 8 and parking 4
depth In this case, the profiler will not ascend above 0.5 meters and will not descend below 8
meters. When inactive, it will hold at 4 meters. The minimum and maximum depths are a fail safe
method for preventing potential accidents. For example, suppose you accidentally programmed the
profiler to collect data from 1 to 1000 meters. If you had entered 10 meters as the maximum
depth that the profiler can descend to, the system will catch this error and the profiler will remain
inactive.
Tjn. Before sending the profile information to a RUSS unit, you must first enter an authorized programing
password in RUSS- Base. The RUSS unit operator will have previously programmed this password into
the RUSS unit, and you will enter this same programming password into RUSS- Base. The RUSS unit will
reject the profile unless this programming password has been entered in RUSS- Base.
Setting Up Your RUSS Unit
Now that you have set up a configuration file, you need to provide additional information for each deployed RUSS
unit. To enter this information, access the RUSS unit setup screen shown below, by selecting Edit Info, or by
hitting Alt- E.
06-19-2000 13:41:20
Specify parameters for sys
Other actions - press *
urit Call Sign: EMPT2
Location: Kalsted Bay
•eial* site at #1-612-749-1006
Call Sign: EMPT2
Location: nalst*d Bay
Phone number: 1-612-749-1006
Ridiil attempts: S
Reconnect attempts: 10
Password: parks
Data folder: \RuSSdata
Cellular Modem Seh«dul«
On at; 8
off at: 20
•finish Editing
R-EASE v.l.2 Ease Station Program (C) 1998,1999 Appri&e Technologies Inc.
Using this RUSS unit Setup screen, enter information about the various RUSS unit parameters:
Parameter
Call sign
Location
Phone
number
Redial
attempts
Reconnect
attempts
Password
Description
Name of the RUSS unit.
Location of the RUSS unit.
The phone number previously programmed in the RUSS unit cellular phone or transceiver.
station phone number is not required if your system is not configured for calls initiated by
stations.
The maximum number of "Redial attempts." This value specifies how many times the base
will try to redial the programmed phone number until a connection is established.
The base
remote
station
The maximum number of "Reconnect attempts." If the RUSS unit answers but connection is broken
before all stored data are downloaded, the base station will hang up and call the unit again.
This password allows a caller to establish a remote connection with the RUSS unit and download
real- time and stored data. (Level 1 access priority.)
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Data folder
The name of the folder that the RUSS data will be downloaded to on the base station computer. You
can also use the default directory C:\ RUSSdata originally created when you installed RUSS- Base.
Cellular
modem
schedule
The time when the cellular telemetry is turned on and off. This is to promote power conservation.
You have now set up your system with profile schedules and RUSS unit information— so that you can control your
RUSS unit data collection activities. You are now ready to direct your RUSS units to collect data according to the
profile schedules and to transfer back the collected data.
Uploading the Profile Schedule and Downloading Data
To direct your RUSS units to collect data, you must upload your sampling profile schedules to your RUSS units. To
do this, use the unit list screen (shown below) to select a unit for profile upload. Access the unit list screen by
selecting choose another or Alt- C on your keyboard. After selecting a unit from the list, call the unit for profile
upload.
Location: naistea Bay
'•dal* site at #1-612-749-1006
Progranming (password:
Profile from 1 step 1 to 8
Set Minimum 0.5 maximum 8
Collect Real time data every 10
: info* Choose another* Base station: BASE -Cetui
last poll on: 05-07-2000 18:14;io
IQOr, poll for data since 05-07-2000 18:14:58
every 06:00:00 since 11-01-1999 00:00:00
and parking 4 depth
:econds for 1 irinutes and hang up «xit>
call Sign: EHPT2
Location- Halsted Bay
Phone number: 1-612-749-1006
ial attempts: 5
ect attempts: 10
Redial attempts
Reconnect attempts
Password
Cellular Modem Schedule
On at: I
Off at: 20
Data folder: \fiuSSdata
•finish Editing*
P-6ASE v.l.2 Base Station Program (C) 1998,1999 Apprise Technologies Inc.
To call the unit, select dial (Alt- D), which initiates the call and accesses the screen shown below.
K.U.b.S. Remote Underwater bawpling Motion
8K29-1399 11:53:52
MJSSs Coll sifjn: USL01 "Ldit info* "Choose another" Base station: flPPHS "Setup"
Location: Upper San Leandro Last poll on: 87-27-1999 12:25:16
"Dial* sit* at ttl MB /?') 6I&6 Poll for dfltfl since O/ •?! 1'W l?:?i:l«i
Prof i If. fron 1 slop 1 to ?7 ruierv [UiOGzOfl siiurn 06 03 1W3 00:00:00
Si'< minimum 1 itrtKinijn ?9 rtnd firtrktng 10 ilcpth
Collect Real UBC d«tn every IB seconds for 1 minutes and hang up ••eKil"
Initialiifinfl *»At*.m on COM?: flTS7-90F1XUCl&n? OK Pons,
Dialina : flTD9»l 510 729 6166 CONHECT 9680/flftO/W34/l OPM/VWBIS Done.
ti-BflSL v.l.l Base Station Profjron (C) 1998.1999 Unwise lechnolotiies Inc.
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If the connection established is too weak for transmission, RUSS- Base will disconnect and redial. If the modem
initialization fails, terminate the connection attempt by pressing the ESC key and check to see if another program
is using the modem.
Using ClockerPro or Clocker software, you can automatically schedule RUSS- Base to call RUSS units in a
predetermined order at different times. These software programs are personal/ network program
schedulers for Windows designed to schedule programs (or reminders)— such as the upload and
download of data from the RUSS unit( s)— to run at specified times. Use the instructions provided with
these programs to run the desired schedules.
Once a connection is established, the RUSS unit will first validate the programming password if you are loading a
new profile schedule. If the programming password is valid, the RUSS unit will report back the time of the next
scheduled sample collection and data transmission, as well as profile parameters.
After the unit receives the new profile, its on- board computer will run a validation routine on the profile, checking
for logic errors or any conflicts with existing programs. If any questionable data elements are found, the system
will prompt you to review and resolve the issue. Once any issues concerning the profile are addressed, the unit
will store the profile parameters and implement sampling based on the profile's schedule information. You can
then proceed in a similar fashion through the unit list screen to upload profiles to other units in your system.
When collecting a water quality sample, the RUSS unit deploys a device called a Profiler to a specified depth in the
water column below the unit. Before data are collected, the sensors will stabilize at the correct depth, which can
take 3 to 5 minutes. Collected information is then transmitted to the unit's on- board computer via an underwater
cable. The computer has the capacity to store up to 3 weeks of collected data (assuming average sampling
intervals).
The collected monitoring information is then automatically transmitted from the RUSS units to the base station at
intervals specified in unit- specific profile schedules. After this transmission, you can access the data as needed for
analysis.
Even when the system is set up to automatically transmit collected data, you can implement manual downloads
using the unit list screen to connect with specific RUSS units (as discussed above). To avoid downloading duplicate
data, RUSSBase tracks the last data point for data transmitted from each unit. In addition, you can download near
real- time data from a unit at the same time the unit is transmitting data from a scheduled sampling. As
information is transmitted, it will display on screen (as shown in the screen shot below). An "End of data" message
will be displayed when the transmission is complete.
IUJ.S.S. Run o li
st nl 1 on
Call sifln: tHPTl "Edit info* "Choose another* Base station: HPPRS "Schitt
Location: Host Jppcr Las! poll on: 07-20 1999 00:00:0(1
"Dirtl- site at Hi 612 749 1007 Poll for datd since 07 ?8 1999 00:00:00
Prasimimins) Drtssword: Uhutcvcr
Prufilc from 1 step 1 to 18 eutrv 06:00:60 since 06 03 1999 00:00:00
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4.4 Managing Data at the Base Station
This section provides you with background information on managing data at the base station. It describes the base
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station's data functions, including data formatting, QA/ QC, management, retrieval, and storage.
Data Format
As data are automatically transferred from the RUSS units, the data files are automatically downloaded into the
C:\ RUSS directory on your base station hard drive. The raw data are formatted as a simple string of comma-
delimited ASCII text.
The data format and file name will be slightly different depending on whether you are downloading real- time data
or stored data. The following table displays near real- time data obtained from the EMPT2 Russ unit in Halsteds
Bay. The file is called EMPT2506. RTD. EMPT2 is the unit call sign, 2506 is the date, and the extension RTD
indicates real- time data.
Date
05-06-2000
05-06-2000
05-06-2000
05-06-2000
05-06-2000
05-06-2000
Time
07:31:19
07:31:28
07:31:37
07:31:49
07:31:58
07:31:07
Depth
4.40
4.40
4.40
4.40
4.40
4.40
Temp °C
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
PH
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
.8
7.8
Cond
410.0
410.0
410.0
410.0
410.0
410.0
DOppm
7.05
7.08
7.09
7.11
7.11
7.11
DOsat
70.0
70.3
70.4
70.6
70.6
70.6
Turb
53.4
51.9
67.3
54.2
52.6
45.4
ORP
48.6
31.4
44.0
48.9
48.4
48.9
Batt
13.0
12.9
12.8
12.8
12.8
12.8
The following table displays stored data obtained from the EMPT2 Russ unit in Halsteds Bay. The file is called
EMPT2725. DAT where the extension DAT refers to stored data.
Date
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
Time
0:02:13
0:03:40
0:05:07
0:06:22
0:08:13
0:09:40
0:11:31
0:13:34
6:02:16
6:03:55
6:05:07
6:06:34
6:08:37
6:09:52
6:11:55
6:13:46
12:02:40
12:08:15
12:10:51
12:12:18
12:13:57
12:15:36
12:17:51
Depth
1.17
1.89
2.83
3.86
4.97
5.89
6.81
7.85
1.16
1.92
2.88
3.9
4.88
5.84
6.86
7.84
1.14
2.18
2.85
3.91
4.82
5.89
6.9
Temp °C
24
24
23.9
23.8
23.5
22.6
22.1
20.5
23.8
23.8
23.8
23.7
23.5
22.9
22.1
21
23.9
23.8
23.7
23.5
23.3
22.8
21.8
PH
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.2
7.6
7.4
7.2
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.3
8.1
7.7
7.4
7.3
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.3
8.1
7.7
7.3
Cond
382
382
383
384
388
396
409
457
383
382
382
384
387
393
409
444
382
382
383
384
386
394
423
DOppm
8.23
8.49
8.37
7.92
6.17
0.83
0.11
0.11
7.6
8.29
8.19
7.4
6.45
2.36
0.13
0.11
8.01
7.96
7.76
7.06
6.13
2.52
0.12
DOsat
97.8
100.9
99.4
93.8
72.7
9.6
1.2
1.2
90
98.2
97
87.4
75.9
27.5
1.5
1.2
95
94.2
91.8
83.1
71.9
29.3
1.4
Turb
31.2
38.2
32.8
50.8
20.8
27.8
23.3
57.1
41.4
113.3
96.1
56.5
55.5
38.2
47.2
64.4
233.5
108.3
108.3
97
103.9
93.5
120.4
ORP
11.9
9.7
11.9
13.8
20
36.8
48.2
57
13.5
8.8
13
14.7
19.6
30
43.6
52.6
11.3
11.2
8.5
16.1
21.8
36.3
46
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7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
7/25/00
12:19:18
18:06:42
18:08:33
18:10:12
18:11:51
18:13:30
18:14:57
18:17:00
18:18:51
7.83
0.99
1.96
2.86
3.81
4.8
5.81
6.83
7.95
20.8
24.5
24.5
24.4
23.7
23.3
22.8
21.7
20.8
7.2
8.6
8.6
8.5
8.3
8
7.5
7.3
7.2
450
380
380
381
386
388
395
423
449
0.12
9.71
9.85
9.58
7.15
5.79
2.81
0.15
0.12
1.3
116.4
118.1
114.7
84.5
68
32.7
1.7
1.4
111
92.4
112.4
109.3
90.9
113.9
96.8
123.7
113.3
54.1
2.6
3.8
6.2
13.7
24.4
40.9
49.6
52.3
Checking for Data Quality
After your data have been delivered, you will want to make sure that they meet acceptable quality criteria. The
Lake Access team uses both automated and manual data quality checks to ensure accurate and representative
measurements of water quality parameters. At all stages of data management, the information is subjected to
previously established and documented quality assurance protocols.
Performing quality checks on Lake Access data can take from a few days to weeks or months, depending on the
amount of data streaming into the project's base station. The Lake Access team's data quality checks focus on
subtle trend differences, data that are out of range, data with unusual rates of change, outliers, data gaps, and
the data's consistency with weather patterns and season. An overview of these checks is provided below. For more
detailed information, refer to the Lake Access Quality Assurance Protocols document, which is available on the
Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org/QAQC.html.
The Lake Access team performs QA/ QC on the data using the methods outlined below:
• The team compares manually collected samples with RUSS unit data prior to recalibrating the RUSS unit.
This check provides assurance that the previous period's data are accurate. If the data pass for the previous
period, they are considered acceptable. If the data do not pass, team members examine the results in the
context of their understanding of the individual lake's limnology and other data (e. g., nutrients, chlorophyll,
trends). They then decide to either delete the data from the database and/ or save the information in a
different place. The team is especially careful not to delete anomalous data that might reveal actual dynamic
changes in lake water quality.
• The team generally performs routine, biweekly maintenance and calibration of the sensors. At the same
time, the team also conducts manual sampling with an independent instrument. The following table provides
information on quality assurance criteria for the RUSS unit sensors.
Sensor
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
EC(25 °C)
PH
Turbidity
Relative Percent Difference (RPD)
< 5 percent
< 10 percent
< 10 percent
< 10 percent
< 10 percent
Delta
< .2°C
< .5 mgO2/L
< 5 uS/cm
< .2 units
< 5 NTUs
See Chapter 3, Section 3.9 for detailed information on calibration and quality assurance of the RUSS sensors.
• The team has developed sophisticated data visualization programs that allow quick review of the data as
they are transmitted from RUSS units. These programs enable the team to identify problems almost
immediately. Using the data visualization tools described in Chapter 5, the team can visually inspect the
graphical displays to ensure that the data flow in categorical increments and accurately reflect changes in
water quality. The team also can visually check for data gaps and outliers. An example of questionable data
might be a reading that is inconsistent with the lake's depth. Additionally, the Profile Plotter and Color
Mapper tools described in Chapter 5 contain calibration flags that allow the user to keep track of calibration
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dates as the data stream is being viewed.
• Once the data are transferred to the base station, they are run through an importer program. This program
converts the data to a standard format and also checks for errors. (The importer program is described in
more detail in the following subsection on converting and managing data.)
The Lake Access team uses data from manual sampling to fill in data gaps and address anomalous data. If the
team determines that the anomalies are large and cannot be resolved, or if large amounts of data are missing,
the data will not be used or released to the public. If the team determines that the data meet QA/ QC
requirements, the data are considered valid and reportable.
Converting and Managing the Data
After you collect data from the RUSS units, you must convert it to the correct format for input into your data
management system and visualization tools (described in Chapter 5). The Lake Access team uses an importer
program to convert the RUSS unit data to a standard format. This program reads data files that have been created
or changed since the last time the program was run. It then converts the data to the format required by the
visualization tools and checks the data for integrity.
The importer first tests the RUSS unit's name, site name, and column descriptions to ensure they correspond to
the anticipated parameters for that unit. If they do not correspond, the importer generates an error and no further
action is taken with the data file. For example, an error will be generated if a data file from Halsteds Bay was
accidentally placed in the Lake Independence directory.
The importer then reads each individual data line and converts it to a reading that presents measurements taken
at the same depth at the same time. A set of readings is combined to form a "profile" in the database. The
importer also flags and rejects data that fall outside a specified range. The following table shows the correlation
between water quality parameters and unacceptable data ranges.
Parameter
Temperature
PH
EC at 25 °C
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
DO percent saturation
Turbidity*
Unacceptable data range
< -1 or > 35 °C
< 5 or > 10
<1 or > 600 Us/cm
<-l or >20 mgO2/L
< -5 or > 200 percent
< -5 or > 1000 NTU
*Turbidity values between -5 and 0 are set to equal 0.
After the importer has read the data, it stores the information in an object- oriented storage format. In this
format, each line of text represents an object. The conversion method you employ will depend on the type of
system you use for data storage or visualization. However, the Lake Access importer program is recommended for
ease of use, compatibility with RUSS unit data, and for its ability to conduct quality checks. For additional
information on the importer program, please read the Lake Access Quality Assurance Protocols document on the
Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org/QAQC.html.
Retrieving the Data
As you set up your system, you can develop your own protocols for retrieving data. To retrieve its data, the Lake
Access team directly links its data visualization tools (DVTs) described in the next chapter to its object- oriented
database. If you decide to store your data instead in MS Access or another database management system, you
can develop simple queries to access data. If you decide to store the data in an Oracle database, you might want
to develop a user- friendly interface to retrieve the data. For example, you could make use of drop- down lists to
select time periods, check boxes to choose parameters, radio buttons to select output file format, or graphical
versus text displays.
Storing and Archiving the Data
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It is recommended that you store and archive all sample records, raw data, quality control data, and results. A
variety of media are available for archiving data (e. g., CD- ROMs, Zip disks, floppy diskettes, and hard copy). The
server storing the data should also be backed up daily to prevent data loss.
4.5 Troubleshooting Q&A
This section contains information about common troubleshooting issues.
Q: Is technical support available for hardware and software installation?
A: Apprise Technologies will work with each client to ensure that the RUSS units and associated software are
properly installed. Also, the company can tailor system setup to individual customers. Additionally, Apprise
technologies offers telephone and onsite support. Apprise also offers onsite training on topics such as assembling
and disassembling RUSS units, deploying the units, installing and operating RUSS- Base software, and system
troubleshooting.
Q: Is technical support available for operating the data collection, transfer, and management systems?
A: Apprise Technologies offers telephone and on- site support for its systems. Many communities take advantage
of on- site training, which includes sessions focused on data collection, transfer, and management.
Q: What should I do when the data will not download?
A: If you are unable to download data, your communications protocol or RUSS unit battery power might have
failed. As a first step, make sure that your RUSS unit has enough battery power to transfer the data. Review the
data file you downloaded previously, because this file will contain information about the battery voltage.
Voltage should be in the range of 12.5 to 14.5 Volts during daytime hours. Lower voltages indicate that the RUSS
unit solar panel is not recharging the battery due to excessive power drain, loose cables, or a shadowed or
damaged panel. A RUSS unit will be fully functional with battery power as low as 11.5 Volts. The more frequently
the data are collected, the more battery power is used by the RUSS unit. To conserve battery voltage, you might
want to consider limiting sampling frequency.
Q: What should I do when I cannot log in or connect to the RUSS unit from the base station?
A: If you are unable to connect to the RUSS unit, first check that your password entry is correct. For example, be
sure not to include leading or trailing spaces. If you cannot determine the cause of the failure, place a test call to
Apprise Technology's computer (see Section 4.3) to test the communications system and ensure that it is working
properly.
Q: Can I automatically collect data without being present at the base station?
A: Using ClockerPro or Clocker software, you can automatically schedule RUSS- Base to call RUSS units in a
predetermined order at different times without anyone being present. (See Section 4.3 for additional information
about Clocker and ClockerPro software.)
Q: How can I adjust the time interval that the profiler maintains at each sampling depth?
A: If you would like to adjust the time interval, contact Apprise Technologies and they will program a new time
interval for you. Apprise Technologies originally programs the RUSS- Base software to allow for between 3 to 5
minutes at each sampling depth. For example, if your profiler is programmed to collect measurements every meter
for 20 meters, it will remain at each meter depth for between 3 and 5 minutes. This interval allows sufficient time
for the profiler to stabilize at the given depth. Intervals greater than 6 minutes can drain the RUSS unit battery
power too quickly.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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5.1 | 5.2
5. DEPICTING TIME- RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
Now that your water quality monitoring network is in place and you have collected the resulting data, you can turn to
the next step in providing your community with time- relevant water quality information: using data visualization tools to
graphically depict this information. By using the types of data visualization tools described in this chapter, you can create
graphic representations of water quality data that can be used on Web sites, in reports and educational materials, and in
other outreach and communication initiatives.
Section 5.1 provides an overview of data visualization. Section 5.2 contains an introduction to selected data visualization
tools used by the Lake Access Team. If you are interested in a basic introduction to data visualization, you might only
want to read the initial section. If you are responsible for choosing and using data visualization software to model and
analyze data, you should also consult Section 5.2.
5.1 What is Data Visualization?
Data visualization is the process of graphically depicting data in ways that are meaningful to you. When data are
visualized effectively, the resulting graphical depictions can reveal patterns, trends, and distributions that might otherwise
not be apparent from raw data alone. This enables you to "see" and "understand" the data much more easily and
meaningfully. The results of your efforts can then be communicated to a broader audience, such as residents in your
community.
Data visualization can be accomplished with a variety of software tools, ranging from standard spreadsheet and statistical
software to more advanced analytical tools such as:
• Two- and three- dimensional graphic plotters
• Animation techniques
• Geographic Information Systems
• Simulation modeling
• Geostatistical techniques
By applying these tools to water quality data, you can help your community's residents gain a better understanding of
factors affecting water quality in area lakes and streams. Once you begin using data visualization tools, you will
immediately be impressed with their ability to model and analyze your data for a variety of purposes, from making
resource management decisions to supporting public outreach and education efforts. For example, you can use data
visualization tools to:
• Explore links between land use patterns within watersheds and the type and magnitude of nonpoint pollutant
sources affecting local streams and lakes.
• Calculate acreage of the various land uses within your watershed, and use this information, in conjunction with
models, to predict sediment and phosphorous loadings to lakes from inflow streams and nonpoint sources.
• Create daily, monthly, and annual lake water quality profiles.
As explained in Chapter 3 of this handbook, the Lake Access team is using data collected by Remote Underwater
Sampling Station (RUSS) units and manual sampling to determine the impact of pollutant loadings on Lake Minnetonka
and Lake Independence. The raw data collected from the RUSS units provide information about current water quality
conditions and short- and long- term water quality trends. The Lake Access team then uses a number of data
visualization tools to analyze and convey information about water quality data. The Lake Access team is using data
visualization and interpretation techniques to analyze water quality data and provide information to support resource
management and land use planning decisions within the watershed.
A variety of commercially available data visualization tools exist that allow you to graphically represent real- time data,
manipulate variables, compare temporal trends, and even depict changes over time. Section 5.2 focuses on the following
data visualization tools listed in the table below.
Tool Group
DVT Data
Tools
Lake Access Live:
Near Real- Time Tools Display of Numeric
Primary Uses
• Explore lake data as it varies
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Visualization
Tools
Data; Profile Plotter; Color Mapper; Depth versus Time (DxT)
Profiler
with depth and over time
Create animated water quality
profiles
Feed real- time data to
Internet site
Investigate correlations
between water quality
variables and trends
Spreadsheet
Programs
Microsoft Excel; Lotus 123
Display raw data
Investigate correlations
between water quality
variables and trends
Create summary graphs of
data
Integrate and model spatial
data (e. g., water quality and
land use)
Develop Internet mapping
applications
Geographic
Information
Systems
Several, including Arclnfo; ArcView; GeoMedia; and Maplnfo
Professional
5.2 Data Visualization Software
This section provides information about the three data visualization software groups described in Section 5.1:
• DVT data visualization tools
• Spreadsheet programs
• Geographic Information Systems
After reviewing this section, you should have a good idea when and why you might want to use these tools and what you
need to do to obtain, install, and use them.
DVT Data Visualization Tools
DVT data visualization tools are user- friendly, interactive programs that the Lake Access team uses to depict and
manipulate water quality profiles collected by RUSS units and from manual sampling. The four tools listed below were
developed originally for the team's Water on the Web project and are designed to work with data sets generated by
RUSS technology, but they could also be adapted to work with other data sets from other water quality monitoring
systems your community chooses to put in place. These tools are:
• Lake Access Live: Near Real- Time Display of Numeric Data
• Profile plotter
• Color mapper
• Depth versus Time (DxT) Profiler These tools provide the ability to:
• Feed real- time data to the Web for data sharing.
• Compare water quality profiles over time and depth.
• Create animations of profiles to illustrate how water quality parameters change daily, monthly, and annually.
You can obtain the DVT tools by contacting Apprise Technologies at 218- 720- 4341. They are available individually, or as
a package called the DVToolkit. The tools are easy to install and are appropriate for a wide variety of platforms,
including Windows 95/ 98/ NT, Unix/ Linux, and Macintosh. You can run these applications directly from your computer
or over the Web.
For additional information on these tools, consult the Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org and the article
Interactive Technologies for Collecting and Visualizing Water Quality Data, co- authored by the Water on the Web team
and Apprise Technology. This article is published in the journal of the Urban and Regional Information Systems
Association (URISA) and is available on the Web at
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http://www.urisa.org/Journal/accepted/host/interactive_technologies_for_collecting_and_visualizing_water_quality _data.htm
(Host et al., 2000, article only viewable to members of the URISA website).
The subsections below present brief overviews of each DVT tool, focusing mainly on what each is used for (i. e., when/
how you might use each tool). This will help you decide if you want to obtain and employ these tools.
Lake Access Live: Near Real- Time Display of Numeric Data
This is a simple program that can be used to provide near real- time data feeds, such as oxygen level and temperature,
to Web sites for public access and data sharing. The program automatically retrieves water quality data from your
database, embeds the data in a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) image, and posts the image to a Web site. The
screen below, taken from the Lake Access Web site, shows how this program is used to display near real- time data.
Lake Minnetonka, Halsteds Bay Wed 09/13/00 06:00
Minnetonka, West Upper Lake Mon 09/11/00 06:00
Lake Independence Wed 09/13/00 06:00
Depth: 1 m (3ft)
8 m 06 ft)
Depth: 1m (3 ft)
8 m (26 ft)
Depth: 1m (3 ft)
8 m (26 ft)
Temperature: 68 °F
68 °F
Temperature: 70 °F
69 °F
Temperature: 68 °F
68 °F
Oxygen: 6.0 mg/L
4.8 mg/L
Oxygen: 6.9 mg/L
Profile Plotter
The Profile Plotter program enables users to create static and animated line plots of the profiles of lakes and other water
bodies revealing how water quality variables change over time and depth. Animated profiles help users observe how lake
profiles change daily, monthly, and annually. Users can choose from a number of different variables to plot. For example,
the screen below shows how users can select from a variety of water quality parameters (i. e., temperature, pH, specific
conductance, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) to plot and animate. This particular graph displays temperature, pH, and
dissolved oxygen concentrations at various depths in Lake Independence at 6: 00 a. m. on June 12, 2000, in the form of
a lake profile line plot. By plotting temperature as a function of depth, you can show how the thermocline location varies
with time, and you can illustrate events such as spring and winter turnover.
UK* lnH*p*nd*nc* on Mon, «-l2-MOQ 06:00 Ctrl |Lakeindependence
Pointer
«m« legend |Mor., Jun 12.2000
Temp(C) *
PH x
EC (uS)
DO(m(J/LJ A
D0.(%sat)
TurtKNTU) •
J -I
lower
SPEED
Warning Applet Window
Profile Plotter
Color Mapper
The Color Mapper is similar to the Profile Plotter, except that it enables you to map two water quality variables
simultaneously. A user interested in understanding the correlation between two variables might want to use this tool.
Using Color Mapper, you can map one parameter as color contours and then overlay another variable over the color
contours in the form of a line plot. For example, in the graph shown below, the background depicts temperature using
color contour, and a superimposed line plot shows oxygen concentrations. This display shows that oxygen is depleted
below the thermocline.
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Color Mapper
The temperature data shown in the screen above was originally collected by the RUSS units as point data. To display the
data as color contours, the Color Mapper estimates temperatures in areas where there are no measurements (i. e., in the
areas between point samples). This process of estimating measurements— in this case, temperature— is called
interpolation.
Once the data have been interpolated, the Color Mapper automatically draws color contours representing a range of
temperatures. These ranges and colors are chosen based on predetermined break points keyed to changes in
temperature. In this case, the red colors represent warmer temperatures and the blue colors represent cooler
temperatures.
Depth Versus Time (DxT) Profiler
This program graphically depicts how the lake data collected by RUSS units change over time. The DxT Profiler allows
users to display and analyze data in two or three dimensions. As shown in the display below, this program allows you to
select the time period for which you want to display data; select the parameter you wish to analyze or illustrate; add
grid lines; show the actual data points; and interpolate data by depth and time. You can also output the graphs in GIF
format to post to Web sites or incorporate into reports.
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Lake Independence Top Layer.. pH
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Note: The pH data shown in the graph above are still undergoing several rounds of quality assessment by the Lake Access team. As a result,
some of these data might be subsequently modified.
You can also create other types of graphics using spreadsheet programs. For example in the screen shown below, the
Lake Access team has used Microsoft Excel to show the Secchi depth data for Lake Independence over a 1- month
period. (See the box in chapter 3 for a detailed explanation of Secchi depth data.)
Like Independence Mean Monthly Secchi (SE)
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIs is a software and hardware system that helps scientists and other technicians capture, store, model, display, and
analyze spatial or geographic information. This technology offers powerful tools for analyzing and visualizing spatial
patterns and trends in environmental data. (The U. S. Geological Society's (USGS's) Web site contains a user- friendly
introduction to GIs at http://info.er.usgs.gov/research/GIs/title.html.
GIs includes a varied range of technologies. To choose, obtain, and use them, you will need to understand the various
technologies available and which might be appropriate for your needs and situation. By using GIs technology, you can
produce a wide range of graphical outputs, including maps, drawings, animations, and other cartographic products. To
create these outputs, you can use GIs to perform a range of powerful functions, including:
• Interactive visualization and manipulation of spatial data
• Integration of spatial analysis and environmental modeling
• Integration of GIs and remote sensing
• Simulations modeling
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• Creation of two and three- dimensional models
• Internet mapping
To choose, obtain, and use GIs software, you will need to understand the various technologies available and which might
be appropriate for your needs and situation. For more information on specific GIs software packages, you can consult
manufacturers' Web sites, including:
• ESRI (http://www.esri.com), whose suite of tools includes Arclnfo, ArcView, and ArcIMS Internet mapping software
• Intergraph (http://www.intergraph.com/GIs), whose software includes GeoMedia and GeoMedia Web Map
• Maplnfo (http://www.mapinfo.com), whose products include Maplnfo and Maplnfo Xtreme (an Internet mapping
software)
Although GIs is more complex and expensive than other data visualization tools described in this chapter, it also provides
more power and flexibility— both in terms of the data you can use and what you can do with the data. You can use GIs
technologies from data originating from a variety of sources, including satellite imagery, surveys, hardcopy maps, and
environmental readings on variables such as water depth or chemistry. Key data layers in the Lake Access project include
RUSS data, manual sampling data, land use data, transportation data, watershed boundaries, elevation, and
hydrography. Having these data, you can use GIs to illustrate how land use changes affect water quality. You might also
want to use GIs to model the relationships between watershed characteristics and lake water quality. By using GIs, you
can combine different types of data layers to predict how quickly sediments or contaminants might move through a
stream system.
The following graphic was created by the Lake Access team using Arclnfo software to display land use in the Lake
Independence and Lake Minnetonka watersheds. The map is color coded to distinguish the land uses surrounding the
lake (e. g., agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, forest, and wetland).
Maps of this type can help inform the public and local officials about connections between local water conditions and
current land uses in their communities.
GIs Features on the Lake Access Web site. The Lake Access team has developed a user- friendly and engaging map-
based product for the land use page of its Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org/landuse.html. This Web- based
capability is a powerful way to distribute GIs data, allowing thousands of interested parties to simultaneously display and
access data. Maps are displayed on the Web site using the ARCVIEW Internet Map Server (IMS) developed by ESRI.
Users can zoom in and out of maps and perform queries to gather information about different map elements. Site
visitors can generate maps, query data, and retrieve information by simply clicking on the map feature. IMS allows the
user to turn different kinds of map layers (e. g., roads, land use, water bodies) on or off to create their own customized
maps. For more information on using IMS, visit the ESRI Web site at
http://www.esri.com/software/arcview/mapcafe/index.html.
The screen below shows the IMS display for land use in the Lake Independence watershed. The screen has three primary
sections:
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• A toolbar for performing various map operations
• An interactive legend that allows different layers to be turned on or off
• A map viewing frame that shows the map itself
The status bar at the bottom of the screen provides information about map coordinates, a map scale, a link to a help
site, and information on the status of current operations.
BulUiii Descrip
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Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C
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3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.10
3. WATER QUALITY MONITORING
I his chapter provides information about water quality monitoring—the first step in the process of generating
time-relevant information about water quality and making it available to residents in your area.
The chapter begins with a broad overview of water quality monitoring (Section 3.1). It then focuses on the remote
time-relevant water quality monitoring conducted as part of the Lake Access Project. It also provides information
about installing, operating, and maintaining the equipment used by the Lake Access Project team to gather time-
relevant water quality data. Section 3.2 discusses factors to consider when designing a remote time-relevant water
quality monitoring project. Sections 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 explain how to select remote time-relevant monitoring
frequencies, parameters, and equipment. Section 3.6 describes how to select the locations of your remote time-
relevant water quality monitoring stations. Sections 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9 explain how you can install, operate, and
maintain the remote time-relevant water quality monitoring equipment used by the Lake Access Project. The
chapter concludes with a brief overview of other water quality monitoring projects conducted in the Twin Cities
area (Section 3.10).
Readers primarily interested in an overview of water quality monitoring might want to focus on the introductory
information in Sections 3.1 and 3.2. If you are responsible for the actual design and implementation of a
monitoring project, you should review Sections 3.3 through 3.9. They provide an introduction to the specific steps
involved in developing and operating a remote time-relevant water quality monitoring project and information on
where to find additional guidance.
3.1 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. The Web site of the U.S. EPA
Office of Water (http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring) is a good source of background information on water
quality monitoring. (The information presented in the following paragraphs is summarized from this Web site.)
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, clarity, flow, and water color.
• 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 kinds of water quality monitoring projects, such as those:
• 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)
• On an emergency basis (such as after a spill)
Many agencies and organizations conduct water quality monitoring, including state pollution control agencies,
Indian tribes, city and county environmental offices, the US 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 US 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:
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• 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 (such as the implementation of pollution prevention strategies)
are being met.
• 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.
In addition to the US 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 Minnesota Lakes Association maintains a Web site
(http://www.mnlakesassn.org/main/resources/waterquality/index.cfm) that lists resources for water quality
monitoring and management. State and local organizations in your community might maintain similar listings. The
University of Minnesota-Duluth's Water on the Web site also maintains a list of links for water quality information
and resources, including sampling and monitoring methods, at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow/under/links.html.
(The Water on the Web project provides on-line, time-relevant lake data as a tool for teaching basic and
environmental science.)
In some cases, special water quality monitoring methods, such as remote monitoring, or special types of water
quality data, such as time-relevant data, are needed to meet a water quality monitoring program's objectives.
Time-relevant environmental data are data 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.
Remote Time-Relevant Water Quality Monitoring: The Lake Access Project
The Lake Access Project helps community lake management and research organizations learn more about the
characteristics of lakes in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the Suburban Hennepin Regional
Park district (Hennepin Parks) through remote time-relevant monitoring of lake water quality. In turn, the data
gathered through the Lake Access Project are used to communicate time-relevant information about lake water
quality to the local public.
The Lake Access Project team conducts remote time-relevant monitoring at two locations in Lake Minnetonka and
at one location in Lake Independence. At each location, the project team operates a remote underwater sampling
station (RUSS™) unit, manufactured by Apprise Technologies, Inc. The RUSS unit consists of a mobile underwater
monitoring sensor tethered to a buoy and featuring an onboard computer, batteries, solar panels, telemetry
equipment, and other optional monitoring equipment. Four times daily, each RUSS unit raises and lowers a
tethered multiprobe water quality sensor manufactured by Yellow Springs Instruments® (YSI®) to collect a profile
in 1-meter intervals from the lake surface to the lake bottom. The RUSS unit measures the following parameters:
• Temperature
• pH
• Dissolved oxygen
• Electrical conductivity
• Turbidity
• Depth
The Lake Access Project team uses a land-base station to communicate with the RUSS units via cellular
connection. Time-relevant data are remotely downloaded from the RUSS units daily.
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Cellular / Radio / Satellite
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The diagram above illustrates some of the basic RUSS unit components, and it shows how the RUSS unit
communicates with the land-base station. This diagram was taken from the RUSS System Manual, which is
available from Apprise Technologies. For more information about Apprise Technologies and the RUSS unit, visit
http://www.apprisetech.com.
The remainder of this chapter highlights the Lake Access Project. The text box below provides some background
information on the characteristics of the lakes studied in the Lake Access Project, and it introduces some
important technical terms relevant to the study of these lakes. The information in this text box was taken from the
Lake Access Web site, which provides extensive online information about lake ecology. For more information, visit
these Web pages at http://www.lakeaccess.org/ecology/lakeecology.html.
3.2 Designing a Time-Relevant Water Quality Monitoring Project
The first step in developing any water quality monitoring project is to define your objectives. Keep in mind that
remote time-relevant monitoring might not be the best method for your organization or community. For example,
you would not likely require a remote time-relevant monitoring capability to conduct monthly monitoring to comply
with a state or federal regulation.
Lake Stratification and Lake Mixing
This text box provides some basic information about the effects of seasonal temperature variations on the types of
lakes studied by the Lake Access Project team.
Lakes are directly influenced by fluctuations in seasonal air temperature. The following figure shows the seasonal
activities and characteristics of lakes, such as Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence in the Minneapolis area,
with an annual pattern of two seasonal mixing periods. (Lakes with this pattern of mixing are known as dimictic
lakes.)
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EARLY SUMMER LATE SUMMER EARL/FALL
SPRING TURNOVER WINTER FALLTURNOVER
Figure showing the activities and characteristics of the types of lakes studied through the Lake Access
Project. (Taken from the Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org/ecology/lakeecologyprim4.html).
Seasonal air temperatures directly affect lake temperatures. Lake temperatures, in turn, affect lake water densities.
Water is most dense at about 4°C and becomes less dense at higher and lower temperatures. The typical seasonal
lake temperature and density characteristics seen in dimictic lakes are described below:
Summer. During the summer, the lake surface is warmed by the sun, while the lake bottom remains cold. These
differing temperatures affect lake water density, causing the water in deeper lakes to separate into layers. This
process of separation is called stratification. The figure below shows the following three layers of a typical stratified
lake:
• The epilimnion is the upper layer. It is warm, well-mixed, and rich in dissolved oxygen.
• The metalimnion is also called the thermocline region. The thermocline is the point of maximum temperature
change within the metalimnion. In this layer, water temperature declines and density increases rapidly with
depth. The drastic density change in this layer prevents the epilimnion and hypolimnion from mixing.
• The hypolimnion is the bottom layer of cold water. Because this layer is isolated from the atmosphere and
the epilimnion, it becomes anoxic (i.e., the water does not contain any dissolved oxygen). Anoxic conditions
can result in many events, including the release of phosphorus, a nutrient, from the lake bottom sediment
into the hypolimnion.
Stratified layers develop different physical and chemical characteristics, and support different types of aquatic life.
Lake stratification usually persists until the fall.
THERMAL STRATIFICATION 77™ 30
Figure showing the three distinct layers of a typical stratified lake. (Taken from the Lake Access Web site at
http://www.lakeaccess.org/ecology/lakeecologyprim4.html).
Fall. As air temperatures cool in the fall, the water temperature in the epilimnion cools and water density
increases. Fall winds mix the lake to greater depths, and the thermocline deepens. Then, when the temperature
and density of the epilimnion approach the temperature and density of the hypolimnion, fall winds mix the entire
lake. This mixing event is called a turnover.
Winter. During the winter, the water temperature in the epilimnion cools even further, until a layer of ice forms
on the lake surface. Under the ice, the lake again stratifies. Winter stratification differs from summer stratification
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because the temperature in the epilimnion is lower than that of the hypolimnion, which stays at about 4°C
throughout the winter. The stratification is also less stable than in the summer, because the temperature and
density differences between the layers is not large. Because the ice isolates the lake from wind mixing, however,
stratification usually persists throughout the winter. Anoxia occurs at the bottom of most lakes during the winter.
Spring. During the spring, the water in the epilimnion is heated. As the temperature approaches 4°C, the density
increases. When the temperature and density of the epilimnion approach that of the hypolimnion, very little wind
energy is needed to mix the lake. After this turnover, the temperature and density of the water in the epilimnion
continue to increase until this layer becomes too warm and too buoyant to mix with the lower layers.
Here are some questions to help determine if remote time-relevant monitoring is appropriate to meet your
monitoring objectives:
• What types of questions about water quality would you like to answer, and do you need time-
relevant data to answer these questions? For example, do you want to know more about how rapid
events, such as urban or agricultural runoff from rainstorms, might affect water quality in your area by
stimulating algal blooms?
• If you already have other water quality monitoring projects in place, how would the addition of
time-relevant data enhance them? For example, would the frequent review of time-relevant data allow
you to tailor your other monitoring projects to yield more representative water quality data or conserve your
organization's labor and analytical resources?
• How would your community or organization benefit from a time-relevant monitoring project? For
example, would time-relevant data provide you with a better opportunity to communicate water quality
issues to your community?
Designing the Lake Access Project
The Lake Access Project team's decision to collect time-relevant water quality data using RUSS units grew out of
an interest to learn more about rapid, weather-related mixing events in Lake Minnetonka. To do so, Minnehaha
Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and Hennepin Parks required time-relevant water quality data and the capability
to collect these data remotely. The box below provides more information on the design of the Lake Access Project.
Using Remote Time-Relevant Monitoring to Study Rapid Lake Mixing
The remote time-relevant monitoring conducted using RUSS units has provided the Lake Access Project team with
new opportunities for data collection and analysis.
During several years of water quality monitoring, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and Hennepin Parks
personnel learned that water quality conditions in Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) lakes varied on an annual
basis. Although MCWD and Hennepin Parks personnel weren't particularly surprised by this finding, they were quite
surprised that the data showed no correlation between water quality in TCMA lakes and the characteristics of
runoff from surrounding watersheds. Instead, the data showed that mixing events occurring within TCMA lakes
seemed to have a more significant impact on lake water quality than the effect of watershed runoff.
In addition, water quality data collected from Lake Minnetonka during several summers showed highly variable
phosphorus concentrations at the lake bottom. Typically, lake-bottom phosphorus concentrations increase steadily
throughout the summer as decreased oxygen levels at the hypolimnion cause phosphorus to be released from
bottom sediment. At first, MCWD and Hennepin Parks personnel assumed their highly variable data were caused by
sampling error. If they had accidentally hit the lake bottom during manual sampling, they could have inadvertently
collected sediment with high phosphorus concentrations. However, several years of highly variable phosphorus data
convinced them of the improbability of making the same sampling mistake year after year!
MCWD and Hennepin Parks personnel began to suspect that weather events, such as strong winds or storms, were
causing rapid lake mixing events. They suspected these mixing events were similar to seasonal mixing that
typically occurs in the spring and fall, but that these events were occurring very rapidly—often in one or two days.
As a result, the phosphorous concentration near the lake bottom decreased, and the phosphorous concentration in
the upper layer of the lake, where sunlight penetrates, increased, thereby promoting algae growth.
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MCWD and Hennepin Parks personnel realized they could not test the validity of their theory using their
"traditional" methods for monitoring water quality for the following reasons:
• Rapid lake mixing events typically occur during strong winds or storms. Field personnel could not collect
manual water quality samples to document these rapid mixing events because of safety concerns associated
with working on lakes during severe weather.
• Lake mixing events can occur rapidly, and algae growth can double in one day under prime conditions.
MCWD and Hennepin Parks could not provide the laboratory or analytical resources to conduct water quality
monitoring at the short intervals required to fully document these types of rapid events.
As you will read in this chapter, remote time-relevant monitoring has allowed the Lake Access Project team to
document and study rapid lake mixing events in Lake Minnetonka.
3.3 Selecting Your Sampling Frequency
The sampling frequency you select for your remote time-relevant water quality monitoring project depends upon
your project's objectives. For example:
• If you want to determine the effects of storm-related nonpoint sources on water quality in your area, you
could tailor your monitoring frequency to collect data during storm events.
• If you want to study a water body affected by tidal flow, you could tailor your monitoring frequency to
collect data during tidal events.
It is appropriate to experiment with different monitoring frequencies to optimize your ability to fulfill your project's
objectives.
Lake Access Project Monitoring Frequency
The Lake Access Project team typically programs its RUSS units to collect lake profile samples four times daily.
This monitoring frequency enables team members to observe short-term changes in lake stratification and water
quality, and to document day-to-night differences for the purpose of teaching basic and environmental science
through the Water on the Web curriculum. In order to provide a high-quality data set for understanding and
managing the lakes, the data's accuracy needs to be certified. See the box below for more information.
Data Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)
QA/QC procedures ensure that data are accurate, precise, and consistent. QA/QC involves following 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. (Chapter 4, section 4.4, provides additional
information on standard QA/QC analysis procedures used by the Lake Access Project.)
The Lake Access Project uses two types of water quality data:
1. Time-relevant data collected with a YSI multiprobe water quality sensor controlled by the RUSS unit.
2. "Conventional" data collected by trained field staff, including manual measurements with a YSI multiprobe
water quality sensor, as well as the collection of water samples analyzed at a laboratory.
Many state and federal monitoring projects use YSI multiprobe or similar water quality sensors. To ensure the
QA/QC of data collected with these sensors, the Lake Access Project team follows manufacturer's instructions for
sensor calibration and maintenance. (See Section 3.9 for more information on the calibration and maintenance
procedures followed by the team.) To ensure the QA/QC of "conventional" data, the Lake Access Project team
follows guidelines set forth by the US EPA and American Public Health Association, in addition to those set forth by
the Minnesota Department of Health.
The team also has several years of experience identifying systematic errors associated with sensor deterioration, or
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biofouling, that occurs when algae, bacteria, and fungi grow on the sensor while it is continually submerged in
water beneath the RUSS unit.
The Lake Access Web site provides more information about the team's QA/QC procedures at
http://www.lakeaccess.org/QAQC.html. EPA's publication The Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance
Project Plans provides more information on QA/QC plans for monitoring projects. For more information on this
guide, visit http://www.epa.gov/owowwtrl/monitoring/volunteer/qappexec.htm.
The Lake Access Project team can adjust the RUSS unit monitoring frequency from the land-base station. For
example, to allow for a more detailed analysis of rapid lake mixing, Lake Access team members can program the
RUSS unit to collect samples at a greater frequency during severe storm or wind events.
With frequent review of the time-relevant data, the project team has been able to tailor the frequency of its
manual water quality monitoring projects to yield more representative data. For example, the team can conduct
manual monitoring in Halsteds Bay immediately after documenting a rapid mixing event with time-relevant data.
The team can then use the data collected through manual monitoring to determine the effect of the mixing event
on the lake.
Making the Most of Your Time-Relevant Water Quality Data
Currently, your organization will find a limited number of cost-effective time-relevant monitoring technologies
available. Also keep in mind that time-relevant data might not be as accurate, precise, or consistent as
"conventional" laboratory analytical data. You will want to carefully consider how your project will use time-
relevant data and make the most of the time-relevant monitoring parameters you select.
In designing your program, think about how you could use time-relevant measurements of certain parameters as
indicators of the phenomena you wish to document. For example, depending on your water body's characteristics
and the location of your monitoring equipment, you could use turbidity and dissolved oxygen measurements as
indicators of an algae bloom. Then you could learn more about the bloom by conducting manual monitoring of
parameters that might not currently be available to you on a cost-effective, time-relevant basis (e.g., chlorophyll-
a, phosphorus, nitrogen). Another example might involve using time-relevant measurements of turbidity and
electrical conductivity to trace the influx of streams laden with higher loads of particulate (as indicated by
turbidity) and dissolved solids (as indicated by electrical conductivity).
3.4 Selecting Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring
Your selection of time-relevant monitoring parameters depends on your project's objectives and on the remote
time-relevant technologies available to you. To satisfy the objectives of the Lake Access Project, the project team
chose to monitor five basic water quality parameters on a time-relevant basis: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen,
electrical conductivity, and turbidity.
The Lake Access Project team uses time-relevant measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and electrical
conductivity as indicators of lake stratification and rapid mixing events. When summer lake stratification is stable,
parameter measurements typically show the following:
• Temperature at the lake surface is about 4° to 5° warmer than temperature at the lake bottom, and a
thermocline region exists with a temperature gradient of greater than 1° C per meter.
• Dissolved oxygen in the upper mixed layer is nearly saturated. Below the thermocline, dissolved oxygen
decreases very rapidly and most of the hypolimnion is completely anoxic until fall overturn.
• Electrical conductivity tends to be higher below the thermocline, and it increases as the summer progresses
due to the release of carbon dioxide and other ions from decomposing organic matter.
Immediately after a rapid lake mixing event, time-relevant measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and
electrical conductivity are nearly identical at the lake surface and the lake bottom. In addition, the Lake Access
Project team usually observes increased turbidity measurements in the lake's upper layer, where sunlight
penetrates as algae growth increases because of the additional phosphorus mixed into the upper layer. The project
team will often collect manual samples for laboratory analyses of additional parameters immediately after a mixing
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event to learn more about the effects of the event on the lake.
The Lake Access Web site at http://www.lakeaccess.org/russ/ contains descriptions of time-relevant water quality
parameters measured through the Lake Access project and the significance of their measurements. The
descriptions are briefly summarized in the box "Lake Access Time-Relevant Water Parameters" below.
Lake Access Time-Relevant Water Quality Parameters
Temperature. Temperature has a direct effect on biological activity and the growth of aquatic organisms because
most aquatic organisms are "cold-blooded" (i.e., they cannot regulate their core body temperatures). Temperature
also affects biological activity by influencing lake water chemistry. For example, because warm water holds less
oxygen than cold water, it might not contain enough oxygen to support some types of aquatic life.
pH. pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. A pH of 7 is neutral. Values lower than 7 are acidic and higher
than 7 are basic. Many important chemical and biological reactions are strongly affected by pH. In turn, chemical
reactions and biological processes (e.g., photosynthesis and respiration) can affect pH. Lower pH values can
increase the amount of dissolved metals in the water, increasing the toxicity of these metals.
Dissolved oxygen. The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water determines the number and type of aquatic
organisms that can live in the water. Dissolved oxygen must be present at adequate concentrations to sustain
these organisms.
Electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is an estimator of the amount of total dissolved salts or total
dissolved ions in water. Many factors influence the electrical conductivity of lake water, including the watershed's
geology, the watershed's size in relation to lake's size, wastewater from point sources, runoff from nonpoint
sources, atmospheric inputs, evaporation rates, and some types of bacterial metabolism. Electrical conductivity is
also a function of temperature; therefore, RUSS data are "standardized" to 25° C.
Turbidity. Turbidity describes the clarity of water. Turbidity increases as the amount of total suspended solids in
the water increases. Increased turbidity measurements might have several adverse effects on lakes, including the
following:
• If light penetration is reduced significantly, growth of aquatic plants and organisms can decrease. Reduced
photosynthesis can result in decreased daytime releases of oxygen into the water.
• Particles of silt, clay, and other organic materials can settle to the lake bottom, suffocate eggs and/or newly
hatched larvae, and fill in potential areas of habitat for aquatic organisms.
• Turbidity can affect fish populations. Increased turbidity can reduce the ability of predators, such as northern
pike and muskellunge, to locate prey—shifting fish populations to species that feed at the lake bottom.
• Fine particulate material can affect aquatic organisms by clogging or damaging their sensitive gill structures,
decreasing their resistance to disease, preventing proper egg and larval development, and potentially
interfering with particle feeding activities.
• Increased inputs of organic particles, either produced from plant growth in the lake or washed in from the
watershed, can deplete oxygen as the organic particles decompose.
• Increased turbidity raises the cost of treating surface water for the drinking water supply.
3.5 Selecting Monitoring Equipment
Your selection of remote time-relevant water quality monitoring equipment depends on your project's objectives.
When selecting monitoring equipment, you should also consider equipment lifetime, reliability, and maintenance
requirements.
Lake Access Equipment Selection
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The Lake Access Team selected the RUSS unit to provide the capability to collect time-re levant water quality data
remotely. This capability has provided the Lake Access Project team with new opportunities for data collection and
analysis:
• The daily collection of multiple depth profiles enables personnel to view characteristics of lake stratification
and metabolism on a daily basis.
• Because the remote equipment can collect and analyze water samples over frequent time intervals and
during severe weather conditions, the Lake Access Project team can document lake mixing episodes. In some
instances, some bays of Lake Minnetonka can completely mix in a 24-hour period. Scientists had discussed
the potential for this type of rapid mixing to occur, and other organizations had attempted to document
these events by conducting monitoring on a daily basis, but Lake Access is the first project to successfully
measure and document this phenomenon in Lake Minnetonka.
The RUSS unit, developed through a cooperative effort between Apprise Technologies and the University of
Minnesota, performs remote water quality monitoring using commercially available monitoring sensors. The sensors
transmit time-relevant water quality data to a computer onboard the unit. Using wireless communication, the
RUSS unit can both receive programming and transmit data to a land-base station.
The RUSS unit consists of a mobile underwater monitoring sensor tethered to a module that floats on the water
surface. The flotation module contains batteries; solar panels; telemetry equipment; and a Remote Programming,
Data Acquisition, and Retrieval (RePDAR) unit. A diagram of the RUSS unit is presented below. This diagram,
which shows the flotation module, tethered profiler, and three-line unit anchoring system, was taken from the
RUSS System Manual. For more information about Apprise Technologies and the RUSS unit, visit
http://www.apprisetech.com.
Flotation Module
Diagram of RUSS unit, showing the flotation module, tethered profiler, and three-line anchoring system.
(Taken from the RUSS System Manual, available from Apprise Technologies at http://www.apprisetech.com.)
The Lake Access Project: A Success Story
Prior to initiation of the Lake Access Project, a feasibility study was conducted to identify methods for improving
Halsteds Bay's water quality. The study concluded that a $5.5 million project focusing on watershed restoration
and improvement was necessary to accomplish this task. (This restoration project was not implemented.) Since
that study, the Lake Access Project has shown that rapid weather-related mixing events cause the release of
approximately 10 times more phosphorus to the epilimnion than runoff events from the surrounding watershed.
The sediments are providing a reservoir of phosphorus from historical pollution that will take decades to flush out.
The Lake Access Project has provided valuable information—watershed management alone will not improve the
water quality of Twin Cities Metropolitan Area lakes in all cases. With a greater understanding of the characteristics
and causes of phosphorus concentrations in these lakes, the Lake Access Project team can apply appropriate lake
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management and water treatment strategies to improve water quality, and apply them with a much higher
potential for success.
RePDAR Unit. The RePDAR unit allows for remote water quality monitoring sensor operation, data storage, and
data transmission. Each RePDAR unit contains a central processing unit (CPU), power supply charging controls, and
telemetry modules enclosed in a watertight resin case. The RePDAR unit enables the user to:
• Collect, process, and store data at user-specified intervals.
• Transmit data to the land-base station via wireless communication systems, including cellular, radio,
satellite, or 900 MHz.
• Program the RUSS Unit from the land-base station.
• Operate the RUSS Unit in the field with a portable computer.
• Call the land-base station or an emergency telephone number when a water quality monitoring sensor
parameter exceeds a user-specified range.
flotation module. The flotation module is a yellow, three-armed, floating buoy.
Profiler. The RUSS unit profiler is controlled by the RePDAR unit. The profiler carries the water quality monitoring
sensor to multiple depths within the water column beneath the flotation module. A special profiler cable transmits
power and buoyancy-control protocols from the RePDAR unit to the profiler and transmits data from the water
quality monitoring sensor to the RePDAR unit.
An illustration of the profiler is presented later in this document.
Field controller. The field controller is used during the field service mode of operation. With the field controller,
you can manually move the profiler and connect a portable computer to the water quality monitoring sensor and
the RePDAR unit without removing the electronics hatch cover. The field controller consists of a small patch box
with a receptacle for the profiler cable and a connector plug for the electronics hatch cover.
Software. The RUSS unit can be operated with two Apprise Technologies software programs:
• RUSS-Base, which allows you to operate the RUSS unit remotely using a computer at your land-base station.
(See Chapter 4 for information about using RUSS-Base software.)
• CONSOLE, which allows you to operate the RUSS unit using a portable computer in the field.
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Wet Cylinder Purge Valve
Wet Cylinder
Top Plate
Main Rods
Dry Cylinder
Screw Clamp
Bottom Plate
Ballast Rod
Ballast Weight
RUSS unit profiler. (Taken from the RUSS System Manual, available from Apprise Technologies at
http://www.apprisetech.com.)
3.6 Siting Monitors
You should select monitoring locations that best fulfill the objectives of your remote time-relevant water quality
monitoring project; however, you will need to consider several factors when making your final siting decisions.
Consider the checklist of questions below when choosing your location:
Monitoring bite-beiection Checklist
1. Are the time-relevant data you collect at these locations likely to fulfill your project's objectives? Specifically,
what questions will you be able to answer with your data, and how will the answers assist you with fulfilling
your objectives?
2. Will people in your community support equipment installation and remote time-relevant monitoring at your
locations?
3. Will monitoring equipment at your locations pose a potential danger to the people in your community? For
example, are your monitoring locations near heavily trafficked areas of the water body?
4. Will monitoring equipment be safe at your locations? In other words, will equipment be especially susceptible
to vandalism, tampering, or damage?
5. What local, state, or federal regulations will you need to consider when choosing your locations?
6. Is flexibility important to your project? Would you like the option to move your monitoring equipment to
different locations, or would you like to monitor at several locations concurrently?
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7. Do you foresee any site-specific problems with installing, operating, and maintaining your monitoring
equipment at these locations? Do these locations pose any safety hazards to your personnel?
8. Can you adequately survey and assess your locations? What equipment-specific considerations will you need
to make?
Siting the Lake Access Project Monitoring Locations
The Lake Access Project team selected three locations for siting RUSS units:
• Halsteds Bay in Lake Minnetonka, which receives runoff from a large watershed of both agricultural and
urban residential land use. Because of nutrient loading from the runoff, the water quality in Halsteds Bay is
poor. Halsteds Bay is subject to rapid weather-related mixing during the summer because of its relatively
shallow depth (about 9-10 meters).
• West Upper Lake in Lake Minnetonka, which is much deeper than Halsteds Bay and has much better water
quality. This basin receives runoff only from the area immediately adjacent to its shoreline. Because it is
deeper than Halsteds Bay and has lower algal growth, West Upper Lake does not experience the same types
of rapid weather-related mixing events.
• Lake Independence, which lies within the metropolitan region but receives primarily agricultural runoff. The
water quality conditions in Lake Independence are intermediate to the conditions in Halsteds Bay and West
Upper Lake.
The map below shows the locations of these three monitoring stations.
WEST UPPER LAKE ' *rf
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024 Miles
The Lake Access Team selected these three locations for the following reasons:
• The team can study data spanning the range of water quality conditions typically seen in Twin Cities
Metropolitan Area (TCMA) lakes.
• MCWD conducts manual monitoring of the runoff to Halsteds Bay. The combination of these data, historical
watershed-based land use and cultural data, and the Lake Access time-relevant water quality data from
Halsteds Bay allows MCWD to study the link between land use patterns and bay water quality.
• Data from Halsteds Bay allow the Lake Access team to study the rapid weather-related mixing events that
transport phosphorus from the lake bottom to the lake's upper layer.
• By comparing data from Halsteds Bay and West Upper Lake, the Lake Access team is able to determine how
differences in lake basin shape and depth can produce dramatic differences in lake water quality, which in
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turn affect watershed and lake management decisions.
Before making final siting decisions, the Lake Access Project team met with community members to ensure their
approval of proposed monitoring locations. The team decided against one proposed location because community
members had concerns that monitoring equipment might interfere with lake recreational opportunities or adversely
affect the lake's appearance.
The team also met with local agencies to ensure that the proposed monitoring locations complied with local
regulations. To comply with boater safety regulations, the Lake Access team could not locate RUSS units in main
lake traffic areas. As a result, the locations are closer to shore than the project team would have preferred. The
Lake Access Project team was required to obtain navigational buoy permits from the county-level sheriff's office
before installing the RUSS units.
The team also considered siting requirements specific to the RUSS units. The RUSS System Manual provides
guidance on properly siting these units. Before installation, the manual recommends a site characterization survey
consisting of the following:
• Maximum depth measurement. You will need to make these measurements when installing the RUSS unit
profiler. The manual recommends several depth measurements within a 6-meter radius of the deployment
location to account for local depth variations. If the water body you are monitoring fluctuates in depth, you
must update the maximum depth in the profiler program. The profiler will sustain damage from repeated
contact with the bottom of the water body.
• Depth contour assessment. Depth contour measurements will assist you with deploying the RUSS unit
anchoring system. The manual recommends depth measurements in concentric circles surrounding the
deployment location to generate a rough contour map of the anchoring site.
• Bottom type assessment. You might need to assess the material at the bottom of the water body to
ensure proper anchoring of the RUSS unit. Different types of anchor designs are available for different
bottom types.
• Signal strength assessment for the data telemetry device. You will need to ensure that cellular signal
strength is reliable or radio telemetry is possible at the location.
• Temporary site marking. You should mark the assessed location to ensure that the RUSS unit is deployed
in the proper location.
The Lake Access Project: Looking Ahead
Hennepin Parks would like to conduct future remote time-relevant monitoring with a RUSS unit in a shallow area
of Lake Minnetonka where boating occurs. Lake Minnetonka is one of the most heavily used lakes for boating in
the United States. Hennepin Parks would use the time-relevant data to study the magnitude at which boat traffic
stirs up bottom sediments and the impact these events have on the lake's water quality. If data indicate that boat
traffic adversely affects lake water quality, Hennepin Parks would advocate no-wake zones in near-shore areas to
maintain ecosystem health.
3.7 Installing RUSS Units
This section summarizes some of the basic RUSS unit installation procedures. These procedures were taken from
the RUSS System Manual, available from Apprise Technologies at http://www.apprisetech.com. You will need to
consult this manual for detailed step-by-step installation guidance.
Unpacking and inspecting the RUSS unit
The first step to installing a RUSS unit is unpacking and inspecting the unit. You should follow these procedures
when receiving the unit:
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1. Remove the packing material surrounding the flotation module. Take care when removing the packing
material, as some items might have shifted during shipment.
2. Remove the solar panels and solar panel blank (if included) from each arm of the flotation module.
3. Remove the electronics hatch cover to access the dry compartment inside one arm of the flotation module,
and remove all items located in the compartment.
4. Using the enclosed packing slip, perform an inventory of all items. If you are missing any items, contact
Apprise Technologies.
5. Conduct a thorough visual inspection of all items. If you observe any damage, contact Apprise Technologies
and the carrier.
Preparing and assembling the RUSS units
You will need to conduct a series of preparation and assembly activities on land, on shore, and at the RUSS unit
deployment location. Complete the following activities on land:
• Ensure your battery(ies) is charged.
• Assemble and connect the arms of the flotation module.
• Install the light and antenna.
• Attach the barrier float anchoring cables.
• Secure an appropriately sized line for towing the unit to the deployment site.
• Calibrate your water quality monitoring sensor according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Install the Apprise Technologies RUSS-Base software program on your land-base station computer.
• Install the Apprise Technologies CONSOLE software program on your field portable computer.
Once you have completed the on-land assembly of the RUSS unit, you will need to transport it to a shore-side
location suitable for working on the unit. Complete the following activities on shore:
• Position your battery(ies) and the RePDAR unit within the dry compartment.
• Position and connect the two solar panels.
• Assemble the electrical system.
• Connect the RePDAR unit to the electrical system.
• Connect the profiler.
• Place the unit in the field service mode of operation and perform electrical testing. For more information on
the field service mode of operation, see section 3.8.
When you have completed your electrical tests, you should disconnect the profiler and field controller and install
your remaining solar panel or solar panel blank on the arm with the dry compartment. You are now ready to tow
the RUSS unit to your monitoring location. When you tow the unit, take the water quality monitoring sensor, the
profiler (with its ballast weights), and the field controller with you in the boat.
Anchoring the RUSS unit
When you reach the deployment location, you will anchor your RUSS unit. Your anchoring system must meet the
following requirements:
• The system must maintain the flotation module in a fixed location and prevent excessive drifting.
• Anchoring lines must maintain proper tension in all water conditions.
• Anchoring lines should not enter the water column below the flotation module (i.e., the working area of the
profiler).
Apprise Technologies recommends a three-line anchoring system to provide dynamic control of the flotation
module while maintaining proper orientation at the deployment location. A diagram of the recommended anchoring
system's components is presented below.
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VdiitteSuararny Andialng Cable
Diagram of the recommended anchoring system components (only one of the three lines is illustrated).
(Taken from the RUSS System Manual, available from Apprise Technologies at http://www.apprisetech.com.)
Each anchoring line of the recommended system contains the following components:
• Barrier float anchoring cable—A 5-foot stainless steel cable of 3/16-inch diameter or greater connecting the
flotation module to the barrier float.
• Barrier float—A small flotation buoy connecting the barrier float anchoring cable and the variable buoyancy
anchoring cable. The three barrier float buoys (one on each line) can be essential for locating the RUSS unit
during rough wave conditions.
• Variable buoyancy anchoring cable—A cable connecting the barrier float to the variable buoyancy anchor.
• Variable buoyancy anchor—Located between the barrier float and the terminus anchor. The variable
buoyancy anchor provides tension in both the variable buoyancy anchoring cable and the terminus anchoring
cable.
• Terminus anchoring cable—A cable connecting the variable buoyancy anchor to the terminus anchor.
• Terminus anchor—A device used to fix the end of the terminus anchoring cable to the bottom of the water
body. The type of terminus anchor you use depends on the type of material at the bottom of the water
body. As part of the survey and assessment of the monitoring location you conduct before installation and
deployment, you determine this type of material and select a suitable anchor.
Lake Access Project KUbb units
The Lake Access Project team experienced difficulty with its RUSS unit anchoring system during the first year the
units were deployed. The system allowed the RUSS units to drift, and the anchoring lines tangled with one another
and with the profiler unit. In addition, the terminus anchors were too heavy to move by hand, so field personnel
had to use a barge and crane to move and retrieve them. As a solution, the team installed a three-line anchoring
system.
The Lake Access Project team is pleased with the current recommended three-line anchoring system. RUSS unit
drifting has been minimized. The anchor lines remain tense and have not tangled with one another or interfered
with the profiler operation. In addition, the terminus anchors are sized so team members can move them by hand.
The Lake Access Project team has also replaced the steel anchoring cables with suitably sized rope because
personnel have cut their hands on the steel cables while moving the anchors.
Deploying the profiler
When your RUSS unit is anchored, you will connect your water quality monitoring sensor to the profiler and deploy
the profiler by following these general steps:
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1. Measure the length of profiler cable to match the maximum depth of the deployment site plus two meters.
As part of your survey and assessment of the monitoring location before installation and deployment, you
will have determined the maximum depth. If the water body fluctuates in depth, you must update the
maximum depth in the profiler program. The profiler will sustain damage from repeated contact with the
bottom of the water body.
2. Connect the profiler cable to the profiler and the electrical system.
3. Fill the profiler's wet cylinder with water and place ballast weights on the ballasting rods to achieve zero
profiler buoyancy and vertical suspension.
4. Place the unit in the field service mode of operation and test the profiler movement. For more information
on the field service mode of operation, see section 3.8.
Once your profiler testing is complete, your RUSS unit is ready for operation!
3.8 Operating RUSS Units
Although RUSS units are designed for remote operation from a land-base station, you can also operate them in the
field. (See Chapter 4, section 4.2, for more information about communicating with your RUSS unit from the land-
base station.) This section summarizes the basic procedures for operating your RUSS unit in field service mode.
These procedures were taken from the RUSS System Manual, available from Apprise Technologies at
http://www.apprisetech.com. You will need to consult this manual for detailed step-by-step field service operation
guidance.
Field service operation
The RUSS unit's field service mode of operation allows you to monitor the unit during deployment and in
emergency situations. You will need the following equipment to operate your RUSS unit in field service mode:
• The key to the RUSS unit's electronics hatch cover
• The field controller
• A portable computer running Apprise Technologies CONSOLE software
• A null-modem computer cable
Follow these steps to enter the field service mode of operation:
1. Connect the field controller to the RePDAR unit.
2. With the null-modem cable, connect your portable computer to the field controller.
3. Set the field controller rotary switches to enable communication between the RePDAR unit and your portable
computer, and to enable automatic movement of the profiler.
4. Turn the electronics hatch cover key to SERVICE to provide power to the RePDAR unit.
Your portable computer, with the CONSOLE software running, will act as your window to the RePDAR unit. Shortly
after you provide power to the RePDAR unit, it will initialize. You will notice a 10-second pause after the
initialization. You have two options during this pause:
Option 1. If you need to perform an emergency download of data in the RePDAR unit's memory, you can press M
during the pause. (You will not need a password for this emergency download, but you will need to
send the binary data file to Apprise Technologies or an authorized service site to have the file
converted to standard format.)
Option 2. You can press L to log in during the pause. If you do not provide a password, you will be able to
perform only deployment and hardware setup functions. If you enter the Level 1 password, you will
have access to stored data. If you enter the Level 2 password, you will be able to make changes to the
profiler and telemetry setup. If you do not log in during the pause, the software will prompt you for the
appropriate password when you try to access any protected information.
After the 10-second pause, the RePDAR unit will enter the Main Setup menu. In this menu, you can access,
review, and enter the following information:
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• Current time and date
• Profiler schedule and depth
• Water quality monitoring sensor type
• RS-232 baud rate
• Modem baud rate and initialization strings
• RUSS unit call sign and location
• Data access and programming passwords
Under the main menu's Data Access option, press A to see a screen display of the stored data. As you view this
display, the CONSOLE software will automatically capture these data to a file identified by the RUSS unit's call
sign.
Under the main menu's Proceed to Hardware Init option, you can initialize the RUSS unit hardware according to
the configuration you selected. When the initialization is complete, you will see a brief status report for each RUSS
unit subsystem (e.g., the profiler, the water quality monitoring sensor, the modem) on your portable computer
screen. The status report screen will allow you to do the following:
• View the programmed configuration, including the time, date, and the RUSS unit's call sign and location.
• View the battery voltage.
• View the results of the RePDAR unit's attempts to establish a link with the water quality monitoring sensor.
• Test profiler operation by pressing (P)ark, (S)tart profile, or (H)alt.
• View modem information and test commands.
• Test the modem link quality by calling a preprogrammed telephone number. You will be able to view a
modem status message of the call's progress.
Setting up the water quality monitoring sensor
In addition to properly calibrating your water quality monitoring sensor according to manufacturer's instructions,
you will need to take the following steps to ensure your equipment operates properly:
• In the RUSS unit field mode of operation, confirm the programmed water quality monitoring sensor type and
proper units of measurement and ensure that sensor operation is enabled.
• You should set the interval between sampling to a minimum of 3 seconds to ensure reliable profiler
operation.
• Water quality monitoring sensors usually have two distinct modes of operation: the menu system is used for
calibration and setup, and the data string mode is used during monitoring. You will need to make sure your
sensor is in the proper operation mode.
Lake Access Project RUSS unit operation
The Lake Access Project team programs its RUSS units to collect sample profiles at 1-meter intervals four times
daily. Profiles begin at the lake surface at 12:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 12:00 a.m., and 6:00 a.m. Data are typically
transferred to the land-base station each morning.
Apprise Technologies has altered the internal program for the Lake Access Project RUSS units to allow for a 5-
minute delay between profiler movement and sample collection. This delay allows the YSI multiprobe water quality
sensor to equilibrate to the different water temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions at each depth. Once the
sensor has equilibrated, parameter measurement takes about 3 minutes.
When the sampling profile is complete, the profiler parks at a depth programmed by the Lake Access Project team.
Parking depth is selected to place the sensor in the area of lowest light without placing it in the anoxic water layer.
3.9 Maintaining RUSS Units
You will likely focus most of your scheduled equipment maintenance on cleaning and calibrating your water quality
monitoring sensors to meet your project's QA/QC protocols. The required effort and frequency for this maintenance
will depend on the types of sensors you use and the water quality conditions at your monitoring locations. In
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addition to water quality monitoring sensor cleaning and calibration, you might need to perform scheduled
maintenance on your RUSS unit. Required maintenance will depend on factors specific to your project, your
community, and your monitoring locations.
Lake Access Project Maintenance Activities
Lake Access Project maintenance activities include cleaning and calibrating the YSI multiprobe water quality
sensors, maintaining a RUSS-unit bird deterrent system, removing the RUSS units during lake freezing and
thawing conditions, reinstalling the units following these conditions, and repairing damaged or vandalized RUSS
units.
Monitoring sensor maintenance and calibration
The Lake Access Project team cleans and calibrates the YSI multiprobe water quality sensors on the three RUSS
units every 1 to 4 weeks. The accuracy and precision of data derived from water quality monitoring instruments
depend on sound instrument calibration procedures. (Accuracy is the extent to which measurements represent
their corresponding actual values, and precision is a measurement of the variability observed upon duplicate
collection or repeated analysis.)
Sensor cleaning and calibration is a multistep activity that begins with the following steps:
1. Traveling to the monitoring location.
2. Collecting a manual water quality profile near the unit using a YSI multiprobe water quality sensor identical
to the one used on the RUSS unit.
3. Placing the RUSS unit in the field service mode of operation and manually moving the profiler to collect a
water quality profile.
4. Manually moving the RUSS profiler to the surface.
5. Removing the sensor from the profiler and manually moving the profiler to its parking depth.
6. Transporting the sensor to the laboratory.
At the laboratory, a set of known parameter standards are measured with the sensor. By comparing these sensor
measurements with the known standards and by comparing the two manual water quality measurements taken in
the field, the Lake Access Project team can more accurately estimate the amount of error associated with recent
sensor measurements and determine the quality of recently collected data.
Lake Access Project personnel clean, calibrate, and inspect the multiprobe sensors according to detailed
instructions provided by YSI. The sensors are carefully and thoroughly cleaned to remove algae and other
organisms that cause sensor biofouling. The pH, conductivity, and turbidity meters are calibrated against known
standard solutions. To ensure accurate calibration, the team selected these standards in ranges at which the
parameters are typically detected in the field. The temperature meter is calibrated against the temperature in the
laboratory. The dissolved oxygen meter is calibrated using a YSI calibration cup. The depth probe is calibrated out
of water to a depth of zero.
Although cleaning and calibration activities can occur in the field, Lake Access Project personnel prefer to
calibrate the monitoring sensors within the laboratory's controlled environment. Because of temperature
changes in the field, the sensors can take a long time to equilibrate—even if they are submerged in a
bucket of water. Overall, the Lake Access Team has found that the entire cleaning and calibration activity
takes longer in the field than in the laboratory.
Lake Access personnel complete the cleaning and calibration activity by:
1. Traveling to the monitoring location.
2. Placing the unit in the field service mode of operation and manually moving the profiler to the surface.
3. Connecting the sensor to the profiler, placing the RePDAR unit in the ON position, and removing the key to
the electronics hatch cover. When the key is removed, the RePDAR unit will move the profiler to its parking
position and resume normal RUSS unit operation.
4. Lake Access Project personnel are able to complete sensor cleaning and calibration activities on the three
RUSS units on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence in 1 day, unless a sensor component requires repair
or replacement.
Lake Access Project personnel are able to complete sensor cleaning and calibration activities on the three RUSS
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units on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence in 1 day, unless a sensor component requires repair or
replacement.
Resolving Calibration Issues
Because of water quality conditions in Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence, the Lake Access Project team has
had some difficulty maintaining the calibration of the units' dissolved oxygen meters. During summer months, the
team noticed significant errors in dissolved oxygen measurements. Sometimes the team had to calibrate the
dissolved oxygen meters every 7 to 10 days.
The Lake Access Project team had typically parked the RUSS unit profilers at 5 meters deep—below the sunlit
layer of the lake—to reduce the rate of algae growth and subsequent biofouling of the sensors. Lake stratification
can make Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) lakes anoxic below 3 meters deep. In the anoxic area, the level of
hydrogen sulfide in the water increases. Lake Access team members began to suspect that the hydrogen sulfide in
the anoxic zone was reacting with the potassium chloride in the dissolved oxygen probe, causing the calibration to
rapidly decay. The team raised the profiler parking depth to 3 meters—out of the anoxic zone, but still deep
enough to reduce the rate of sensor biofouling during the summer months.
During the winter, the Lake Access Project team typically reprograms the profilers to park at 5 meters deep
because, during these months, this level of the lake is dark but remains well oxygenated.
Bird deterrence
Some birds love to land on RUSS units! So many birds landed on the Lake Access Project units that guano
covered the solar panels, preventing adequate battery charging. Team members sometimes had to clean the solar
panels daily.
To prevent this nuisance and ensure adequate battery charging, the Lake Access Project team experimented with
bird deterrent systems. First, the team placed coiled wires over the solar panels. Although the wires stopped birds
from landing on the solar panels, they prevented field personnel from working comfortably with the RUSS units.
The team replaced the coiled wires with chicken-wire covers that fit over the solar panels. The chicken wire is
easier to handle and keeps birds off the panels just as well.
Lake freezing and thawing conditions
The Lake Access team temporarily removes its units from the lakes during freezing conditions in the late fall and
thawing conditions in the early spring because the units could be severely damaged if left on the ice during these
conditions.
Freezing conditions. Just prior to lake freezing conditions, the team removes the RUSS units from the lakes. The
team retrieves all portions of each unit (including the buoys, anchors, and anchoring lines), brings the profiler to
the surface and detaches it, and tows the unit to shore. The RUSS units are stored intact in a large shed. When
the lakes have frozen over, the project team erects an ice house at each monitoring location. The team does not
use the RUSS unit flotation module during the winter months. The solar panels are mounted on top of the ice
shed, which is oriented to allow for maximum solar exposure and angled to minimize snow accumulation. The
RePDAR unit and batteries are stored inside the ice shed, and the profiler is deployed through a hole in the ice.
Thawing conditions. Just prior to lake thawing conditions, the Lake Access Project team removes the icehouses and
the RUSS unit components. During winter monitoring, the ice hole cut for the profiler freezes around the cable.
Although the ice does not adversely affect the operation of the profiler, personnel have to chip through the ice to
remove the cable and the profiler. When the lakes have thawed completely, the project team redeploys the
complete RUSS units at the monitoring locations.
3.10 Other Local Monitoring Efforts
This section provides information about additional water quality monitoring efforts being conducted in the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed and Hennepin Parks district. Minnesota researchers and natural resource managers
are conducting these projects to learn more about the characteristics of Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA)
lakes, detect water quality trends and recreational use impairments, develop lake management strategies and
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determine their effectiveness, and ensure the safety and health of lake users. Some of these monitoring methods
might help satisfy your community's water quality monitoring objectives. For example, there may be times when
you are unable to conduct remote time-relevant monitoring (e.g., due to equipment malfunction; during lake
freezing and thawing conditions; when remote time-relevant monitoring technology is not available for a particular
location or analytical parameter; or when required resources are insufficient). In these instances, you could use the
data collection methods described in these projects to supplement time-relevant data.
Specific monitoring efforts conducted by Minneapolis community lake management and research organizations
include:
• Monitoring for water quality trends
• Nutrient budget monitoring
• Health and safety monitoring
• Project-specific monitoring
Monitoring for Water Quality Trends
For more than 5 years, MCWD and Hennepin Parks have conducted water quality monitoring on approximately 15
lakes throughout the two districts and on nearly 20 bays in Lake Minnetonka. By measuring four water quality
parameters (chlorophyll-a, total and soluble reactive phosphorous, and nitrogen), MCWD and Hennepin Parks
personnel can determine how changes in lake nutrient concentrations affect the growth of algae and how the
growth of algae affects lake water quality:
• Chlorophyll-a measurements show how much algae is present in the water.
• Total and soluble reactive (i.e., dissolved) phosphorus measurements indicate the amount of phosphorus
available for algae growth. Very little phosphorus is needed to dramatically change lake water quality; one
pound of phosphorus entering a lake from the surrounding watershed can grow 300 to 500 pounds of algae
in the lake.
• The relationship between the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in a lake can help personnel determine
whether phosphorous or nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for algae growth.
Collectively, MCWD and Hennepin Parks staff use these data to detect water quality trends. These trends can
indicate if impacts such as recreational use or urbanization are impairing water quality, or if management
initiatives such as public education or stream, lake, and wetland restoration are leading to improved water quality.
MCWD and Hennepin Parks staff travel to each monitoring location biweekly to collect water quality samples.
Before collecting samples, personnel determine Secchi disk depth (see the box below) and use a YSI multiprobe
water quality sensor to gather time-relevant data on temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity,
and depth in a profile of 1-meter intervals from the surface to the bottom of the lake. Personnel use these data in
the field to determine the water depth and locate the lake's thermocline.
What is a Secchi Disk?
A Secchi disk is a tool used to measure the water's clarity. It is a weighted, round metal plate about 8 to 12
inches in diameter with an alternating black-and-white pattern like the one shown below.
Field personnel lower the disk into shaded water (because sunlight can affect the measurement) until it is no
longer visible. Then they raise the disk until it is barely visible. The average of these two depths is the Secchi disk
depth, which provides a measure of the water's clarity or transparency.
(For more information on Secchi disks, see the Lake Access Web site at
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Staff collect a 2-meter surface composite sample, a grab sample at the thermocline depth, and a grab sample one-
half meter from the bottom. The table below summarizes the purposes and techniques for collecting these types of
samples.
Nutrient Budget Monitoring
Each year, MCWD and Hennepin Parks conduct nutrient budget monitoring in two to three streams that feed Lake
Minnetonka. This type of monitoring includes analyses for the following parameters:
• Total phosphorus
• Total nitrogen
• Total suspended solids
• Total solids
• Soluble reactive phosphorus
• Ammonia
• Nitrate
• Temperature
• pH
• Electrical conductivity
Sample
Type
Purpose
Collection Technique
Two-meter
surface
composite
This type of sample represents the strata
of biological activity (e.g., algae growth)
n the lake's upper layer, where sunlight
penetrates. MCWD and Hennepin Parks
collect 2-meter surface columns because
sunlight typically penetrates the upper 2
meters of TCMA lakes. This is also the
standard surface water sampling protocol
used by the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency.
Samples are collected using a PVC pipe 3 inches in
diameter and 2 meters long. Field personnel submerge
this pipe vertically to collect a column of water from the
upper 2 meters of the water body. Each composite
sample is brought to the surface, poured into a composite
container, mixed, and divided into subsamples for
aboratory analyses.
Thermocline
grab
lake thermocline typically deepens
during the summer as the upper, wind-
mixed layer of the lake (the epilimnion)
ises in temperature. The thermocline
grab sample indicates how much
Dhosphorus will be available to algae if
storms mix the lake below the
thermocline depth.
Using a rope, personnel lower a special sampling device
(typically a Van Dorn or Kemmerer water bottle) to the
thermocline depth. The sampling device consists of a tube
with spring-loaded closures on each end. When the device
has reached the thermocline depth, personnel send a
weight (called a messenger) down the rope. When this
weight contacts the sampling device, the spring-loaded
closures seal both ends of the tube. The grab sample is
brought to the surface and divided into subsamples for
aboratory analyses.
Bottom
grab
This sample indicates how much
phosphorus is located at the lake bottom
and how much phosphorus would be
available to algae if the lake were to mix
completely).
Field personnel collect the bottom grab by lowering the
same type of sampling device used for the thermocline
grab to a depth of one-half meter from the bottom. The
grab sample is brought to the surface and divided into
subsamples for laboratory analyses.
By measuring these parameters, MCWD and Hennepin Parks can characterize total annual nutrient loading from the
monitored stream into a lake.
Total phosphorus and total nitrogen measurements indicate the amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen— in
particulate and dissolved forms— that enter the lake from the inflow stream.
Measurements of total solids and total suspended solids help MCWD and Hennepin Parks determine the amounts of
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phosphorus and nitrogen that exist in participate form. Best management practices (BMPs) such as sediment
detention ponds or constructed wetlands are typically designed to remove nutrients in particulate form.
The soluble reactive phosphorus measurement indicates the amount of phosphorus dissolved in the water. The
nitrate and ammonia measurements describe the major forms of nitrogen available to algae that are present in
the water. These measurements are important because they indicate how much phosphorus and nitrogen are
present in the forms most available for algal growth and most difficult to remove by BMPs.
Temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity measurements further describe water quality of the inflow stream.
(See Section 3.4 for more information about monitoring for these parameters.)
To conduct nutrient budget monitoring, field personnel install automated flow meters on lake inflow streams to
measure and electronically log flow. Automatic samplers are linked to the flow meters to collect flow- weighted
composite samples. Composite samples are made up of individual volumes collected over time. At a predetermined
stream- flow interval, the flow meter sends a signal to the sampler to collect each volume of the composite
sample. At the conclusion of the composite period (which typically spans a storm event, plus one hour), field
personnel retrieve, mix, and divide composite samples into subsamples for analysis at the Hennepin Parks water
quality laboratory.
Health and Safety Monitoring at Swimming Beaches
Hennepin Parks manages nine swimming beaches. At three of these beaches, Hennepin Parks uses rubber beach
curtains that encompass 1 to 1.5 acres of lake area for swimmers and restrict water movement between the
swimming area and the lake. These curtains reduce the volume of lake water Hennepin Parks must manage for
swimmers. For example, algae blooms can be quite severe on some lakes, but Hennepin Parks has several options
for managing blooms within beach curtains. These include pumping fresh water into the swimming area, using
fountains to prevent buildup of algae scum on the water surface, and applying aluminum sulfates (alum) to
remove phosphorous and algae within the swimming area.
During the swimming season, personnel monitor swimming waters to ensure they are safe for the public.
Lifeguards determine the Secchi disk depth of swimming waters three times daily. By comparing Secchi disk
depths in water within the beach curtain to water outside the curtain, Hennepin Parks can demonstrate that the
beach curtains provide the public a better swimming experience.
Hennepin Parks monitors recreational waters for fecal coliform bacteria weekly. Samples are analyzed at the
Hennepin Parks water quality laboratory. Hennepin Parks adheres to national and state guidelines to maintain fecal
coliform counts lower than 200 colonies per every 100 ml of water. Studies have shown that the probability of
human health risk is minimal if fecal coliform counts are kept below this level. When Hennepin Parks personnel
detect coliform levels greater than the guideline level, they immediately analyze a water sample for the bacterium
E. coli. This tells personnel what percentage of fecal coliform can actually pose a health risk to swimmers. Fecal
coliform bacteria data are posted weekly the Web at http://www.hennepinparks.org.
Making Lake Waters Safe For Swimmers
Hennepin Parks personnel take immediate action to reduce fecal coliform levels when they exceed the guideline
level for human health and safety. Typically, high fecal coliform levels in Twin Cities Metropolitan Area lakes can
be directly attributed to local goose populations. Each morning, lifeguards patrol the beaches with strainers to
remove goose droppings. If a few geese have become particularly fond of a swimming beach, lifeguards attempt
to chase the geese away. If a large number of geese descend upon a swimming beach, Hennepin Parks uses a
border collie service to herd the geese off the beach.
When fecal coliform sources have been minimized, Hennepin Parks treats the swimming water, if necessary.
Personnel have used the following strategies to lower the fecal coliform level in swimming waters:
• Flushing the swimming area within the beach curtain with city drinking water, which contains a small
amount of chlorine for disinfection.
• Flushing the swimming area with fresh ground water.
• Raising sections of the beach curtain at deep swimming sites to pull in lake water to flush the swimming
area. Lake water is pulled from the bottom to minimize the amount of algae and swimmer's itch organisms
pulled into the swimming area.
• Because fecal coliform bacteria are typically associated with solids, using small amounts of aluminum sulfate
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to settle any solid material in the swimming area can reduce health risks.
If every available strategy has been used and fecal coliform levels are still above the guideline for 2 to 3
consecutive days, Hennepin Parks closes the beach until the waters reach safe levels again.
Project- Specific Water Quality Monitoring
MCWD and Hennepin Parks also conduct water quality monitoring on project-specific bases. A few examples of
these projects are described below.
Monitoring Sediment Detention Pond Effectiveness. When one district lake's water quality began to decline,
Hennepin Parks monitored the effectiveness of a sediment detention pond designed to remove nutrients from the
lake's inflow stream. Hennepin Parks personnel suspected the sediment detention pond had filled with too much
sediment to remain effective. To confirm this suspicion, personnel used the nutrient budget monitoring method to
measure flow and collect samples at monitoring locations located upstream and downstream of the sediment
detention pond. By comparing the parameters measured at each monitoring location, Hennepin Parks determined
that the sediment detention pond was not effectively removing nutrients from the inflow stream. The pond was
dredged of excess sediment, and Hennepin Parks conducted additional monitoring to ensure that the dredging
increased the pond's effectiveness.
Lawn Fertilizer Runoff Study. Hennepin Parks conducted a series of lawn fertilizer runoff studies. To determine the
number of lawns requiring phosphorus fertilizer, Hennepin Parks collected and analyzed soil samples from
approximately 200 suburban lawns. Although most suburban home owners use fertilizers with phosphorus,
Hennepin Parks found that only about 15 percent of the lawns actually required the addition of phosphorus for
healthy turf.
Using sampling devices designed by the U. S. Geological Survey, Hennepin Parks monitored runoff from about 30
suburban lawns, some of which were fertilized and some of which were not. Each sampling device consisted of two
5- foot long, 1- inch diameter PVC pipes with slits cut lengthwise. These pipes were placed horizontally on each
lawn to form a "V" pointing down the lawn's slope toward its storm water drainage area. Where the pipes met,
personnel attached a cup and placed an 8- inch long, 6- inch diameter PVC pipe (vertically) into the cup. In this
pipe, personnel placed a sample bottle. During a rainfall event, runoff water flowed into the slits, through the "V"
pipes, and into the sample bottle.
Because most of the monitored lawns were small and because most district rain events are brief, the samplers
typically collected all runoff from each rainfall event. By comparing the concentrations of phosphorus measured in
the runoff from fertilized and unfertilized lawns, personnel determined that much of the phosphorus fertilizer
applied to the lawns not needing additional fertilizer runs off.
Golf Course Runoff Study. To determine the characteristics of runoff that TCMA lakes typically receive from golf
courses, Hennepin Parks conducted runoff studies using the nutrient budget monitoring method. In addition to
these parameters, personnel also analyzed samples for any pesticides and fungicides used by the golf course.
Hennepin Parks and many community golf courses are cooperating to help improve the quality of local lakes.
During the past several years, district golf courses have saved money, maintained suitable turf, and improved the
quality of runoff water to TCMA lakes by using the following management strategies:
• Reducing the use of all fertilizers, especially those containing phosphorus.
• Reducing the use of pesticides and fungicides by eliminating preventative treatments. District courses now
use these agents to treat only problem areas.
Using Monitoring to Help Meet Lake Water Quality Goals
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) conducts a variety of water quality monitoring projects in
Minneapolis lakes. The MPRB undertakes some of this monitoring to measure progress toward meeting water
quality goals set by the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Citizen Committee. In 1993, the Committee developed water
quality goals for Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, Cedar Lake, and Lake of the Isles. The Committee hopes, over the
long term, to restore the water quality of these lakes to conditions as close as possible to those that existed
before urbanization. To achieve its goals, the Committee has recommended reducing in-lake phosphorus
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concentrations and managing influent pollutant loads to each lake with a unique scheme of in-lake manipulations
and watershed best management practices (BMPs). The MPRB uses monitoring data to measure changes in water
quality and evaluate the effectiveness of the BMPs used. The MPRB also conducts monitoring in other Minneapolis
lakes to measure long-term water quality trends, establish water quality goals and lake management plans, and
compare the water quality trends in these lakes with trends measured in the Chain of Lakes.
Lake Water Quality Monitoring
The Environmental Operations Section of the MPRB conducts long-term water quality monitoring in Minneapolis
lakes. The MPRB plans to conduct this type of monitoring for about three to five years to ensure that water quality
changes in city lakes are not masked by annual variations in weather patterns. The long-term monitoring program
includes analyses for the following parameters:
• Dissolved oxygen • Total dissolved phosphorus • Chloride
• pH • Soluble reactive phosphorus • Hardness
• Conductivity • Total nitrogen • Chlorophyll
• Temperature • Silica • Phytoplankton
• Total phosphorus • Alkalinity • Zooplankton
The MPRB selected these parameters to allow for a detailed characterization of the in-lake processes that affect
water quality. The MPRB's year-round sampling frequency increases during the lake growing season (May through
September), when in-lake conditions are rapidly changing.
Field personnel from the MPRB's Environmental Operations section conduct water quality monitoring at the deepest
point of each lake. These points are determined using bathymetric maps and located using shoreline landmarks
and depth sounding equipment.
At each monitoring location, field personnel use a Hydrolab® sensor to conduct field measurements of dissolved
oxygen, pH, conductivity, and temperature at 1-meter intervals through a vertical column of water. Field crews
also collect manual samples for total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus at
predetermined intervals in the water column. Personnel collect zooplankton samples by hauling a net vertically
through the water column at a rate of 1 meter per second and washing the net with distilled water to remove the
contents for preservation and analysis. Surface composite samples for all other parameters are collected in a
column of water from the upper two meters of the lake. Personnel also determine Secchi disk depth and perform a
survey of vascular plants during sampling.
Storm Water Runoff and Best Management Efficiencies Monitoring
The MPRB conducts monitoring of stormwater runoff and best management efficiencies to determine the actual
pollutant removal achieved through the use of structural BMPs (e.g., wetlands, street cleaning, and grit chambers)
and to study long-term pollutant loading trends in Minneapolis lakes. These monitoring data are used to determine
if changes in BMPs are required. Monitoring locations are selected based on the following requirements:
• The location should be influenced by only one BMP
• No area of the watershed should drain to a sanitary treatment system
• The location should not be affected by a major sewer or street construction project
• The entire watershed should fall within Minneapolis city limits
This type of monitoring includes analyses for the following parameters:
• Total suspended solids
• Total phosphorus
• Dissolved phosphorus
• Total nitrogen
Field personnel use automated flow meters and samplers to conduct stormwater runoff and best management
efficiencies monitoring. Automatic flow meters allow personnel to record continuous flow measurements at each
monitoring location. Automatic samplers provide the following three sampling options:
• Time-weighted composite sampling, where composite samples are made up of individual volumes collected
over a predetermined interval of time.
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• Flow-weighted composite sampling, where the automatic sampler is electronically linked to a flow meter. At
a predetermined flow interval, the flow meter sends a signal to the sampler to collect each volume of the
composite sample.
• Time- or flow-weighted discrete sampling, where the automatic sampler is retrofitted to collect 12 samples in
individual bottles at a predetermined time or flow interval.
Because the monitoring equipment cannot be operated in below-freezing conditions, the MPRB installs the
equipment as early as possible in the spring and removes the equipment as late as possible in the fall to prolong
monitoring time and avoid freezing conditions.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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APPENDIX A GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Algae: Simple single- celled, colonial, or multi- celled aquatic plants. Aquatic algae are (mostly) microscopic
plants that contain chlorophyll and grow by photosynthesis. They absorb nutrients from the water or sediments,
add oxygen to the water, and are usually the major source of organic matter at the base of the food web in lakes.
(Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Algal blooms: Referring to excessive growths of algae caused by excessive nutrient loading. (Adapted from Water
on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Aluminum sulfate: A compound, Al 2 (SO 4)3, used in water purification and sanitation that adsorbs phosphate
and small silt and algal particles that settle to the lake bottom.
Anoxia: Condition of being without dissolved oxygen (O 2 ). (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Anoxic: Completely lacking in oxygen. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
B
Baud: A unit of speed in data transmission equal to one bit per second.
Best Management Practices (BMPs): Methods that have been determined to be the most effective, practical
means of preventing or reducing pollution from non- point sources.
Biofouling: The deterioration of instrumentation when it becomes covered with organisms. For example, biofouling
of the RUSS unit sensors occurs when algae, bacteria, and/ or fungi grow on the sensor while it is submerged in
water beneath the RUSS unit.
Chlorophyll: Green pigment in plants that transforms light energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis.
(Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Clarity: Transparency, or light penetration. Clarity is routinely estimated by the depth at which you can no longer
see a Secchi disk. The Secchi disk is a weighted metal plate 8 inches in diameter with alternating quadrants
painted black and white. The disc is lowered into water until it disappears from view. It is then raised until just
visible. An average of the two depths, taken from the shaded side of the boat, is recorded as the Secchi depth.
(Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
docker/ ClockerPro: Software designed to schedule programs (or reminders) to run at specified times (e. g.,
the upload and download of data from the RUSS units).
Color Mapper: A data visualization tool that enables the user to map one parameter as color contours and then
overlay another variable over the color contours in the form of a line plot.
CONSOLE: Software that enables operation of a RUSS unit using a portable computer in the field.
CTM: Cellular telephone modem. Can be used to transfer data from the RUSS unit to the land- base station.
Depth versus Time (DxT) Profiler: A data visualization program that allows users to display and analyze data in
two or three dimensions.
Dimictic: A type of lake that has two mixing periods, typically in spring and fall. (Adapted from Water on the Web
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at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow
Dissolved oxygen (DO): The concentration of oxygen 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 of fish and other aquatic organisms and prevent offensive odors. DO
levels are considered the most 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 O 2 /L) are
considered optimal and most fish cannot survive for prolonged periods at levels below 3 mg O 2 /L. Levels below 1
mg O 2 /L are often referred to as hypoxic and when O 2 is totally absent anoxic (often called anaerobic which
technically means without air).
(Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Dissolved oxygen profile: A graph of the amount of dissolved oxygen per unit depth, where the depth is on the
z (vertical) axis and dissolved oxygen is on the x (horizontal) axis. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
DVT data visualization tools: A suite of four interactive data visualization programs used by the Lake Access
team to depict and manipulate water quality profiles collected by RUSS units and from manual sampling,
specifically, Lake Access Live: Near Real- Time Display of Numeric Data; Profile Plotter; Color Mapper; and Depth
versus Time (DxT) Profiler.
E. coli: A bacteria (Escherichia coli) normally found in the gastrointestinal tract and existing as hundreds of
strains, some of which can cause diarrheal disease. E. coli can be a water- borne pathogen.
Electrical conductivity: A measure of the water's ability to conduct an electrical current based on its ion content.
It is a good estimator of the amount of total dissolved salts or total dissolved ions in water. The electrical
conductivity in a lake is influenced by many factors, including the watershed's geology, the watershed's size in
relation to lake's size, wastewater from point sources, runoff from nonpoint sources, minor atmospheric inputs,
evaporation rates, and some types of bacterial metabolism. Lake Access Project values are standardized to values
that would be measured at 25° C to correct for the effect of temperature. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Epilimnion: The upper, wind- mixed layer of a thermally stratified lake. This water is turbulently mixed throughout
at least some portion of the day, and because of its exposure, can freely exchange dissolved gases (such as O 2
and CO 2 ) with the atmosphere. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Eutrophic lake: A very biologically productive type of lake due to relatively high rates of nutrient input that cause
high rates of algal and plant growth. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Eutrophication: The process by which lakes and streams are enriched by nutrients (usually phosphorus and
nitrogen) which leads to excessive plant growth. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
FG
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.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): A common format for image files, especially suitable for images containing
large areas of the same color.
Guano: A substance composed mostly of the dung of sea birds.
H
Hypolimnion: The bottom, and most dense layer of a stratified lake. It is typically the coldest layer in the
summer and warmest in the winter. It is isolated from wind mixing and typically too dark for much plant
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photosynthesis to occur. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Inflow: Water flowing into a lake. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
J K
Lake Access Live: Near Real- Time Display of Numeric Data: A data visualization program used to provide near
real- time data feeds, such as oxygen level and temperature, to Web sites.
Lake profile: A graph of a lake variable per depth, where the depth is on the z-axis (vertical axis) and the
variable is on the x- axis (horizontal axis). Depth is the independent variable and the x- axis is the dependent
variable. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Limnology: The study of the life and phenomena of fresh water systems, especially lakes and ponds; freshwater
ecology; a limnologist is to lakes as an oceanographer is to oceans.
M
Metalimnion: The middle or transitional zone between the well mixed epilimnion and the colder hypolimnion
layers in a stratified lake. This layer contains the thermocline, but is loosely defined depending on the shape of the
temperature profile. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Modem: A device that converts data from one form into another (e. g., to a form useable in telephonic
transmission).
Morphometry: Relating to the shape of a lake basin; includes parameters needed to describe the shape of the
lake such as volume, surface area, mean depth, maximum depth, maximum length and width, shoreline length,
shoreline development, depth versus volume, and surface area curves. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
N
Nonpoint source: Diffuse source of pollutant( s); not discharged from a pipe; associated with agricultural or
urban runoff, contaminated groundwater flow, atmospheric deposition, or on- site septic systems. (Adapted from
Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Nutrient loading: The discharge of nutrients from the watershed into a receiving water body (lake, stream,
wetland). Expressed usually as mass per unit area per unit time (kg/ ha/ yr or Ibs/ acre/ year). (Adapted from
Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Organic: Substances that contain carbon atoms and carbon- carbon bonds. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Outflow: Water flowing out of a lake. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Outliers: Data points that lie outside of the normal range of data. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
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Parameter: Whatever it is you measure— a particular physical, chemical, or biological property that is being
measured. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
pH scale: A scale used to determine the alkaline or acidic nature of a substance. The scale ranges from 1 to 14
with 1 being the most acidic and 14 the most basic. Pure water is neutral with a pH of 7. (Adapted from Water on
the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Phosphorus: Key nutrient influencing plant growth in lakes. Soluble reactive phosphorus (PO 4 -3 ) is the amount
of phosphorus in solution that is available to plants. Total phosphorus includes the amount of phosphorus in
solution (reactive) and in particulate form. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) dissolved in water to sugars
and oxygen using sunlight for energy. Photosynthesis is essential in producing a lake's food base and is an
important source of oxygen for many lakes. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
ppb: Parts- per- billion; equivalent to a microgram per liter (ug/ I). (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
ppm: Parts- per- million; equivalent to a milligram per liter (mg/ I). (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Profile: A vertical, depth by depth characterization of a water column, usually at the deepest part of a lake.
(Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Profile Plotter: A data visualization tool that enables users to create static and animated line plots of the profiles
of lakes and other water bodies.
Profiler: A component of the RUSS unit that carries the water quality monitoring sensor to multiple depths within
the water column beneath the RUSS Unit flotation module. The profiler is controlled by the RePDAR unit.
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/ QC). QA/ QC procedures are used to ensure that data are accurate,
precise, and consistent. QA/ QC involves following 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.
RUSS- Base: Software that enables the user to remotely operate the RUSS unit using a computer at the land-
base station. RUSS- Base creates profile schedules of sampling parameters and communicates with the RUSS unit
via telemetry equipment to transmit schedules and receive sampling data.
Remote Underwater Sampling Station (RUSS TM ): Monitoring equipment used to remotely collect time-
relevant water quality data. The RUSS unit, manufactured by Apprise Technologies, Inc., consists of a mobile
underwater monitoring sensor tethered to a a buoy and featuring an onboard computer, batteries, solar panels,
telemetry equipment, and other optional monitoring equipment.
RePDAR (Remote Programming, Data Acquisition, and Retrieval) unit.
A component of the RUSS unit that allows for remote water quality monitoring sensor operation, data storage, and
data transmission. Each RePDAR unit contains a central processing unit (CPU), power supply charging controls, and
telemetry modules.
Secchi disk: A disk, typically 8 inches in diameter, divided into 4 equal quadrants of alternating black and white
colors. (Some states use totally white Secchis.) It is lowered into a section of shaded water until it can no longer
be seen and then lifted back up until it can be seen once again. Averaging the two depths gives a measure of the
water's clarity. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
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Sedimentation: The process of settling inorganic and organic matter on the lake bottom. This matter may have
been produced within the lake or washed in from the watershed. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Solubility: The ability of a substance to dissolve into another. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Spring turnover: Period of complete or nearly complete vertical mixing in the spring after ice- out and prior to
thermal stratification. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Stormwater discharge: Precipitation and snowmelt runoff from roadways, parking lots, and roof drains that
collects in gutters and drains; a major source of nonpoint source pollution to water bodies. (Adapted from Water
on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Stratification: An effect where a substance or material is broken into distinct horizontal layers due to different
characteristics such as density or temperature. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Stratified: Separated into distinct layers. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Swimmer's itch: An itching inflammation of the skin caused by parasitic larval forms of certain schistosomes that
penetrate into the skin, occurring after swimming in infested water.
Substrate: Attachment surface or bottom material in which organisms can attach or live within; such as rock
substrate or sand or muck substrate, or woody debris. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Suspended solids: (SS or Total SS [TSS]). Very small particles that remain distributed throughout the water
column due to turbulent mixing exceeding gravitational sinking. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Telemetry: The science of automatic measurement and transmission of data by wire, radio, or other methods
from remote sources.
Temperature profile: A graph of the temperature per depth; where the depth is on the z- axis (vertical axis) and
temperature is on the x- axis (horizontal axis). (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Thermal stratification: Existence of a turbulently mixed layer of warm water (epilimnion) overlying a colder mass
of relatively stagnant water (hypolimnion) in a water body due to cold water being denser than warm water
coupled with the damping effect of water depth on the intensity of wind mixing. (Adapted from Water on the Web
at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Thermocline: The depth at which the temperature gradient is steepest during the summer; usually this gradient
must be at least 1° C per meter of depth. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Topography: Configuration of physical surface of land; includes relief imprints and locations of all man- made and
natural features. (Adapted from Water on the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Total dissolved solids (TDS): The amount of dissolved substances, such as salts or minerals, in water remaining
after evaporating the water and weighing the residue. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Turbidity: The degree to which light is blocked because water is muddy or cloudy. (Adapted from Water on the
Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Turnover: Fall cooling and spring warming of surface water act to make density uniform throughout the water
column. This allows wind and wave action to mix the entire lake. Mixing allows bottom waters to contact the
atmosphere, raising the water's oxygen content. However, warming may occur too rapidly in the spring for mixing
to be effective, especially in small sheltered kettle lakes. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
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http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
U V W
Water column: A conceptual column of water from lake surface to bottom sediments. (Adapted from Water on
the Web at http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
Watershed: All land and water areas that drain toward a river or lake. (Adapted from Water on the Web at
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow.)
X Y
YSI multiprobe water quality sensor: The component of the RUSS unit, manufactured by Yellow Springs
Instruments (YSI), that is raised and lowered to collect a water quality profile in specified intervals from the lake
surface to the lake bottom.
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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APPENDIX B LAKE ACCESS BROCHURE
Seeing
Below the
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Track daily changes on Lake Minnetonka and
Lake Independence.
* Study how choices we make on the shoreline
and in the water affect the health of our
lakes.
Witness the way storms and seasonal changes
mix lake water and impact fish and fishing.
* Gauge how our lakes have changed over time.
Lake Access was made possible by a two-year grant from
the U.S. Environmental P rotection Agency 'sEMPACT
(Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) initiative. Lake Access partner s
include: Hennepin Parks, the Natural Resources Research
Institute, UM-Duluth Department of Education, University
of Minnesota Sea Grant, the Minnehaha Creek W atershed
District, Minnesota Science Museum, and Apprise
Technologies, Inc .
Lake Access cooper ators welcome your comments and suggestions.
For more in formation contact: George Host, (218) 720-4264,
Natural Resources Research Institute, ghost@sage.nrri.umn.edu.
www.nrri.umn.edu/empact
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AIRNOW - Delivering Time-Relevant Water Quality Information to Your Community
HIT
Seeing Below the Surface
Remote Underwater Sampling System ( RUSS)
units are the yellow platforms anchored in Lakes
Minnetonka and Independence. Beneath the
platform, an underwater sensor package cycles
between the surface and the lake bottom to
gather data on turbidity, acidity, conductivity ,
dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
Transmitting Daily Data
Every six hours, RUSS units transmit the data
they have gathered to an on-shore base station
over a cellular phone.
Accessing Information
**—?
You can access the continual stream of data from
the RUS S units over the World Wide Web site:
www.nrri.urnn.edu /empact. Soon, Lake Access
kiosks linked to the RUS S units will be con -
structed at Lake Minnetonka Regional Parks
Visitor's Center, Richardson Nature Center, and
other locations around Minneapolis.
Understanding the Data
The Lake Access Web site and kiosks will contain
interactive tools and informational links that
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i\j
^i VL
graphics, and text .
uaia
maps,
Making a Difference
What you and resource professionals learn from
the RUSS units could change the way we man -
age our shorelines. Lake Access information may
encourage lakcshore owners to landscape with
more native plants and fewer chemicals. City
planners may use RUSS information to develop
lake-friendly practices. You may decide how deep
to fish or when to swim based on the day % data.
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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APPENDIX C: -AKE ACCESS SURVEY
west metro lake survey
SEEING BELOW THE SURFACE OF LOCKL LAKES
This is a survey to find out your perceptions,
uses and ways you get information about your
local lakes Please help us find the best way to
reach you with the feds you need to enjoy your
favorite West Metro lakes
WEST MFTRO RFSlDFNTPo you know vrfmt is happening in your favorite lake?
W«5 would like to tell you, but we don't brow fhe best
w*y te rieaeh you ant) your nci ghbore Please help us
by filling rait the1 enclosed, 7-minute survey about your
use of West Metro l»ki;s. yo«r perceptions about their
"health," ami the best ways to reach you with new
information
WHAT IS LAKE ACCESS^e goal of Late Access is to provide you wiA timely,
accurate and understandable jnfof tnalian about your
local lakes. We want 10 supply you with the lads you
need to make informed, day-to-day deciaionj about
your West Metro l
WHO ARE WE? Partners in this project include Minnesota Sea CJianl,
I lennepui Pai'ks, Natural Resources Research Institute,
I "n i varsity of Minnesota Duluth Department of
Educalii)iv\|i|)riseTa:lirKiloiaes Inc., andlhe Minnehaha
fieek Watershed District, The U.S. Em'iconrnental
Prolecuon Agency funds Lake Access through their
Enviionmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking Inilialive.
WHY YOU? We randomly selected your name as part of a small
group of people to complete this confidential survey.
We value your answers, time and privacy.
WHY ni.l. IT OUT?This is your disiw to m.ikc 1 aSic Acces? easily
available, understandable and useful to you and1
your neighbors in the Wesf Metro.
FOR MORE QSTFORMAllONSee the enclosed brochure and browse our Web site
at: http://www.nrri.umn.edu''enipact .
Thank you m advance for your lime and effort in
completing this survey.
return survey by
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survey
xinusleLy how many days per year dp you SMC lakra in
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| Please BslirnulB vow lt>cl
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r
r
Arc yw iiueresled in le»Tntng irww liberal Iflkes in ttte We*t Metro urea''
Please sfaxii the itenW sj you would like to learn i
~ Efforts of weaUwr en labs
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•
THE NEXT SECTION OF THIS SURVEY WILL HELP US FIND GENERAL PATTERNS
RI-MF-MnnR THAT YOUR ANSWERS ARP. STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
I
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'
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THANK YOU FOR TAKING THF. TIMH AND KFFORT TO COM PI.K I K TIMS SI,KVr-Y
PLEASE TAPE THE SURVEY CLOSED AND DROP IN THE MAIL
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIRST-CLASS M«L I'tlMI! NO 69S DULIJ1 H. MM
POSTA6E WILL BE PAID BY »Ml BEBSEE
MINNESOTA SEA GRANT PROG HAM
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
2305 E 5 ST RM 208
DULUTH MN 55812-9953
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: | A | B | C |
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Click Here or
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il I L2-I L2_| 14
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Wetland loss along the Louisiana coastal zone is one of the state's most pressing environmental problems. Although
numerous factors have contributed to this loss, perhaps the leveeing of the Mississippi River for flood control has had the
most far-reaching impact. Construction of the levy has blocked the river's historic spring overflows and thus impeded the
rush of marsh-supporting fresh water, nutrients, and sediment to the coastal zone. [Source: http://www.mvn.usace.army.
mil/pao/dpond/davispond.htm]
Coastal Louisiana is losing, on average, between 25 and 35 square miles of land annually — that's more than one football
field every 30 minutes. Louisiana has 40 percent of the Lower 48 states' coastal wetlands and 80 percent of the nation's
total wetland loss. These valuable wetlands are nursery grounds for fisheries, a buffer that protects developed areas from
storm surges, and a filtering system for pollutants carried in urban runoff. [Source: Video News Release
http: / /gmpo.gov/pubinfo /empact. html]
One of the strategies for reversing this wetland loss in coastal Louisiana is to partially restore some of the natural flow into
the ecosystem. Diversion of freshwater and sediments from the Mississippi River is expected to conserve and restore
coastal wetlands. One such project is the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project. The construction for this project
began in January 1997. Freshwater diversions to the Barataria Basin are scheduled for 2001. In order to establish a baseline
prior to any freshwater diversions, the EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking)
project team began monitoring the water quality in Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouche (both are downstream of the
diversion) in August 1999. After freshwater diversions occur, the water quality monitoring will continue. Analyses of pre-
and post diversion water quality data will be used to determine the effects of river water diversion on the estuary.
The Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion into the Barataria Estuary will be the largest freshwater diversion project built to
date, capable of diverting up to 10,650 cubic feet (approximately 80,000 gallons) per second of river water. The freshwater
diversion will imitate historic spring floods by providing a controlled flow of freshwater and nutrients into the Barataria Bay
estuary. It is expected that this diversion will restore former ecological conditions by combating land loss, enhancing
vegetation and improving fish and wildlife habitat.
However, there are many concerns that the freshwater diversion will have a negative impact on the estuary. Some citizens
are concerned about the impact that nutrient rich river water may have on water quality and growths (blooms) of
phytoplankton. Commercial fishermen are concerned that massive amounts of river water may deteriorate the water quality
in the lakes and bays where they make their living. Communities south of the diversion site are concerned that water levels
will increase and cause flooding during high wind driven tides. Scientists debate the wisdom of introducing more nutrients
into an already eutrophic system. Also all stakeholders are interested in the changes that will occur as salinity levels are
altered in the upper estuary.
Partners in the project hope that monitoring conducted through the EMPACT project will provide valuable before and
after data of the effects of diverting freshwater from Mississippi river into coastal areas encroached by saltwater. These data
will assist scientists and coastal managers in making informed decisions on how to best manage freshwater flow from the
diversion to diminish the likelihood of algal blooms, which can be toxic, can contaminate seafood, and can have human
health impacts.
1.2 EMPACT Overview
This handbook offers step-by-step instructions about how to provide time-relevant water quality data to your community.
It was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT program. The EMPACT program was
created by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) to introduce new technologies that make it possible to
provide time-relevant environmental information to the public. EMPACT is working with the 150 largest metropolitan
areas and Native American Tribes in the country to help communities in these areas:
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• Collect, manage, and distribute time-relevant environmental information.
• Provide residents with easy-to-understand information they can use in making informed, day-to-day decisions.
To make this and some other EMPACT projects more effective, partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were developed. EPA will work 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.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 time- relevant 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 Jefferson Parish - New Orleans Project. The project provides the public with time-
relevant water quality monitoring data and impacts of water quality management activities (i.e., river water diversions) in the
New Orleans Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA).
1.3 Jefferson Parish EMPACT Project
1.3.1 Sampling Techniques
The Jefferson Parish - New Orleans Project Team utilizes time-series water sampling data, remote sensing/satellite data,
and water quality field sampling data to monitor impacts of freshwater diversions, such as harmful algal blooms, in the New
Orleans SMSA. The resulting information is communicated to the community during public meetings and events and by
using Internet technology, audiovisual tools, and print media.
The time-series water sampling data are collected by an automated system, in which a sampling unit collects hourly data and
then transmits the data via Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) to the USGS District Office every
four hours for storage, retrieval, and analysis. Near-real time stream flow data available on the USGS's Louisiana District
Home Page are PROVISIONAL data that have not been reviewed or edited. Each station record is considered
PROVISIONAL until the data are reviewed, edited, and published. The data are usually published within 6 months of the
end of the year, which runs from October through September. Coordinated water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity,
salinity, water level, and fluorescence are taken to confirm remote sensing data. The sampling unit is located in Lake
Salvador, a key outfall area of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project.
Satellite data collected by the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the Orbview-2 SeaWiFS
ocean color sensor are received and processed at the Earth Scan Lab (ESL), Coastal Studies Institute at Louisiana State
._, npA/r ._,
University (LSU) using SeaSpace's Terascan system. This software package receives the data from the satellites, performs
calibration, geometric correction, and more specialized processing for the determination of temperature, reflectance
(turbidity), and chlorophyll a concentrations. Field water samples, obtained close in time to the satellite data, are used to
"surface truth" the satellite measurements for temperature, concentration of suspended solids and chlorophyll a. Ground
truthing is the process of comparing satellite data to actual field measurements.
Water quality field sampling is conducted weekly from eight stations in Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouche (a smaller lake
north of Lake Salvador) to ground-truth remote sensing (satellite) data and validate time-series water sampling data. The
LSU-Coastal Ecology Institute (CEI) analyzes the samples for chlorophyll a, nutrients, and suspended solids. The Louisiana
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University Marine Observatory Consortium (LUMCON) provides data on phytoplankton speciation including
identification of harmful algal species. The field sampling data are interpreted and made available via the Internet
(http://its2.ocs.lsu.edu/guests/ceilc).
1.3.2 EMPACT Project Team
The Jefferson Parish Project team consists of the following members and key partners:
• Drew Puffer of the Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP) is serving as EPA project manager. His role is to provide
technical support and administrative advice, to coordinate communications with the EPA, and to identify potential
sources of funding to extend the life of the project.
• Terry Hines-Smith, GMP's public affairs specialist, works with the project partners and stakeholders to identify and
maximize their information and public outreach resources.
• Marnie Winter, Director of the Jefferson Parish Environmental and Development Control Department, is the local
project manager. Her role is to administer grant funds and to coordinate with parish officials to secure approval of
contracts and other legal documents required for the project. She also interacts directly with other partners on the
project team, serves as the point of contact for communications, and acts as official parish spokesperson at media
and other public outreach events. She has secured additional support for the project through the Jefferson Parish
Government and was instrumental in leveraging chlorophyll a and silicate monitoring from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USAGE).
• Ms. Winter is being assisted by Vickie Duffourc, an environmental specialist for a consulting firm under standing
contract with the parish. Ms. Duffourc is responsible for coordinating the various aspects of the project, including
project communications, and works under the direct supervision of Ms. Winter.
• The USGS collects water quality field samples and services the time-series sampling unit. Jefferson Parish provides a
trained environmental technician and the parish's boat to assist the USGS with collecting water samples and servicing
the sampling unit. Dr. Chris Swarzenski and the staff of the USGS District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
provide weekly maintenance and calibration of the data collection station, QA/QC of near-real time data, technical
services required to received, transfer, and store the near-real time data set, and scientific interpretation of data
received. Jake Peters, at the USGS office in Atlanta, also contributes through his association with the EPA Water
Data and Tools Projects. While many persons at the USGS Baton Rouge office contribute to this project, Dr.
Swarzenski is the lead investigator and Paul Ensminger is the field service technician.
• Dr. Nan Walker, LSU Coastal Studies Institute and Earth Scan Laboratory, is responsible for acquiring, processing,
and interpreting satellite data collected by the NOAA and Orbview-2 satellites. These data are used to assess the
regional distribution of water temperature, water quality and chlorophyll a content and changes over space and time.
She uses field measurements of suspended solids, suspended sediments, chlorophyll a and temperature to investigate
the relationships between satellite and in-situ data for different regions in the study area. Dr. Walker posts the
satellite images and interpretive text on the Earth Scan Laboratory LSU Web page, which is linked to the Jefferson
Parish EMPACT home page.
• Dr. Eugene Turner, LSU-CEI, is responsible for analysis of water samples and providing the resulting data in tabular
and graphic form. LSU-CEI conducts chlorophyll a and nutrient analysis on water samples taken weekly from the
project area to ground-truth satellite images. LSU-CEI scientists interpret the water quality data and post it to LSU
Web page, which will be linked to the Jefferson Parish EMPACT home page.
• Dr. Quay Dortch, LUMCON, receives weekly water samples from the project area and identifies harmful algal
species contained in each sample. She provides the resulting data in tabular and graphic form and coordinates with
the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals regarding possible threats to human health.
As shown above, this project team consists of several distinguished coastal scientists. The collected and analyzed data are
being used to understand the physical and biological conditions of water bodies that may be impacted by the Davis Pond
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river diversion project in the future.
The project provides near-real time regional physical and biological measurements from satellites and a monitoring station
in Lake Salvador to the agencies and organizations involved with public health, fisheries, and habitat related issues. This
information allows these entities to respond quickly to adverse environmental conditions, make appropriate decisions to
ensure economic and environmental sustainability of the affected environment, and protect the health of commercial and
recreational users. During the first year, the chlorophyll a measurements (from field and satellite sensors) were not being
reported in real time.
The addition of a pressure sensor to detect water level changes in near-real time provides early warning of increased water
levels and allows diversion managers to make appropriate decisions to minimize the introduction of more water when
flooding is likely.
1.3.3 Project Costs
To keep costs low, Jefferson Parish used nearby existing sampling stations to collect data, used Parish personnel for data
collection (when possible), and developed strategic partnerships with members of the project team. Figure 1.1 provides the
initial budget for the Jefferson Parish's monitoring project [Source: Water Data and Tools: Tracking Freshwater Diversions
& Algal Bloom Impacting the New Orleans Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans, LA].
The costs to conduct a water quality monitoring project similar to the Jefferson Parish Project can vary significantly.
Factors affecting the cost include, but are not limited to, the size and location of your study area, 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 example, the Parish purchased only one
additional sampling station for their study because they were able to obtain data from seven existing sampling stations
located nearby. Monitoring costs for a proposed project would be much higher if additional sampling stations are needed.
Figure 1.2 provides some typical costs for equipment and services you could expect to incur when implementing a project
similar to that of Jefferson Parish. Please note that these costs can vary significantly for a project depending upon the
number of sampling stations required for the project and the types of services contracts that you are able to negotiate.
Figure 1.1. Initial EMPACT Project Budget for Jefferson Parish
$2,000
$2,000
$3,000
$66,000
$4,000
$10,000
$12
$25,000
000
,000
$12,000
$15,000
Q Technology Transfer
D Other Miscellaneous
• QA/QC
• Communication/Outreach
• Information Delivery
D Monitoring
• SustainaMty
D Travel
D Data Interpretation
III Project Planning
• Information Management
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Figure 1.2. Typical Costs For Equipment and Services
nPuchase/Setup
Sampling Station
• Maintain Sampling
Station
DAtialyze Field
Samples
D Purchase Setvices
to Analyze
Satellite Data
1.3.4 Jefferson Parish
EMPACT Project Objectives
Overall project objectives include the following:
• To provide the public with information on the physical and biological characteristics and components of Lake
Salvador and adjacent regions as close to real time as possible.
• To gather baseline data in the Davis Pond Diversion outfall area to assist coastal scientists and managers in
distinguishing the effects of river water from other stressors.
• To use the field data collected to investigate the satellite-derived parameters including water temperature, water
reflectance (suspended solids) and chlororphyll a .
• To provide reliable data on water quality and phytoplankton blooms to the agencies and organizations involved with
public health, fisheries, and habitat related issues.
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 Jefferson Parish Project. The
handbook also provides technical information communities need to develop and manage their own time-relevant water
monitoring, data visualization, and information dissemination programs. ORD, working with the Jefferson Parish Project
team, produced this handbook to leverage EMPACTs investment in the project and minimize the resources needed to
implement similar projects in other communities.
Both print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct on-line ordering from EPA's Office of
Research and Development Technology Transfer Web site at http: / /www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. You can also order a copy of
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the handbook (print or CD-ROM version) by contacting ORD Publications by telephone or mail at:
EPA ORD Publications
US EPA-NCEPI
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: (800) 490-9198 or (513) 489-8190
Note!
Please make sure 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 welcome your comments, and you can send
them by e-mail from EMPACT's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact/comment.htm.
1.4 EMPACT Metropolitan Areas
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
Albuquerque, NM
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton,
PA
Anchorage, AK
Appelton-Oshkosh-Neeha, 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, AT,
Boise City, ID
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-
MA-NH-ME-CT
Brownsville-Harlingen-San
Bemto, TX
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
Burlington, VT
Can ton-Mas sillon, OH
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Charlotte-Gats onia-Rock Hill,
NC-SC
Chattanooga, TN-GA
Cheyenne, WY
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-
WI
Honolulu, HI
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX
Huntmgton-Ahsland, WV-KY-OH
Huntsville, AL
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Johnston, PA
Kalamazoo-Battle 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
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL
Memphis, TN-AR-MS
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Milwaukee-Racine, WI
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Mobile, AL
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
Seattle-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
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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
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-Supenor, MN-WI
El Paso, TX
Erie, PA
Eugene-Springfield, OR
Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville-Springfield-Rogers,
AR
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL
Fort Pierce-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
In addition, federally recognized Native American Tribes - regardless of location in the United States - are eligible to apply.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
Modesto, CA
Montgomery, AT,
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
Portland-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
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2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
This handbook provides you with step-by-step information on how to develop a program to provide time-relevant water
quality data to your community, using the Jefferson Parish Project in the New Orleans, Louisiana area as a model. It
contains detailed guidance on how to:
Design, site,
operate, and
maiiiain a sy
to gather time-
rel errant water
quality data.
Design, operate, and
mairtain a system to
retrieve, manaf -
and analyz e yo
time-relevari water
quality data.
U se data
visualization tools
to graphically
depict these data.
Develop a pi an to
communicate the
results of your time-
relevant water
quality monitoring
efforts to residents in
your community.
• Chapter 3 provides information about water quality monitoring - the first step in the process of generating time-
relevant information about water quality and making it available to residents in your area. The chapter begins with an
overview of water quality monitoring in estuariane systems and then focuses on the three monitoring components
that are part of the Jefferson Parish Project: (1) collection of time-series physical and biological measurements at a
fixed location in Lake Salvador; (2) satellite/remote sensing technology; and (3) water quality field sampling. The
chapter also provides instructions on how to install, operate, and maintain the time-series sampling system, how to
obtain satellite data and use these data for water quality monitoring, and how to set up the field sampling program.
• Chapter 4 provides step-by-step instructions on how to collect, transfer, and manage time-relevant water quality
data. This chapter discusses time-series sampling equipment calibration, transferring sampling data to the base
station, managing sampling data at the base station, and checking sampling data for quality. This chapter also
provides detailed information on satellite data acquisition, processing, interpretation, ground-truthing, and data
transfer and management. In addition, this chapter presents details on water quality field sampling including details
on sampling, water quality parameter analyses, phytoplankton speciation, and data transfer and management.
• Chapter 5 provides information about using data visualization tools to graphically depict the time-relevant water
quality data you have gathered. The chapter begins with a brief overview of data visualization. It then provides a
more detailed introduction to selected data visualization tools utilized by the Jefferson Parish team. You might want
to use these software tools to help analyze your data and in your efforts to provide time-relevant water quality
information to your community.
• Chapter 6 outlines the steps involved in developing an outreach plan to communicate information about water
quality in your community. It also provides information about the Jefferson Parish Project's outreach efforts. The
chapter includes a list of resources to help you develop easily understandable materials to communicate information
about your time-relevant water quality monitoring program to a variety of audiences.
This handbook is designed for decision-makers considering whether to implement a time-relevant water quality monitoring
program in their communities and for technicians responsible for implementing these programs. Managers and decision-
makers likely will find the initial sections of Chapters 3. 4, and 5. 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 Jefferson Parish team in developing and implementing its time-relevant water quality monitoring, data
management, and outreach program.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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3J
3. WATER QUALITY MONITORING
This chapter provides information about water quality monitoring - the first step in the process of generating time-relevant information about
water quality and making it available to residents in your area.
The chapter begins with a broad overview of water quality monitoring and then focuses on the three monitoring components that are part of the
Jefferson Parish Project: (1) time-series water quality sampling (Section 3.1): (2) satellite/remote sensing technology (Section 3.2): and (3) water
quality field sampling (Section 3.3). The chapter also provides instructions on how to install, operate, and maintain the sampling equipment, how
to obtain satellite data and use these data for water quality monitoring, and how to set up the field sampling program.
Readers primarily interested in an overview of water quality monitoring might want to focus on information presented in this introductory
section and the introductory parts of Sections 3.1. 3.2. and 3.3. If you are responsible for the actual design and implementation of a water quality
sampling project, you should review Subsections 3.1.1 through 3.1.8. They provide an introduction to the specific steps involved in developing
and operating a time-relevant water quality monitoring project and information on where to find additional guidance. If you are responsible for
the designing and implementing a water quality monitoring program using satellite/remote sensing technology, you should review Subsections
3.2.1 through 3.2.2. They provide information on available satellite data and information on how to use satellite data for water quality monitoring.
If you are responsible for the actual design and implementation of a water quality field sampling project, you should review Subsections 3.3.1
through 3.3.2. They provide information on setting up a field sampling program.
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 \vaters are safe for swimming, fishing, or drinking. The Web site of the EPA Office of Water (http: / /www.epa.gov/owow/momtoring) is a
good source of background information on water quality monitoring. (The information presented in the following paragraphs, which is taken
from the Lake Access - Minneapolis EMPACT Manual - EPA/625/R-00/012, is summarized from the Web site listed above.)
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 kinds of the following -water quality monitoring projects:
• 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)
• On an emergency basis (such as after a spill)
Many agencies and organizations conduct water quality monitoring, including state pollution control agencies, Indian tribes, 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 (such as river diversions) are being met.
• Complying with local, state, and Federal regulations.
• Responding to emergencies such as spills or floods.
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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:
hup://www. epa.gov/owow/monitoring/techmon.hlml.
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://wwwgmpo.gov/mmrc/mmrc.html) that lists resources for water quality monitoring and
management. State and local organizations in your community might maintain similar listings. The Louisiana State University's Coastal Studies
Institute Web site also maintains a list of links for -water quality information and resources at http://-www.csi.lsu.edu/.
In some cases, special water quality monitoring methods, such as remote monitoring, or special types of water quality data, such as time-relevant
data, are needed to meet a water quality monitoring program's objectives. Time-relevant 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.
3.1 Time-Series Water Quality Sampling
The Jefferson Parish Project provides much needed baseline data on nutrient and chlorophyll levels in the upper Barataria basin. Evaluation of
historical data sets indicate a lack of comprehensive water quality data especially in relation to chlorophyll data. It also provides the only data
from the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion outfall that is near-real time and easily assessable to the public via the world wide Web. Diversions,
and the possibility of diversion-related algal blooms, are a major concern to communities in the New Orleans area, as is the growing dead zone in
the Gulf of Mexico. Using time-relevant monitoring of lake water quality for the early detection of an algal bloom is a useful tool in providing
timely environmental information to natural resource and human health protection agencies in Louisiana.
The Jefferson Parish Project team conducts time-relevant monitoring at one location in Lake Salvador. At this location, the project team operates
a sampling platform, which performs time-series water quality monitoring using commercially available monitoring sensors. The sensors transmit
time-relevant water quality data to a data acquisition system contained on the platform.
Using wireless communication, the sampling system can both receive programming and transmit data to a land-base station.
The time-series sampling system is installed on an existing oil pumping platform. The data collection platform contains batteries; solar panels;
telemetry equipment; a data acquisition system (Handar 555A); and a sensor package. The specially designed field computer provides a suite of
•water quality parameters from the -water below the platform. The sensor package, produced by Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI ), has
multisensor probes that can be customized to meet virtually any sensor needs. The sensor package, connected to the data acquisition system,
collects data from 4 feet below the water surface at preprogrammed times.
Each hour, the time-series sampling system unit equipped with a multiprobe water quality sensor manufactured by YSI collects water quality
data. The system measures the following parameters:
• Water level
• Precipitation
• Air temperature
• Water temperature
• Wind speed/direction
• Specific conductance/Salinity
• pH
• Dissolved oxygen
• Backscattter/Turbidity
• Chlorophyll a
The Jefferson Parish Project team uses a land-base station to communicate -with the sampling station via satellite interface. Time-relevant data are
remotely downloaded from the station daily. Figure 3.1 illustrates some of the basic sampling station components and shows how the sampling
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system communicates with the land-base station.
The remainder of this chapter highlights the Jefferson Parish Project. The following subsection provides some background information on river
diversion impacts and estuarine ecology and it introduces some important concepts relevant to the study of these topics.
Figure 3.1. Diagram of Basic Sampling Station Components
-
Time-Series Sampling Station
D ata Upl oading/
Programming
X
M eteo rolo gical D ata
Wind Sensor
Rain Q_Q
^ Gauge a-j-j other
^ _ | j 'Cp1 Sensors
i
--
Satellite Radio
Transmitter
A
' ^
5
C omput
(Handar
!
er
555
ger)
Solar Panels
4
«*>
m
t
Charge
Controller
B attery
Existing Oil Platform
YSI 6600 _J~1
Multisensor Probe " ' I
r
-
=
-
•
—
-
-
3.1.1 Designing a Time-Relevant Water Quality Monitoring Project
The first step in developing a water quality monitoring project is to define your objectives. Keep in mind that time-relevant monitoring might not
be
the best method for your organization or community. For example, you would not likely need time-relevant monitoring capability to conduct
monthly monitoring to comply with a state or federal regulation.
In order to clearly define the objectives of your particular water quality monitoring project, you need to understand the system you are planning
to monitor. This means that you need to collect background information about the aquatic system, such as natural occurring processes, system
interactions, system ecology, and human impacts on the system.
Since this particular monitoring project involves estuarine ecology and possible impacts of freshwater diversion into estuaries, the following text
boxes provides some basic background information about these topics.
Estuarine Ecology
Estuaries are bodies of water that are balanced by freshwater and sediment influx from rivers and the tidal actions of the oceans, thus providing
transition zones between the freshwater of a river and the saline environment of the sea. The result of this interaction is an environment where
estuaries, along with their adjacent marshes and seagrasses, provide a highly productive ecosystem, that supports wildlife and fisheries and
contributes substantially to the economy of coastal areas. As spawning, nursery, and feeding grounds, estuaries are invaluable to fish and shellfish.
Estuarine-dependent species constitute more than 95 percent of the commercial fishery harvests from the Gulf of Mexico, and many important
recreational fishery species depend on estuaries during some part of their life cycle. Estuaries are diverse and productive ecosystems that provide
a variety of valuable resources, including fish and shellfish, recreation, transportation, and petroleum and minerals.
Estuaries and wetland environments are intertwined. Coastal emergent wetlands border estuaries and the coast and include tidal saltwater and
freshwater marshes. Coastal wetlands serve as essential habitat for a diverse range of species. These wetlands are used by shorebirds, migratory
waterfowl, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals. Migrating waterfowl and migratory birds utilize these coastal habitats. Mudflats, salt
marshes, mangrove swamps, and barrier island habitats also provide year-round nesting and feeding grounds for abundant populations of gulls,
terns, and other shorebirds. Estuaries, marshes and associated watersheds provide habitat for many threatened and endangered species. Estuaries
and wetlands support complex food webs that provide an abundant food source for juvenile and adult fishes (see Figure 3.2 below). In addition
to providing habitat, wetlands also improve water quality by filtering pollutants and sediment and offer a buffer zone to protect upland areas
from flooding and erosion.
Figure 3.2. Conceptual diagram of the food web in estuarine ecosystems
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[Source: http://www.epa.gov/ged/gulf.htm].
Detritus feeders and
decomposer community
There are usually three overlapping zones in an estuary: an open connection with the sea where marine water dominates, a middle area where salt
water and fresh water mix, and a tidal river zone where fresh water dominates. Tidal forces cause the estuanne characteristics to vary. Also
variation in the seasonal discharge of rivers causes the limits of the zones to shift, thus increasing the overall ecological complexity of the
estuaries. [Source: http://enra.rfa..msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z = 1&pg=2&ti=761S7097R#s1]
Most of the world's freshwater runoff encounters the oceans in estuaries. Tides or winds help mix the lighter, less dense fresh water from the
rivers with the salt water from the ocean to form brackish water. The salinity of brackish water is typically 2 to 10 parts per thousand (ppt), while
the salinity of salt water is about 35 ppt. Due mostly to changes in the river flow, the three main estuarine zones - saltwater, brackish, and
freshwater - can shift seasonally and vary significantly from one area to another. [Source: http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?
z=l&pg=2&ri=761.S70978#sl]
The chemical components of fresh (or river) water can vary greatly and produce significant differences in estuarine nutrient cycles. Typically, the
most important compounds for estuarine life that are supplied by river water are nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and iron. Seawater, which has
fairly uniform chemical components, provides sulfate and bicarbonate. With adequate nutrients and light conditions, estuaries enable the
production of phytoplankton which provides the basis for some of the most productive habitats on earth. [Source:
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise. asp?z=l&pg=2&ti=761.S70978#sl]
River Diversion Impacts
Leveeing of the rivers for flood control has impacted the estuarine ecology by blocking the rivers' historic spring overflows and thus impeding
the rush of marsh-supporting fresh water, nutrients, and sediment to the coastal zone. This resulted in wetland loss along coastal zones and
causes pressing environmental problems.
Diversion of freshwater and sediments from rivers is expected to conserve and restore coastal wetlands, but citizens are concerned about the
impact that nutrient rich river water may have on water quality and growths (blooms) of phytoplankton. The freshwater diversions imitate
historic spring floods by providing a controlled flow of freshwater and nutrients into estuaries. It is expected that this diversion will restore
former ecological conditions by combating land loss, enhancing vegetation and improving fish and wildlife habitat.
However, there are concerns that the freshwater diversion may have a negative impact on estuaries. Commercial fishermen are concerned that
massive amounts of river water may deteriorate the water quality in the lakes and bays where they make their living. Communities downstream of
diversion sites are concerned that water levels will increase and cause flooding during high wind driven tides. Scientists debate the wisdom of
introducing more nutrients into already eutrophic systems. Stakeholders are also interested in the changes that will occur as salinity levels are
altered in the upper estuaries.
Diverting too much nutrients into estuaries, leads to excessive algae growth and eventually oxygen depletion. In many cases, fish kills are evidence
of oxygen depleted water in the estuary. Sewage and other organic wastes that are discharged into rivers and estuaries can overload estuaries with
nutrients. These conditions can contribute to the loss of animal and plant life, the decrease of a buffer zone from storm surges, salt water
intrusion, and ultimately the decline of the estuary and loss of wetland. [Source: http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?
z=l&pg=2&ri=761.S70978#sl]
River water diversions from previously leveed rivers into estuaries have shown three potential impacts: (1) they may increase the water level in
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the estuary; (2) they may increase nutrient and sediment input into the estuary; and (3) they may decrease the salinity in the estuary. Figure 3.3
shows the possible beneficial and negative impacts of river water diversions.
Designing the Jefferson Parish Project
The Jefferson Parish Project team's decision to collect time-relevant water quality data was in response to the public's repeated request for
publicly available real time water quality data. Wetland loss and decline of the estuarine ecosystem raised an interest to learn more about impacts
of river water diversions from previously leveed rivers into estuaries. The project team determined that pre-and post diversion water quality data
have to be collected in order to make assessments of river water diversion impacts.
The project team decided to conduct time-relevant monitoring of lake water quality to be able to detect algal blooms early and to provide timely
environmental information to natural resource and human health protection agencies. Having time-relevant data allows entities to respond
quickly to adverse environmental conditions, make appropriate decisions to ensure economic and environmental sustainability of the affected
environment, and protect the health of commercial and recreational users.
3.1.2 Selecting Your Sampling Frequency
The sampling frequency you select for your time-relevant water quality monitoring project depends on your project's objectives. For example:
Figure 3.3. Possible Beneficial and Negative Impacts of River Water Diversion
Estuary
River Water Diversion
^ ~ 1
ease in
i —- — _
— — __w
Nutrient andSediment
Increase in Estuary
^
3alinityD<
Fluctuatiot
Flooding During
H i gh Wind D riven
Tides
N o Flooding- Water
Level Management
Ex cess Growth (e.g,
Algal Blooms)
3 uffi ci ent Growth
to Sustain Estuary
Ex cess Organic
Material in Estuary
Adequate Organic
Material in Estuary
Low Levels of
Dissolved Oxygen
in the Water
PI ant and
Animal Kills
Sufficient Dissolved
Oxygen in the Water
Adequate Plant and
Animal Growth
Lost Vegetation
Decreases Buffer
from Storm Surge
V egetation
ProvidesBvffer
from Storm Surge
SaltWater
Intrusion
CortrolsSatt
Water Intrusion
Estuary Decline -
Loss of Wetland
Estuary /Wetl and
Preservation
S alirity is too high or
too low for Plants and
Animals in Estuary
S alirityis
Adequate
Plant and
Animal Kills
Adequate Plant and
Animal Growth
Lost Vegetation
D e creases Buffer
from Storm Surge
V e Ration
Provides Buffer
from Storm Surge
SaltWater
Intrusion
Cortrols Salt Water
Intrusion
1
r \
Estuary Decline -
Loss of Wetland
f
E stuary /Wetl an d
Preservation
• If you want to identify existing or emerging water quality problems such as algal blooms, you could tailor your monitoring frequency to
collect data often enough to determine problems early to take measures to alleviate the problem and warn the public.
• If you want to study seasonal water quality problems, you may want to increase your monitoring frequency during seasons when water
quality problems are more predominant (i.e., low dissolved oxygen levels and associated fish kills during summer months).
It is appropriate to experiment with different monitoring frequencies to optimize your ability to fulfill your project's objectives.
Jefferson Parish Project Monitoring Frequency
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The Jefferson Parish Project team programed its time-series sampling system to collect water quality samples every hour. This monitoring
frequency allows the team members to see short-term changes in water quality and allows them to detect problems early to respond quickly to
adverse environmental conditions, make appropriate decisions to ensure economic and environmental sustainability of the affected environment,
and protect the health of commercial and recreational users.
The data from the monitoring station in Lake Salvador are used to assess average conditions and variations from these average conditions.
Ancillary measurement, including but not limited to river discharge/stage, are obtained to aid in the determination of the cause of the variability
revealed by the time-series data. Previous studies in shallow estuarine systems of coastal Louisiana have shown that the physical and ecological
variability is closely related to changes in wind speed/direction and river discharge.
3.1.3 Selecting Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring
The time-relevant monitoring parameters that you select depend on your project's objectives and the time-relevant technologies available to you.
The Jefferson Parish project team chose to monitor the following eleven -water quality parameters on a time-relevant basis to fulfill the project's
objectives: water level, precipitation, air temperature, water temperature, wind speed/direction, specific conductance/salinity, pH, dissolved
oxygen, reflectance/turbidity, and chlorophyll a.
The Jefferson Parish Project team uses time-relevant measurements of the above listed parameters as indicators for the health of the ecosystem
(early detection of algal blooms, seagrass die-offs, and fish kills) and to monitor impacts of fresh-water diversions.
Harmful Algal Blooms
Microscopic, single-celled plants (phytoplankton) serve as the primary producers of energy at the base of the estuarine food web. Some species
of phytoplankton grow very fast, or "bloom," and accumulate into dense, visible patches near the surface of the water. Although the causes of
algal blooms are not entirely known, scientists suspect that blooms occur as a result of a combination of high temperatures, a lack of wind, and,
frequently, nutrient enrichment. Some algal blooms are called brown tides, and, while not harmful to humans, they cause serious ecosystem
impacts due to decreases in light penetration and dissolved oxygen. Brown tides can cause seagrass die-offs and fish kills. Some algae produce
potent neurotoxins that can be transferred through the food web, where they cause damage, even death, to organisms from zooplankton to
humans.
The most well-known harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in the Gulf of Mexico involve blooms of Gymnodinium breve (also known as red tides).
This organism discolors the water red (although other less harmful algae can also discolor the water red) and has been implicated in fish kills and
the deaths of manatee and other marine mammals. G. breve produces brevetoxins that cause Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP). NSP induces
gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms in humans that, although debilitating, are not fatal. In addition, toxic aerosols are formed by wave
action and can produce asthma-like symptoms in humans. This often leads to beach closures [Source: http://-www.epa.gov/ged/gulf.htm].
Jefferson Parish Time-Relevant Water Quality Monitoring Parameters
Water Level. The water level is monitored to ensure that freshwater diversions do not create or add to any local flooding problems. Early
•warning of an increased water level allows diversion managers to make appropriate decisions to minimize the introduction of more water when
flooding is likely.
Precipitation. Precipitation is monitored because it affects the water level in the estuary. Increased water level may lead to flooding, which
adversely impacts coastal communities. Both, the lack or excess, of precipitation can adversely affect vegetation and animal life and stress the
ecosystem. In addition, precipitation increases urban runoff, which increases nutrient loads, decreases salinity, and influences dissolved oxygen
levels in the estuary.
Air Temperature. Air temperature affects the water temperature and thus air temperature monitoring can be used to predict water temperature
trends. Air temperature has a direct effect on biological activity and the growth of terrestrial organisms and vegetation. Extremely high or low air
temperatures for extended periods of time can adversely affect vegetation and animal life and stress the ecosystem.
Water Temperature. Water temperature affects metabolic rates and thus has a direct effect on biological activity and the growth of aquatic
animal life and aquatic vegetation. Generally, high temperatures (up to a certain limit) increase biological activity and growth, while low
temperatures decrease biological activity and growth. For example, high temperatures in nutrient rich environments promote algal growth and
may lead to algal blooms. Temperature also affects biological activity by influencing lake water chemistry, such as the oxygen content of the
water. Warm water contains less dissolved oxygen than cold water. Low dissolved oxygen levels in the water might not be sufficient to support
some types of aquatic life.
Wind speed/direction. Wind speed/direction is important for water mixing. High wind speeds promote mixing of water layers, whereas low
wind speeds promote stratification of the water layers. Mixing of bottom and surface water creates relatively uniform temperature, dissolved
oxygen, salinity, and reflectance/turbidity profiles. Algal blooms are less likely to occur at high wind speeds because higher turbidity in the
surface water layer reduces light penetration and aquatic plant growth. In addition, wind speed and direction influence salinity and water levels
through wind-driven tides. For example, a strong southerly wind can increase the water level in the project area by as much as 12 inches. Salinity
levels in the project area also increase during periods with strong southernly wind.
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Specific Conductance/Salinity or electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity/salinity is an estimator of the amount of total dissolved salts
or total dissolved ions in water. Many factors influence the electrical conductivity/salinity of lake water, including the watershed's geology, the
watershed's size, wastewater from point sources, runoff from nonpoint sources, atmospheric inputs, evaporation rates, precipitation, fresh water
diversion from rivers, tidal surges, and some types of bacterial metabolism. Electrical conductivity/salinity is also a function of temperature;
therefore, time-series data are standardized to 25°C. High amounts of precipitation and fresh water diversion from rivers decreases electrical
conductivity/salinity, while tidal surges increase electrical conductivity/salinity in the estuary. Estuaries are characterized by gradients in salinity
from near fresh water at the mouths of the tributaries to near marine at the mouth of the estuary. Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico are
predominantly polyhaline (salinity more than 18 ppt) during the summer months. Electrical conductivity/salinity affects the distribution and
health of benthic animals, fish, and vegetation. Both, excessively high or low salinities, can negatively impact the estuanne ecosystem.
pH. pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in the water. A pH of 7 is considered neutral. Values lower than 7 are considered acidic
and higher than 7 are basic. Many important chemical and biological reactions are strongly affected by pH. In turn, chemical reactions and
biological processes (e.g., photosynthesis and respiration) can affect pH. Lower pH values can increase the amount of dissolved metals in the
water,
Dissolved Oxygen. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an indicator of the habitability of estuarine waters for marine life and it is routinely measured by
monitoring programs interested in characterizing the eutrophic state ofestuaries. DO is recognized as an indicator of the extent of eutrophication
because wide fluctuations in DO often result from increased primary productivity and may reflect prior nutrient loading. DO concentrations may
also vary because of natural processes, such as stratification, depth, wind-induced mixing, and tidal fluxes. DO is necessary for respiration in
most aquatic animals but different biota have different requirements for adequate DO. Hypoxia (condition where DO is less than 2 mg/L)
increases stress from other factors (e.g., contaminants) on marine organisms, whereas anoxic conditions (DO < 0.1 mg/L) produce toxic
hydrogen sulfide which can be lethal to marine biota. Many states require DO concentrations of 4-5 mg/L for estuaries to meet their designated
use criteria. Sufficient evidence exists that DO < 2 mg/L is extremely stressful to most aquatic organisms. Low DO is usually observed from June
through October and is primarily driven by stratification of the water column [Source: http://www.epa.gov/ged/gulf.htm]. Additional
information about hypoxia can also be found on the following USGS Web site: http://wwwrcolka.cr.usgs.gov/midconherb/hypoxia.html.
Turbidity. Turbidity (or backscatter) describes the clarity of the water. Turbidity is a measurement of the amounts of total suspended solids in
the \vater. The particles that make up the turbidity can range from mineral matter to orgamcs. In combination with the chlorophyll
measurements, it can be determined if mineral matter or organics dominate. Predominant orgaincs can be an indication of an algal bloom, which
could mean that algae below the zone of light penetration are decaying and consuming oxygen, which in turn, can result in hypoxia that effects
bottom dwelling organisms. Measurements of turbidity and backscatter are interrelated in that water with high turbidity measurements also yields
high reflectance measurements. This is the case because the more particles are present, the more light can be scattered back to the sensor.
Increased turbidity measurements might have several adverse effects on water quality, including the following:
• Turbidity reduces light penetration, which deceases the growth of aquatic plants and organisms. The reduced plant growth reduces
photosynthesis, which results in decreased daytime releases of oxygen in the water.
• Suspended particles eventually settle to the bottom, suffocating eggs and/or newly hatched larva, and occupy potential areas of habitat for
aquatic organisms.
• Turbidity can also negatively impact fish populations by reducing the ability of predators to locate prey - shifting fish populations to species
that feed at the lake or ocean bottom.
• Fine particulate material can affect aquatic organisms by clogging or damaging their sensitive gill structures, decreasing their resistance to
disease, preventing proper egg and larval development, and potentially interfering with particle feeding activities.
• Increased inputs of organic particles deplete oxygen as the organic particles decompose.
• Increased turbidity raises the cost of treating surface water for the drinking -water supply.
Chlorophyll a. Nutrient loading is just one indicator of the potential that an estuary has to become eutrophic. Chlorophyll a can be an indicator
of the first level response to nutrient enrichment. Measurements of chlorophyll a (via fluorescence) in the water column represent the standing
stock or biomass of phytoplankton. Blooms of phytoplankton often indicate that an estuary is undergoing eutrophication. In some estuaries,
there is a good correlation between nitrogen loadings from various sources and concentrations of chlorophyll a. In other estuaries, however, the
relationship does not hold and it is possible, in fact, for an estuary to receive heavy loads of nitrogen and yet not exhibit increases in
phytoplankton biomass. Other factors such as light limitation, depth of the mixing zone, flushing rates, and contaminants may affect the growth
of phytoplankton.
3.1.4 Selecting Monitoring Equipment
The time-relevant water quality monitoring equipment that you select depend on your project's objectives. When you select your monitoring
equipment, you should carefully consider ease of use, equipment lifetime, reliability, and maintenance requirements. You also might consider to
use equipment that has been used successfully for similar types of projects.
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Jefferson Parish Equipment Components
The sampling system consists of a platform; data acquisition system (computer system); a battery; a solar panel; telemetry equipment; and a
sensor package. The computer system allows for remote programming, data acquisition, and data retrieval. Information about the equipment
components listed below was obtained from User's Manuals available from the Handar (now Vaisala Inc.) Web site at http: / /www.vaisala. com
and from the Yellow Springs Instruments, Inc. (YSI) Web site at http://www.ysi.com. Even though the Jefferson Parish project team uses
Handar and YSI instrumentation, other manufactures provide similar equipment. For example, satellite transmitters are also produced by Sutron
(http://www.sutron.com) and sensor equipment is also supplied by Hydrolab (http:/ /www.hydrolab.com).
Platform. The platform, which provides the structure for the sampling system, is an existing oil pumping platform in Lake Salvador. A picture of
the platform with the sampling system is shown in Figure 3.4. For safety reasons, the platform is equipped with a light that is connected to a
battery, which gets charged by a solar panel. The floor of the platform has metal grating to which the equipment on the platform is secured. The
grating also allows the Jefferson Parish team members to walk on the platform and access the equipment.
Data Acquisition System (DAS). The Handar Model 555A is a programable DAS that controls the sensors, data storage, telemetry, and data
transmission. The 555 software governs all aspects of the DAS operation, which includes reading the sensors, analyzing and processing the data,
storage and telemetry. The user creates its own unique program using an MS-DOS compatible computer by selecting commands and sensor
parameters from pull down menus. The program is then stored in the nonvolatile memory of the DAS. The unit contains a data acquisition
board, serial bus, and power supply enclosed in a corrosion-resistant fiberglass resin case. The Handar 555 unit enables the user to:
• Collect, process, and store data at user-specified intervals.
• Transmit data to the land-base station via wireless communication.
• Program the unit from the land-base station.
• Operate the unit in the field with a portable computer.
Figure 3.4. Picture of the sampling system platform taken during the January 9, 2001 site visit.
The structure on the left of picture is the light (A) below which you see the solar panel (B) and the box containing the battery (C). The structure
to the right of the light is the fiberglass case (D) containing the DAS, the satellite radio transmitter, and the battery. The solar panel for the
sampling system (E) is to the left of the DAS case. Above the DAS case is the rain gauge (F)and the satellite transmission antenna (G). The wind
speed/direction sensor, which is usually mounted above the DAS case, is not shown in the picture because it was damaged prior to the site visit
and was in the process of being replaced. The right of the pictures shows pipes and structures (H) of the oil platform, which are not part of the
sampling system.
Battery and Solar Panel. The Handar 555A DAS model has an internal lead-acid gel cell battery. This battery is sealed and rechargeable with a
solar panel assembly. A variety of solar panels may be used for recharging the battery as long as the charging current is regulated not to exceed
0.3 A. Higher charging currents can damage the battery and even cause a hydrogen gas explosion.
Telemetry Equipment. The Handar Serial Bus allows the data acquisition board to communicate with the communications devices and the
Programming Set. A variety of communications options are available for telemetry, including communication via telephone systems, radio, or
satellite.
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The Jefferson Parish project team uses a satellite radio transmitter for communications via GOES. The GOES are satellites operated by the
National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) of NOAA. The GOES Satellite Radio Module consists of a 10-watt
transmitter that can be set to any of the allowable 199 domestic GOES and 33 international channels assigned by NESDIS. The normal
configuration of GOES consists of the GOES East satellite stationed 21,700 miles above the equator at 75 degrees west longitude and the GOES
West satellite is at 135 degrees west longitude.
Data are transmitted by the data acquisition system on an assigned ultra high frequency (UHF)-band frequency in the direction of the GOES.
The GOES repeats the message in the S-band, which is received at the NESDIS ground station at Wallops Island, Virginia. The data are then re-
broadcast to the DOMSAT satellite, which is a low orbiting communications satellite, and then retrieved on an eight-foot dish at the USGS
office in Baton Rouge.
Sensor Package. The sensor package, YSI 6600, has multisensor probes to measure the various water quality parameters. A picture of the sensor
package and probes is shown in Figure 3.5 below. The YSI 6600 is controlled by the Handar 555 unit. The sensors collect water quality and water
level data beneath the platform. A special cable transmits power and protocols from the Handar 555 unit to the sensors and transmits data from
the sensors to the Handar 555 unit.
Jefferson Parish Equipment Selection
When selecting the water quality sampling equipment, the Jefferson Parish project team -worked with their local USGS office in Baton Rouge to
find out which equipment they use. The USGS district office in Baton Rouge
Figure 3.5. Picture of the YSI 6600 sensor package with multisensor probes taken during the January 9, 2001 site visit.
already maintains and services a number of water quality sampling stations in that area and has extensive experience with the monitoring
equipment used. Since the Jefferson Parish team contracted USGS to operate and maintain their time-series sampling unit, they wanted to use the
same equipment the Baton Rouge USGS office is using for their other projects to facilitate the process and reduce costs. Since other USGS
offices may be using different water quality monitoring equipment than the Baton Rouge office, you should contact your local USGS office and
find out which equipment they use, if you are contracting USGS to operate and maintain your time-series sampling unit. The Jefferson Parish
Project team selected the Handar 555A DAS with the YSI 6600 sensor package to collect time-relevant water quality data. This capability has
provided the Jefferson Parish Project team with new opportunities for data collection and analysis and helps the project team to meet its
objectives as described below:
• Multiple \vater quality parameters can be collected simultaneously.
• On demand water quality sampling can be conducted during significant environmental events or when humans are physically unable to test
on-site.
• Multiple data points may be collected and received daily making water quality testing a more efficient and economical process.
• The frequent collection of water quality data enables personnel to provide timely environmental information to the community and natural
resources and human health protection agencies.
The Jefferson Parish Project team also selected the time-series monitoring equipment for its ease of use, warranty and Customer Service,
reliability, low maintenance requirements, and successful use for similar types of projects.
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Ease of Use. Using the time-series monitoring equipment allows the project team to collect near-real time data without having to travel out into
the field to view, upload, and process the data. This eliminates the need for frequent trips to a monitoring site and lets the project team respond
to events as they occur.
Equipment Warranty and Customer Service. The Handar 555 DAS with its YSI 6600 multi-parameter monitoring systems is designed for
long-term in situ monitoring.
The YSI sondes are warranted for two years; all cables are warranted for one year; and depth, dissolved oxygen, temperature/conductivity, pH,
chloride, turbidity, and chlorophyll probes are -warranted for one year. Handar warrants its data acquisition systems for five years and its telemetry
systems for one year. Both YSI and Handar have customer service agreements providing repair services for their equipment.
Reliability. The Handar 555 DAS with its YSI 6600 multi-parameter monitoring systems is designed to work reliably even in extreme -weather
conditions.
Low Maintenance Requirements. The time-series sampling system has relatively low maintenance requirements. The YSI probes need some
regular maintenance, such as periodic cleaning, membrane changes of the dissolved oxygen probe, and replacement of desiccant for the water
level sensor. In addition, -weekly calibration of the dissolved oxygen sensor is required. Users also need to check the batteries and the charging
system of the DAS on a regular basis.
Successful Use in Similar Projects. The Jefferson Parish Project team also selected the time-series sampling system because of its proven track
record. Other water quality monitoring projects (e.g., the Louisiana Lake Pontchartrain project and other local monitoring sites maintained by the
USGS) use time-series sampling systems successfully for similar types of projects.
3.1.5 Siting Monitors
The time-relevant -water quality monitoring location(s) that you select depend on your project's objectives. When you select your monitoring
location(s), you should carefully consider the following factors:
• Will the data collected at this location(s) fulfill your project's objectives? For example, if you would like to study the impacts of freshwater
diversions on water quality in estuaries, you need to make sure that the monitor to collect pre- and post-diversion data is located in a
representative area downstream from the diversion structure.
• Is your community supportive of equipment installation for time-series monitoring in the location(s) you selected?
• Does the monitoring equipment at the selected location(s) present a danger to your community? For example, is the location(s) in an area
with heavy boat, swimming, or personal water craft traffic?
• Is your monitoring equipment safe at the selected location(s)? For example, is the equipment protected from vandalism, tampering, or
•weather related damage?
• Are there any local, state, or federal regulations that you need to consider in siting the monitor(s)?
• Is the access to the monitor location(s) adequate?
Siting the Jefferson Parish Monitoring Location
The Jefferson Parish Project team decided to locate the time-relevant monitoring system on an existing structure, an old oil pumping platform,
located in Lake Salvador, a key outfall area of the Davis Pond Diversion. Key project members determined that this site met project locality
needs during field reconnaissance.
3.1.6 Installing the Time-Series Sampling System
This section discusses some of the basic installation procedures for the sampling system. The detailed installation procedures for the time-series
sampling equipment are available from the user's manuals of the individual pieces of equipment. The user's manual for the YSI 6600 sensor
package can be downloaded from the Yellow Springs Instruments, Inc. Web site at http://-www.ysi.com. The user's manual for the data
acquisition system is can be ordered from the Handar (now Vaisala Inc.) Web site at http://-www.vaisala.com. You will need to consult these
manuals for detailed step-by-step installation guidance.
Unpacking and Inspecting the Equipment
The first step to install the time-series sampling system is to unpack and inspect the equipment. As soon as you receive the equipment, you
should follow the following steps:
1. Remove the packing material surrounding the equipment.
2. Using the enclosed packing slip, perform an inventory of all items. If you are missing any items, contact the manufacturer immediately.
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3. Conduct a thorough visual inspection of all items. If you observe any damage, contact the manufacturer and the carrier.
Preparing and Assembling the Equipment
The second step to install the time-series sampling system is to conduct a series of preparation and assembly activities on land and at the
sampling location. Complete the following list of preparation and assembly activities:
Installation and preparation on land:
• Calibrate your -water quality monitoring sensor according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Install the sampling system base software program on your land-base station computer.
• Ensure your battery to supply power to the sampling system is charged.
Installation at the site:
• Secure Handar unit on the sampling platform.
• Assemble sensor package.
• Install telemetry antennas and correctly point directional antennas.
• Run cables along platform structure and tie cables to the structure with tie-wraps.
• Connect cables (At the lower end of a cable, allow the cable to form a loop with the low point well below the connector on the Handar
unit panel. This lets the moisture running down the cable drip to the ground at the low point and keeps it from running into the
connectors).
• Assemble the electrical system.
• Connect the Handar unit to the electrical system.
• Connect the sensor package (Connect sensor cables to sensor and data acquisition system).
• Position and connect the solar panel.
• Connect power supply.
• Perform electrical testing to ensure proper operation.
• Initialize data acquisition system.
• Load data acquisition software.
• Test the sensors.
• Set the clock.
• Set start time and interval
3.1.7 Operating the Time-Series Sampling System
This section discusses the basic steps for operating the time-series sampling system. The procedures were summarized from the user's manual for
the data acquisition system, which can be ordered from the Handar (now Vaisala Inc.) Web site at http://www.vaisala.com. You will need to
refer to this manual, for detailed step-by-step operation guidance.
Viewing and Retrieving Data
In order to examine and collect data from the DAS while it is running in the field, connect your programming set to the DAS and use the
RETRIEVE DATA command of the ONLINE menu. If you just want to look at the most recent data in memory to see how things are
currently going, proceed as follows:
(1) Select RETRIEVE DATA command.
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(2) Select ALL DATA STORES.
(3) To view the most recent items, select DISPLAY.
(4) Select either ALL data, LAST MEASUREMENTS, or INCLUSIVE PERIOD, depending on which data you would like to view
(5) Press ENTER for the data to appear on the screen.
Printing Data
If you have a printer connected to your programming set, and you want to have a printed version of the screen display, follow the steps below:
(1) Select RETRIEVE DATA command.
(2) Select ALL DATA STORES.
(3) To print the most recent items, select PRINTER,
(4) Select either ALL data, LAST MEASUREMENTS, or INCLUSIVE PERIOD, depending on which data you would like to print.
(5) Press ENTER for the data to print.
Saving Data Files
The procedure for transferring data from the DAS memory to a file on the hard disk or floppy disk in your programming set is nearly the same
as for viewing and retrieving data. If you want to save data files, proceed as follows:
(1) Select RETRIEVE DATA command.
(2) Select ALL DATA STORES.
(3) To save the data, select DISK.
(4) Choose either TEXT or BINARY format
(5) Specify a file name and a path using standard DOS notation to store the data.
Inspecting and Changing Parameters
Parameters are numbers or characters that you provide to control program operation. They include such items as measurement times and
intervals to control process schedules, sensor calibration information, and current values and offsets. Initial values of all these items are required
during programming, but you can change some of them after loading the program into the data acquisition system. Parameters that you can
inspect and
change in the data acquisition system are called field accessible. To change field accessible parameters, proceed as follows:
(1) Select ALTER PARAMETERS in the ONLINE menu.
(2) The screen displays a list of the names of all the field accessible parameters together with their current values. Move the highlight to one you
•want to change and select it by pressing ENTER.
(3) If you see the message EDITING ACCESS DENIED, you cannot change the parameter in the present mode of the DAS. Just above this
message, there will be a label, for example ALTERABLE IN STOP MODE ONLY, that explains the restrictions on the parameter. If the
number is displayed, you can change it.
(4) After making your changes, press ENTER and you will see the list of parameters again with the new value for the one you changed. The
change will affect all sensors and processes that use that parameter.
3.1.8 Maintaining the Time-Series Sampling System
The scheduled maintenance activities for your time-series sampling system will likely involve cleaning and calibration of your water quality
monitoring sensors and replacement of desiccant for the water level sensor. Maintenance frequency is generally governed by the fouling rate of
the sensors, and this rate varies by sensor type, hydrologic environment, and season. The performance of temperature and specific conductance
sensors tends to be less affected by fouling, whereas the dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity sensors are more prone to fouling. The use of wiper
or shutter mechanisms on modern turbidity instruments has decreased the fouling problem significantly. For stations with critical data quality
objectives, service intervals may be -weekly or more often. Monitoring sites with nutrient-enriched waters and moderate to high temperatures may
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require service intervals as frequently as every third day. In cases of severe environmental fouling, the use of an observer for servicing the water
quality monitor should be considered. In addition to fouling problems, physical disruptions (such as recording equipment malfunction,
sedimentation, electrical disruption, debris, or vandalism) also may require additional site visits. The service needs of water quality monitoring
stations equipped with telemetry can be recognized quickly, and the use of satellite telemetry to verify proper equipment operation is
recommended. The USGS Web site (http://water.usgs.gov/puhs/wri/wri0042S2/tfpdf) is a good source for background information on
operation and maintenance of near-real time water quality monitoring systems. (The information in this Section is summarized from the USGS
document titled "Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Site Selection, Field Operation, Calibration,
Record Computation, and Reporting". This document is available from the USGS Web site listed above.)
Jefferson Parish Project Maintenance Activities
Jefferson Parish team services the time-series sampling system at least once per week to conduct routine maintenance activities. In case of
physical disruptions (such as recording equipment malfunction, sedimentation, electrical disruption, debris, or vandalism), the Jefferson Parish
team conducts additional site visits. Since the Jefferson Parish system is equipped with satellite telemetry, proper equipment operation can be
verified at all times allowing quick identification of any service needs of the water quality monitoring station. The following general maintenance
functions are conducted on the Jefferson Parish system:
• Daily review of the sensor function by checking the transmitted data
• Weekly inspection of the site for signs of physical disruption
• Weekly inspection of the sensors for fouling, corrosion, or damage
• Weekly change of desiccant used on the "dry" atmospheric side of the differential transducer used for water level measurements
• Check if desiccant for the water level sensor is active (active desiccant is colored blue whereas inactive desiccant is colored pink) and
replace it as needed
• Battery /power check
• Routine sensor cleaning and servicing
• Calibration
The Jefferson Parish project team cleans, calibrates, and inspects the monitoring equipment according to detailed instructions provided by the
equipment manufactures. The sensors are cleaned carefully and thoroughly to remove algae and any other organisms that foul the sensors. The
pH, turbidity, and conductivity sensors are calibrated against known standard solutions. The temperature sensor is generally not calibrated, but
the team makes comparisons of the temperature readings by using USGS District-certified thermometers or thermistors. Although field
calibration is possible, rough water in Lake Salvador and temperature changes in the field can complicate calibration efforts. Thus, calibration of
the dissolved oxygen sensor is conducted in the controlled environment of the USGS laboratory to facilitate the process. The team has two
dissolved oxygen sensors, which are being switched between field use and lab calibration on a weekly basis.
The detailed maintenance requirements and procedures for the sampling equipment are available from the user's manuals of the individual pieces
of equipment. The user's manual for the YSI 6600 sensor package can be downloaded from the Yellow Springs Instruments, Inc. Web site at
http://www.ysi.com. The user's manual for the data acquisition system is can be ordered from the Handar (now Vaisala Inc.) Web site at
http://www. vaisala.com.
Figure. 3.6. Picture of the antenna at the LSU Costal Studies Institute taken during the January 9, 2001 site visit.
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3.2 Satellite/Remote Sensing Technology
3.2.1 Available Satellite Data
Satellite image data can be used to provide regional maps of the surface or near-surface distribution of physical and biological
components/characteristics of water bodies. Data from the NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) can be received directly via
antenna, such as is done at the Earth Scan Laboratory, Coastal Studies Institute at LSU. A picture of the antenna used at the LSU Coastal
Studies Institute is shown in Figure 3.6 above. The data can be viewed and analyzed close to realtime. The Orbview-2 SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing
Wide Field of View Sensor) has a 2-week embargo on research use. A list of SeaWiFS ground stations is provided in Appendix B. The NOAA
satellites are equipped with an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Orbview-2 carries the SeaWiFS ocean color sensor.
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer - a broad-band, four or five channel scanner, sensing the visible, near-infrared, and thermal
infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Important functions of the AVHRR include:
• Deriving Sea Surface Temperatures
• Deriving the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
• Deriving atmospheric aerosols over the oceans
• Monitoring volcanic eruptions and supporting an operational NOAA warning of volcanic ash in the atmosphere during eruption events
• Other applications requiring high temporal resolution of daily coverage, with moderate spectral and spatial resolution, operational
stereoscopic coverage, and calibrated thermal sensors.
[Source: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/globsys/avhrr3.shtml]
There are four types of AVHRR data:
• High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT)
• Global Area Coverage (GAG)
• Local Area Coverage (LAC)
• Automatic Picture Transmission (APT)
HRPT Data are full resolution (1-km) real time data received directly by ground stations. GAG data are sampled onboard to represent a 4.4-km
pixel, stored and played back to a NOAA ground stations in Virginia, Alaska, and Lanion, France. LAC data are 1-km recorded onboard and
played back to the NOAA ground stations. APT is an analog derivative of HRPT data transmitted at a lower resolution and high power for low-
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cost very high frequency (VHP) ground stations. For the Jefferson Parish EMPACT document, LSU receives HRPT data. [Source:
http://www.ngdc. noaa.gov/seg/globsys/avhrr3.shtml]
Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor - a sensor that provides quantitative data on global bio-optical properties to the Earth science
community. Subtle changes in ocean color signify various types and quantities of marine phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants), the
knowledge of which has both scientific and practical applications.
The concentration of microscopic marine plants (or phytoplankton) can be derived from satellite observation and quantification of ocean color.
This is due to the fact that the color in most of the world's oceans in the visible light region (-wavelengths of 400-700 nm) varies with the
concentration of chlorophyll and other plant pigments present in the water, i.e., the more phytoplankton present, the greater the concentration of
plant pigments and the greener the water.
Since an orbiting sensor can view every square kilometer of cloud-free ocean every 48 hours, satellite-acquired ocean color data constitute a
valuable tool for determining the abundance of ocean biota on a global scale. [Source:http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/
BACKGROl JND /SEAWIFS_BACKGROUND.html]. The SeaWiFS data have an embargo period of at least 14 days and therefore are not
available in real time on the Web site [Source: EMPACT 1st Year Report, November 2000, Walker, et al].
The SeaWiFS Project operates a research data system, which gathers, processes, archives, and distributes data received from an ocean color
sensor. The data can also be obtained as a "data buy" from a private contractor, Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC). OSC operates the SeaStar
satellite which carries the SeaWiFS sensor. [Source:
http: //seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/BACKGROUND/SEAWIFS 970 BROCHlJRE.html]
3.2.2 Use of Satellite Data - Jefferson Parish Project
The LSU Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) manages the Earth Scan Laboratory (ESL) (http://www.esl.lsu.edu). The ESL is an earth station
telemetry site for the capture of NOAA AVHRR, Orbview-2 SeaWiFS and GOES-8 digital satellite image data. The mission of the ESL is to
support research, education, and public service/emergency response with near-real time or archived remotely sensed satellite and aircraft data.
ESL's mission also includes processing, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of the remotely sensed data. These satellite data are a valuable
asset for environmental management and decision making that involves environmental conditions, such as:
• Monitoring conditions of coastal and estuanne -waters, their surface temperature, turbidity (reflectance) levels, and coastal inundation for
fisheries management
• Detecting river flooding in local detail for state disaster-related decision makers.
[Source: http://antares.esl.lsu.edu/htmls/intro.html]
The Jefferson Parish project uses satellite data to monitor regional changes in temperature, reflectance (suspended solids) and chlorophyll a in
Louisiana lakes, bays, and the coastal ocean adjacent to the Davis Pond diversion project.
3.3 Water Quality Field Sampling
The USGS District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, takes weekly and special event field samples to "surface truth" the remote sensing data and
to validate the time-series -water quality sampling data. "Surface truthing"satellite data involves measuring reflectance and relating the digital
measurements of turbidity and fluorescence to suspended solids and chlorophyll a measurements taken from field samples.
3.3.1 Water Quality Field Sampling and Analysis Team
The USGS District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collects water quality field samples. Jefferson Parish provides a trained environmental
technician and the parish's boat to assist the USGS with water sample collection.
LSU-CEI is responsible for analysis of water samples and providing the resulting data in tabular and graphic form. The LSU-CEI lab analyzes the
field samples for chlorophyll a, nutrients, suspended solids, salinity, and pH and provides graphical summaries of each parameter within one
•week of laboratory analysis. The chlorophyll a and nutrient analyses on -water samples are used to surface-truth satellite images. LSU-CEI
scientists interpret the -water quality and remotely sensed data and post it to a Web site. LSU-CEI provides quarterly reports of all data (with
allowances for a one month delay in processing and Quality Assurance and Quality Control) to the project manager at Jefferson Parish. Graphical
summaries of each parameter are updated within one -week of laboratory analysis, but are subject to subsequent QA/QC procedures. Monthly
graphics of key parameters are sent to the EMPACT manager for Jefferson Parish. A tabular summary of samples received, status and
completion are maintained as part of a routine chain-of-custody procedure. Data are also presented on an LSU Web page, which -will be linked
to the Jefferson Parish EMPACT home page.
LUMCO identifies harmful algal species contained in each sample, provides the resulting data in tabular and graphic form, and coordinates with
the Louisiana Department of Health and hospitals regarding possible threats to human health.
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3.3.2 Sampling Locations and Frequency
Water samples for lab analysis are taken -weekly from seven stations in Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouche. (Cataouche is a smaller lake to the
north of Salvador. Both lie in the direct flow path of the Davis Pond Diversion.) Collection stations were chosen by Dr. Chris Swarzenski, a
scientist with the USGS who has been doing marsh grass research in the area for the past 15 years, to compliment and augment monthly
monitoring in the area by others (USAGE, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, United States Park
Service, and Turner). The coordinates and a map depicting the location of collection sites is shown in Figure 3.7.
Additionally, samples are taken from the upper Barataria Basin to the Gulf of Mexico during two separate collection dates during the summer
months when conditions are most conducive to phytoplankton growth. The relation between surface characteristics from the field samples and
satellite data are described in more detail in Section 4.
Figure 3.7. Map and Coordinates (lat/long or UTM) of Water Quality Field Sampling Locations
LCI (294423, 901254) Southwesterly of platform
LC2 (294549, 901325) West of platform
LC3 (294748, 901405) Northeasterly of No. 2
LC4 (295001, 901426) Northeasterly of No. 3
LC5 (294943, 901207) Easterly of No. 4
LC 6 (294901, 901011) Southeasterly of No. 5 (in channel on east side of Couba Island)
LC 7 (294738, 901043) Northeasterly of platform
LC 8 (294608, 901116) Platform
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|5|6| App: A | B | C | DJ E
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4.1 4.2 | 4. 3 4.4
4. COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
I n order to effectively assess water quality and the impacts of water quality management activities, such as river diversions into estuaries, it is necessary
to monitor water quality over time (i.e., monitor pre- and post-diversion water quality). The water quality monitoring should take into account water
quality parameters important to the local community. Conducting a comprehensive manual sampling program that covers different times of the day, as
well as different seasons and seasonal events, presents distinct challenges. As a result, many water quality monitoring programs, such as the Jefferson
Parish Project, rely on automated systems, in which water sampling units collect data at programmed intervals and then transmit the data to a land-based
station for storage, retrieval, and analysis. In addition, the Jefferson Parish project relies on remote sensing data to monitor water parameters. However,
limited field sampling still has to be conducted to "surface truth" the satellite data.
Using the Jefferson Parish Project as a model, this chapter provides you and your community with "how-to" instructions on how to operate and
maintain such data collection systems. If you are responsible for or interested in implementing time-series water sampling, you should carefully read the
technical information presented in Section 4.2. which discusses setting up and using a sampling station for data collection and transfer, and managing the
data at the base station. If you are interested in using remote sensing technology to monitor water quality parameters, you should read the information
presented in the Section 4.3. This section provides detailed information on satellite data acquisition, processing, interpretation, ground-truthing, and data
transfer and management. Details on water quality field sampling are discussed in Section 4.4. which provides details on sampling, water quality
parameter analyses phytoplankton speciation, and data transfer and management. 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 water quality monitoring program for the Jefferson Parish Project uses three types of data: (1) time-series water sampling data; (2) satellite data; and
(3) water quality field sampling data. The data are collected and analyzed by four separate entities. Time-series water sampling data and satellite data can
be accessed through links from the Jefferson Parish Web site at http://wwrw.ieffparish.net/pages/index.cfmPDocID = 1228.
Figure 4.1. System Overview
Time Series
I Sampling '
i.. nil :n Lake
Salvador
USGS Disttk*
Office -Base
System
- Traiismil Dala
Schedule profiles
for data collection
Transfer data
\
NOAAuTKl
C*ilmoY-2
Satellites
Field
Sampling
LSU Earth
Scan Lab
SeaSfiace Tejascan™
image reception &.
processing
i.su i.:i;i ub
Analyses
Nutrient, suspended
solids, chlorophyll a,
saliiiily. and pH analyses
I.UMCON
Lab Analyses
PhSilopknklon
speeialion
USGS District
Office -Data
System
- Perform QA/QC
- Convert date.
- Manage daia
- Archive data
ILifa provided in
I.SU CHI Reports
& LSU Wo
Data avil
via internet
GroitnJ-Lrulhod
satellite data
/ RndUwfcr
, Visualization
-Model data.
-Analyse data
-Display data
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The field sampling data are available via the Internet at http://its2.ocs.lsu.edu/guests/ceilc/. A schematic of the main components of the data collection,
transfer, and management system for the Jefferson Parish project is presented in the figure on the following page.
The time-series water sampling data are collected by an automated system, in which a sampling unit collects hourly data and then transmits the data via
GOES to the USGS District Office every four hours for storage, retrieval, and analysis. The sampling unit is located in Lake Salvador, a key outfall area
of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project.
Satellite data collected by NOAA satellites are received and processed using SeaSpace Terascan system which operates at the Earth Scan Laboratory,
Coastal Studies Institute at LSU. This software package performs calibration, geometric correction, and more specialized processing for the
determination of temperature, reflectance (turbidity), and chlorophyll a concentrations. Water sampling results are used to "surface truth" satellite
reflectance measurements and to relate the digital measurements of turbidity and fluorescence to suspended solids and chlorophyll a.
Water quality field sampling is conducted weekly from seven stations in Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouche (a smaller lake north of Lake Salvador) to
ground-truth remote sensing data and validate time-series water sampling data. The LSU-CEI analyzes the samples for chlorophyll a, nutrients, and
suspended solids. The LUMCON provides data on phytoplankton speciation including identification of harmful algal species. The field sampling data are
interpreted and made available via the Internet.
4.2 Time-Series Water Quality Sampling
A data collection, transfer, and management system can benefit your community in two ways: It enables you to automate the collection of water quality
samples, and it enables you to control the resulting data flexibly and easily. By using the system's software, you can program your time-series water
sampling unit to collect water quality data at specified intervals. Then you can call the sampling unit as needed for data transmission or program your
system to call for transmissions of data at specified times. Once the data arrive, the information can be formatted and stored or otherwise prepared for
export to another database, or it can be analyzed using geographical information system or data visualization software.
The sampling station unit is installed on a platform in the water and programmed to collect water quality data at specified intervals. The sampling unit
has a multiprobe water quality sensor manufactured by YSI.
This YSI Model 6600 data collection station is equipped with two optical ports for temperature and conductivity measurements plus a pressure and
turbidity probe and dissolved oxygen and pH sensors. The data collected by the sampling station unit is transmitted via GOES to the USGS District
Office at set time intervals and displayed on the USGS Internet home page. The data is archived as part of the USGS national hydrologic information
system and resides in INGRES, a software developed by the USGS. Data security is managed by established USGS procedures.
The land-based station at the USGS District Office is basically a computer equipped with two main parts: (1) the base system software used to create
profile schedules of sampling parameters and to communicate with the sampling station unit to transmit schedules and receive sampling data and (2) the
database management system used to format, quality check, and store collected data.
The sampling station unit and the base station computer are equipped with communications hardware featuring a satellite radio transmitter. This
equipment allows the sampling station unit and computer to "talk" to each other over long distances. Because of this communication ability, the sampling
station unit becomes part of a remote data acquisition system controlled from the land-base station. At the base station, an operator runs the sampling
station-base software to connect to the sampling station unit for data collection and transfer.
The system's flexibility enables you to establish sampling and data transfer protocols based on your specific monitoring needs. For example, you might
program your sampling station unit to sample every hour, 7 days a week, to monitor general trends. You might also want to conduct sampling specific to
certain events, such as conditions conducive to algal blooms, during which you might monitor water quality on a 30-minute basis.
The system can collect and store data for future use, or it can retrieve and transmit collected data in near-real time. Each sampling station unit stores
collected data in its on-board computer, making the data available for download on demand by the base station. The unit can also serve as a temporary
archive by retaining a copy of all transmitted data files. Once the unit runs out of space, it will overwrite data as necessary, beginning with the oldest
data.
The remainder of this section provides information on how the data collected by the sampling system are transferred to the base station, how? the data
are managed, and which troubleshooting and data quality assurance steps are taken. These steps are illustrated using the Jefferson Parish project as an
example.
How often should data be collected?
The Jefferson Parish time-series sampling station collects samples on an hourly basis and transmits the data via GOES to the USGS District Office
every four hours. The data is then displayed on the USGS Internet home page.
4.2.1 Data Collection Equipment Calibration
USGS members of the Jefferson Parish team perform routine, weekly maintenance and calibration of the sensors with independent equipment. This
independent equipment is tested to ensure accuracy and reliability of the field instrumentation. The USGS district office ensures that adequate testing is
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carried out and the documented results fully characterize the performance and capabilities of the instruments. The USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation
Facility (HIF) conducts testing, evaluation, and documentation of instrument performance. USGS districts purchase instruments through HIF when
possible. HIF can also perform independent testing for the district offices. The USGS Web site (http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri004252/tfpdfl is a
good source for background information on calibration and data QA/QC of "real-time" water quality monitoring systems. Table 4.1 shows some USGS
sensor calibration requirements. USGS recommends that equipment adjustments be made until the equipment meets their recommended calibration
criteria. Otherwise, equipment that cannot meet the calibration criterial should be replaced. The information in this Section is summarized from the
USGS document titled "Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Site Selection, Field Operation, Calibration,
Record Computation, and Reporting" available from the USGS Web site listed above. The USGS guidelines referred to in this document have evolved
based on decades of experience with water-quality monitoring.
4.2.2 Transferring Your Collected Data to the Base Station
As a first step, you will need to determine what kind of data communication or telemetry equipment to install on your sampling station unit. Telemetry
equipment enables data to be transferred from a sampling station to a receiving station (i.e., the base station). You can choose between a number of
telemetry equipment options including cellular telephone modem, a 900 MHz transceiver, and a satellite radio transmitter.
Jefferson Parish Telemetry Equipment
The USGS, a key partner in the Jefferson Parish EMPACT project, uses automated earth-satellite telemetry for the transmission of data via satellite from
the time-series sampling system located in lake Salvador. The data are being collected on an hourly basis and transmitted via GOES. Every four hours a
data set that consist of eight hours of monitoring data are being transmitted (one redundant data set from the past four hours and one current four hour
data set).
Table 4.1. Sensor Calibration and Accuracy Requirements
Temperature
Dissolved
Oxygen
Specific
Conductance
pH
Turbidity
+/- 0.2°C
+/- 0.3 mg/L
The greater of
+/- 5 uS/cm or
+/-3%ofthe
measured value
0.2 pH units
The greater of
+/- 5 NTU or
+/- 5 % of the
measured value
Annual 5-point calibration over temperature range of 0-40°C. Three or more 2-point calibration checks per year for
thermistors over the maximum and minimum expected temperature range.
Calibration is conducted weekly at 0.0 mg/L and 100% dissolved oxygen saturation.
Standards bracketing the expected full range are used to calibrate the specific meter to the appropriate units for
particular field conditions. The specific conductance standards are available from the USGS Ocala Quality Water
Service Unit (QWSU).
Two standard buffers bracketing the expected range of values are used to calibrate the PH electrode, and a third is
used to check for linearity. The pH-7 buffer is used to establish the null point, and the pH-4 or pH-10 buffer is used
to establish the slope of the calibration line at the temperature of the solution. The temperatures of the buffers
should be as close as possible to the samples being measured. Standard buffers are available from QWSU.
Conduct 3 point calibration at values of 0, 10, and 100 NTU using standards based on either Formazin or approved
primary standards, such as styrene divinylbenzene polymer standards.
The access to GOES to transmit information is limited to specified users such as governmental agencies like USGS or the Corps of Engineers. Thus, if
you want to use satellite telemetry to transmit your data from the sampling system to the base station, you may want to enter into a cooperative
agreement with an organization such as USGS.
The GOES are operated by the NESDIS of NOAA. The GOES Satellite Radio Module consists of a 10-watt transmitter that can be set to any of the
allowable 199 domestic GOES and 33 international channels assigned by NESDIS. The normal configuration of GOES consists of the GOES East
satellite stationed 21,700 miles above the equator at 75 degrees west longitude and the GOES West satellite is at 135 degrees west longitude.
Data are transmitted by the data acquisition system on an assigned UHF-band frequency in the direction of the GOES. The GOES repeats the message
in the S-band, which is received at the NESDIS ground station at Wallops Island, Virginia. The data are then re-broadcast to the DOMSAT satellite,
which is a low orbiting communications satellite, and then retrieved on an eight-foot dish at the USGS office in Baton Rouge. A schematic of the data
transfer process is shown in Figure 4.2.
4.2.3 Managing Data at the Base Station
This section provides you with background information on managing data at the base station. It discusses the basic data management steps conducted at
the base station including processing, QA/QC, distribution, and storage.
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The base station software used by USGS is called ILEX, which is a specialized software that was developed specifically for USGS by an outside
contractor. The Local Readout Ground Station (LRGS) at the USGS district office in Baton Rouge receives data from all USGS data collection sites. By
entering specific site codes, data from specific USGS monitoring sites can be filtered out and kept for processing.
The data received by the LRGS are processed, checked to assure they do not fall outside the range of set thresholds, and distributed. The data are
stored/archived as part of the USGS national hydrologic information system and resides in INGRES, a software developed by USGS. Data security is
managed by established USGS procedures. USGS is currently coordinating with the EPA to make the archived data available in STORET, a software
used by the EPA. The data are displayed near-real time on the USGS Hydrowatch Web site, from where they can be accessed by anyone who has access
to the Internet including Federal, State, and local agencies, academia, industry, the public, policy-makers, and managers. Figure 4.3 shows the data transfer
to the base station and the basic data management steps taken at the base station.
Data-Processing Procedures
To ensure time-relevant access to the data and to avoid data management problems, the water quality monitoring data should be processed soon after
data collection and retrieval. When processing the data, no corrections should be made unless they can be validated or explained with information or
observations in the field notes or by comparison to information from other data sources. The USGS data processing procedures consist of six major
steps: (1) initial data evaluation, (2) application of corrections and shifts, (3) application and evaluation of cross-section corrections, (4) final data
evaluation, (5) record checking, and (6) record review?. These processing procedures, which are described in detail in the sections below?, are summarized
from the USGS document titled "Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Site Selection, Field Operation,
Calibration, Record Computation, and Reporting" available from the USGS Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wriOQ4252/tfpdf.
Figure 4.2. Schematic of the GOES Data Collection System (DCS) and Data Transfer Process
DCS Systems
Management
Camp Springs, MD
[Source: http://www.osd.noaa.gov/sats/dcs-figure.htm]
Figure 4.3. Data Transfer and Management Diagram
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Time-Se lies
Sampling Systen
Send Collection Profile
Ease Station Initiated
Tiansfei: Data
Ease Station Initiated
Base Starim
Initial Data Evaluation
In the initial data evaluation step, USGS checks the success of the raw? field data transfer to the office database. This provides an opportunity for initial
checks to evaluate and correct erroneous data. The raw? field data may be stored in a variety of formats, depending on the recording equipment and the
means of downloading data from the recording equipment. The conversion of raw data from the sampling system into a standard entry format to the
USGS district database, or Automated Data-Processing System (ADAPS), is accomplished by using an on-line computer program, or Device Conversion
and Delivery System (DECODES). After entry into AD APS, primary data tables and plots can be produced for review?.
Application of Corrections and Shifts
The application of corrections and shifts allows USGS to adjust data to compensate for errors that occurred during the service interval as a result of
environmental or instrumental effects. There are three types of
measurement-error corrections: (1) fouling, (2) drift, and (3) cross-section correction. USGS only make corrections to measurements when the type and
degree of correction is known. If the deviation between the actual value and sensor reading exceed the criterion for water quality data shifts, as shown in
Table 4.2, a correction is required. The correction is a linear interpolation over time between sensor inspections.
Table 4.2. Criteria for Water-Quality Data Shifts
easured Physical Proper
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
Specific Conductance
pH
Turbidity
+/- 0.2°C
+/- 0.3 mg/L
The greater of +/-
5 uS/cm or +/- 3 % of the measured value
0.2 pH units
The greater of +/-
5 NTU or +/- 5 % of the measured value
Evaluation and Application of Cross-Section Corrections
Cross-section corrections allow? USGS to adjust measurements of the monitoring equipment to reflect conditions more accurately in the entire cross
section of the monitoring area (e.g., from bank to bank of the water body that you are monitoring). The application of cross-section corrections is
intended to improve the accuracy and representativeness of monitoring measurements. However, USGS only makes cross section corrections, if the
variability in the cross section exceeds the shift criteria. Corrections to the cross section are based on field measurements taken both horizontally and
vertically in the water body cross section.
Final Data Evaluation
Final data evaluations consist of review?ing the data record, checking shifts, and making any needed final corrections. When completed, USGS verifies the
data for publication and rates the data for quality. The data that USGS cannot verify or that are rated as unacceptable are retained for record-checking
and review? purposes but are not published in AD APS. However, USGS archives unacceptable or unverified data follow?ing established USGS district
policies.
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Many USGS district offices have established quality-control limits for shifting data, which are commonly referred to as "maximum allowable limits." This
means that data are not published, if the recorded values differ from the field-measured values by more than the maximum allowable limits. For the
purpose of consistency within the USGS the limits are established
at 10 times the calibration criteria for all standard continuous-monitoring data-gathering activities, except for more stringent requirements for DO and
turbidity. Table 4.3 below? shows the maximum allowable limits for continuous water quality monitoring sensors.
Table 4.3. USGS Recommended Maximum Allowable Limits for Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring Sensors
Temperature
/- 2.0°C
]|The greater of +/- 2.0 mg/L or 20 %"
Dissolved Oxygen
Specific Conductance
+/- 30 %
PH
2.0 pH units
Turbidity
+/- 30 %
After evaluating each record for maximum allowable limits, USGS applies one of four accuracy classifications to each measured physical property on a
scale ranging from poor to excellent. The accuracy ratings are based on data values recorded before any shifts or corrections are made and depend on
how? much the recorded values differ from the field-measured values. For more details on the USGS data publication criteria guidelines refer to the
USGS document titled "Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Site Selection, Field Operation, Calibration,
Record Computation, and Reporting" available from the USGS Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wriOQ4252/tfpdf.
Record Checking and Record Review
In the record checking process, USGS thoroughly checks all data used in producing the final water quality record for completeness and accuracy before
final review? and publication. The hydrographer who is responsible for computing the water quality record first reviews the record, followed by a second
check for completeness and accuracy by an experienced hydrographer. Finally, the USGS district water quality specialist or district-designated reviewer
inspects the water quality record. In addition, all field data are verified for accuracy and transcription from field sheets, all shifts are checked to assure
that the correct values are used for a shift, and all dates and numbers in the station manuscript are checked for accuracy.
Near-Real Time Data QA/QC versus Non-Real Time Data QA/QC
Depending on the type of data (near-real time versus non-real time data) you are providing to the public, you can spend different amounts of time and
effort on quality control checks. If your goal is to provide near-real time data, there is no time for extensive manual QA/QC checks. On the
other hand, if you are providing non-real time data, you have time to perform extensive quality checks, as described in the sections above. Performing
quality checks on Jefferson Parish non-real time data can take from a few? days to weeks or months, depending on the amount of data streaming into the
project's base station.
When you are providing near-real time data, such as the data found on the USGS Hydrowatch Web site, time for QA/QC checks is limited. The checks
that can be conducted must either be automated or can only focus on obvious data problems, if they are done manually. The near-real time data undergo
two very basic QA/QC steps during the data management process.
The first QA/QC step is done while the data are processed by the DECODES software program at the USGS base station. USGS can enter set
thresholds in the DECODES software for each water quality parameter. If the value for any given parameter falls outside the acceptable range entered
for that parameter, the data point w?ill be removed. For example, if a pH reading exceeding a pH of 10 is recorded, the data point w?ill be removed
because if falls in an unacceptable range for that particular parameter.
The second QA/QC step is taken at the base station when the data are imported into Microsoft Access. At this point, the data undergo a brief manual
QA/QC step, at which outliers or obvious erroneous data points are deleted manually from the database.
Storing and Archiving the Data
It is recommended that you store and archive all sample records, raw? data, quality control data, and results. A variety of media are available for archiving
data (e. g., CD- ROMs, Zip disks, floppy diskettes, and hard copy). The server storing the data should also be backed up daily to prevent data loss.
4.2.4 Troubleshooting
This section contains information about common troubleshooting issues. Table 4.4 below? can be used to identify the causes of some common difficulties
that may occur while operating the YSI 6600 sensor package. The "symptom" column describes the type of difficulty that you might experience, the
"possible cause" column describes the condition that might cause the stated symptom, and the "action" column provides simple steps that can be
followed to correct the problem. [Source: The user's manual for the YSI 6600 sensor package, which can be downloaded from the Yellow? Springs
Instruments, Inc. Web site at http://wrww.ysi.com.]
Table 4.4. Common Troubleshooting Issues and Actions
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symptoms
Dissolved Oxygen reading unstable or inaccurate
Probe not properly calibrated
Membrane not properly
installed or punctured
DO probe electrodes require
cleaning
Water in probe connector
Algae or other contaminant
clinging to probe
Barometric pressure is
incorrect
Calibrated at extreme
temperature
DO charge to high (MOO):
(1) Anode polarized
(tarnished)
(2) Probe left on continuously
DO charge too low (<25);
insufficient electrolyte.
DO probe has been damaged
Internal failure
Follow? DO calibration procedures
Follow? setup procedure
Follow DO cleaning procedure
Dry connector; reinstall probe
Rinse DO probe with clean water
Repeat DO calibration procedure
Recalibrate at/near sample temperature
Enable DO charge parameter in sonde report menu. Run sonde,
if charge is over 100, recondition probe. Follow? DO cleaning
procedure.
Replace electrolyte and membrane
Replace probe
Return sonde for service
Probe requires cleaning
Follow? probe cleaning procedure
Probe requires calibration
Follow? calibration procedures
pH, chloride, ammonium, or nitrate readings are
unstable or inaccurate. Error messages appear during
calibration.
pH probe reference junction
has dried out from improper
storage
Soak probe in tap water or buffer until readings become stable
Water in probe connector
Dry connector; reinstall probe
Probe has been damaged
Replace probe
Calibration solutions out of
spec or contaminated
Use new? calibration solutions
Internal failure
Return sonde for service
Desiccant is spent
Replace desiccant
Level sensor hole is obstructed
Follow? level sensor cleaning procedure
Level Sensor unstable or inaccurate
Level sensor has been
damaged
Return sonde for service
Internal failure
Return sonde for service
Conductivity improperly
calibrated
Follow? recalibration procedure
Conductivity probe requires
cleaning
Follow? cleaning procedure
Conductivity unstable or inaccurate. Error messages
appear during calibration
Conductivity probe damaged
Replace probe
Calibration solution out of
spec or contaminated
Use new? calibration solution
Internal failure
Return sonde for service
Calibration solution or sample
does not cover entire sensor
Immerse sensor fully
Sensor has been disabled
Enable sensor
Water in probe connector
Dry connector; reinstall probe
Installed probe has no reading
Probe has been damaged
Replace probe
Report output improperly set
Set up report output
Internal failure
Return sonde for service
Temperature unstable or inaccurate
Water in connector
Dry connector; reinstall probe
Probe has been damaged
Replace probe
Probe requires cleaning
Follow? probe cleaning procedure
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Turbidity probe unstable or inaccurate. Error
messages appear during calibration
Probe requires calibration
Probe has been damaged
Water in probe connector
Calibration solutions out of
spec
Wiper is not turning or is not
synchronized
Wiper is fouled or damaged
Internal failure
Follow? calibration procedure
Replace probe
Dry connector; reinstall probe
Use new? calibration solutions
Activate wiper. Assure rotation. Make sure set screw is tight.
Clean or replace wiper
Return probe for service
4.3 Satellite/Remote Sensing Technology
4.3.1 Data Acquisition
As mentioned earlier, LSU receives two different satellite data streams; NOAA AVHRR and Orbview-2 SeaWiFS. AVHRR satellite data are available to
anyone who has the capability to receive it. NOAA does not charge any fee for an entity to establish and operate a station to receive AVHRR data nor
does NOAA require station operators to make themselves known to NOAA. However, NOAA recommends that operators subscribe to NOAA's mail
outs and make use of its on-line bulletin board. NOAA maintains an office to support potential operators of HRPT at the following address:
Coordinator, Direct Readout Services
NOAA/NESDIS
Washington, DC 20233
HRPT ground stations can be constructed using commercial equipment for under $100,000. However, some radio amateurs have constructed systems for
$100s using personal computers, surplus antennas, and circuit boards. [Source: http://wrttrw.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/globsys/avhrr3.shtml]
If your project is not considered "research," the SeaWiFS data can be purchased from Orbimage, since they own the commercial rights to SeaWiFS. Note
that Orbimage refers to SeaWiFS data as OrbView-2. If your project is considered research, you may apply to become a NASA-Authorized SeaWiFS
user. To become an Authorized SeaWiFS data user, you must read the SeaWiFS Dear Colleague Letter and Appendices to gain an understanding of the terms
of the user agreement. The applicant must then submit a short proposal, which includes the title of the project, a scientific rationale for the request, the
processing level of the data required, and plans for the publication/dissemination of the results or data access. The applicant must print, sign, and
complete a hard copy of the Research Data Use Terms and Conditions Agreement. The applicant must mail the proposal and original hard copy of the form to:
Dr. Charles R McClain
SeaWiFS Project
NASA/GSFC Code 970.2
Building 28, Room W108
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Additional procedures for requesting data should be followed if the applicant desires to become an authorized SeaWiFS Direct Readout Ground Station
or an authorized SeaWiFS Temporary Real-Time User or Station. There are not any specific deadlines for receipt of proposals to obtain SeaWiFS data.
[Source: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/ LICENSE/checklisthtml]
Once approved as an authorized user, you can receive data for free from the Goddard Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) after the data is at
least two weeks old. If your project is considered research and your organization wants to receive HRPT SeaWiFS data, you can apply to become an
authorized SeaWiFS Ground Station. Current SeaWiFS users who want to get data in real-time from an existing SeaWiFS Ground Station, can apply to
become an authorized SeaWiFS Temporary Real-Time User. [Source: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov./SEAWTFS/
ANNOUNCEMENTS/getting data.html]
LSU is an authorized SeaWiFS Direct Readout Ground Station and has applied for and received authorization to become a Temporary Real-Time User
Station. However, since the data must be held for two weeks prior to publication, the SeaWiFS data are not placed on the LSU Web site.
If a new? user wants a turnkey operation to obtain SeaWiFS data, SeaSpace TeraScan SeaWiFS systems can be purchased. [Note that you must still obtain
a decryption device and decryption key from NASA to read the data.] The TeraScan SeaWiFS system can be configured to support land-based,
shipboard, or portable applications and is comprised of the following components:
• Polar Orbiting Tracking Antenna (1.2 m and 1.5 m)
• Global Positioning System (GPS) Antenna/Receiver
• Telemetry Receiver
• SGP Interface Unit (SGPI)
• Workstation
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• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
• TeraScan Software
The specifications for the TeraScan SeaWiFS system are described below?.
Antenna
secifications
^^^^^^•^^^^^^^^^^
eflector Diameter
nput Frequency
Acquisition Elevatic
•JA Gain
•JA Noise Figur
nput Bandwidth
)ownconverter Ga
Elevation Range
zimuth Range
Elevation/Azimuth Tracking ]
asition Accuracy
emperature Range
lumidity
laximum Wind Force
adome Dimension
intenna/Radome Weight
lipping Weig
1.2 m Antenna
|l.2 m (4 ft)
|1691- 1714 MHz
8 degrees
30 dB minimum LNA Gain
|<0.8 dB
|15 MHz
22 dB minimum
|0 to 90 degrees
+ 265 degrees
6 degrees per second
0.5 degrees
|-30C (-22F) - without heater to 70C (158F)
|0 to 100%
|161 km/hr (100 mph)
|l.55 m (61") diameter by 1.67 m (65.90") high
|95 kg (210 Ibs)
|227 kg (500 Ibs)
1.5 m Antenna
1.5 m (5 ft)
1691 -1714 MHz
5 degrees
30 dB minimum LNA Gain
<0.8 dB
15MHz
22 dB minimum
0 to 180 degrees
+ 265 degrees
6 degrees per second
0.5 degrees
-30C (-22F) - without heater to 60C (140F)
0 to 100%
161 km/hr (100 mph)
1.88 m (73.88") diameter by 1.82 m (71.94") high
131 kg (290 Ibs)
273 kg (600 Ibs)
GPS
• Satellites tracked: 8
• Satellites used in a solution: 4
• Positional Accuracy: ±100 m (330 ft)
• System Time Accuracy: + 0.1 second
Receiver
. Model: HR-250
• IF input frequency range: 128 - 145 MHz
• Demodulator Type: PSK-PLL
• Bit rate: 665.4 Kbps
• Bit error rate: Within 1 db of theoretical
• Programmable IF input frequency selection
Workstation
• Type: Sun ULTRA-10
. Processor: 440 MHz
• Memory: 128 MB RAM
• Internal Hard Drive Capacity: 18 GB
• Internal CD-ROM Capacity: 644 MB
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• Monitor Size: 21"
. Display Resolution: 1280 x 1024 x 24 bit
• LAN Types: 10/100 BaseT
• External DAT 4 mm Tape Storage: 24 GB compressed
• Modem: 56 Kbps
• Operating System: Solaris 7
• Keyboard and mouse
• PCI Frame Synchronizer
• PCI SCSI Controller
• PCI Serial Multiplexer
UPS
• Output Power Capacity 1400 VA
. Dimensions: 0.18 m (7") W x 0.23 m (9") H x 0.42 m (18") D
Options
• Antenna Pedestal
• Antenna Heater
• Color Printer
• 100 m (330 ft) Antenna Control and Signal Cable
For more information about the TeraScan SeaWiFS system refer to their Web site, the source of this information, at http://www.seaspace.com/
main/product line/seawifs/seawifs.html.
4.3.2 Data Processing
Acquisition and processing of the satellite data are performed using the SeaSpace TeraScan™ image reception and processing system operated at the
LSU Earth Scan Laboratory (http://wrsrw.esl.lsu.edu). This software performs calibration, geometric correction, and additional specialized processing for
the determination of temperature, reflectance (turbidity), and chlorophyll a.
AVHRR - Dr. Nan Walker and Adele Hammack (LSU-CSI) view satellite imagery from the NOAA satellites daily (at least 8 times per day) and
processes these images with specialized software to produce color- enhancedimagery of water temperature and turbidity (reflectance). At the end of each
month, Dr. Walker provides a written description of the more interesting images taken during the month to assist the public in interpreting the turbidity
and temperature changes that are visible in the satellite images.
For the EMPACT project, sea surface temperatures (SST) are computed, in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, with NOAA AVHRR satellite data using a
modification of the MCSST technique described by McClain et al (1985). Surface reflectance is computed in percent albedo with NOAA AVHRR
satellite data using a modification (Walker and Hammack, 2000) of the Stumpf atmospheric correction technique (1992). The technique corrects for
incoming solar irradiance, aerosols, sunlight and Rayleigh scattering.
Dr. Walker uses a commercial software package suite called TeraScan , which is produced by SeaSpace. You can find SeaSpace's Web site at
http://www.seaspace.com. The TeraScan software suite includes software for data acquisition and scheduling called TeraCapCon and TeraTrack.
TeraMaster & TeraPGS are used for product generation. TeraVision is used for developing images to visualize satellite data. TeraPGS is used to
distribute data images according to user specifications. The image processing of temperature and reflectance is a multi-step process and is outlined below.
• Calibrate visible and thermal infrared data from count values to science units.
• Screen the data for image quality.
• Calculate temperatures and reflectances.
• Navigation/registration images to project on a rectangular map.
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• Scale temperatures and reflectances.
• Produce GIF images of temperatures and reflectances.
• Post images on LSU Web site (http://www.esl.lsu.edu/research/empact.html).
[Source: BMP ACT 1st Year Report, Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Water Temperature, Surface Reflectance, and Chlorophyll a
Concentrations: Southeastern Louisiana, Nan D. Walker, Adele Hammack, and Soe Myint, November 2000.]
SeaWiFS - The Orbview-2 satellite broadcasts SeaWiFS data in real time to the GSFC HRPT Station as well as other stations. LSU receives the SeaWiFS
data in real-time via their satellite. LSU uses the SeaSpace TeraScan software suite to process (calibrate and atmospherically correct) and visualize the
SeaWiFS data. The software is based upon the SeaDAS software used by NASA. The NASA OC2 algorithm is used to estimate chlorophyll a
concentrations with the 490 and 555 nm bands (O'Reilly et al., 1998).
[Source: EMPACT 1st Year Report, Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Water Temperature, Surface Reflectance, and Chlorophyll a Concentrations:
Southeastern Louisiana, Nan D. Walker, Adele Hammack, and Soe Myint, November 2000.]
4.3.3 Data Interpretation
Wind measurements from monitoring stations are used to interpret the image patterns and to write the monthly text that is provided on the LSU Web
site. The hourly time-series measurements at the Lake Salvador monitoring station are obtained from the USGS and used to interpret the satellite data.
[Source: EMPACT 1st Year Report, Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Water Temperature, Surface Reflectance, and Chlorophyll a Concentrations:
Southeastern Louisiana, Nan D. Walker, Adele Hammack, and Soe Myint, November 2000.]
4.3.4 Ground Truthing
Ground truthing is a process of comparing and correlating satellite data to actual field measurements. Ground truthing of sea temperatures in the
Jefferson Parish project showed very similar results when comparing satellite and field measurements of surface sea temperatures taken at the eight
sampling points shown in Figure 3.7. The linear regression of the temperature data-sets using 173 data points show? a strong statistical linear correlation
with an R of 0.951. However, the satellite reflectance values, when compared to YSI turbidity field measurements, were not very similar (R = 0.43).
The differences are thought to result from several factors. For example, the satellite reflectance measurements were made at 580-680 nm and are related
to light reflected from near the water surface by suspended material in the water column. The YSI probe measures backscatter from particles suspended
in the water column (4 feet below? the surface) in the 830-890 nm region. Other factors, which affect the satellite reflectances and YSI backscatter results,
include the concentration of inorganic and organic material, type of inorganic sediment (clay, silt, and sand), and additional pigments (e.g., from other
chlorophyll and colored dissolved organic matter).
[Source: EMPACT 1st Year Report, Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Water Temperature, Surface Reflectance, and Chlorophyll a Concentrations:
Southeastern Louisiana, Nan D. Walker, Adele Hammack, and Soe Myint, November 2000.]
The mapping of chlorophyll a with SeaWiFS in coastal regions requires extensive collection of water samples to validate the technique and develop
regional algorithms if necessary. The SeaWiFS radiance data is collected in 6 visible channels which can be used to map suspended solids, suspended
sediments and chlorophyll a. On April 26, 2000, a SeaWiFS ground truth experiment was conducted in Barataria Bay and the coastal ocean, seaward of
the bay. The satellite-derived chlorophyll a estimates using SeaWiFS were very similar to the chlorophyll a concentrations of the field samples.
A cubic regression model yielded the best relationships between field and satellite data, with a an R of 0.92. However, the correlation was not as strong
for chlorophyll values measured in Lakes Cataouche and Salvador, probably due to higher concentration of colored dissolved organic matter.
Turbidity was estimated from two SeaWiFS channels (555 nm and 670 nm). Regression analysis revealed that the 670 nm channel yielded the highest
statistical relationship between the satellite and field measurements. (R of 0.84 - nonlinear power relationship).
[Source: EMPACT 1st Year Report, Satellite Remote Sensing of Surface Water Temperature, Surface Reflectance, and Chlorophyll a Concentrations:
Southeastern Louisiana, Nan D. Walker, Adele Hammack, and Soe Myint, November 2000.]
4.3.5 Data Transfer
As discussed earlier, the LSU ESL receives the NOAA AVHRR and SeaWiFS satellite data. Through a sequence of processing steps computations are
made of surface temperature, surface reflecance and chlorphyll a. GIF images are posted on the LSU Web site in quasi real-time.
The GSFC EOS DAAC is responsible for the distribution of SeaWiFS data to all approved SeaWiFS data users.
4.3.6 Data Management
The NOAA AVHRR temperature and reflective imagery is provided on the LSU Web site usually the same day the data are received (i.e., almost real-
time). Dr. Walker provides interpretive text with the imagery to assist the public in understanding the image pattern.
The GSFC EOS DAAC is responsible for permanently archiving and distributing the SeaWiFS data. LSU processes the SeaWiFS data as they are
received; however because the data have a 14 day embargo period, they are not available in real-time nor are they posted on the LSU Web site.
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4.4 Water Quality Field Sampling
Water samples for lab analysis are taken weekly from eight stations in Lake Salvador and Lake Cataouche. (Cataouche is a smaller lake to the north of
Salvador (Figure 3.7). Both lie in the direct flow? path of the Davis Pond Diversion.) Collection stations were chosen by Dr. Chris Swarzenski, a scientist
with USGS, who has been doing marsh grass research in the area for the past 15 years to compliment and augment monthly monitoring in the area by
others (USAGE, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, United States Park Service, and Turner).
Additionally samples are taken from the upper Barataria Basin to the Gulf of Mexico during two separate collection dates during the summer months
when conditions are most conducive to phytoplankton growth. These weekly and special event samples are to "surface truth" the satellite reflectance
measurements and to relate the digital measurements of turbidity and fluorescence to suspended solids and chlorophyll a. These water samples provide
baseline information on variations in water quality in the study region before the opening of the Davis Pond Diversion.
4.4.1 Water Quality Analyses
The LSU-CEI laboratory analyzes the field water samples for the folio wing parameters: (1) water salinity; (2) pigments (chlorophyll a and phaeophytin a);
(3) suspended load (sediment and organic); (4) carbon (total, inorganic, and total organic carbon); and (5) nutrients (Ammonium, Nitrate, Nitrite,
Phosphate, and Silicate). The analytical techniques used to conduct the water quality analyses are described below?.
Salinity/Conductivity
Salinity or conductivity of each sample is measured upon return to the laboratory using a Haake-Buchler Digital Chloridimeter® [http://www.
analyticon.com/manurefv.html]. This device measures the amount of chloride in the sample by titrating it with silver. Salinity measurements are
necessary to interpret the circulation and bulk impacts of the freshwater diversion.
pH
A Corning Model pH-30 waterproof pH meter is used to measure pH of the samples upon return to the laboratory
[http://wrttrw.scienceproducts.corning.com]. The pH measurements are necessary to convert the total carbon dioxide measurements to alkalinity.
Chlorophyl a and Pheo-Pigments
Chlorophyll a containing plankton are concentrated from a volume of water by filtering at a low? vacuum through a glass fiber filter (GFF). The pigments
are extracted from the phytoplankton using a solution of 60% Acetone and 40% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The samples are allowed to steep for 2 to
24 hours (maximum) to extract the chlorophyll a. The samples are then centrifuged to clarify the solution. The fluorescence is then measured before and
after acidification w?ith 0.1 N HC1. The fluorescence readings are then used to calculate the concentration (in ug/1) of chlorophyll a and pheophytin a in
the sample extract. This procedure is a modification of EPA method 445.0 (Arar and Collins 1992) in which DMSO is used in lieu of grinding for
extraction of the pigments.
Suspended Load
The suspended load is determined by filtering a known volume of water through a combusted (550C) and pre-weighed glass fiber filter (Whatman Type
GF/F or equivalent). The filters are dried (at 60C) then re-weighed to determine total suspended load in mg/1. The filters are then combusted at 550C,
cooled, then re-weighed to determine organic suspended load (APHA, 1992). The sediment or non-organic suspended load is determined by subtracting
the organic suspended load from the total suspended load.
Carbon
(R)
Total carbon (TC) is measured by employing High Temperature Catalytic Oxidation (HTCO) using a Shimadzu TOC-5000A analyzer
[http://wrww.ssi.shimadzu.com]. The machine operates by combusting the water sample (at 680 centigrade) in a combustion tube filled w?ith a platinum-
alumina catalyst. The carbon in the sample is combusted to CO2, which is detected by a non-dispersive infrared gas analyzer (NDIR) that measures the
total amount of carbon in the sample. Inorganic carbon (1C) is analyzed by first treating the sample w?ith phosphoric acid (to remove organic carbon) and
then performing the above analysis to obtain the total amount if inorganic carbon in the sample. Total organic carbon (TOG) is obtained by subtracting
the 1C value from the TC value.
Nutrients
The water samples are analyzed for nutrients w?ith a Technicon Auto-Analyzer II [http://wrww.lahequip.com] using the methods listed in Table 4.5 for
each nutrient:
Table 4.5. Methods and Detection Limits for Nutrient Analyses
Nitrite EPA Method 353.2 0.05 mg/1
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Ammonia
Silicate
Phosphorus
EPA Method 350.1
Technicon Method 186-72W/B
EPA Method 365.2
0.01 mg/1
0.03 mg/1
0.01 mg/1
4.4.2 Phytoplankton Identification
Water samples are also sent to Louisiana University Marine Observatory Consortium (LUMCON) where the harmful algal species present in the sample
are identified by Dr. Quay Dortch. The Gulf of Mexico Program is currently providing funds to support this research.
Prior experience in counting phytoplankton in Louisiana coastal waters shows that the phytoplankton range in size from 1 |_i to greater than 100 |_i with
the tiny phytoplankton often dominating the biomass. Traditional methods of counting phytoplankton have missed or underestimated these small
phytoplankton, whereas the more recently developed epifluroescence methods can be used to count both small and large phytoplankton. Table 4.6 shows
common phytoplankton groups counted in each size fraction. Methods other than the epifluroescence method, such as differential interference contrast
(DIG) or scanning electron microscope (SEM), can also be used for identification when necessary.
The method for preserving and counting phytoplankton is adapted from Murphy and Haugen (1985), Shapiro and Haugen (1988), and Shapiro et al.
(1989). In this method, one hundred milliliters of seawater are preserved with 50% glutaraldehyde to a final concentration of 0.5% (by volume) and
refrigerated until samples are processed. One aliquot of sample is filtered through a 3 |_im polycarbonate filter and onto a 0.2 |_im polycarbonate filter
without prior staining. The 3 |_im filter is discarded and the 0.2 |_im filter retained (0.2 to 3 |_im size fraction). Another aliquot of sample is filtered through
an 8 |_im polycarbonate filter and then a 3 |_im filter; both filters are retained (3 to 8 and >8 |_im size fractions). Before filtration this aliquot is made up to
25 ml with filtered water of approximately the same salinity and stained with 0.05 ml proflavine monohydrochloride (Sigma P-4646, 1.5 g/liter in distilled,
de-ionized water). If possible, all samples are filtered without vacuum, but if necessary, <100 mm vacuum is applied. All filters are transferred to slides
and mounted with low fluorescence, low? RFA
Table 4.6. Common Phytoplankton Groups Counted in each Size Fraction
0.2-3 um
Coccoid cyanobacteria -- mostly Synechococcus
Autotrophic eukaryotes
Heterotrophic eukaryotes
3-8 um
Photo synthetic flagellates and non-flagellates
Heterotrophic flagellates and non-flagellates
Cryptomonads
Athecate dinoflagellates
Diatoms
Coccoid cyanobacteria
> 8 um Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Ciliates
Cryptomonads
Colonial cyanobacteria
Colonial, freshwater chlorophytes
Coccoid cyanobacteria
Many coccoid cyanobacteria occur in aggregates, especially when suspended particulate matter concentrations are high, which do not break up during
size fractionation.
epi-fluorescence microscope [http://www.olympus.co.jp] with blue and green excitation (excitation filters BP-490 and BP-545, barrier filters O-515 and
O-590, and dichromatic mirrors DM500 and DM580, respectively). The 0.2 and 3 |_im pore size filters are counted immediately at lOOOx. The 8 |_im pore
size filters are stored frozen and counted as soon as possible. Three different counts are made on the 8 |_im filters, using different magnification and
counting different areas of the filter, in order to adequately count small, abundant organisms, as well as large, rarer organisms. To avoid counting an
organism more than once they are separated according to length. Phytoplankton is identified to the nearest possible taxon and the previous table
describes the types of organisms usually observed in each size fraction. It is possible for some groupings of taxa and even individual species, to be present
in more than one size fraction, if the size of colonies or individuals varies considerably or if they occurred both singly and in aggregates of sediment,
organic matter and cells. The 0.2 and 3 |_im filters are discarded after counting, because they quickly become uncountable; 8 |_im filters are archived frozen
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at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.
4.4.3 Data Transfer and Management
The personnel collecting the water samples complete a field documentation form, of which one copy is kept on file by Jefferson Parish and one copy
accompanies the samples to the lab. These water samples are delivered to the LSU-CEI laboratory within 6 hours of collection and are stored on ice or
in a refrigerator until analyzed for corruptible analytes. The LSU-CEI laboratory has existing QA/QC plan approved under EPA project X-9996097-01.
The processing for Chlorophyll a begins within 12 hours of sample delivery, and usually within 1 hour. The dissolved nutrient samples are stored frozen
until analysis, usually within 2-4 weeks (sample analysis is more economical if done in batches of >50 samples).
Sub-samples of the water samples are sent to LUMCON immediately after sample collection for identification of harmful algal species. The Gulf of
Mexico Program is currently providing funds to support this research. Project funds are used to interpret this data set and make it available to the public
via the Internet; interpretive text is written or reviewed by Dr. Dortch.
LSU-CEI provides quarterly reports of all data (with allowances for a one month delay in processing and QA and QC) to the project manager at
Jefferson Parish. Graphical summaries of each parameter, averaged for each lake, are updated within one week of laboratory analysis, but are subject to
subsequent QA/QC procedures. Monthly graphics of key parameters are sent to the EMPACT manager for Jefferson Parish. A tabular summary of
samples received, status and completion are maintained as part of a routine chain-of-custody procedure. Data are also presented on an LSU Web page
linked to the Jefferson Parish EMPACT home page.
Jefferson Parish disseminates the monthly graphics of key parameters to the Jefferson Parish Marine Fisheries Advisory Board, the Davis Pond
Freshwater Diversion Advisory Committee, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and other stakeholders as requested, for their review? and
feedback.
Plots of the weekly field water sampling data from August 19, 1999 through August 17, 2000 are available on the LSU-CEI Web site at
[http://its2.ocs.lsu.edu/guests/ceilc/].
The EPA is in the planning stages to make such data available through their EMPACT website [http://www.epa.gov/empact]. Currently, the EMPACT
website has a link to the Jefferson Parish website.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: |1|2|3|4|1|6| App: A | B | C | DJ E
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5J.I12
5. DEVELOPING IMAGES TO PRESENT WATER QUALITY MONITORING DATA
Once your water quality monitoring network is in place and you have collected or received the resulting data, you can
provide your community with time-relevant water quality information using data visualization tools to graphically depict
this information. Using data visualization tools, you can create graphical representations of water quality data that can be
downloaded on Web sites and/or included in reports and educational/outreach materials for the community. The types of
._, ._, npA/r
data visualization software used by the Jefferson Parish EMPACT team are Microsoft Excel and SeaSpace's TeraScan
satellite imagery software.
Section 5.1 provides a basic introduction and overview to data visualization and is useful if you are interested in
gaining a general understanding of data visualization. Section 5.2 contains an introduction to the software data
visualization tools used on the Jefferson Parish EMPACT project. You should consult Section 5.2 if you are
responsible for choosing and using data visualization software to model and analyze your data.
5.1 What is Data Visualization?
Data visualization is the process of converting raw data to images or graphs so that the data are easier to comprehend and
understand. A common example of data visualization can be seen when you watch the weather report on television. The
electronic pictures of cloud cover over an area or the location and path of an impending hurricane are examples of satellite
data that have been visualized with computer software. Displaying data visually enables you to communicate results to a
broader audience, such as residents in your community. A variety of software tools can be used to convert data to images.
Such tools range from standard spreadsheet and statistical software to more advanced analytical tools such as:
• Satellite imaging software products
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Computer Models
• Statistical techniques
By applying such tools to water quality data, you can help residents in your community gain a better understanding of
factors affecting the water quality in area lakes or nearby estuaries (e.g., chlorophyll a or turbidity). Once you begin using
satellite data visualization tools, you will be impressed with their ability to model and analyze your data. You can then use
the visualized data for a variety of purposes such as:
• Exploring trends in lake elevation, chlorophyll concentration, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, salinity, specific
conductance, turbidity, and water temperature.
• Studying spatial patterns of sea-surface temperature.
• Studying spatial patterns of near-surface reflectance.
• Making resource management decisions.
• Supporting public outreach and education programs.
There are a number of commercially available data visualization tools that allow you to graphically represent real-time
satellite data. Section 5.2 focuses on the software tools which were used to visualize the satellite data in the Jefferson Parish
EMPACT project. These software tools are listed in Table 5.1 below.
Table 5.1. Software Tools to Visualize Satellite Data
SeaSpace's TeraScan
Software Suite
http://www.seaspace.com
TeraCapCon
TeraTrack
Enables the user to program the system for automatic capture,
archiving, and processing of the satellite data.
Reports the information related to a satellite pass capture; reports
information that can be used for diagnosing reception problems;
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insures quality control performance.
TeraMaster
TeraScan™ Product
Generation System
(TeraPGS)
Tera Vision
Views, creates, or modifies a data set that defines an area of the
earth's surface in terms of map projection (shape), extends, and pixel
resolution.
Automatically generates and distributes products according to user
specifications.
Displays and manipulates data images and overlays.
Database and
Spreadsheet Software
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Displays raw data (parameters) from Lake Salvador in tables.
Creates 1- to 7-day summary hydrographs of various Lake Salvador
data.
Allows to Investigate correlations or trends in water quality
variables.
Many computer users are familiar with Microsoft Access (a database software) and Excel (a spreadsheet software). For this
reason, the remainder of this chapter will only focus on the satellite imagery software.
5.2 Satellite Acquisition, Processing, and Visualization Software
There are various vendors which offer satellite data visualization software. The USGS also posts visualized satellite data on
their Web site. This section discusses only the satellite data acquisition, processing, and visualization software used for the
Jefferson Parish EMPACT project.
As mentioned earlier, the Jefferson Parish Project utilized the SeaSpace's TeraScan software suite. This software can be
used to acquire, process, visualize and disseminate the AVHRR and SeaWiFS satellite data. Provided below is a description
._, npA/r
of the TeraScan software suite. More information about this software can be found on SeaSpace's Web site
(http: / 7www.seaspace.com).
TeraCapCon
TeraCapCon is the graphical user interface (GUI) that provides automatic, "hands-off' scheduling and archiving of satellite
data. With TeraCapCon, the user can define the autoscheduling parameters that govern the daily acquisition (or capture) of
the satellite data. Such parameters include the following:
• Which satellites to select for data collection,
• The minimum satellite elevation at the satellite's highest point relative to the receiver,
• The minimum sun elevation,
• The time of day when the data are to be collected,
• The number of days of passes to be obtained,
• Whether or not the data should be archived on tape,
• Specify which processing script to run on the data.
These autoscheduling parameters can be easily edited. In addition, the user can view the upcoming swath of the pass from
a polar orbiting satellite. Figure 5.1 is a screen shot from the TeraCapCon software.
Figure 5.1. TeraCapCon Screen Shot
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J In-View I
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| da Schedule In- V*w j a 6chl Scheduled <$, EdiL Pnjoosi 0 Delet* Ps««
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[Image Courtesy of SeaSpace Corporation].
TeraTrack
TeraTrack is the GUI that reports information used for diagnosing reception problems and insuring quality control
performance. Such information related to the satellite pass capture includes signal strength, lag time between the actual
pointing direction of the antenna and the commanded pointed direction. The software also displays the functionality of the
receiver, synchronizer, and frame synchronizer. Figure 5.2 is a screen shot from the TeraTrack software, which provides
satellite pass information, antenna information, and receiver information.
Figure 5.2. TeraTrack Screen Shot
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Fte Help
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[Image Courtesy of SeaSpace Corporation].
TeraM aster
TeraMaster is a GUI for viewing, creating, or modifying a data set that defines an area of the earth's surface in terms of
map projection (shape), extents, and resolution. This data set is referred to as a master. The user can specify a master area
anywhere in the world by using the computer mouse or entering latitudes and longitudes into the data fields. Figure 5.3 is a
screen shot of the TeraMaster software.
Figure 5.3. TeraMaster Screen Shot
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Cense rLon M 97 36.47 W
P«el Width M5
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Canter Lon 99 5.41 W
Area Width 331
IntonratDn
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—AwaSiie— -Pixel Size
Ion 82 23.21 W
[Image Courtesy of SeaSpace Corporation].
TeraScan M Product Generation System (TeraPGS)
TM
TeraPGS automatically generates and distributes products (TeraScan data sets and picture products) according to the
specifications provided by the user. The picture products can be produced in any of the following formats:
• JPEG
• TIFF
• MARTA-PCX
• GIF
• PNG
• PostScript
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TeraPGS has three primary components: (1) the GUI, (2) the product-generation (processing) scripts, and (3) the
distributor.
TeraPGS - GUI: The GUI allows the user to create, edit and store product definitions. These product definitions can
TA/T
dictate which TeraScan data set to use and the type of picture representations to be generated from the data. The
software has a "dry run" feature, which allows the user to test product definitions by generating and displaying the product
locally prior to being sent to a delivery destination (e.g., Web site, database, or archive). The types of definition parameters
include the following:
• Data selection by telemetry and variable, by time window, by geographic coverage, and by minimum sun elevation.
• Options for picture products.
• Data unit, palette, and enhancement selection.
• Delivery destinations and times.
• Notification of delivery success and/or failure.
Figure 5.4 is a screen shot of the TeraPGA - GUI.
TeraPGS - Product Generation (Processing) Scripts: The processing script generates either data sets or picture
products according to the product definitions prescribed via the GUI. The software automatically logs the processing
progress and notifies the user (via e-mail) in the event of a failure.
Figure 5.4. TeraPGS - GUI Screen Shot
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| '•':.•
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[Image Courtesy of SeaSpace Corporation]
TeraPGS - Distributor: The distributor is a server that manages the delivery of the products (e.g., data sets or pictures).
The distributor's features include:
• Delivery of up to 50 products simultaneously to multiple users.
• Delivery of both data sets and picture products via FTP, copy, or remote copy.
• Data delivery retry options.
Figure 5.5 is a screen shot from the TeraPGS' Distributor software.
Figure 5.5. TeraPGS - Distributor Screen Shot
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Descriptor! FTP Ł Web Server.
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Rte Ted*
[Image Courtesy of SeaSpace Corporation]
Training
,TM.
SeaSpace offers basic hands-on, instructor-led training courses for its TeraScan software. Such courses include a 4-day
Scientific Training Program, a 3-day Operational/Forecasting Training Program, and an Operational program consisting of
2 half day sections. SeaSpace also offers customized training upon request. For more information about TeraScan
training see the following Web site: http://www.seaspace. com /service/ support/training.shtml.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3
6. COMMUNICATING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
In addition to designing and implementing a time-relevant water quality monitoring system, you will also want to consider
how and what types of data to communicate to the community. This chapter is designed to help you develop an approach
for communicating pertinent water quality 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.
• The outreach initiatives implemented by the Jefferson Parish Team.
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan for Time-Relevant Water Quality Reporting
Your outreach program will be most effective if you ask yourself the following questions:
• Who do you want to reach? (i.e., Who is your target audience?)
• What information do you want to distribute or communicate?
• What are the most effective mechanisms to reach my target audience?
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.
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).
• 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 shoreline and lakeshore property owner
associations, 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.
What Are Your Outreach Goals?
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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 Jefferson Parish
EMPACT project:
• To provide the public with a weekly, or more frequent "weather report" on freshwater diversions and their impact
on water quality and algal blooms in area water bodies.
• To gather baseline data in the Davis Pond Diversion outfall area to assist coastal scientist and managers in
distinguishing the effects of river water from other ecosystem stressors.
• To use the data collected to confirm remote sensing data and calibrate the predictive ability of remote sensing data.
• To provide ground-truthed remotely sensed data on water quality and phytoplankton blooms to the agencies and
organizations involved with public health, fisheries, and habitat related issues.
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 Jefferson Parish project goals above, outreach goals often define their target audiences (e.g., the public,
coastal scientists, fisheries, etc.). 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 certain groups, such as citizens and businesses? Does a significant portion of the public you are
trying to reach have a different cultural or linguistic background from other members? If so, it likely will be most 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:
• What is their current level of knowledge about water quality?
• 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
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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.
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 at this stage,
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. For example:
• The freshwater diversion this week had a effect on Lake Salvador.
• Salinity levels at the sampling station in Lake Salvador are dropped below ppt.
• The Hydrowatch site allows you to track daily changes on Lake Salvador.
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.
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. The table below provides some examples of each type of outreach product.
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
resource 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 effective, 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?
Brochures
o Educational curricula*
o Newsletters •
o Posters •
o Question-and-answer
sheets •
o Editorials
o Fact sheets
o Newspaper and
magazine articles
o Press releases
o Utility bill inserts or
staffers
Cable television programs'
Exhibits
Kiosks
Public service
announcements (radio)
Videos
E-mail <
messages <
Web pages
Subscriber list'
servers
Briefings
Fairs and •
festivals •
One-on-one
meetings •
Public meetings
Community •
days •
Media •
interviews •
Press
conferences
Speeches
Banners
Buttons
Floating key chains for
boaters
Magnets
Bumper stickers
Coloring books
Frisbee discs
Mouse pads
Golf tees
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• 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
development?
• What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing products?
• 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.
How Will Your Products Reach Your Audience?
Effective distribution is essential to the success of an outreach strategy. There are many avenues for distribution. The table
below lists some examples.
• Your
mailing list
• Partners'
mailing list
• Phone/Fax
• E-mail
• Internet
• TV
• Radio
• Print media
Hotline that distributes products upon request
Journals or newsletters of partner organizations
Meetings, events, or locations (e.g., libraries, schools, marinas, public beaches, tackle shops, and
sailing clubs) where products are made available
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.
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• 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?
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, or address, or establish a hotline)?
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 Jefferson Parish Project's Outreach Program
The Jefferson Parish team uses a variety of mechanisms to communicate time-relevant water quality information - as well
as information about the project itself- to the affected commercial and recreational users of Lake Salvador and other
nearby water bodies. The team uses the Parish Web site as the primary vehicle for communicating time-relevant
information to the public. Their outreach strategy includes a variety of mechanisms (e.g.,Internet, brochures, presentations
at events, and television) to provide the public with information about the Jefferson Parish project. Each element of the
project's communication program are discussed below.
Bringing together experts. The EMPACT project stakeholders are made up of a variety of organizations that provide
input on the information generated from the project and how it is communicated. These stakeholders are identified below.
• Jefferson Parish Marine Fisheries Advisory Board
• Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Advisory Committee
• Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP)
• Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
• SMSA Parishes
• Nearby State Agencies
• Local academic community
Brochure. The Jefferson Parish Environmental & Development Control Department published a brochure highlighting
current projects overseen by the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. The EMPACT project was announced in the
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brochure. The team distributed the CZM brochures through local libraries and during community events. Appendix C
contains a reproduction of the brochure.
Newspaper. Shortly after the time-series sampling system became operational, two newspaper articles were run
announcing the monitoring effort. The articles described the types of data to be collected, how the data were relevant to
the community, how the data would be used, and where the public could access the data.
Survey. To determine specific issues of concern in the surrounding communities, the Jefferson Parish team used
information already collected by BTNEP, one of the team members. To increase public awareness for the estuary's
importance and problems, and to encourage residents, users, and decision makers to become more involved in the
promotion and protection of the estuary, BTNEP held a series of eight public workshops in 1998. These workshops
provided citizens with information about the program and allowed them to address any specific issues of concern. The
Jefferson Parish team used this information to find out what was important to the communities regarding their wetlands.
Also the team was able to determine their target audience:
• Commercial and recreational users of Lake Salvador.
• Residents of communities that could be impacted by diversion related to flooding.
• Louisiana citizens concerned about coastal erosion, hypoxia in the Gulf, eutrophication, and algal blooms.
Web site. The Jefferson Parish Web site can be accessed at http://www.jeffparish.net. The EMPACT project is discussed
at http://www.jeffparish.net/pages/index.cfm?DOCID=1228. The Web site is the main avenue used by the team for
disseminating the water quality information. The site has a static page which describes the Jefferson Parish EMPACT
project. On the left side of the site, there are links to the USGS Hydrowatch site, which displays near-real time data from
the time-series sampling system at Lake Salvador. An example of the results measured by the time-series sampling system is
provided in Appendix D. The Web site also has a link to the Earth Scan Laboratory's Web site. An example of the
reflectance results taken from satellite data is provided in Appendix E. The site also has links to learn more about the Davis
Pond Diversion Project and the EPA's EMPACT program.
Piggybacking on existing events. The Jefferson Parish team has found some opportunities to promote the EMPACT
project at other events. For example, BTNEP hosted a one-day Forum to discuss their Estuary Program. The team had the
opportunity to give a power point presentation concerning the EMPACT project. The team also provided a poster
presentation and handed out an information sheet about the project.
Developing the Lake Access Web Site
Experience Gained and Lessons Learned
The Jefferson Parish team uses a private contractor to manage their EMPACT Web site
(http: / /www.jeffparish.net/pages /index.cfm? DOCID=1228). The team is considering ways to make the Web site more
effective. Currently the site has only information about the EMPACT project and links to the data via Earth Scan and
Hydrowatch. Because the information on the Jefferson Parish Web site is not routinely revised or changed, the team is
concerned that individuals interested in the near-real time water quality data are going directly to the Earth Scan and/or
Hydrowatch Web sites. As a result, the team does not know how many people are accessing data generated by the Jefferson
Parish EMPACT project. The team is considering revising the Jefferson Parish site to store "live" data to attract users back
to the Web site.
The Jefferson Parish Project team recommends that you design your Web site to include live changing data (e.g., daily) so
that users will always find something new and different when they visit your site. The team also recommends that you set
up procedures for notifying the project team when changes are made to your site. Such procedures could include providing
your Web Master with a list of individuals (and their e-mail addresses) to contact when the site is modified (e.g., site has
moved to a new address or new features are available).
Some of the local entities interested in the Lake Salvador data do not have Internet connectivity. As a result they do not
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have access to any of the near-real time data. At present, the team encourages them to visit their local library so they can
access the Web site. The team is considering other avenues to relay the information to interested parties who do not have
Internet access.
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality 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.
How Do You Present Technical Information to the Public?
Environmental topics are often technical in nature and full of jargon, and water quality information is no exception.
Nonetheless, technical information can be conveyed in simple, clear terms to those in the general public not familiar with
water quality. The following principles should be used when conveying technical information to the public:
• 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-Friend^ 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
Iabs(http://www.abanet.org/lpm/bparticlell463_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 local fishers in the Lake
Salvador area are concerned about some of the potential effects (e.g., changes in salinity and algae blooms) of the Davis
Pond freshwater diversion. 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.
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
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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 point to whether rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and coastal areas are "well" or "ailing."
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. Its emphasis is on 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 States and other agencies.
EPA. 's Non Point 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/glnp o /ab out.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 Plans (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. 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
Education Resources
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
http: / /www.mo ntana.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
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Coordinators.
Water Science for Schools
http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
The USGS's Water Science for School 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."
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 (http://www.igc.apc.org/green /resources.html) also includes a list of water quality
projects being conducted across the country and around the world.
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.
Other Organizations
North American Eake Management Society (NALMS) Guide to Eacal 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.
The Watershed Management Council
http://watershed.org/wmc/aboutwmc.html
The Watershed Management Council (WMC) is a nonprofit 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.
Gulf of Mexico Program
http://gmpo.gov
The EPA established the Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP). Their mission is to provide information and resources to
facilitate the protection and restoration of the coastal marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal natural habitats.
The GMP's Web site has links to existing coastal projects, has links to educator and student resources, and provides near-
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real time oceanic data.
The Barataria - Terrobonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP)
http://www.btnep.org
BTNEP is the result of a cooperative agreement between the EPA and the State of Louisiana under the National Estuary
Program. The program's charter was to develop a coalition of government, private, and commercial interests to identify
problems, assess trends, design pollution control, develop resource management strategies, recommend corrective actions,
and seek implementation commitments for the preservation of Louisiana's Barataria and Terrebonne basins.
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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CONTENTS
1 TNTRODTJCTTON
1.1 Background
1.2 EMPACT Overview
1.3 Jefferson Parish EMPACT Project
1.4 RMPACT Metropolitan Areas
2 HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
3 WATER QUALITY MONITORING
3.1 Time-Series Water Quality Sampling
3.2 Satellite/Remote Sensing Technology
3.3 Water Quality Field Sampling
4 COLLECTING, TRANSFERRING, AND MANAGING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY DATA
4.1 System Overview
4.2 Time-Series Water Quality Sampling
4.3 Satellite/Remote Sensing Technology
4.4 Water Quality Field Sampling
5 DEVELOPING IMAGES TO PRESENT WATER QUALITY MONITORING DATA
5.1 What is Data Visualization?
5.2 Satellite Acquisition, Processing, and Visualization Software
6 COMMUNICATING TIME-RELEVANT WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan for Time-Relevant Water Quality Reporting
6.2 Elements of the Jefferson Parish Project's Outreach Program
6.3 Resources for Presenting Water Quality Information to the Public
APPENDIX A Glossary of Terms & Acronym List
APPENDIX B List of Authorized SeaWiFS Ground Stations A Jsers
APPENDIX C Jefferson Parish Brochure
APPENDIX D Example Data from USGS Hydrowatch
APPENDIX E Example Data from Earth Scan Laboratories (Satellite Data - Reflectance)
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Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
of their use.
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EPA/625/R-01/005
September 2001
Delivering Timely Water Quality Information to Your Community
The Jefferson Parish-Louisiana Project
United States Environmental Protection Agency
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH 45268
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Printed on paper containing at least
30% postconsumer recovered fiber
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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 authors of this handbook are grateful for the involvement and contributions of individuals involved
in this project. The following contributing authors provided valuable assistance for the development of the handbook:
George Arcement, United States Geologic Survey District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Charles Demas, United States Geologic Survey District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dr. Quay Dorche, Louisiana University Marine Observatory Consortium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Vickie Duffourc, Contractor for the Jefferson Parish Environmental and Development Control Department
Paul Ensminger, United States Geologic Survey District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mark Perlmutter, Vaisala Inc.
Jake Peters, United States Geologic Survey District Office in Atlanta, Georgia
Andrew Puffer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, Gulf of Mexico Program Office
Dr. Chris Swarzenski, United States Geologic Survey District Office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dr. Eugene Turner, Louisiana State University Coastal Ecology Institute, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dr. Nan Walker, LSU Coastal Studies Institute and Earth Scan Laboratory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Marnie Winter, Director of the Jefferson Parish Environmental and Development Control Department
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APPENDIX A
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ACRONYM LIST
A
AD APS: Automated Data - Processing System.
Algae: Simple single-celled, colonial, or multi-celled aquatic plants. Aquatic algae are (mostly) microscopic plants that
contain chlorophyll and grow by photosynthesis. They absorb nutrients from the water or sediments, add oxygen to the
water, and are usually the major source of organic matter at the base of the food web.
Algal blooms: Referring to excessive growths of algae caused by excessive nutrient loading.
Anoxia: Absence of oxygen in water.
APT: Automatic picture transmission.
AVHRR: Advanced very high resolution radiometer.
B
BTNEP: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.
C
CEI: Coastal Ecology Institute.
Chlorophyll: Green pigment in plants that transforms light energy into chemical energy by photosynthesis.
CC^: carbon dioxide.
CSI: Coastal Studies Institute.
CZM: Coastal Zone Management.
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D
DAAC: Distributed Active Archive Center.
DAS: Data acquisition system.
dB: decibel
DECODES: Device Conversion and Delivery System
DIG: Differential interference contrast.
Dissolved oxygen (DO): The concentration of oxygen (02) 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 of fish 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 C>2/L. Levels below 2 mg C>2/L are often referred to as hypoxic and when C>2 is
less than 0.1 mg/, conditions are considered to be anoxic.
DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.
DO: Dissolved oxygen.
DOMSAT: Domestic satellite. A DOMSAT system utilizes a geosynchronous satellite to re-broadcast satellite data received
at a central reception and preprocessing center.
DVT(s): Data visualization tools.
E
EMPACT: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking.
EPA: U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
ESL: Earth Scan Laboratory
Estuary: A semi-enclosed coastal area, where seawater mixes with fresh water from rivers.
Eutrophication: The process by which surface water is enriched by nutrients (usually phosphorus and nitrogen) which
leads to excessive plant growth.
F
ft: feet.
FTP: File transfer protocol.
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G
GAG: Global area coverage.
GFF: Glass fiber filter.
GIS: Geographic information systems.
GMP: Gulf of Mexico Program.
GOES: Geostationary operational environmental satellites.
GPS: Global positioning system.
GREEN: Global Rivers Environmental Education Network
GUI: Graphical user interface.
ug/l: micrograms (10" grams)/liter.
«S/cm: microsiemens per centimeter.
H
HAB: Harmful algal bloom.
HC1: hydrochloric acid.
HRPT: High resolution picture transmission.
HTCO: High temperature catalytic oxidation.
Hypoxia: Physical condition caused by low amounts of dissolved oxygen in water (i.e., less than 2 mg/1.)
I
1C: Inorganic carbon.
IWI: Index of Watershed Indicators
J
K
Kbps: kilobytes per second.
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kg: kilogram.
km: kilometer.
km/hr: kilometers per hour.
L
Ibs: pounds.
L: liter
LAC: Local area coverage.
LaMP: Lakewide Management Plans
LNA: Low noise amplifier.
LRGS: Local readout ground station
LSU: Louisiana State University
LSU-CEI: Louisiana State University Coastal Ecology Institute.
LUMCON: Louisiana University Marine Observatory Consortium.
M
m: meters.
mg: milligrams
mg/L: milligrams/liter
mph: miles per hour.
MHz: Megahertz.
N
NALMS: North American Lake Management Society.
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
NDIR: Non-dispersive infrared gas analyzer.
Near-real time: Refers to data current enough to be used in day-to-day decision-making. These data are collected and
distributed as close to real time as possible. Reasons for some small time delays in distributing the collected data include the
following: (1) the time it takes to physically transmit and process the data, (2) delays due to the data transmission schedule
(i.e., some collected data are only transmitted in set time intervals as opposed to transmitting the data continuously), and (3)
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the time it takes for automated and preliminary manual QA/QC.
NESDIS: National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.
NIWR: National Institute for Water Resources.
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
run: Nanometer, 10 meter.
NSP: Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.
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).
O
ORD: Office of Research and Development.
Organic: Refers to substances that contain carbon atoms and carbon-carbon bonds.
OSC: Orbital Sciences Corporation.
P
PC: Personal computer.
PCI: Peripheral component interconnect.
pH scale: A scale used to determine the alkaline or acidic nature of a substance. The scale ranges from 1 to 14 with 1
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.
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide to sugars and oxygen using sunlight for
energy.
POES: Polar orbiting environmental satellites.
ppt: parts per thousand.
Q
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 thatsamples are representative
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of the water you are monitoring, free from contamination, and analyzed following standard procedures.
QWSU: Quality Water Service Unit.
R
Remote Monitoring: Monitoring is called remote when the operator can collect and analyze data from a site other than the
monitoring location itself.
S
Salinity: Measurement of the mass of dissolved salts in water. Salinity is usually expressed in ppt.
SeaWiFS: Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor. The SeaWiFS is an Earth-orbiting ocean color sensor flown on the
Orbview-2 satellite that provides quantitative data on global ocean bio-opticals properties to the science community.
[Source: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/BACKGROUND/SEAWIFS_BACKGROUND.html]
SCSI: Small Computer System Interface (pronounced "scuzzy")
SEM: Scanning electron microscope.
SMSA: Standard metropolitan statistical area.
Specific Conductance: 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 «S/cm.
SST: Sea surface temperatures.
Surface Truthing: Relating the digital measurements of a parameter (e.g., turbidity and fluorescence) to field sample
measurements for the same or a similar parameter.
Suspended solids: (SS or Total SS fTSS]). Organic and inorganic particles in suspension in a water mass.
T
TC: Total carbon.
Time-relevant 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.
Turbidity: The degree to which light is scattered in water because of suspended organic and inorganic particles. Turbidity
is commonly measured in NTU's.
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u
UHF: Ultra high frequency, 300 to 3000 megahertz.
UPS: Uninterruptible power supply.
USGS: United States Geologic Survey.
USAGE: United States Army Corps of Engineers.
V
VHP: Very high frequency, 88 to 216 megahertz.
W
WET: Water Education for Teachers.
WMC: Watershed Management Council.
X
YSI : Yellow Springs Instruments .
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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APPENDIX B
LIST OF AUTHORIZED SEAWIFS GROUND STATIONS/USERS
Andrew B. Archer
303.790.8606, ext.
3136
Antarctic Support Association
61 Inverness Dr. East, Suite 300
Englewood, CO 80112
Dr. Robert Arnone
601.688.5268
Naval Research Lab/Stennis Space Center
Code 7243
Building 1105
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
Mr. B. Edward Arthur
Jr.
228.688.5265
Naval Research Lab/Stennis Space Center
Code 7340
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004
Dr. Max P. Bleiweiss
505.678.3504
US Army Research Laboratory
AMSRL-IS-EW
White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5501
Robert A. Kamphaus
757.441.6206
NOAA Ship Ron Brown
NOAA Ship Ron Brown
Atlantic Marine Center
439 W. York Street
Norfolk, VA 23 510-1114
Dr. Francisco Chavez
831.775.1709
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
P.O. Box 628
7700 Sandholdt Rd.
Moss Landing, CA 95039-0628
Prof. Duane E.
Waliser
631.632.8647
Institute for Terrestrial And Planetary
Atmosphere
MSRC/Endeavor Hall #205
State University of New York
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000
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Dr. Kevin Engle
907.474.5569
Institute of Marine Science
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Rafael Fernandez-
Sein
787.834.7620, ext.
2263
University of Puerto Rico
NASA-URC Tropical Center for Earth and
Space Studies
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Road 108, Km 1.0 Miradero
PO Box 9001
Mayaguez, PR 00680-9001
Dr. Pierre Flament
808.956.6663
University of Hawaii at Manoa
1000 Pope Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Mr. Scott M. Glenn
908.932.6555, ext.
544
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
Marine Science Building
Rutgers, The State University
71 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8521
Dr. Frank E. Hoge
757.824.1567
NASA/GSFC Wallops Flight Facility
Code 972
Building N-159
Wallops Island, VA 23337
Dr. Michael Laurs
808.942.1279
Hawaii Regional Coastwatch Node
National Marine Fisheries Service
Honolulu Laboratory
2570 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96882
Mr. Ronald J. Lynn
619.546.7084
NOAA/La Jolla
National Marine Fisheries Service
PO Box 271
La Jolla, CA 92007
John M. Morrison
919.515.7449
Department of Marine Earth and
Atmospheric Science
North Carolina State University
1125 Jordan Hall
Box 8208
Raleigh, NC 27695-8208
Thomas L. Mote
701.777.3164
Department of Space Studies
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9008
Dr. Frank E Muller-
Karger
Department of Marine Science
University of South Florida
140 7th Avenue S.
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813.553.3335
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Dr. Norman B.
Nelson
805.893.5303
University of California, Santa Barbara
ICESS, Ellison Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Dr. Torben N. Nielsen
808.956.5896
University of Hawaii/HIGP
1680 East-West Road
Post 619E
Honolulu, HI 96816
Albert J. Peters
402.472.4893
University of Nebraska
113 Nebraska Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0517
Dr. John N. Porter
808.956.6483
University of Hawaii
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
2525 Correa Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96822
Mr. Raymond C.
Smith
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California Santa Barbara
Ellison Hall, 6th Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Greg Stossmeister
303.497.8692
University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research
PO Box 3000, UCAR
Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Dr. Byron D. Tapley
UT Center for Space Research
3925 West Braker Lane
Suite 200
Austin, TX 78759-5321
Dr. Andrew Thomas
207.581.4335
University of Maine
School of Marine Sciences
University of Maine
5741 Libby Hall, Room 218
Orono, ME 04469-5741
Nan D. Walker
225-388-2395
Louisiana State University
Coastal Studies Institute
Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Dr. Kirk Waters
843.740.1227
NOAA Coastal Service Center
2234 South Hobson Ave.
Charleston, SC 29405-2314
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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APPENDIX C
JEFFERSON PARISH
BROCHURE
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Jefferson farlsh Coastal Zone
Management Program
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NRXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 1 2 | 3 4 5 6 App: A B C D. E
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APPENDIX D
EXAMPLE DATA FROM USGS HYDROWATCH
2.00
00:00
2.00
00:00
00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00 00:00
PROVISIONAL DATA - SUBJECT TO CHANGE UPON FINAL REVIEW
NEXT CHAPTER
Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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APPENDIX E
EXAMPLE DATA FROM EARTH SCAN LABORATORIES
(Satellite Data - Reflectance)
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Table of Contents Chapter: 123456 App: A B C D_ E
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United States Office of Research Office of Environmental EPA-625-R-01-007
Environmental Protection and Development Information September 2001
Agency Washington, DC 20460 Washington, DC 20460 www.birdcast.com
Developing and Implementing a
Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public
Outreach Program for
Your Community
The BirdCast Project
I'
^™ j *
E M P A C T
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access
& Community Tracking
I US EPA Office of Research and Development I
-------
DISCLAIMER
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved
or publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation of their use.
-------
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird
Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public
Outreach Program for
Your Community
The BirdCast Project
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
-------
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National
Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of Eastern Research
Group, Inc., an EPA contractor. Technical guidance was provided by the BirdCast project
staff and its partners. EPA and BirdCast would like to thank the following people and
organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Sally Conyne, National Audubon Society
Sidney Gauthreaux, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Duane Heaton, EPA Region 5
Steve Kelling, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Ronald Landy, EPA Region 3
Ron Larkin, Illinois Natural History Survey
Ralph Wright, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 About the EMPACT Program 2
1.2 About the EMPACT BirdCast Project 3
1.3 About This Handbook 5
1.4 For More Information 5
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 7
3. BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM 9
3-1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration Monitoring Program 9
3-2 Selecting Program Partners 10
3-3 Figuring Costs 11
4. INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION OF BIRD MIGRATION 13
4.1 What is NEXRAD and What Can It Do? 13
4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring and What Can It Do? 14
4.3 How Do NEXRAD, Bioacoustic Monitoring, and Volunteer
Groundtruthing Fit Together? 15
4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin Using NEXRAD
to Observe and Predict Bird Migrations? 15
4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD Component of
Its Bird Monitoring Program? 16
5. GROUNDTRUTHING OBSERVATIONS 19
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar Analysis? 19
5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct Its Groundtruthing Program 20
5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures 20
6. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 27
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan 27
6.2 Education and Outreach Tools 31
6.3 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outreach Efforts 37
6.4 For More Information 37
APPENDIX A BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIALS 39
in
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1
INTRODUCTION
-r
Every year, several billion birds undertake seasonal
migrations in pursuit of food, shelter, and nesting
grounds. North America is the site of some of the
world's most spectacular bird migration, and millions of
American "birders" enjoy spending time in the field iden-
tifying the birds passing through their area. Migratory
birds are delightful not only for birders, but also for
countless other Americans who casually observe their
comings and goings, particularly in the spring and fall.
These birds also have a distinct economic value (nearly $3
billion in the mid-Atlantic states alone) to the tourist and
outfitting industries of the regions located along their
flight path.
Aside from any immediate benefits they provide, migratory birds are valuable for the role
they play in our ecosystems—in particular, for eating insects and thereby keeping pest pop-
ulations under control. We also have reason to be concerned about the well-being of
migratory birds that extends beyond any inherent value these birds may possess. As natu-
ralist Roger Tory Peterson noted, birds are an "ecological litmus paper"—because of their
rapid metabolism and wide geographic range, they often
provide an early warning of environmental deterioration.
Migratory birds depend on many different kinds of open
space, such as swamps, marshes, meadows, and suburban
parkland. Therefore, research and conservation aimed at
keeping a particular bird population healthy may lead to
the broader goal of restoring these threatened habitats.
When migrating, a bird may travel hundreds or even
thousands of miles without stopping. The exertion of fly-
ing such long distances leaves birds exhausted and
vulnerable. Many birds, particularly those that encounter
adverse weather conditions, do not survive their journeys.
Unfortunately, human activities can further increase the
levels of stress and danger that a migratory bird faces. For
example:
* Inopportune application of pesticides to lawns, gardens, and parks may poison a
bird's food supply at just the moment when it is weakest and most in need of nour-
ishment. In the United States, migratory birds are particularly vulnerable to pesticide
application as they migrate northward in the spring.
* Lights on tall structures (such as skyscrapers and communication towers) may con-
fuse and disorient birds, causing them to become exhausted and crash into objects.
Similarly, birds injure or kill themselves by flying into panes of glass. These problems
appear to be particularly severe on overcast nights when birds may circle a light
source.
of North America, the sight of migrating
migration routes in North America
INTRODUCTION
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«• The development of land for human purposes such as agriculture, housing, and
commerce often renders it unsuitable for use by birds. Birds may be challenged not
only by the loss of habitat in their breeding and wintering ranges, but also by loss of
habitat at key stop-over points where they need to rest and regain strength over the
course of migration.
* Humans have imported animals to North America that prey upon migratory birds
(e.g., cats) or compete with them (e.g., starlings). These new biological threats, com-
bined with decreasing quantities of suitable habitat, may reduce the population and
range of a particular migratory bird species.
There is much that property managers and the general public can do to mitigate these
problems if they are aware of them, interested in solving them, and educated about bird
conservation. During a period of peak bird migration, pesticide applications can be
delayed, bright building lights can be turned off, and cats can be kept indoors. Therefore,
outreach programs designed to inform these audiences about the status of seasonal bird
migration are a promising route to improving the conservation of migratory birds.
EPA has developed this technology transfer handbook primarily for community organiz-
ers, non-profit groups, local government officials, and other decision-makers who will
implement, or are considering implementing, bird migration monitoring and public out-
reach programs. The handbook is designed with two main goals in mind. The first goal is
to present a case study showing how one regional outreach program—EMPACT's BirdCast
project for the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States—provides information that allows
property managers and the general public to assist migratory birds. The second—and per-
haps more important—goal is to provide you with guidance for developing a similar
program in your own region. The guidance in the handbook is based on the experience of
the EMPACT BirdCast project, as well as that of other experts in the fields of ornithology
and public outreach.
1.1 ABOUT THE EMPACT PROGRAM
This handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
EMPACT Program (http://www.epa.gov/empacf). EPA created EMPACT (Environmental
Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) in 1997. It is now one of the pro-
grams within EPA's Office of Environmental Information. EMPACT is a new approach to
providing timely environmental information to communities across the nation, helping
people to make informed, day-to-day decisions. Residents in 156 of the largest metropoli-
tan areas in the United States have or will soon have an easy way to answer questions such
* What is the ozone level in my city this morning?
* What is the water quality at my beach today?
* How high is the ultraviolet radiation in my city today?
* What is the level of contamination at the hazardous waste site in my community?
* What are the levels of lead in the soil in yards in my neighborhood?
To help make EMPACT more effective, EPA is partnering with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey. EPA is working closely with
these federal entities to help achieve nationwide consistency in measuring environmental
data, managing information, and delivering that information to the public.
CHAPTER 1
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EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, such as groundwater con-
tamination, ocean pollution, smog, drinking water quality, ultraviolet radiation, and
ecosystem quality. Some of these projects have been initiated directly by EPA. Others have
been launched by the EMPACT communities themselves.
1.2 ABOUT THE EMPACT BIRDCAST PROJECT
EPA's EMPACT program started funding the BirdCast project (http://www.birdcast.org) in
1999, and the project started public operation on April 1, 2000. The project began as a col-
laboration among EMPACT, EPA Region 3, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the
National Audubon Society, Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology, Clemson
University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory, the Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia, and GeoMarine, Inc. The four primary objectives of the project are:
1) To maintain an Internet Web site that posts educational information about bird migra-
tion and the steps that property managers can take to mitigate the danger and stress that
migrating birds face when passing through an area.
2) To predict and monitor bird migrations on a daily basis using weather radar. The data
gathered by radar are continually interpreted by trained scientists and presented using
text summaries, charts, and radar maps. During its first year, BirdCast also experimented
with using microphones to perform bioacoustic monitoring of bird migrations.
3) To collect and disseminate volunteers' reports of bird sightings. This information col-
lection, known as "groundtruthing," is coordinated through the BirdCast Web site.
Groundtruthing information is stored on an Web-accessible database called
"BirdSource" that Cornell maintains. Visitors to the BirdCast Web site can query this
database and display reports in chart or graph form.
4) To raise public awareness about the sensitivity of migratory bird populations. This pub-
lic relations campaign, coordinated by National Audubon, involves generating press
releases, working with local land managers, distributing promotional materials, and
making presentations at conferences and conventions.
1.2.1 BIRDCABT'B REGIONAL. Focus
To date, the BirdCast program has primarily covered bird migration along a portion of the
"mid-Atlantic flyway," a coastal area between North Carolina and New England that expe-
riences significant migratory bird activity each spring and fall. The initial focus of
BirdCast's attention has been the city of Philadelphia. BirdCast established a local partner-
ship with Philadelphia's local PBS station (WHYY) and the Academy of Natural Sciences
to develop a public relations focus on the region surrounding this city. The BirdCast pro-
ject's efforts to collaborate with land managers so far have consisted primarily of work with
Philadelphia's Fairmont Park Commission. It is hoped that eventually BirdCast can be
expanded to cover the entire Atlantic flyway. Birds could be tracked coming across the Gulf
of Mexico and at their first landfall. Birdwatchers up the coast could be alerted to the sta-
tus of the migrating birds and provided with additional early warning of their arrival.
Despite its current regional focus, BirdCast also hopes to expand to cover the entire United
States by forming new partnerships with local governments and birding organizations. So
far, BirdCast has succeeded at drawing both widespread media attention (it was discussed
in more than over 100 news articles by spring 2000) and attention in venues of national
importance (it has been covered by news reporters from both the New York Times and the
Wall Street Journal).
INTRODUCTION
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1.2.2 BIRDCABT IN CONTEXT
The BirdCast project is a collaboration among individuals and organizations that made sig-
nificant contributions to the field of bird monitoring both before and after receiving
EMPACT funding. A brief history of these bird monitoring activities (and of radar
ornithology in particular) will help to place BirdCast in its full context.
At the outset of World War II, almost immediately after the invention of tracking radar,
British radar operators noticed that birds flying over the English channel would sometimes
appear on their screens. At the time, this fact was noteworthy primarily because it was pos-
sible to mistake a bird for a fast-moving-ship—significant ornithological use of this
phenomenon did not begin until the 1960s. Sidney Gauthreaux, now Director of the
Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory, began studying the radar detection of
birds at that time and has accumulated over 35 years of experience with the method. In the
1970s, the United States Air Force also began studying bird migration as a serious hazard
to the operation of military aircraft, which often fly at high speeds and low altitudes. The
Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) team organized by the Air Force began exploring
radar's potential to provide early warning of potential bird collisions. Their efforts were sig-
nificantly aided by the emergence of "Next Generation Radar" (NEXRAD) in the early
1990s. NEXRAD is a network of highly sensitive weather radar stations located through-
out the United States. In 1995, Sidney Gauthreaux also began using NEXRAD in his
ornithological studies.
Meanwhile, in the mid-1990s, the National Audubon Society and Cornell University's
Laboratory of Ornithology began applying a very different emerging technology to the
field of bird conservation. These two groups collaborated to develop BirdSource, a sophis-
ticated computer database that uses the Internet to allow birders from across North
America to send their observations to a central repository. With financial assistance from
the Packard Foundation, these two groups spent more than $2.5 million developing the
BirdSource database as a nation-wide information technology resource for birders.
The idea of the BirdCast program emerged at a 1997 biodiversity meeting attended by per-
sonnel from both EPA Region 3 and the Department of Defense. EPA and DoD discussed
the possibility of providing the public with near real-time information about bird migra-
tion using radar technology. BirdCast combined the capabilities of Clemson's Radar
Ornithology Lab with the information technology capabilities of BirdSource so that mem-
bers of the public would be able to not only view radar images but also submit data that
might verify (i.e., "groundtruth") those images. EMPACT began funding the project
through EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs and Region 3 in 1999, and BirdCast began its
public operations in 2000.
1.2.3 RELATED BIRD MONITORING PROGRAMS
BirdCast is not the only program that is currently using radar technology to track bird
migration. Additional groups, such as the ones listed below, either have pursued or plan to
pursue radar tracking technologies:
* BASH, the U.S. Air Force's program to guard against collisions between wildlife and
aircraft, has developed an Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS). AHAS can be
accessed on the Web at http://www.ahas.com. This system uses radar to predict the
risk of a bird-aircraft collision along various flight paths at various times.
* The Illinois Natural History Survey, the University of Illinois
(http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu], and EPA Region 5 (http://www.epa.gov/region5} have pro-
CHAPTER 1
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posed setting up a project analogous to BirdCast for the Chicago region. The organ-
izers hope to draw Chicago residents' attention to the unique role that their urban
and suburban open spaces play in the migration of birds, thereby encouraging inter-
est in the conservation of those open spaces.
1.3 ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
A number of bird observatories throughout the United States have expressed interest in
beginning projects similar to BirdCast. The Technology Transfer and Support Division of
the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's) National Risk Management
Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook to help interested organ-
izations learn more about BirdCast and to provide them with the technical information
they need to develop their own programs. ORD, working with BirdCast, produced the
handbook to leverage EMPACT's investment in the project and minimize the resources
needed to implement similar projects in new areas.
Both print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct online order-
ing from ORD's Technology Transfer Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. A PDF
version of the handbook can also be downloaded from that site. In addition, you can 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
Please make sure you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number
in your request.
We hope that you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use.
We welcome your comments; you can send them by e-mail from EMPACT's Web site at
http://www. epa.govIempactlcomment, htm.
1.4 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Try the following resources for more on the issues and programs this handbook discusses:
The EMPACT Program
http://www. epa.gov/empact
BirdSource
http://www. BirdSource. org
Cornell University Laboratory of
Ornithology
http://birds. Cornell, edu
National Audubon Society
http://www.audubon. org
Ralph Wright
EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
(703) 308-3273
Ronald Landy
EPA Region 3
(410) 305-2757
Sally Conyne
National Audubon Society
(215) 297-9040
Steve Kelling
Cornell University Laboratory of
Ornithology
(607) 254-2478
INTRODUCTION
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CHAPTER 1
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2
How TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
T
his handbook provides information your organization can use to create and imple-
ment a Web-based bird monitoring program. It presents detailed guidance, based on
the experience of the EMPACT BirdCast Project, on how to:
1. Identify target communities that would be interested in reporting on and following
the progress of bird migration.
2. Record and present real-time information about bird migration using radar, weather
information, and acoustic monitoring.
3. Collect groundtruthing information from volunteer birders and present it to the public.
4. Provide education and outreach to members of the public about what to do when
migratory birds pass through their area.
This handbook provides simple "how to" instructions on each facet of planning and
implementing a bird monitoring program, along with additional information about bird
migration:
* Chapter 3 discusses bird migration as a general conservation issue and how the dif-
ferent members of a bird migration monitoring organization work with each other
to help birds as they migrate.
* Chapter 4 discusses instrument-based observations of birds.
* Chapter 5 covers a variety of issues relevant to volunteer groundtruthing, including
a detailed description of BirdCast's policies and experiences working with volunteer
birders.
* Chapter 6 treats the methods and strategies a bird monitoring organization may
make use of to conduct public outreach and education.
* Appendix A presents examples of education and outreach materials from the
BirdCast project.
Interspersed throughout the handbook are success stories and lessons learned in the course
of the EMPACT BirdCast project.
Haw TO USE THIS HANDBOOK
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CHAPTER 2
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3
BEGINNING A NEW BIRD
MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM
This chapter provides guidance on important first steps that you will need to take as
you start your bird migration monitoring program. Section 3.1 provides a brief
overview of the structure of a bird migration monitoring program and outlines the
roles and responsibilities of program partners, based on the EMPACT BirdCast Project
model. Section 3.2 discusses the critical process of selecting program partners who can best
help you meet your program's objectives within your target community.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers and decision-makers
who may be considering whether to implement bird migration monitoring programs in
their communities, as well as for organizers who are implementing such programs.
3.1 PROGRAM STRUCTURE: OVERVIEW OF A
BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM
The EMPACT BirdCast project is a multifaceted project that engages a variety of activi-
ties—everything from distributing posters to counting birds. These activities can be
grouped into four main categories, which make up the main components of the project:
administration and public outreach, radar analysis, database management, and volunteer
groundtruthing.
The following paragraphs summarize these activities to provide an overview of how the
EMPACT BirdCast program works. These activities are described in greater detail in
Chapters 4 through 6.
General Administration and Public Outreach. The administrator and staff of BirdCast
are responsible for the primary public relations and outreach efforts of the project. This
includes managing the distribution of posters about pesticide use, maintaining contacts
with news media organizations to ensure that BirdCast stays in the public eye, issuing peri-
odic press releases, and working with local land managers to encourage bird-friendly
gardening practices. The administrator also provides a broad range of support tasks related
to the project's birdwatching volunteer program. These tasks include providing advice
about making bird identifications, making quality control checks of data submitted by vol-
unteers, and networking to recruit new volunteers. The BirdCast administrator also serves
a central liaison with the other BirdCast staff, including the radar analyst and the chief
database base manager.
Radar Analysis. The chief radar analyst and his assistant are responsible for predicting the
degree of bird migration activity in upcoming evenings and for measuring the actual
amount of bird migration using radar data. The radar analyst (and/or his assistant) must
make daily reports of predicted and observed migration during the periods of bird migra-
tion (in the spring and the fall) but have fewer regular duties during the "offseason." They
seek out and contract information service providers to ensure a constant supply of radar
data during the periods of migration. Once per day, the radar analysts submit their predic-
tions and observations to the database administrator via the Internet.
Database Administration. BirdCast s database administrator and his staff ensure that the
public has access (via the Internet) to the information submitted by the radar analyst. In
the case of BirdCast, the database is actually maintained as a separate organization called
BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM
-------
BirdSource. BirdSource is an entity distinct from BirdCast and it maintains a variety of
other Web-enabled birding databases. The BirdCast database administrator issues user
identifications to new volunteers, implements backups and system security measures, and
coordinates the programming of changes to the database system. Also, while BirdCast's
bioaccoustic monitoring was being conducted, the project was coordinated by the database
administrator.
Volunteer Birdwatching. BirdCast's volunteers provide the "groundtruthing" information
necessary to verify the observations made using radar instrumentation. Volunteers are
recruited by the project administrator and contact her with any questions or comments
they may have about their participation in the program. Registered volunteers make obser-
vations several times a week and record their findings directly to the BirdCast database
(using the Internet).
The flow chart below summarizes the basic structure of the BirdCast project. The chart
identifies the main activities of the project, the team members responsible for these activi-
ties, and the flow of work among team members. It also indicates where in this handbook
you can go for more information about specific activities.
BIRD CAST I an EMPACT-funded, collaborative
effort to track bird migration
a computer facility
at Cornell's
Laboratory of
Ornithology for the
collection and
dissemination of
groundtracking data
3.2 SELECTING PROGRAM PARTNERS
As described in Chapter 1, BirdCast is a partnership of several public and non-profit organ-
izations. These have included university laboratories, a wildlife conservation society, a park
management authority, and a natural history organization. The reason BirdCast is com-
posed of such a wide range of partners is that its goals require the use of a wide range range
1 D
CHAPTER 3
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of skills and community connections. None of the individual organizations, working by
themselves, would have been as effective as the collaboration of many different organiza-
tions, each possessing complementary skills and abilities.
For example, the staff of Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Lab have specialized
skills in forecasting and analyzing bird migration patterns using radar images and other
weather data. The National Audubon Society, on the other hand, has an extensive media
infrastructure for presenting bird conservation information to the public and can easily
enlist the support of birding communities. Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, in con-
junction with the National Audubon Society, has invested in the development of
BirdSource, a sophisticated Web-enabled database for the collection and distribution of
bird monitoring data.
In starting your own bird monitoring program, you'll need to assemble a team of individ-
uals or organizations who offer a similar range of skills and qualifications. To select partners
or team members, you should think about how each will fit into the overall program struc-
ture, and how different partners can work together to create a successful program. You will
also need to consider their relationship to the region where you will be monitoring bird
activity. For example:
* A small, grass-roots organization that already has strong ties to the community can
be ideal for providing public outreach and obtaining volunteer birdwatchers. Local
chapters of birding clubs, natural history associations, or conservation groups can
all be good choices. (For a directory of birding clubs in the United States, see:
(http://birding. about, com/hobbies/birding/library/blalphausclub. htm.}
«• A university with an ornithology laboratory would make a good partner for identi-
fying and interpreting radar images of birds. A professor or graduate student working
in such a lab might either already have the necessary skills or be able to acquire them
for the benefit of the bird monitoring project.
* A government agency, university, or private company that employs persons with a
range of programming and "new media" skills would make a good partner for the
purposes of establishing a Web site where the public can access up-to-date radar
images and submit and retrieve groundtruthing observations. Building such a Web
site from the ground up may require access to staff trained in JAVA programming,
Web page design, network administration, and database building.
3.3 FIGURING COSTS
One of the important first steps for your organization to take when it is considering setting
up a bird monitoring program is to estimate how much your planned activities will cost.
Although your program need not be as large or ambitious as BirdCast's, you may find it
helpful to know how much money BirdCast spent in its first year of operation.
In its initial year (between December of 1999 and November of 2000) EMPACT provided
BirdCast with $449,500 for operations and set-up. As shown above, these expenses break
down into five categories, each of which was handled by a separate entity:
* Project management and national level promotion was handled by National
Audubon Society. This cost $71,000 or 16% of the overall EMPACT budget for
BirdCast. This category covers all the public promotion of BirdCast that went on
during the year, excepting a local media campaign in Philadelphia.
BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM
i i
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Software for Processing
NEXRAD Images
22%
Project Management
and National-level
Promotion
16%
Generation and
Interpretation of
NEXRAD Images
15%
Project Promotion in
Philadelphia Area
17%
Database and
Internet Support
30%
* Project promotion in the Philadelphia area was handled by the Academy of
Natural Sciences. This cost $76,500 or 17% of the overall EMPACT budget for
BirdCast. The Academy was responsible for encouraging local news media to discuss
BirdCast and reporting its findings.
* Database and Internet support was provided by the staff of the BirdSource project
at Cornell University. This support cost $136,000, or 30% of the overall EMPACT
budget. BirdSource staff maintained the BirdCast Web site, set up and managed a
database for groundtruthing observations, and coordinated BirdCast's bioacoustic
monitoring program.
* Generation and interpretation of NEXRAD images was performed by Clemson
University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory (CUROL) for a fee of $68,000, or 15%
of the overall EMPACT budget. As described elsewhere in this report, CUROL
submitted daily radar information about bird migration to the BirdCast Web site.
* Software for Processing NEXRAD images was developed by GeoMarine Software
for $98,000, or 22% of the overall EMPACT budget. GeoMarine developed soft-
ware algorithms for distinguishing radar signals reflected from birds from those
reflected from clouds.
This cost breakdown represents the first-year of a cutting-edge program and should not be
taken as completely representative of the ongoing costs of other bird monitoring programs,
particularly those that are smaller in scale. For example, BirdCast organizers learned that it
was neither necessary nor feasible at present to automatically distinguish birds from pre-
cipitation with software algorithms. The expense associated with this component of the
program, therefore, was not carried forward into future years and need not be incurred by
newer monitoring programs.
1 2
CHAPTER 3
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4
INSTRUMENT-BASED
OF BIRD MIGRATION
DBS ERVATION
Flying takes a lot of work. While larger birds (such as raptors, cranes, and waterfowl)
will migrate during daylight hours, most songbirds migrate on clear, calm nights when
weather conditions are most favorable to powered flight. Unless there is a full moon
out, lack of light can make it almost impossible to visually observe migrating songbirds.
Birders can take note of where such birds land in the morning, but actual songbird migra-
tion is typically recorded using special instruments.
The primary foundation of BirdCast's predictions and observations of bird migration is the
information provided by a network of WSR-88D weather stations located throughout the
United States. These weather stations (and the data they produce) are collectively referred
to as Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD). BirdCast has also experimented with bioacoustic
monitoring of nocturnal bird migration. Although this technique has proved promising, it
is not currently in widespread use due to cost considerations.
4.1 WHAT is NEXRAD AND WHAT CAN IT Do?
Like all radar systems, NEXRAD identifies the location of distant objects by transmitting
radio signals and analyzing the returning signals that have been reflected off of those dis-
tant objects. Unlike previous radar networks, which were composed of WSR-57 and/or
WSR-74C radar stations, NEXRAD radar is also able to measure the radial velocity of
objects by recording the Doppler shift of the reflected radar. (The Doppler shift is the dif-
ference between the frequency of the transmitted radar signal and the reflected signal—if
the reflected signal is higher frequency
than the transmitted signal, it is an indi-
cation that the reflecting object is
moving toward the radar station; con-
versely, if the reflected signal is at a
lower frequency, it is an indication that
the object is moving away from the
radar station).
In addition to this new ability to detect
object velocity, NEXRAD is also distin-
guished by increased object detection
sensitivity. This is particularly impor-
tant for ornithologists because birds are
relatively weak reflectors (compared to
the objects usually detected with radar,
such as clouds, airplanes, and ships). NEXRAD is capable of detecting birds flying at a
range of heights and can provide a rough idea of the altitude at which a particular group
of birds is flying. NEXRAD is so sensitive that radar ornithologists need to learn how to
differentiate birds and insects—both can be detected.
Finally, NEXRAD provides information about the reflectivity of a particular object (i.e.,
how effective a particular object is at reflecting radio waves). Reflectivity can be determined
by a number of different factors but in the case of migrating birds, it provides indirect
information about the number of birds traveling in a particular area.
NEXRAD Radar Station in Mount Holly, New Jersey
INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION DF BIRD MIGRATION
1 3
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In summary, then, NEXRAD can help determine:
*The location of a group of migrating birds, including general altitude information.
* The speed with which the group birds are moving towards and away from a partic-
ular radar station.
* The approximate quantity of migrating birds in a particular area. Quantitative
NEXRAD estimates are calibrated by "moonwatching" (counting the number of
birds that fly across a visible full moon) and by making next-morning ground obser-
vations.
4.2 WHAT is B i 0 AC 0 u STI c MONITORING
AND WHAT CAN IT Do?
BirdCast staff have been experimenting with bioacoustic monitoring as a way of keeping
track of nighttime bird migrations. Bioacoustic monitoring is the process of recording bird
calls and matching them to a library of the bird calls of different species. When birds fly at
night, they typically make frequent 50- to 100-millisecond vocalizations. Some birders can
make fine distinctions between certain kinds of birds simply on the basis of these calls (e.g.,
the distinction between the Veery Thrush, the Gray-Cheeked Thrush, and the Hermit
Thrush). Although birders can perform something like bioacoustic monitoring right in
their heads, BirdCast staff are developing a computerized system to automate and stan-
dardize the process of recording, filtering, and identifying bird calls.
A bioacoustic monitoring station, typically located on the property of a volunteer birder,
consists of a computer with a sound processing card and a specially designed outdoor
microphone. The microphones used in bioacoustic monitoring can detect noises made by
birds that fly up to 1,500 above the ground. Throughout an entire evening, the computer
automatically analyzes the sounds picked up on the microphone and digitally records those
sounds that appear to be made by birds. In the morning, a volunteer uploads this "filtered"
recording to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, where more sophisticated computer
software enters the information into a database and attempts to determine which species
are represented in the recording.
The BirdCast program has recently found it necessary to curtail its bioaccoustic monitor-
ing program—only a very few stations are currently in use and there are no current plans
to establish new ones. The greatest barrier to the more extensive use of bioacoustic moni-
toring has been the cost of manufacturing the special microphones for the monitoring
stations. The basic materials for the microphones are quite inexpensive, but because pro-
duction quantities were extremely low, the microphones were being hand-built by
laboratory staff at Cornell. The microphones currently cost about $2,500 apiece, but
BirdCast staff imagine that the microphones could be dramatically reduced in price if some
way were found to mass produce them.
Additional limitations of bioacoustic monitoring include the following:
* Weather conditions can affect both the likelihood that birds will make noises and the
ease with which those noises can be picked up with a microphone. Thus, it is diffi-
cult to disentangle weather variability from variability in the numbers of migrating
birds.
* Many species of birds do not make noises while flying. Therefore, it is difficult to
gauge overall numbers of migrating birds solely using this method.
1 4
CHAPTER 4
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* Bioacoustic technology is in an early stage of development. The software that is used
to quantify and identify birds on the basis of sound recordings is still quite experi-
mental and there has not been enough time for scientific literature to accumulate on
this topic.
4.3 Haw Da NEXRAD, BiaAcausric MONITORING,
AND VOLUNTEER GROUNDTRUTHING FIT TOGETHER?
It is noteworthy that the altitude detection range for bioacoustic monitoring (0-1,500 feet)
does not overlap with the detection range for NEXRAD radar (generally between 3,000 to
6,000 feet). The non-overlap of these two ranges complicates the correlation of bioacoustic
results and NEXRAD results, as it is possible for certain bird species to picked up by one
kind of instrument and not the other. Due to the influence of variable weather conditions
and a lack of complete information about the altitude at which different bird species fly
when they migrate, it is not possible to precisely predict which species will fly within the
altitude range of which instruments on any given evening.
Groundtruthing data collection, covered in greater detail in Chapter 5, is an essential com-
plement to both NEXRAD radar interpretation and bioacoustic monitoring. One reason
for this is the fact that it is difficult to ascertain what kinds of birds are migrating through
an area solely from NEXRAD data. In combination with coordinated groundtruthing data,
however, it is sometimes possible to associate particular clusters of reflectivity with partic-
ular species of birds. Groundtruthing also helps to calibrate the quantitative estimates of
birds made from radar and it serves as a quality control check of the basic reporting infor-
mation provided by radar and bioacoustic monitoring.
Until recently, the BirdCast Web site combined the daily results of NEXRAD observations,
bioaccoustic monitoring, and groundtruthing in a single display. The purpose of this dis-
play was to show how each of these methods produced results that were similar to those of
the other methods. Under ideal circumstances, for example, all three methods would pre-
dict the same degree of migration activity. This display has been recently discontinued on
the grounds that some viewers may have found it too complicated.
4.4 Haw CAN A BIRD MONITORING ORGANIZATION
BEGIN USING NEXRAD Ta OBSERVE AND PREDICT
BIRD MIGRATIONS?
The essential first step in setting up a radar component for your migration monitoring pro-
gram is to contact an organization that is already experienced in this work, such as the
Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory or the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Such contact is essential for obtaining advice about the feasibility of your project and about
the best way to obtain the expertise necessary to accomplish your project. Depending on
the training and availability of your organization's staff, you will probably need to either
delegate your actual NEXRAD analysis to an experienced laboratory or send a staff mem-
ber for training at such a laboratory. Both of these plans would require negotiating a
working partnership with an organization possessing expertise in radar ornithology.
The use of NEXRAD to forecast bird migration, in the words of one practitioner, "is a dif-
ficult task that requires laboratory and field experience as well as an appreciation for
meteorological phenomena." The interpretation of NEXRAD radar to observe current
migration is a similarly complex task. At present, it is an undertaking suitable for a gradu-
ate level or post-doctoral ornithologist who has received hands-on training with an expert.
INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION OF BIRD MIGRATION
1 5
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4.5 Haw DID BIRDCAST IMPLEMENT THE NEXRAD
COMPONENT OF ITS BIRD MONITORING PROGRAM?
In July 1998, Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux of the Clemson University Radar Ornithology
Laboratory (CUROL) helped propose the BirdCast project to EPA's EMPACT Program.
His proposed task involved forecasting bird migration twice a day (mid-morning and mid-
evening) over the Delaware Valley and then using Doppler weather surveillance radar (i.e.,
the NEXRAD network of WSR-88D stations) to validate the forecast and measure the
actual amount of bird migration that occurred over the area. The text files and graphic
radar files were to be sent to the BirdCast Web server at the Laboratory of Ornithology at
Cornell University and posted on the BirdCast Web site. GeoMarine, another partner in
the project, was to supply hourly WSR-88D imagery that had been processed to eliminate
echoes from weather and other non-bird targets. The hourly images would also be posted
on the BirdCast Web site. A proposal was developed in August 1998 and work began after
Clemson University signed a subcontract with National Audubon Society in mid-March 2000.
4.5.1 ACTIVITIES IN SPRING 2OOQ
The first task was to purchase a host computer (Dell Dimension XPS T600MHz, Dell
Computer Corporation) that could be used to download the WSR-88D images from the
NEXRAD Information Distribution Service (NIDS) provider, download the weather data
necessary for generating a migration forecast, and serve as host computer where Cornell
could electronically "capture" forecast text files, analysis text files, and the mosaic radar
image files. CUROL used Marta Systems, Inc. as the NIDS provider. CUROL was famil-
iar with Marta Systems' software, so it could easily make the mosaic images of the radar
displays from the Delaware Valley. In order to work from remote locations, CUROL also
purchased a Gateway Solo 9300 CX laptop computer. This allowed laboratory staff to
work on forecasts and analysis while at home or traveling by communicating with the Dell
host computer over the Internet. CUROL believes that laptops are essential for producing
consistent and timely results for display on the BirdCast Web site.
During a previous research project in the middle 1970s, Dr. Gauthreaux developed a multi-
variate forecasting model to predict the amount of bird migration in the Athens, Georgia,
area. The input variables for this model were the weather predictions for the period in ques-
tion. Dr. Gauthreaux generated this model by step-wise regression analysis, choosing an array
of weather variables that best explained the variation of nighdy bird migration amounts. No
existing forecasting models of bird migration were available for the Delaware Valley area and
time constraints prohibited the development of a model for the region. Given this situation,
CUROL used the Athens forecast model for the spring 2000 BirdCast effort.
From 31 March through 30 May, Dr. Gauthreaux or graduate students Andrew Farnsworth
or Jonathan Ariail gathered weather data via the Internet from weather stations in the
Delaware Valley for input to the Athens model. The model generated a forecast of the
amount of migration expected over the Delaware Valley. The model was run before noon
to forecast the amount of migration expected that evening at 10 PM, and it was run before
midnight to forecast the amount of migration expected the following morning at 10 AM.
In addition, to verify the accuracy of their forecasts, CUROL downloaded radar imagery
from five WSR-88D stations (KAKQ in Norfolk, VA; KLWX in Sterling, VA.; KDOX at
Dover Air Force Base, DE; KDIX at Ft. Dix near Philadelphia, PA; and KCCX at State
College, PA) and made mosaic images showing the amount of bird migration over the
Delaware Valley at the forecast times. The laboratory analyzed and interpreted the mosaics
so that the viewer of BirdCast would be able to discriminate birds from weather and insects.
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Each morning before noon and each evening before midnight, CUROL staff placed the
text file of the forecast, the text file of the analysis, the graphic file of the radar reflectivity
mosaic, and the graphic file of the radar velocity mosaic in separate folders on the Dell host
computer. The BirdCast server at Cornell automatically downloaded the files and posted
the materials on the BirdCast Web site. Except for a few glitches near the beginning of the
project, the CUROL efforts proceeded with no problems.
4.5.2 LATER SEASONS (FALL ZQQQ AND SPRING ZQQ1)
CUROL was encouraged to continue with the BirdCast program because of its success in
forecasting the amount of bird migration during the initial BirdCast effort. There were a
number of changes between the second season of BirdCast and the first. For example,
BirdCast coverage was expanded in this season to include the state of New York. Also,
because only a very small amount of bird movement had been found in the mid-morning
hours, CUROL discontinued forecasts and analyses of daytime bird migration.
CUROL learned from the spring 2000 effort that using a single model to forecast migration
amount over the entire BirdCast area resulted in inaccurate forecasts for some areas. In an
effort to overcome the geographical limitations of the spring 2000 model, CUROL devel-
oped two models specifically for the BirdCast area using a step-wise regression analysis of
forecast weather variables and the amount of bird migration measured (i.e., the relative
reflectivity of targets [dBZ] displayed in WSR-88D images). CUROL used WSR-88D data
collected during the fall migration of 1999 for another CUROL project and Local Climatic
Data (LCD) for September and October 1999 that it purchased from the National Climatic
Data Center (NCDC) for two stations: Albany, New York, and Washington, D.C. By the
spring of 2001, CUROL had developed more than 30 regional models.
As in the spring of 2000, at 2 PM every day CUROL placed a text file containing the
evening forecast, a text file containing the analysis of the previous evening, the graphic file
of the radar reflectivity mosaic, and the graphic file of the radar velocity mosaic in separate
folders on CUROL's BirdCast host computer. As in the spring the Cornell BirdCast server
collected these files and posted them to the CUROL portions of the BirdCast Web site.
The ability to generate a forecast each day, including days on which both forecasters were
traveling or away from the CUROL host computer, was greatly enhanced by a laptop com-
puter with an FTP program that allowed the forecasters to upload text and graphics
remotely. With the exception of some initial glitches that were quickly corrected, CUROL's
models worked well. A sample of the Web page products for an afternoon posting (in this
case for the afternoons of 28 and 29 September 2000) can be found in Figure 1.
4.5.3 FEEDBACK AND CONCLUSIONS
CUROL received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public with regard to its fore-
casting and the radar ornithology tutorial that it developed for the BirdCast Web site.
Although the forecasting and analysis portion of the BirdCast project is complete, CUROL
seeks to develop better forecast models. As it refines its methodology for building models
and its understanding of the interactions and correlations between specific weather vari-
ables and the amount of bird migration, the accuracy of its forecasting will continue to
improve. Models are an absolute necessity for any attempt to track bird migration over
large spatial scales (such as the entire eastern seaboard), and improved accuracy will
improve scientists' ability to understand where and when large movements of migrating
birds will occur.
INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION DF BIRD MIGRATION
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Figure 1. NEXRAD radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
Analysis 28 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area were favorable for bird migration.
Northerly winds, clear skies, and cool temperatures associated with a strong ridge
of high pressure over the area facilitated southward movements of migrants across
the region. The reflectivity image (above left) shows extensive moderate to high
densities (15-28 dBZ) of non-precipitation reflectors over the coverage area. The
velocity image (above right) shows most of these reflectors are moving S and SSW
at 20-50 knots on N and NW winds at 5-10 knots. These are likely birds.
Migration amount was moderate to high across the region, with bird densities
reaching 600-1150 birds per cubic kilometers (25-28 dBZ) in many areas.
—Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Forecast 29 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area will not be favorable for bird migration.
E and S winds and warming temperatures associated with high pressure off the coast
of New England will keep most birds on the ground. Migration amount will be low
to moderate, reaching densities of 80-120 birds per cubic kilometer (12-16 dBZ).
—Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
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5
B RDU N DTRUTH ING OBSERVATIONS
The ornithological community uses the term "groundtruthing" to refer to a particular
process of corroborating and supplementing instrument-based observations of birds
(such as NEXRAD signals). This procedure is straightforward: one recruits birders in
the area in question to count and identify birds there. A collective groundtruthing program
serves a variety of purposes:
* It complements the radar data provided by NEXRAD.
* As a form of "citizen science" it encourages birders to become
increasingly engaged in environmental science and conservation.
* It makes birding more fun by organizing an audience for the
observations of individual birders.
This chapter is oriented toward helping the administrators of
bird monitoring organizations develop and manage groundtruthing pro-
grams. It describes BirdCast's sophisticatedlnternet-based groundtruthing
database (BirdSource). However, a groundtruthing program need not use
precisely this kind of tool to manage its information. Regardless of a par-
ticular program's data distribution/collection needs, the experiences of the
BirdCast program may provide valuable insights.
5.1 Haw DOES BROUNDTRUTH i N B
COMPLEMENT RADAR ANALYSIS?
Dedicated birdwatchers are often eager
to contribute their observations to
The eyes and ears of a careful observer offer the most direct indication
of the number and type of birds in a particular area. Therefore, such groundtruthing programs.
observations can serve as a means of calibrating, validating, and supple-
menting NEXRAD images of bird migration. As described in Chapter 4, NEXRAD does
not provide a direct sampling of the number of birds traveling through a particular area and
provides very little information about what kind of birds are being detected. All it can do is
record the radio reflectivity at a particular distance and angle from the station. During
spring migration in particular, there appears to be a high correlation between nights when
radar shows bird-like signals and mornings when birders see a lot of new birds on the
ground in nearby areas. Radar ornithologists are still in the process of developing relation-
ships between radar activity at a particular place and time and groundtruthing results at
other places and times. Therefore, there is heightened value in a coordinated program of
groundtruthing and radar imaging—the connection between the two data sets is as valuable
as the sets themselves. In the future, for example, it may be possible to track the migration
of individual species of birds using a combination of radar and extensive groundtruthing.
GRDUNDTRUTHINB OBSERVATIONS
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5.2 Haw DOES BIRDCAST CONDUCT
ITS GROUNDTRUTHING PROGRAM?
Over an average week of operation, the BirdCast Web site receives more than 300 reports
of bird activity from its volunteers. The project then presents this information (in the form
of charts and graphs) to the Web site's visitors, who number over 80,000 in a 2-month
migratory season. As these figures indicate, BirdCast's groundtruthing program requires
significant information technology infrastructure and program administration. Whether
your organization is planning a groundtruthing program of similar scope or one that will
be smaller scale, a knowledge of the methods and experiences of BirdCast in this endeavor
is likely to be helpful.
I N FRASTRU CTU RE
5.2.1 BIRDCAST'S IN FOR MAT ION MANAGEMENT
As described in Chapter 3, BirdCast's operation relies on a substantial prior investment of
time, money, and labor in the establishment of BirdSource's information technology infra-
structure. This infrastructure consists of:
* Software: an Oracle database customized to handle groundtruthing data, JAVA
applications to process the information requests of users of the BirdSource Web
site, and a CIS tool that allows users to specify the latitude and longitude of their
observation site by zooming in from a map of the mid-Atlantic United States.
* Hardware: A four-processor server computer to maintain the BirdSource web site,
an uninterruptable power supply and tape backup system, and Internet connection
service for the computer.
* Support Staff: one full-time network administrator and five JAVA programmers.
This infrastructure, which cost $2.5 million to establish, is larger and more robust than
what is necessary to simply record and present groundtruthing information. One proposed
bird monitoring program, based in the Chicago area, expects to meet its information tech-
nology needs for 2 years at a cost of $100,000 per year. A potentially economical option
for supporting groundtruthing programs may be to collaborate with BirdSource staff at
Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology. BirdSource staff expect that they could provide com-
plete information technology support for an initial outlay of $35,000-50,000 and a
maintenance fee of $5,000-10,000 per year. Depending on the goals and needs of your
organization's groundtruthing program, it may not even be necessary to spend this much.
One group planning to set up a groundtruthing program in the Chicago area has estimated
that they could store their data using spreadsheet software and would not even need to
dedicate an entire Windows workstation to the task.
5.3 BIRDCAST'S ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
BirdCast records the birding observations of both registered and unregistered visitors to its
Web site. The former are called "control" observations and the latter are called "anony-
mous" observations.
5.3.1 COLLECTING CONTROL OBSERVATIONS
Control observations are repeated visual inventories of birds obtained by regularly visiting
a particular site during a bird migration season. They are made by committed, experienced
birders known by or referred to the site's administrator. It is one of the primary tasks of the
administrator to identify these individuals, provide them with support and guidance, and
monitor and edit their contributions to the database.
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The site administrator actively recruits individuals to serve as control observers through
several avenues:
* Personal networking within the local birding community.
* Appeals to local conservation groups, such as chapters of the Audubon Society and
the Nature Conservancy.
* Postings to e-mail distribution lists dedicated to birding.
A control observer needs be reasonably experienced at quantifying and identifying birds in
his or her area. He or she must also have enough free time, energy, and commitment to
make frequent visits to an observation site. Ideally, a volunteer should be able to make these
visits during the early morning hours (between sunrise and roughly 9 AM) when migratory
birds are most active. It is also very helpful for a volunteer to be able to recognize birds by
their songs as this is the most rapid way of identifying the presence of a particular species
of bird. (The Cornell ornithological laboratory makes recordings of bird songs that volun-
teers can use for training purposes.)
At present, BirdCast has not established a formal procedure for screening observers or
checking their qualifications, as most control observers are friends or colleagues of the proj-
ect organizers. Some control observers, however, are individuals unknown to BirdCast staff
who have spontaneously approached the project about participating. It is assumed that an
inexperienced birdwatcher would tend to be discouraged by the time commitment required
in making regular observations over a prolonged period, so there is a process of "self-screen-
ing" inherent in signing up volunteers.
Lessons Learned: How frequently should control observers go into the field?
In the experience of BirdCast organizers, control observers should ideally make five visits to a sin-
gle observation site during each week of a data collection period. A typical observation session takes
between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the observer's time constraints and the abundance of birds
at the observation site. This schedule of frequent observations increases the likelihood of "catch-
ing" the migration of different species of birds through an area. The goal is to have the observation
record reflect the variability of the birds' presence or absence at a particular location rather than the
variability of the observer's presence or absence.
In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, spring migration period takes place over a relatively
short period of time: roughly from April 15 to May 15. Fall migration, however, is more difficult to
observe completely because it takes place over a more extended period of time. In the fall of 2000,
BirdCast experienced significant difficulties with volunteer burn-out when it asked control observers
to work from September 1 to November 1. In the future, BirdCast is planning to implement a stag-
gered observation schedule that will keep observers' commitment limited to approximately 1 month.
Volunteers living at higher latitudes will begin and end their observing earlier than will volunteers
living at lower latitudes.
BRDUNDTRUTHINB OBSERVATIONS
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Once the site administrator has identified a new control observer, she briefs him or her
about the standard observation protocols used by the project and issues that person a new
User ID for logging into the site. Also, new control observers need to be shown how to use
BirdSource's interactive map to estimate the latitude and longitude of their observation site.
The interactive map is a software component of the BirdSource Web site in which users
"zoom in" to their observation site by clicking on a map of the United States. Once a user has
selected a particular location, the software calculates that location's latitude and longitude.
Once they have registered and determined the location of their observation site, control
observers use their User ID to access data entry pages on the BirdCast Web site where they
can enter:
* The date and time of their observations.
* Whether or not they recorded every species that they saw.
* The birders' estimation of their own skill at identification.
* The physical environment and weather at the place of observation.
* The numbers and kinds of different birds counted.
* Any additional information not provided elsewhere in the form.
The administrator has ongoing responsibilities for answering any questions the control
observer may have and for editing the data provided by the observer. The purpose of this
editing process is to ensure that the data provided by the control observers is of a high qual-
ity. Editing requires some local birding expertise—one must review the submitted
observations and make judgment calls about whether they are reasonable, questionable, or
obviously erroneous. The administrator flags control observations that appear problematic
and follows up with the observer to resolve her concerns. The following signs, when they
appear repeatedly or in combination with each other, may cast doubt on an observer's
results:
* Species that are extremely rare for the area, particularly in large numbers.
* Species that are extremely rare for a particular time of year (particularly record-set-
ting early sightings of a species).
* The omission of migratory species that are quite common for the particular area
and time.
None of these signs is a certain indication that a set of observations is invalid, but they may
prompt the BirdCast administrator to request additional information from the observer,
such as sketches, notes, photographs, and the names of co-observers. Following is a sample
letter from BirdCast that requests additional information in a non-confrontational manner:
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May 10, 2001
Dear Mr./Ms
I'm interested in learning more about the birds you've reported to our project and the site
from which you're reporting. As you probably know, you've had some extraordinary sight-
ings during the two days for which you've reported. Standard procedure for our BirdSource
projects is that we request verification for unusual reports before the data is entered in the
database.
Several of these would be all time early records for your immediate area and the numbers
you report for some species are unusually large. On the other hand, your report for a species
like Yellow-rumped Warbler is very low.
We are making a great effort to report only species and numbers that were well seen and
absolutely identified. Only sightings of this type will give our project credibility and, in the
long run, benefit bird conservation efforts. With this in mind, would you review your
reports that I have listed below and answer the following questions?
Was the bird well-seen? for how long?
Is this a positive identification? Which of the field marks were observed?
Was the bird photographed? Was it seen by additional observers?
Were notes taken? Sketches made?
American Black Duck - Wild bird? late
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - early
Golden-crowned Kinglet - late
Philadelphia Vireo - 1 unusual, 2 extremely rare
Bay-breasted Warbler - early, 2
Cerulean Warbler - early, 2
Mourning Warbler - early
Yellow-breasted Chat - early, 2
Rusty Blackbird - late, unusual, 10 birds
I would also like to have more information about the site where you observed these species.
Is this land named? Is it public or private?
Thanks very much for providing us with this information and thanks for your patience.
Sally Conyne
Audubon
BRDUNDTRUTHINB OBSERVATIONS
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BirdCast also has a number of proactive strategies for limiting the amount of potentially
unreliable observations that it receives. These strategies include:
* Putting caps on the number of individual birds of a particular species that can be
reported.
* Phrasing data entry questions clearly to avoid misunderstanding.
* Offering assistance in the identification of birds to volunteers.
* Creating area-specific checklists of birds for volunteers to use in data entry. This
prevents the reporting of obviously erroneous reports (e.g., roadrunners in upstate
New York)
Lessons Learned: Data Entry Burdens
One of the lessons that BirdCast organizers learned when they established their volunteer
groundtruthing program was that they needed to minimize the data entry requirements for their vol-
unteers. Some of the first volunteer observers complained that the observation protocols took too
long to key into the computer. BirdCast has reduced the length of its protocol since then to make
volunteers' jobs easier.
5.3.2 COLLECTING ANONYMOUS OBSERVATIONS
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site do not need to register or commit to making a schedule
of repeated observations in order to submit data to the BirdSource database. Any birder vis-
iting the site may submit information as an "anonymous" observer. Strictly speaking, these
observers are not always anonymous because they are encouraged to submit their e-mail
address along with their observations. The term is meant in distinction to the control
observers, who are either known by or referred to the BirdCast staff.
The data entry form used by anonymous observers and the data they submit are very sim-
ilar to those of control observers. There are number of differences, however, between how
control and anonymous observations are handled. Unlike control observations, anonymous
observations do not include information about the latitude and longitude of the observa-
tion site. Instead, observers simply list the postal code of their area. Also, BirdCast does not
(at present) conduct any quality control editing of anonymous observations. BirdCast staff
currently do not have enough time to manually edit the anonymous observations, which
are of somewhat less value than the control observations because they are not made regu-
larly. BirdCast hopes, however, that in the future they will be able to institute
computer-based "filters" that will provide automated quality control of anonymous data.
5.3.3 DISPLAYING GROUNDTRUTHING INFORMATION
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site have two options for displaying observation data. They
may either:
* Select a single observation location. The user then views a table (such as Figure 2 and
Figure 3) of different kinds of birds counted at that single observation location (either
an anonymous observation postal code or a specific control site). The table also lists the
numbers of each kind of bird, and the numbers of reports of each kind of bird. The
user may select whether this table lists results for the entire migration period or for a
specific date.
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Select a single species of bird. The user then views a graph (such as Figure 4 and Figure
5) of how many times that bird was sighted during each day of the migration period.
The graph includes combined information from all the control sites but excludes anony-
mous observations. This is because anonymous observations are not edited for accuracy
and are not likely to be made regularly at any single location.
BirdCast Control Results for:
Dryden Lake, NY Lat: 42.4610113
JAM Dates Combined Long: -76.2766158
Species Name
Pied-billed Grebe
Number of Number of
Birds Seen Reports
6
Great Blue Heron 2
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Osprev
30
6
2
Bonaparte's Gull 10
2
2
2
2
2
2
BirdCast Control Results for:
Chestnut Hill College, PA Lat: 40.0869233
I All Dates Combined Long: -75.2306741
Number of species seen: 6
Fig 2. Single observation location: Dryden Lake, NY.
Species Name
Canada Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Number of
Birds Seen
12
1
6
9
Number of
Reports
1
1
1
1
Number of species seen: 4
Fig 3. Single observation location: Chestnut Hill College, PA.
4/12 4/19 4/26 5/3 5*10 5(17 5/24 5(31
Date 12001)
Fig 4. Single species count: Canada Goose
4/12 4M9 4/26 S3 5/10 5/17 5/24 5/31
Dale (2001)
Fig 5: Single species count: Green Heron
GRDUNDTRUTHINB OBSERVATIONS
25
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Chuck Hetzel
Hannah Suthers
MEET Two BIRDCAST VOLUNTEERS
Chuck Hetzel, one of BirdCast's control observers, doesn't
have to go any farther than his back yard to collect data for
the project. That's because he's fortunate enough to live at
the edge of the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center near
Philadelphia. Mr. Hetzel first heard about BirdCast
through his local bird club—the Cornell Laboratory of
Ornithology was looking for volunteers in his area to host
bioacoustic monitoring stations in their homes. Through
this introduction to Cornell's research program, he became
involved in making regular control observations for
BirdCast. It usually takes him between 1 and 2 hours to
record the birds in his backyard, which he does nearly every
day of the migration period around 7 AM. With more than
50 years of birding experience, he doesn't need to take an
identification guide into the field with him; all he needs is
a notepad or a tape recorder for keeping track of the types
and numbers of birds that he sees (or hears). Mr. Hetzel
enjoys the extra motivation to go birdwatching that
BirdCast provides—in sharing his observations through the
BirdCast database he enjoys an extra feeling of accomplish-
ment and satisfaction about birdwatching.
Hannah Suthers makes her control observations at an aban-
doned 108-acre farm in central New Jersey. The farm,
which has recently been converted into a wildlife sanctuary,
is slowly reverting back to forest. This makes it a fascinat-
ing birding site because the land's habitat is undergoing
continual transformation. Ms. Suthers has more than 50
years of experience as a bird bander and for more than 20
years has been studying how the farm's changing habitat
has affected the population of resident birds in the area.
Now in her retirement, she continues to publish articles
related to avian population biology and trains graduate stu-
dents from nearby Princeton and Rutgers Universities in
bird banding. After a friend referred her to the BirdCast
project, Ms. Suthers started working as a volunteer for it,
tallying migratory birds at the sanctuary. During the
BirdCast observation period, she aims to be in the field on
a daily basis, tallying birds by sight and sound. She carries
a small notebook with her and jots down her tally in alpha
codes. A counting session can take anywhere between 1.5 to
4 hours, depending on the time of season and how many
different species are present. It can be tiring getting up so
early in the morning on a regular basis, she admits. Though
she does not need to go out as frequently to spot-map the
singing males on their breeding territory, she feels that to
get an accurate picture of migratory movements one needs
to go into the field daily. One of the most pleasant aspects
of the work is the opportunity to greet all her "old friends"
as they fly through her area each migration season.
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EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
This chapter provides guidance on setting up and maintaining an education and out-
reach component of a bird migration monitoring program. Section 6.1 provides tips
on developing an outreach plan for your program, with a focus on defining goals, key
messages, and target audiences. Section 6.2 describes a variety of outreach tools that can be
used, and provides examples of outreach materials developed by the BirdCast project.
Section 6.3 describes the challenge of evaluating the success of your education and outreach
program, and Section 6.4 lists some additional sources of information for education and
outreach.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers who are implementing
bird migration monitoring programs, as well as for education and outreach workers who are
responsible for communicating about these programs.
S.I DEVELOPING AN DUTREACH PLAN
BirdCast represents a milestone for radar ornithology, a field that has evolved slowly for
more than 30 years, advanced by a handful of scientists working mostly in isolation.
BirdCast's breakthrough is that it is the first program to bridge the gap between these sci-
entists, collecting and interpreting radar images in their labs using highly specialized
technologies and techniques, and the general public. The founders of BirdCast also recog-
nized that "a picture is worth a thousand words"— a live visual image, such as a radar image
of birds migrating, or digital photos or videos from groundtruthers, would more likely stim-
ulate action than just a verbal description of migration.
Communication is at the heart of the BirdCast mission: to provide the public with timely
information on the status of bird migrations, and to educate land managers and the broader
public about actions they can take to assist birds during their migration and reduce the
number of birds that die while passing through. An effective education and outreach pro-
gram, therefore, is key to the project's success.
BirdCast's education and outreach program is run primarily by the National Audubon
Society. Staff from Audubon's Citizen Science Program work together with Audubon's pub-
lic relations department to create educational materials, write and distribute press releases,
develop and deliver presentations, and conduct direct outreach to land managers. Other
BirdCast partners (including staff from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA Region 3,
Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson University's Radar
Ornithology Laboratory) contribute to the outreach effort as well, mostly by delivering pre-
sentations. In addition, Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences, a founding partner of
BirdCast, developed many of the project's original outreach materials.
The first step to creating an effective education and outreach program of your own is to
develop an outreach plan. This plan will provide a blueprint for action. It does not have to
be lengthy or complicated, but it should define four things: What are your outreach goals?
Who are the target audiences? What are the key messages and types of information that you
want to deliver? And what outreach tools will you use to reach these audiences? Let's look
at each of these questions in turn.
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH zv
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S.I.I WHAT ARE YOUR OUTREACH GOALS?
Defining your outreach goals is the first step in developing an education and outreach plan.
Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented statements about what you hope to
accomplish through outreach. Here are some sample goal statements that a BirdCast-type
program might develop for its outreach effort:
* Convince all local television stations in the region to give a brief report on bird
migration after the weather forecast, or to run at least one report on bird migration
per migratory season.
* Place a story on bird migration in the major newspaper of each state in the region.
* Deliver a presentation to each bird club or Audubon chapter in the region.
* Conduct direct outreach (e.g., via letter or phone call) to the managers of all public
parks in your region.
* Attract 100,000 visitors per year to your Web site.
Where possible, outreach goals should be measureable. This will help you when it comes
time to evaluate the success of your program (see Section 6.3). Abstract statements of good
intention (e.g., "increase the public's appreciation of the wonders of bird migration") do
not make effective outreach goals, even if such statements accurately describe one of your
main motivations for starting a BirdCast-type program.
S.I.2 WHO ARE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCES?
The second step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target audience or
audiences for your outreach effort. As illustrated in the sample goals above, outreach goals
often define their target audiences. You might want to refine and add to your goals after
you have specifically considered which audiences you want to reach.
The target audience for the BirdCast project is broadly defined as land managers and the
general public. Yet within these groups there are a number of sub-audiences, each with spe-
cialized interests. For example, among the general public there are (according to a 1998
report of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) roughly 55 million people who consider them-
selves bird enthusiasts, and within that number there is a smaller pool of deeply committed
birders. Your goals for conducting outreach to these committed birders may be different
than your goals for the general public. Likewise, the category of "land managers" includes
park managers, city officials, utility land managers, building managers, golf course man-
agers, and others. Here again, you will want to tailor your message for the specific audience.
Before you can begin tailoring messages for your different audiences, however, you will
need to develop a profile of their situations, interests, and concerns. This profile will help
you identify the most effective ways of reaching the audience. For each target audience,
consider:
* What is their current level of knowledge about bird migration and birds in general?
* What do you want them to know about birds and migration? What actions would
you like them to take?
* What information is likely to be of greatest interest to the audience? What informa-
tion will they likely want to know once they develop some awareness of bird
migration issues?
* How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the information?
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* 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 mem-
bers of the audience, consulting with colleagues who have successfully developed other
outreach products for the audience, and using your imagination.
S. 1 .3
WHAT ARE THE KEY MESSAGES AND TYPES
OF INFORMATION THAT You WANT TO DELIVER?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In particular
at this stage, 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. For example:
* Populations of migratory birds are declining and vulnerable.
* The BirdCast Web site provides you with real-time information about the status of
bird migrations.
* You can take steps to help protect migrating birds.
Outreach products often will have multiple related messages. Consider what messages you
want to deliver to each target audience group, and in what level of detail. As stated above,
you will want to tailor different messages for different audiences.
Let's look at how this can be done. For instance, let's say that you are writing a press release
for distribution to newspapers and other general interest publications. Your audience, the
average reader of these publications, has relatively little interest in birds. What should be
the focus of your press release? Probably you will want to concentrate on a few simple mes-
sages: that bird migration is a fascinating and magnificent phenomena; that populations of
migratory birds are declining and vulnerable; and that individuals can help protect migra-
tory birds through simple steps such as keeping cats indoors, providing food and water, and
avoiding pesticide use during the peak of migration (you would probably time your release
for distribution just prior to peak migration).
On the other hand, if you were composing a press release for placement in bird club
newsletters, you would probably spend less time preaching the wonders of migration (after
all, here you would be preaching to the converted) and more time addressing complex
issues of special interest to birders: how the technical aspects of radar ornithology work,
how birders can attract birds to residential yards by creating a landscape of native plants,
how to choose pesticides that cause less ecological harm. Your press release could also pro-
vide detailed information on how birders can participate as citizen scientists in BirdCast's
groundtruthing efforts. (See Appendix A, pages 49 to 50, for an example of a press release
for bird club newsletter.) Alternatively, you could choose to deliver all of this information
through a presentation at a bird club meeting.
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH
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Tall, brightly lit buildings threaten migratory birds by
disrupting their ability to navigate.
Here's another scenario: Let's say you are target-
ing the managers of a number of large buildings
in a downtown area. In this case, your message
might be very focused and simple: that tall,
brighdy lit buildings threaten migratory birds
by disrupting their ability to navigate, and that
building managers can prevent bird deaths by
turning off lights during peak migrations. But
the real challenge here would be reaching these
building managers with your message. Could
you issue a press release or media advisory?
Possibly, but even if the local newspapers picked
up the story, there's no guarantee that the target
audience would read it. No, in this case, the
only way to ensure that your message reaches the target is to contact the building managers
directly through a letter or phone call. In fact, you might have to follow up with repeated let-
ters or phone calls. This type of direct outreach is time-consuming and can be a drain on
resources, but in some circumstances it is absolutely necessary.
6.1.4 WHAT OUTREACH TOOLS WILL You USE?
As the above examples illustrate, one of the challenges of conducting outreach and educa-
tion, besides tailoring your message for the intended audience, is choosing the best outreach
tool or approach for delivering your message. There are many different types of outreach
products in print, audiovisual, electronic, and event formats (outreach tools used by the
BirdCast project are described in the next section). It's up to you to select the most appro-
priate products to meet your goals within your resource and time constraints. Questions to
consider when selecting products include:
* How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does
your audience need to know now? The simplest, most effective, 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 development?
* What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing products?
* 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, a
first phase of products could be designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date
by a second phase of products to encourage changes in behavior.
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CHAPTER 6
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* How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value may be
rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
The key here is to make good use of the resources available to you. In the best of all worlds,
you would have the time and budget to personally contact every land manager in your
region and to craft customized press releases for every type of publication and every audi-
ence. But it is unlikely that you will have the resources to do everything you'd like to do.
The goal, then, is to pick your spots wisely. Reach as many people as you can, but also focus
on those audiences that are most receptive to your message. If you have only limited time
for direct outreach, concentrate on land managers who control critical habitat.
6.2
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH TOOLS
This section describes a variety of outreach tools used by the BirdCast project. Examples of
specific outreach materials developed by BirdCast can be found in Appendix A.
6.2.1 BIRDCAST WEB SITE
In addition to hosting radar images, daily migration forecasts, and groundtruthing data,
the BirdCast Web site (http://www.BirdCast.org) also contains an array of outreach and edu-
cational information designed to assist the public in the protection of migrating birds.
Major educational pieces on the site include:
* Guidance on appropriate timing and application of pesticides to minimize birds'
exposure.
* Tips on preventing bird deaths caused by collisions with household windows.
* Advice on controlling domestic cats to prevent predation on migratory birds.
* Information on how tall buildings and radio towers can disorient birds, causing them
to crash or drop from exhaustion.
* Tips on bird feeding and watering, and on providing habitat for migratory birds dur-
ing stopovers.
Many of these educational pieces are provided in hard copy in Appendix A of this hand-
book. Others can be found online (go to http://www.birdcast.org/ucanhelp.html). If you are
developing a BirdCast-type program of your own, you can use these pieces as a model to
stimulate ideas for your own outreach language. If you are a member of the public inter-
ested in birds and migration, you can read these materials to learn about steps that you can
take to protects migrants.
One of BirdCast's mottos is: "Engage, educate, activate." The BirdCast Web site is a key
tool for accomplishing each of these goals. The site is designed to be both attractive and
interactive. The homepage, for example, features a colorful poster by Charley Harper, enti-
tled "Mystery of the Missing Migrants," along with a species key to help visitors identify
the birds depicted in the poster. Any birder visiting the site is welcome to submit data on
his or her bird observations (see Section 5.3.2, Collecting Anonymous Observations), and
visitors can also search the database of groundtruthing observations to view tables and sum-
mary graphs. In addition, throughout the site there are numerous links that visitors can
follow to gather additional information and access other resources.
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH
3 1
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The goal of all this interactivity is to engage visitors, interest them in the plight of migra-
tory birds, and give them a chance to participate in protecting and researching the lives of
migrants. The outreach materials are there to educate them. The site also features several
text pieces on the aesthetic and economic values of migrating birds, along with the beauti-
fully written preface to Scott Weidensaul's book, Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere
with Migratory Birds, which BirdCast was able to use with the permission of the author.
6.2.2 POSTERS AND OTHER PRINT MATERIALS
Because BirdCast is a Web-based project, it has developed relatively few educational and
outreach materials for distribution in hard copy. When the project was first launched, a
press packet was created for distribution to reporters and other media outlets, containing
news clippings and other outreach materials. But this is no longer in use.
The main item that BirdCast partners distribute in hard-copy format is a poster entitled
"Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," which was developed by the National
Audubon Society. The poster lists actions that home owners can take to limit pesticide use
and create healthy habitats for birds and wildlife. It also includes a guide to home pesti-
cides, with information on chemicals, their uses, their toxicity to wildlife, and alternatives
to the chemicals. Altogether, over 1 million copies of the poster have been distributed
through Audubon chapter offices, bird-oriented stores, parks departments, and other
groups.
To request copies of the poster, e-mail healthyhabitats@audubon.org. A version of the
poster can also be found online at:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs%20boxes.htmL
Lessons Learned: Conducting Outreach Via Television Stations
When BirdCast was first launched, one of the original goals was to encourage television coverage
of bird migrations. BirdCast's founders envisioned that there would come a day when weather fore-
casters would routinely include migration updates as part of their nightly reports. But that day has
unfortunately not yet arrived.
As part of its education and outreach program, BirdCast has made a concerted effort to conduct
outreach to newscasters and weather forecasters. The idea has been to combine radar images with
photographs and educational information on protecting migrants, creating a package that will
appeal to television stations. But so far the results have been discouraging. Though several stations
have produced short news pieces on BirdCast, the general response has been that the BirdCast out-
reach materials are inappropriate for television in that they lack visual appeal. Newscasters have
stated that the radar images are too esoteric and difficult to interpret.
In the future, the BirdCast project will continue to look for creative ways to package its outreach
materials for television. The Illinois Natural History Survey, another organization that has succeeded
at getting a local television station to make use of NEXRAD images of bird migration, has some
ideas for getting television stations interested. The Survey suggested pointing out to television
weather forecasters that significant bird migration usually coincides with "meteorologically boring
periods" when they might lack weather-related material to discuss. The Survey also suggested
developing simplified visual displays that convey basic information (e.g., presence/absence of
birds, relative abundance of birds, general direction of bird movement) in a manner that parallels
the other displays on the weather forecast.
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6.2.3 PRESS RELEASES
Press releases are a key tool in BirdCast's education and outreach efforts. Writing a single
press release and distributing it to dozens of publications simultaneously is a cost-effective
way of reaching a large and varied audience.
The National Audubon Society's public relations department leads BirdCast's efforts to
conduct outreach through the media. A PR department is an ideal choice for this job for
two reasons: 1) PR staff have the writing, editing, and outreach skills needed for devel-
oping stories that will appeal to various news outlets, and 2) PR staff already have
contacts and working relationships with individual journalists, editors, and newscasters.
An experienced PR worker knows how to work with people in the media, feeding them
the information they need to get stories into print and on the air.
For BirdCast, the Audubon PR staff have done several rounds of outreach to the media,
each timed to coincide with a major migration (spring or fall). Their technique, which
has produced excellent results so far, has been to write a single, in-depth press release and
distribute it to a list of roughly 500 reporters whom Audubon has worked with in the
past. (Examples of these press releases can be found on pages 45 to 48.) In some cases,
Audubon staff precede the press release with a phone call or e-mail to the reporter, meant
to kindle interest in the story. In other cases, Audubon sends the press release first, then
follows up with an e-mail or phone call.
Once a reporter has expressed interest in BirdCast, the PR staff work with him or her as
necessary to get the story into print. Some reporters (maybe half) request additional
interviews with BirdCast partners or want help identifying a local angle for the story (for
example, a reporter from a small city newspaper may want to interview members of a
local bird club). Other reporters will develop a story using little more than the informa-
tion and quotes found in the press release and other materials found online.
This type of personal contact with members of the press is crucial, as is the strategy of tar-
geting individual reporters or newscasters. The odds of placing a story fall drastically if you
just send a press release to a news desk or editorial department, since most publications
are inundated with dozens (if not hundreds) of press releases daily. Audubon's PR staff
always send press releases directly to a particular reporter, and virtually every story they've
placed has been written by a reporter whom Audubon had worked with in the past.
What if you don't have a contact at a particular publication? One thing you can do is to
read some back issues of the publication, looking for a reporter who has demonstrated
some interest in topics related to your project. If the publication is a daily newspaper, it
will likely have a beat reporter who focuses primarily on science and/or the environment.
Outdoors writers often have an interest in bird migration, especially if their columns
cover hunting and waterfowl migration. BirdCast has placed several stories with garden-
ing columnists, and numerous technology reporters have also written about the project,
focusing on the BirdCast Web site or on the project's use of advanced radar technology.
Once you have targeted a particular reporter, write him or her a personal e-mail or call
directly. Pitch the story, keeping your presentation short and to the point. Ask the
reporter if he or she would be interested in reading your press release (or, better yet, sim-
ply attach the release to an e-mail as an electronic file). Also, it never hurts to
demonstrate that you are familiar with a reporter's work by complimenting or mention-
ing some article that he or she wrote in the past.
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH
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How many publications or news outlets should you target? The simple answer is, as many as
possible. However, there are different ways to use the resources available to you. One
approach would be to identify a limited number of publications that you view as critical, and
then to spend extra time and resources doing everything you can to place a story with them
(this might involve customizing your press release or following up repeatedly with a reporter).
If you don't have existing contacts with the news outlets in your area, this type of intensive,
focused effort might be necessary.
Audubon's PR staff have taken the approach of writing one major press release for each migra-
tory season (spring and fall) and distributing it to hundreds of media oudets throughout the
mid-Atlantic flyway, from New York to Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area. Audubon's
staff spend virtually no time customizing press releases for particular publications, though
they have issued press releases for particular occasions. For example, in September 2000,
Audubon issued a spur-of-the-moment press release urging health officials not to spray for
West Nile Virus on a weekend when BirdCast was predicting that a large wave of migratory
birds would pass through the area. (See pages 47 to 48 for a copy of this release.)
Audubon's primary goal each migratory season has been to place a story in the major paper
of each state in the region, with the idea that smaller papers will pick up the story after see-
ing it in a major paper (this has turned out to be true). The results of this PR effort have been
excellent. More than 100 articles on BirdCast appeared in spring 2000, including prominent
articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and
other major publications. Articles also appeared in virtually every Audubon chapter and inde-
pendent bird club newsletter from northern Virginia to southern New York. Additionally,
BirdCast was the subject of stories in Scientific American and National Audubon magazines,
and the project was also featured on National Public Radio.
Lessons Learned: Dealing with the Redundancy Issue
Audubon's PR staff have found that one of the main challenges associated with conducting BirdCast
outreach through the media is the issue of redundancy. Birds migrate through the mid-Atlantic fly-
way twice each year, in spring and fall. Ideally, BirdCast would like to have the media cover both
migrations, every year. However, once a publication has covered the story once or twice, reporters
and editors no longer consider it newsworthy.
Audubon's PR staff constantly search for creative ways to work around this problem. One strategy
is to look for a "news peg" or tie-in, some newsworthy happening that can provide the basis for an
article. For example, you might craft a press release about International Migratory Bird Day (an
annual event set on the second Saturday in May), and slip in some information about your program
within the body of the text. Audubon staff used a similar approach when they sent copies of the
poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," to all of the reporters in their database;
the idea was to generate articles about the effects of pesticides on migrating birds and other wildlife,
with BirdCast as a subtext.
The key point here is that your program doesn't have to be the main focus of every press release
you send out. Look again at the press release on pages 47 to 48. The main message of this release
was an urgent recommendation that health officials not spray for West Nile Virus on a weekend of
intensive bird migration. Yet the press release also managed to provide a thorough description of
the BirdCast project, and it also touched on a number of other important messages: the decline in
numbers of migrating birds; their vulnerability to pesticides and other man-made threats; and steps
individuals can take to protect migrants.
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Large areas of open or undeveloped land, such as city parks,
provide important habitat for migrating birds.
6.2.4 DIRECT OUTREACH TO LAND MANAGERS,
BUILDING MANAGERS, AND OTHERS
Property managers (including park managers, city officials, utility land managers, building
managers, golf course managers, and others) are a key target for BirdCast's outreach and
education efforts. Many property managers, especially in urban areas, control large chunks
of open or undeveloped land that pro-
vide important habitat for migrating
birds. These managers can help protect
migrants by avoiding pesticide applica-
tions during migratory stopovers and
by considering the birds' needs when
making other management decisions.
BirdCast relies on direct communica-
tion when conducting outreach to
property managers. This typically
involves calling or writing property
managers a few times a year to update
them on the status of bird migrations
and to remind them of the need for
environmentally responsible manage-
ment practices. In general, BirdCast
has found direct outreach to be a relatively time-consuming process (especially in compar-
ison to outreach through the media, where a much larger audience can be reached with a
single press release). In the future, the project may attempt to make more use of volunteers
in its direct outreach efforts.
Following are a few examples of effective direct outreach, taken from the work of BirdCast
and other groups:
* In Philadelphia, BirdCast has worked closely with the Fairmount Park Commission
to encourage environmentally responsible land management and to raise awareness
of the plight of migrating birds. The Commission oversees a system of parks, golf
courses, and baseball fields in the city, and works with other land and utilities man-
agers in the Philadelphia area. BirdCast wrote to alert the Commission about the
value of the parks' habitat to migrating birds and the timing of migration. BirdCast
provided copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," for
the commission to distribute, and provided all facility managers under their juris-
diction with guidance on environmentally responsible pesticide application (e.g.,
how to alter the use of specific chemicals and minimize the impacts on migrants).
* The City of Chicago and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have signed an innova-
tive "Treaty for Birds," which features an effort by downtown building owners to
turn off their lights during migration periods. Members of the mayor's Wildlife and
Nature Committee worked with Chicago's Building Owners and Managers
Association to spread the word to owners of downtown skyscrapers. Members of the
Bird Conservation Network assembled the information needed to convince building
owners that this action was warranted, and helped to identify buildings that were
known for their high bird mortality.
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH
35
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«• In the Chicago area, a partnership of researchers, government scientists, city officials,
and conservationists is proposing to use radar ornithology to identify key stopover
habitat for migrating birds. The partners will then use direct outreach to educate
land managers about the habitat needs of migrating birds, and to ask them to take
steps to protect and enhance bird habitat (e.g., by controlling the spread of buck-
thorn, an invasive plant that impacts biodiversity).
6.2.5 PRESENTATIONS
BirdCast partners regularly deliver presentations on the project to school groups, bird
clubs, American Birding Association meetings, Audubon chapters, and other groups. The
partners have developed several PowerPoint presentations for this purpose. These include:
* An overview of the project.
* A more detailed presentation on how BirdCast integrates multiple monitoring tech-
niques (radar, groundtruthing, acoustic monitoring) to achieve a unified analysis of
bird migration.
* A presentation focusing on the radar ornithology component.
All of these presentations make use of screen captures from the BirdCast Web site, sample
radar images, and graphs from the groundtruthing database to give the audience a genuine
feel for how BirdCast works.
6.2.6 LISTSERVS
A ListServ is an automated system that automatically redistributes e-mail to names on a
mailing list. Users can subscribe to a mailing list by sending an e-mail note to a mailing list
they learn about; the ListServ will automatically add the name and distribute future e-mail
postings to every subscriber.
There are numerous bird-oriented ListServs around the country. Some of these have a regional
focus, and are used by birders to compare field notes and share notable sightings. Others are
devoted to bird conservation, activism, and other topics of general interest. For an index of
ListServs administered by the National Audubon Society, go to http://list.audubon.org/archives/.
The American Birding Association also maintains a state-by-state list of birding ListServs,
available at http://www. americanbirding. org/resources/reschat. htm.
BirdCast's education and outreach program utilizes ListServs as a medium for distributing
information about the program, such as press releases and announcements. ListServs make
an ideal tool for targeting an audience of committed birders. They are also cost effective,
since there is no charge for subscribing to (or posting messages on) most ListServs.
BirdCast has also occasionally used ListServs as a tool for recruiting birders for the project's
groundtruthing efforts. By monitoring the discussions at particular regional ListServs,
BirdCast staff have been able to identify birders who are both committed and skilled and
then contact them directly via e-mail. For more information on recruiting birders for
groundtruthing, see Section 5.3.1.
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G.3 EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF DUTREACH EFFORTS
BirdCast has found no easy or cost-effective way of measuring the success of its education
and outreach program. Since the ultimate goal of the program is to encourage behavior
changes (e.g., changes in the way people use pesticides), the only true measure of success
would be to document behavior changes on a large scale. Doing this is beyond the scope
and means of the project.
Due to these limitations, BirdCast's partners have been forced to rely on other indicators
as a measure of the program's effectiveness. For example:
* Between September 1 and October 21, 2000, the BirdCast Web site received
1,867,163 "hits" and 147,423 visitors. These numbers show, among other things,
that many people are returning to the site multiple times.
* In the spring of 2001, roughly 100 to 150 people per week were submitting
"anonymous" bird observations to the BirdCast database. (See Section 5.3.2 for more
information on collecting anonymous observations.)
* More than 100 articles on BirdCast appeared in the spring of 2000, including
prominent articles in major publications such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York
Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday. The combined readership of these pub-
lications is in the many millions.
If nothing else, these numbers indicate that BirdCast has reached thousands (if not mil-
lions) of people, raising their awareness about the plight of migratory birds and things they
can do to help. The numbers also seem to show that thousands of people are engaged in
the project and are participating on some level (for example, by returning to the BirdCast
Web site repeatedly, or by submitting their own bird observations). Overall, it appears that
BirdCast is succeeding in its mission: to engage, to educate, and to activate.
S.4 FOR MORE INFORMATION
The BirdCast Web site: http://www. birdcast. orgl
To access BirdCast's educational pieces online, go to: http://www.birdcast.org/ucanhelp.html
Scott Weidensaul's Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds
(Northpoint Press, 1999) has been called "a nimble summation of current thinking on bird
migration and attendant environmental themes" (Kirkus Reviews).
To request copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond", devel-
oped by the National Audubon Society, e-mail healthyhabitats@audubon.org. A version
of the poster can also be found online at:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs%20boxes.html
For an index of birding ListServs administered by the National Audubon Society, go to
http://list. audubon. orgl archives
The American Birding Association maintains a state-by-state list of birding ListServs, avail-
able at http://www.americanbirding.org/resources/reschat.htm
EDUCATION AND DUTREACH
37
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CHAPTER 6
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APPEN DIX A
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND
DUTREACH MATERIALS
PESTICIDES: Is YOUR BACKYARD SAFE FOR BIRDS?
Our lawns and gardens are like other environments. Plants, insects and other animals all
interact and affect one another. Altering a part of that system can have unintended effects
on other components of it. This is an important thing to keep in mind when considering
whether or not to apply pesticides around the home. Pesticides are not only lethal to pests,
but to other wildlife as well. Here are three important rules to consider before applying any
pesticides:
1. Make sure you actually have a pest problem. Learn to identify pests and to determine
at what stage they actually become a problem. Many times people treat for pests that are
either not present, or not present in large enough numbers to cause problems.
2. Know your pesticides. Read the labels on your pesticides CAREFULLY. Learn to iden-
tify what active ingredients are contained in the product. Read about the potential effects
these pesticides can have on the other organisms in your yard and community.
3. Check for alternative treatments. Make it a priority to use the least toxic method to
control any pests or diseases. Many simple, non-toxic solutions are as easy to employ and
as effective as chemical solutions. Contact your local garden center and Cooperative
Extension for advice.
Making your garden or lawn more community friendly isn't difficult and may actually save
you time and money. Plus a little bit of education and a few changes around your home
can have a lasting effect on migratory bird populations and other wildlife.
To learn more about the pesticides commonly used around the home, refer to Audubon's
pesticide summary at http://birdsource.cornell.edu/birdcast/pestsum.html.
Other useful pesticide web sites:
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
The National Pesticides Telecommunication Network:
http://ace. orst. edu/info/nptn/index. html
Toxicology and Environmental Health Information: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/tehip.htm
Look up all the registered pesticide products containing certain active ingredients:
http://www. cdpr. ca.gov/docs/epa/epachem. htm
The American Bird Conservancy's Pesticide Pages:
http://www. abcbirds. org/pesticideindex. htm
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS
39
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WINDOWS: AN INVISIBLE THREAT TO MIGRATING BIRDS
Fact: Every year millions of birds die when they crash into windows in homes, schools, sky-
scrapers, factories, office buildings, and other sites.
Why: The transparent quality of windows makes them virtually invisible to birds, often
until it is too late to stop short. It is difficult for a bird in flight to distinguish between glass
and open space. It may see reflected vegetation in the window, but not the glass itself.
What You Can Do: There are different steps you can take in your home to prevent need-
less bird deaths caused by invisible windows.
* Move your bird feeder. Make sure your bird feeder is either a minimum of 3 meters
away from windows, or less than 1 meter away. Birds may still fly into the window
if you move the feeder closer, but they will not have enough momentum to injure
themselves.
* Reduce transparency and reflectivity. Change the angle or surface of the window
to lessen the transparency and reflectivity. Cover the window's external surface with
a film, change the lighting, and keep all curtains closed or add external blinds.
* Mark the window. You can etch the surface of the glass or streak it with a bar of
soap. Hang strips of newspaper or ribbons, place strips of masking tape on the win-
dow. (These are more temporary measures in case there is a severe problem.
However, most of these solutions are inconvenient or unsightly.)
* Apply netting. Perhaps the best and most permanent solution is to stretch netting
across the windows. Fine black netting that is used to protect berry bushes and fruit
trees is available at many garden shops, home centers, and feed mills. Stretch the net-
ting across the window or across a frame that can be installed outside the window.
Be sure it is stretched with adequate tension to hold it several inches from the win-
dow's surface. Birds may continue to fly towards the window, but they will bounce
off the mesh unhurt.
* Hang hawk silhouettes. Attach hawk silhouettes to the window's surface. These
shapes probably decrease collisions because they break up the smooth reflective sur-
face and make the glass more "visible" rather than because they are shaped like
hawks; but, in any case, they seem to help. The silhouettes are most effective if used
in multiples. It is helpful also to attach the silhouettes by a suction cup or a hanging
device from the outside so that movement caused by wind will catch the birds' atten-
tion. Most people think that the graceful shapes are interesting rather than unsightly.
They're available commercially but they're also easy to make. (See the below instruc-
tions.)
4D
APPENDIX A
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Materials:
* black, light-weight plastic
* clear, outdoor tape
* scissors
* a template or model of the shape (approximately 8 inches from bill to tail and 12
inches from wing tip to wing tip)—go to
http://birdsource. Cornell, edu/birdcast/images/hawk.giffa print-ready template
Simply trace or carefully draw the shape on the plastic, cut out the silhouette, and tape it
to the outside of the window. Be sure to place several on any large expanse of glass. One
word of caution: you should check with the manufacturers of thermopane windows before
you place anything on the glass surface. If this presents a problem, hang the silhouette from
the sash around the window. ^g^^
Not only can you make your house safer for birds, but by making several silhouettes and
giving them as gifts to friends, neighbors, and even that office building with the big glass
windows down the street, you can also encourage others to make their houses bird-safe.
Other Usefal Window Web Sites:
National Audubon Society: http://www.audubon.org/educate/expert/window.html
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS 41
-------
DOMESTIC CATs: A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Fact: Every year hundreds of thousands of birds are killed in the United States by free-
roaming domestic cats.
Why: Cats are natural hunters. Even your cute house pet is innately a predator. But while
hunting is an instinctual behavior, cats are not a natural link in local food chains. Cats were
introduced to North America by humans towards the end of the 19th century as a method
of pest control. Since then feline populations have exploded out of control. Their preda-
tory activities are an unnatural burden on birds. Keeping your cat well fed does not deter
it from attacking birds; hunting birds is a natural behavior unrelated to a cat's hunger. You
may not see your cat in action, but if you routinely let it outside it is likely to be killing up
to 10 birds every year. With nearly 60 million pet cats in America today, that is a signifi-
cant number of bird kills. Combined with many other threats birds face, this adds
significantly to their struggle to survive. When you allow your cat to roam free outside, you
are risking the lives of countless birds. You are also risking the life of your cat; those that
are kept indoors live happier, healthier, and longer lives.
What You Can Do: A cat is only responding to a natural instinct. Ultimately you are
responsible for your cat and its behavior.
* Keep your cat indoors, especially during the peak migratory seasons in fall and
spring.
* Put an alarm collar on your cat. Many collars exist which will hamper the cats' stalk
and attack. These collars will not harm the cat, but will give an unsuspecting bird
ample warning to escape before a cat strikes. Bells alone will not stop a cat from
attacking.
* Spay your cat. Make sure you spay or neuter your cat to help keep the cat popula-
tion in check.
* Help stray cats. In addition to house pets, there are millions of stray cats in the
United States, all a potential threat to native wildlife. You can take in some of these
cats or call a local animal shelter.
* Keep birdfeeders out of reach. Make sure the birdfeeder in your yard is not cat acces-
sible. Keep it high and away from windows and vegetation.
* Join the Indoor Cat Campaign. Encourage others to keep their cats indoors.
Check out the American Bird Conservancy "Cats Indoors" at
http:llwww. abcbirds. orglcatindoo. htm
Other Useful Web Sites:
American Bird Conservancy: http://www.abcbirds.org
May 13, 2000 is National "Keep Your Cat Indoors" Day
APPENDIX A
-------
MAN-MADE OBSTACLES POSE PROBLEMS
FOR MIGRATING BIRDS
Fact: Millions of birds die every year in building collisions.
Why: Tall buildings and their lights pose a serious threat to migrating birds. The feat of
migration is already a dangerous one with the natural hazards due to weather, predators,
and food scarcity. Birds are exhausted and hungry and yet humans have created tall obsta-
cles to complicate an already difficult journey.
Birds use a variety of different cues to navigate their migration route, including the pattern
of the stars, topographic features, earth's magnetic fields, and the location of the setting
sun. If any of these cues are disrupted or unclear, for example during cloudy weather, the
birds will have difficulty staying on their path. The lights of tall buildings and radio tow-
ers only contribute to this confusion. The lights will often overwhelm natural cues and
disorient the birds. These confused birds will then circle the lighted structures, not because
they are attracted to the light, but because they are following an erroneous and obscure cue.
Blinking lights, which often adorn radio towers, and bad weather only further contribute
to the problem. Eventually many of these birds will collide with the building, with each
other, or will drop from exhaustion.
This problem is increasing as more and more highrise buildings are constructed. The now
popular glass skyscrapers, found brilliantly lit at night, are augmenting the dangers.
Not all birds die from the collisions. Some will only be stunned with minor injuries, but
often these dazed birds will fall prey to predators, cats and other birds, lurking on city streets.
Many will panic upon finding themselves in the midst of a busy, morning, urban setting.
Another related danger to nightflying migrants are the broadcast radio towers which may
stand 200-2000 feet into the night sky. There are around 75,000 towers currently built in
the United States and with the current progress of Internet and satellite technology another
5000 to be added every year. Each of these towers may kill hundreds to thousands of birds
in a single migratory season. Add lights and bad weather to the scenario and the death rate
grows even higher.
What You Can Do:
* Turn off all lights during the peak migration seasons in fall and spring.
* Write letters to the owners of tall skyscrapers requesting that lights be turned off at
night during peak migration periods.
* If you find a stunned bird, carefully place it upright inside a brown paper bag and
transport it to a safe area where it can recover before resuming its journey.
Other Useful Web Sites:
Fatal Light Awareness Program: http://www.flap.org
Towerkills: http://www.towerkill.com
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS
-------
NATIVE PLANTS AND BIODIVERSITY
We have peppered our continent with new houses, sidewalks, lawns, and regimented land-
scapes that are relatively devoid of seedpods, berries or other natural food sources. Imagine
a different type of "yarden": birds chirping, butterflies flitting, bees busily transporting
pollen, and wildlife drinking and bathing in the rainwater you collected in your yarden.
You can create this scene, and in so doing, you'll find that you'll have to replace plants less
often and use less pesticide, time, money, and water.
To begin the transformation from traditional landscape to nativescape:
* Identify your existing plants, then explore forests and other natural areas to examine
differences. Never remove plants from the wild.
* For a gradual transition, retain high maintenance areas close to the house while
establishing a natural garden toward the edges and back of your property.
* Consider neighboring property. Cooperate with your neighbors and extend existing
plantings to create larger joint habitat.
* Reduce lawn by breaking it up with curved borders around gardens, trees, shrubs and
groundcovers to create an "edge effect."
* Select native plants to attract birds through all seasons and allow space for natural
growth patterns (less pruning).
* Consider tall native grasses (quail and other grassland species are declining), flower-
ing annuals and perennials, and shrubs for shelter and food.
* Consider removal of overgrown, unattractive plants that offer little wildlife value.
* Add to your plan a little at a time. Enjoy a work in progress while reducing the area
of lawn.
* Plant more than one of a plant, as larger patches are more visible to birds. Plant them
in an irregular pattern so that it looks more natural.
AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS. Birds eat the treated insects and berries.
Remember, numerous plant species attract a greater variety of birds and other wildlife.
Check links below to find out more and where you can find native plants.
Learn more about how to reduce the use of pesticides, find alternatives, and create a healthy
backyard by region
* Pesticide and garden tips: Ten Commandments for a Healthy Yard:
http://www. audubon. org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs %20boxes. html
«• The Environmental Protection Agency's Biopesticides site:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
44
APPENDIX A
-------
* Backyard Conservation: 1-888-LANDCARE,
http://www. nhq. nrcs. usda.gov/CCS/Backyard. html
* Native plants and gardening links: http://plants. usda.gov/plants/links. html
*• Native plant societies by region: http://www.nanps.org/associations/frame.shtml
«• Green Landscaping with Native Plants: http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/
«• Audubon Habitat Collection from Monrovia: 1-888-PLANT IT
Further Reading:
The Bird Garden by Steve Kress
Bird Gardening Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes
The Chemical Free Lawn by Warren Schultz
Going Native by Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Landscaping for Wildlife by Carrol L. Henderson
Redesigning the American Lawn -A Search for Environmental Harmony by Bormann,
Balmori & Geballe
For additional information contact:
Director, Pesticide Initiative & Healthy Habitats
National Audubon Society
HealthyYards@Audubon.org
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS 45
-------
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LEND A HAND TO BIRDS THIS FALL
Award-Winning Web Site Combines Technology and Bird Science
to Help Birds Get Home Safely
New York, NY August 28, 2000 - This fall, migratory birds will face a number of life
threatening challenges in their journey south. In addition to predators, difficult weather,
and long distances, birds this year must contend with man made threats including poten-
tial poisoning from the pesticides employed to combat the West Nile Virus. With the help
of citizen scientists and state-of-the-art forecasting technology, birds migrating through the
Mid-Atlantic may get a break.
"Using the most advanced migration monitoring techniques, in combination with the
efforts of the public, BirdCast www.BirdCa.st. orgwi\\ become one of the most effective ways
to track bird movement, and protect bird species," said Audubon's Senior Vice President
for Science, Frank Gill. "From September 1st through November 15th, National Audubon
Society urges citizens from New York to Washington, D.C. to report bird sightings to
BirdCast and to take action to aid birds."
As birds migrate, major factors contributing to their demise include pesticide use; loss of
feeding and watering opportunities; impact with radio, television, and cellular towers, and
brightly lit office buildings which disorient birds, causing them to crash. Scientists recog-
nize that migrating birds are in decline—down by nearly 50% since the 1960s.
BirdCast, enabling scientists to predict bird migration through a specific region, offers
practical uses for homeowners and public officials. Using BirdCast, homeowners will be
advised as to when to avoid spraying pesticides in their gardens, provide seed and water,
and when to keep their cats indoors, in order to keep bird populations alive and well.
Building owners can use BirdCast to determine when to turn off disorienting lights that
often cause birds to crash into windows and die.
Public Health officials are also urged to make use of BirdCast. "This fall, BirdCast has an
unintended and immediate use for county health officers," continued Audubon's Gill.
"BirdCast will provide guidelines on when to suspend spray operations, helping officials
avoid unnecessary bird deaths and violations of federal Migratory Bird Laws."
BirdCast, a project of National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and
Clemson University Radar Ornithology Lab, made its debut this past spring and was a
resounding success. Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research
and Development and the Office of Pesticide Programs, the project was granted the "Dr.
Copernicus Award" by the Copernicus Education Gateway, a Web site that features the
best educational sites for students and teachers. Using radar pictures, audio samples and
most importantly, personal observations (or "groundtruthing,") scientists were able to
make predictions and draw conclusions about songbird migratory behavior.
Participants from the mid-Atlantic region watched the skies, reported their findings to the
BirdCast site and were then advised when to keep their cats indoors, to refrain from pesti-
cide use, and to provide food and water in order to protect migrating birds in their region.
Of particular interest to the thousands who visited BirdCast were the "10 Commandments
to a Healthy Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides," still available at the site
http:l/magazine.audubon. orglbackyardlbackyardQQQ5. html.
APPENDIX A
-------
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast has and will
continue to enable scientists to gather valuable information on migratory movements," said
Gill. "The project will not only increase scientific knowledge but also encourages people
to make informed decisions about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or undertake
other activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, BirdCast
will expand into the states of New York and New Jersey. Scientists will generate morning
and evening pictures of warbler, waterfowl, and hawk migration through the region using
NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar). These snapshots of bird migration and weather
events will be accompanied by interpretation and predictions from the Clemson Lab so
that the general public and city officials can both observe and assist migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use this new technology to observe
birds and ultimately become partners in conservation," said Sally Conyne, Director of
Citizen Science for Audubon. "This fall we are eager to track bird movement once again.
Web users will be able to obtain daily forecasts of bird movements, learn about the best
bird-viewing spots and find out how human activity impacts birds. In addition, the site
now includes general information about migration, some late-breaking pesticide news, and
a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important environmental
indicators, helping scientists assess the health of an ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird
species in a particular region may indicate another problem such as the loss of food or water
sources, the destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic element. Despite
the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers of migratory birds
that return to the Mid-Atlantic region, and other parts of the country, decreases. These
decreases may indicate problems with broad environmental implications, problems that
can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530 chapters
throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural
ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of human-
ity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
John Bianchi
Kara Grobert
jbianchi@audubon.org
kgrobert@audubon.org
212/979-3026
212/979-3027
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS
-------
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY URGES NY. NT & CT HEALTH
OFFICIALS NOT TO SPRAY PESTICIDES THIS WEEKEND
Largest Wave of Bird Migration This Fall Predicted to Pass Through Tri-State Area
New York, NY September 15, 2000- Using the latest technology in bird tracking techniques
and the efforts of citizen scientists through BirdCast.org, National Audubon Society pre-
dicts the largest wave of migration will occur this weekend- and strongly urges county
officials to suspend pesticide spraying operations in the tri-state area.
"This weekend will be one of the best opportunities for people to see a wide variety of
species of migrating songbirds and hawks, and to contribute their sightings to BirdCast,"
said Sally Conyne, Director of Citizen Science for Audubon. "On the other hand, this week-
end will be one of the worst times for pesticide sprayings to occur, due to the unknown
effects of the use of Scourge and Anvil on birds and the consequent reduction of their food
source. By not spraying pesticides in the tri-state area this weekend, county and city officials
will avoid unnecessary bird deaths and violations of federal Migratory Bird Laws."
Migratory birds usually face a number of life threatening challenges in their journey south.
This weekend, in addition to predators, difficult weather, and long distances, birds must
contend with man made threats, especially potential poisoning from the pesticides
employed to combat the West Nile Virus. With the cooperation of health officials, help of
citizen scientists and state-of-the-art BirdCast technology, birds migrating through the Mid-
Atlantic may get a break.
"In combination with the efforts of the public, BirdCast www.BirdCast.org will become one
of the most effective ways to track bird movement, and protect bird species," said Audubon's
Senior Vice President for Science, Frank Gill. "From September 1st through November
15th, National Audubon Society urges citizens from New York to Washington, D.C. to
report bird sightings to BirdCast and to take action to aid birds."
As birds migrate, major factors contributing to their demise include pesticide use; loss of
feeding and watering opportunities; impact with radio, television, and cellular towers, and
brightly lit office buildings which disorient birds, causing them to crash. Scientists recog-
nize that migrating birds are in decline—down by nearly 50% since the 1960's.
BirdCast, enabling scientists to predict bird migration through a specific region, offers prac-
tical information for homeowners and public officials. Using BirdCast, homeowners will
learn when to avoid spraying pesticides in their gardens, when to provide seed and water,
and when to keep their cats indoors, in order to keep bird populations alive and well.
Building owners can use BirdCast to determine when to turn off disorienting lights that
often cause birds to crash into windows and die.
BirdCast, a project of National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Clemson
University Radar Ornithology Lab, and Academy of Natural Sciences made its debut this
past spring and was a resounding success. Supported by the Environmental Protection
Office of Pesticide Programs and Mid-Atlantic Office (Region III), the project was granted
the "Dr. Copernicus Award" by the Copernicus Education Gateway, an educational Web
site for students and teachers. Using radar pictures, audio samples and personal observa-
tions (or "ground truthing,") scientists were able to make predictions and draw conclusions
about songbird migratory behavior.
4B
APPENDIX A
-------
Participants from the mid-Atlantic region watched the skies, reported their findings to the
BirdCast site and were then advised when to keep their cats indoors, to refrain from pesti-
cide use, and to provide food and water in order to protect migrating birds in their region.
Of particular interest to the thousands who visited BirdCast were the "10 Commandments
to a Healthy Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides," available at the site
http:llwww. birdsource. org/birdcast/pestsum. html.
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast has and will
continue to enable scientists to gather valuable information on migratory movements," said
Gill. "The project will not only increase scientific knowledge but also encourages people to
make informed decisions about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or undertake
other activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, BirdCast
will expand into the states of NY, NJ and CT Scientists will generate morning and evening
pictures of warbler, waterfowl, and hawk migration through the region using NEXRAD
(Next Generation Radar). These snapshots will be accompanied by interpretation and pre-
dictions from the Clemson Lab so that the general public and city officials can both observe
and assist migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use the new technology to observe
birds and ultimately become partners in conservation," said Audubon's Conyne. "This fall
we are eager to track bird movement once again. Web users will obtain daily forecasts of
bird movements, learn about the best bird-viewing spots and find out how human activity
impacts birds. The site now includes general information about migration, some late-
breaking pesticide news, and a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important environmental
indicators, helping scientists assess the health of an ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird
species in a particular region may indicate another problem such as the loss of food or water
sources, the destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic element. Despite
the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers of migratory birds
that return to the Mid-Atlantic region, and other parts of the country, decreases. These
decreases may indicate problems with broad environmental implications, problems that
can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530 chapters
throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural
ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of human-
ity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kara Grobert kgrobert@audubon.org
212 979-3027
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS
49
-------
BirdCast & NEXRAD
In the early days of World War II, British radar operators noticed mysterious, ethereal shad-
ows drifting across their screens. Those apparitions, so wonderfully dubbed angels by
pioneering radar technicians, heralded the beginnings of radar ornithology. Radar's first major
contribution to ornithology took form only a few years later when in 1958 Sidney
Gauthreaux, then a high school student in New Orleans, postulated that if radar can see
planes and weather, why not birds? Only a few years later, as a Louisiana State graduate stu-
dent, he found his proof. His radar images definitively proved the existence of massive
trans-Gulf migrations. Prior to these observations, there was a continuing belief that the
majority of migrants held to a more land bound, clockwise pattern; arriving in North
America via Mexico.
Through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, however, radar's promise failed to fully evolve. There were
a few notable discoveries, such as in 1989 when Gauthreaux, working from archival images,
awakened the ornithological world to the precipitous decline in migrating flocks—down by
nearly half when compared to the 1960s. The existing radar of the day, however, was prov-
ing largely inadequate. It lacked not only the necessary resolution, but it also failed to provide
a three dimensional view.
In the early 1990s, however, change was coming. The new, highly efficient NEXRAD
Doppler radar (Next Generation Radar) began to be placed in service. The Air Force started
investigating NEXRAD's utility in their Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Program (BASH).
During this period, portable NEXRAD units were teamed with vertically mounted thermal
imaging units so that the images captured by the radar could be visually verified. Elsewhere,
graduate students under Sid Gauthreaux were making their own exciting discoveries. Their
breath-taking images of giant expanding aerial doughnuts were found to be thousands of
Purple Martin radiating from critical roosting sites each morning.
Radar ornithology work is now taking place in many parts of the country and it is soon to
come to the Mid-Atlantic. With the support of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office
of Research and Development and the Office of Pesticide Programs, a coalition consisting of
National Audubon, Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson's Radar Ornithology
Laboratory, "BirdCast" will be coming soon to a computer near you on September 1, 2000.
To access BirdCast you will go to the existing Audubon/Cornell Web site—BirdSource
http://www.BirdSource.org. Throughout periods of peak migration, BirdCast will provide a
morning and evening, unfiltered snapshot of the eastern region of the US from New York
through Virginia. The birds and weather shown in theseimages will be accompanied by inter-
pretation and a migration prediction provided by the Clemson Lab.
Is this work being done just as a special favor for birders? Well, not exactly. You can think
of BirdCast as an early alert and an environmental billboard on the Internet. Linked to
BirdCast will be messages such as admonitions against the use of certain pesticides as well
as a number of other migrant-friendly changes that people can make in their backyards.
We'll advise the residents of the region about the pests that actually pose local threats and
the safest management strategies. Included at the site are two charts of special interest—
"10 Commandments for a Healthy Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides."
With the completion of data collection this migration season, we hope to use the inter-
preted and ground-truthed images in pinpointing critical habitat in need of protection.
5D
APPENDIX A
-------
While all of this seems reasonably simple and employs proven technology, its not simple at
all. In fact, it's really research in the development stage. What has been sorely lacking in the
past is you. Most earlier radar work has been lacking a critical component—ground-
truthing. Dozens, hundreds, and, indeed, thousands of sets of eyes are needed to verify
what the radar images are capturing and to that end, BirdCast will have an interactive com-
ponent and will allow you to log on and enter your daily sightings. These will feed directly
into our database and be available to everyone in real-time.
So, BirdCast needs you. Dust off those bins and get ready to head to your favorite haunts.
While we encourage all of you to post each and every sighting, of greatest value will be
sightings coming from those who can afford the time to make regular observations. Those
of you who would like to participate on a daily or regular basis or if you would like addi-
tional information please contact Sally Conyne sconyne@audubon.org. These data you
collect will greatly enhance our overall understanding of migration patterns and move-
ments. And this project will educate a multitude of people about how their backyards can
be made friendlier and healthier for our angels. So, please, help us help the birds.
BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND DUTREACH MATERIALS 51
-------
-------
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Protectiofi
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your
Community
The BirdCast Project
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Acknowledgements
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National
Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of Eastern Research
Group, Inc., an EPA contractor. Technical guidance was provided by the BirdCast project
staff and its partners. EPA and BirdCast would like to thank the following people and
organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Sally Conyne, National Audubon Society
Sidney Gauthreaux, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Duane Heaton, EPA Region 5
Steve Kelling, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Ronald Landy, EPA Region 3
Ron Larkin, Illinois Natural History Survey
Ralph Wright, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
Table of Contents
1. TNTRODTJCTTON
1.1 About the EMPACT Program
1.2 About the EMPACT BirdCast Project.
file:///P|/...amie/2014ORD_CDProject/625C03007/040120_1341%20(J)/Bird%20Migration%20Monitoring/html%20files/Start%20here.html[5/20/2014 2:35:49 PM]
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
1.3 About This Handbook
1.4 For More Information
2. HOW TO USE THTS HANDBOOK
3. BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING
PROGRAM
3.1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration Monitoring
Program
3.2 Selecting Program Partners
3.3 Figuring Costs
4 INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION OF BIRD
MIGRATION
4.1 What is NEXRAD and What Can Tt Do?
4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring and What Can It Do?
4.3 How Do NEXRAD. Bioacoustic Monitoring, and Volunteer
Groundtruthing Fit Together?
4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin Using
NEXRAD to Observe and Predict Bird Migrations?
4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD Component of Its
Bird Monitoring Program?
5 GROUNDTRUTHING OBSERVATIONS
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar Analysis?
5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct Its Groundtruthing Program
5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures
6 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan
6.2 Education and Outreach Tools
6.3 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outreach Efforts
6.4 For More Information
APPENDIX A:
BTRDCAST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIALS
Next Section »
file:///P|/...aiuue/2014ORD_CDProjec1/625C03007/040120
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
file:///P|/...aiuue/2014ORD_CDProjec1/625C03007/040120_
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Protectiofi
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your
Community
The BirdCast Project
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Acknowledgements
The development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National
Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of Eastern Research
Group, Inc., an EPA contractor. Technical guidance was provided by the BirdCast project
staff and its partners. EPA and BirdCast would like to thank the following people and
organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Sally Conyne, National Audubon Society
Sidney Gauthreaux, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Duane Heaton, EPA Region 5
Steve Kelling, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Ronald Landy, EPA Region 3
Ron Larkin, Illinois Natural History Survey
Ralph Wright, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
Table of Contents
1. TNTRODTJCTTON
1.1 About the EMPACT Program
1.2 About the EMPACT BirdCast Project.
file:///P|/...entFromJeamie/2014ORD_CDProject/625C03007/040120_1341%20(J)/Bird%20Migration%20Monitoring/html%20files/toc.html[5/20/20142^
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
1.3 About This Handbook
1.4 For More Information
2. HOW TO USE THTS HANDBOOK
3. BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION MONITORING
PROGRAM
3.1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration Monitoring
Program
3.2 Selecting Program Partners
3.3 Figuring Costs
4 INSTRUMENT-BASED OBSERVATION OF BIRD
MIGRATION
4.1 What is NEXRAD and What Can Tt Do?
4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring and What Can It Do?
4.3 How Do NEXRAD. Bioacoustic Monitoring, and Volunteer
Groundtruthing Fit Together?
4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin Using
NEXRAD to Observe and Predict Bird Migrations?
4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD Component of Its
Bird Monitoring Program?
5 GROUNDTRUTHING OBSERVATIONS
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar Analysis?
5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct Its Groundtruthing Program
5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures
6 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan
6.2 Education and Outreach Tools
6.3 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outreach Efforts
6.4 For More Information
APPENDIX A:
BTRDCAST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIALS
Next Section »
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Table of Contents
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FPO Front Cover
DD D Dii i i ss s sec c ell 1 laa a aii i i mm m mee e err r r
This document has been reviewed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved or publication.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation of their use.
EPA/ 6257 R- 017 007 September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring, Assessment, and Public
Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
National Risk Management Research Laboratory Office of Research and Development U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
AA A Ace c ckk k knn n noo o oww w wll 1 lee e edd d dgg g gmm m mee e enn n ntt t tss s s
T he development of this handbook was managed by Scott Hedges (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research and Development, National
Risk Management Research Laboratory) with the support of Eastern Research Group, Inc., an EPA contractor.
Technical guidance was provided by the BirdCast project staff and its partners. EPA and BirdCast would like to thank
the following people and organizations for their substantial contributions to the contents of this handbook:
Sally Conyne, National Audubon Society Sidney Gauthreaux, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Duane Heaton, EPA Region 5 Steve Kelling, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology Ronald Landy, EPA
Region 3 Ron Larkin, Illinois Natural History Survey Ralph Wright, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
ii
TT T Taa a abb b bll 1 lee e e oo o off f f CC C Coo o onn n ntt t tee e enn n ntt t tss s s
iii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 About the EMPACT Program 2 1.2 About the EMPACT BirdCast
Project 3 1.3 About This Handbook 5 1.4 For More
Information 5
2. HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK 7 3. BEGINNING A NEW BIRD MIGRATION
MONITORING PROGRAM 9
3.1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration Monitoring Program 9 3.2 Selecting Program Partners
10 3.3 Figuring Costs 11
4. INSTRUMENT- BASED OBSERVATION OF BIRD MIGRATION 13
4.1 WhatisNEXRAD and What Can It Do? 13 4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring and What
Can It Do? 144.3 How Do NEXRAD, Bioacoustic Monitoring, and Volunteer
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Groundtruthing Fit Together? 15 4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin
Using NEXRAD
to Observe and Predict Bird Migrations? 15 4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD
Component of
Its Bird Monitoring Program? 16
5. GROUNDTRUTHING OBSERVATIONS 19
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar Analysis? 19 5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct Its
Groundtruthing Program 20 5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures 20
6. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 27
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan 27 6.2 Education and Outreach Tools
31 6.3 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outreach Efforts 37 6.4 For
More Information 37
APPENDIX A BIRDCAST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIALS 39
1111 Introduction
Introduction 1
E very year, several billion birds undertake seasonal migrations in pursuit of food, shelter, and nesting
grounds. North America is the site of some of the world's most spectacular bird migration, and millions of American
"birders" enjoy spending time in the field identifying the birds passing through their area. Migratory birds are
delightful not only for birders, but also for countless other Americans who casually observe their comings and goings,
particularly in the spring and fall. These birds also have a distinct economic value (nearly $3 billion in the mid-
Atlantic states alone) to the tourist and outfitting industries of the regions located along their flight path.
Aside from any immediate benefits they provide, migratory birds are valuable for the role they play in our ecosystems
— in particular, for eating insects and thereby keeping pest populations under control. We also have reason to be
concerned about the well- being of migratory birds that extends beyond any inherent value these birds may possess. As
naturalist Roger Tory Peterson noted, birds are an "ecological litmus paper"— because of their rapid metabolism and
wide geographic range, they often provide an early warning of environmental deterioration. Migratory birds depend on
many different kinds of open space, such as swamps, marshes, meadows, and suburban parkland. Therefore, research
and conservation aimed at keeping a particular bird population healthy may lead to the broader goal of restoring these
threatened habitats.
When migrating, a bird may travel hundreds or even thousands of miles without stopping. The exertion of flying such
long distances leaves birds exhausted and vulnerable. Many birds, particularly those that encounter adverse weather
conditions, do not survive their journeys. Unfortunately, human activities can further increase the levels of stress and
danger that a migratory bird faces. For example:
Inopportune application of pesticides to lawns, gardens, and parks may poison a bird's food supply at just the moment
when it is weakest and most in need of nourishment. In the United States, migratory birds are particularly vulnerable to
pesticide application as they migrate northward in the spring.
Lights on tall structures (such as skyscrapers and communication towers) may confuse and disorient birds, causing
them to become exhausted and crash into objects. Similarly, birds injure or kill themselves by flying into panes of
glass. These problems appear to be particularly severe on overcast nights when birds may circle a light source.
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Throughout much of North America, the sight of migrating birds marks the spring and fall seasons.
Major migration routes in North America
The development of land for human purposes such as agriculture, housing, and commerce often renders it unsuitable
for use by birds. Birds may be challenged not only by the loss of habitat in their breeding and wintering ranges, but
also by loss of habitat at key stop- over points where they need to rest and regain strength over the course of
migration.
Humans have imported animals to North America that prey upon migratory birds (e. g., cats) or compete with them (e.
g., starlings). These new biological threats, combined with decreasing quantities of suitable habitat, may reduce the
population and range of a particular migratory bird species.
There is much that property managers and the general public can do to mitigate these problems if they are aware of
them, interested in solving them, and educated about bird conservation. During a period of peak bird migration,
pesticide applications can be delayed, bright building lights can be turned off, and cats can be kept indoors. Therefore,
outreach programs designed to inform these audiences about the status of seasonal bird migration are a promising route
to improving the conservation of migratory birds.
EPA has developed this technology transfer handbook primarily for community organizers, non- profit groups, local
government officials, and other decision- makers who will implement, or are considering implementing, bird migration
monitoring and public outreach programs. The handbook is designed with two main goals in mind. The first goal is to
present a case study showing how one regional outreach program— EMPACT's BirdCast project for the mid- Atlantic
coast of the United States— provides information that allows property managers and the general public to assist
migratory birds. The second— and perhaps more important— goal is to provide you with guidance for developing a
similar program in your own region. The guidance in the handbook is based on the experience of the EMPACT
BirdCast project, as well as that of other experts in the fields of ornithology and public outreach.
1.1 About the EMPACT Program
This handbook was developed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT Program (http://
www. epa. gov/ empact). EPA created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community
Tracking) in 1997. It is now one of the programs within EPA's Office of Environmental Information. EMPACT is a
new approach to providing timely environmental information to communities across the nation, helping people to make
informed, day- to- day decisions. Residents in 156 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States have or will
soon have an easy way to answer questions such as:
What is the ozone level in my city this morning?
What is the water quality at my beach today?
How high is the ultraviolet radiation in my city today?
What is the level of contamination at the hazardous waste site in my community?
What are the levels of lead in the soil in yards in my neighborhood? To help make EMPACT more effective, EPA is
partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U. S. Geological Survey. EPA is
working closely with these federal entities to help achieve nationwide consistency in measuring environmental data,
managing information, and delivering that information to the public.
2 Chapter 1
EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, such as groundwater contamination, ocean pollution,
smog, drinking water quality, ultraviolet radiation, and ecosystem quality. Some of these projects have been initiated
directly by EPA. Others have been launched by the EMPACT communities themselves.
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1.2 About the BMP ACT BirdCast Project
EPA's EMPACT program started funding the BirdCast project (http:// www. birdcast. org) in 1999, and the project
started public operation on April 1, 2000. The project began as a collaboration among EMPACT, EPA Region 3,
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the National Audubon Society, Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology,
Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory, the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and
GeoMarine, Inc. The four primary objectives of the project are:
1) To maintain an Internet Web site that posts educational information about bird migration and the steps that property
managers can take to mitigate the danger and stress that migrating birds face when passing through an area.
2) To predict and monitor bird migrations on a daily basis using weather radar. The data gathered by radar are
continually interpreted by trained scientists and presented using text summaries, charts, and radar maps. During its first
year, BirdCast also experimented with using microphones to perform bioacoustic monitoring of bird migrations.
3) To collect and disseminate volunteers' reports of bird sightings. This information collection, known as
"groundtruthing," is coordinated through the BirdCast Web site. Groundtruthing information is stored on an Web-
accessible database called "BirdSource" that Cornell maintains. Visitors to the BirdCast Web site can query this
database and display reports in chart or graph form.
4) To raise public awareness about the sensitivity of migratory bird populations. This public relations campaign,
coordinated by National Audubon, involves generating press releases, working with local land managers, distributing
promotional materials, and making presentations at conferences and conventions.
1.2.1 BirdCast's Regional Focus
To date, the BirdCast program has primarily covered bird migration along a portion of the "mid- Atlantic flyway," a
coastal area between North Carolina and New England that experiences significant migratory bird activity each spring
and fall. The initial focus of BirdCast's attention has been the city of Philadelphia. BirdCast established a local
partnership with Philadelphia's local PBS station (WHYY) and the Academy of Natural Sciences to develop a public
relations focus on the region surrounding this city. The BirdCast project's efforts to collaborate with land managers so
far have consisted primarily of work with Philadelphia's Fairmont Park Commission. It is hoped that eventually
BirdCast can be expanded to cover the entire Atlantic flyway. Birds could be tracked coming across the Gulf of
Mexico and at their first landfall. Birdwatchers up the coast could be alerted to the status of the migrating birds and
provided with additional early warning of their arrival.
Despite its current regional focus, BirdCast also hopes to expand to cover the entire United States by forming new
partnerships with local governments and birding organizations. So far, BirdCast has succeeded at drawing both
widespread media attention (it was discussed in more than over 100 news articles by spring 2000) and attention in
venues of national importance (it has been covered by news reporters from both the New York Times and the Wall
Street Journal).
Introduction 3
1.2.2 BirdCast in Context
The BirdCast project is a collaboration among individuals and organizations that made significant contributions to the
field of bird monitoring both before and after receiving EMPACT funding. A brief history of these bird monitoring
activities (and of radar ornithology in particular) will help to place BirdCast in its full context.
At the outset of World War II, almost immediately after the invention of tracking radar, British radar operators noticed
that birds flying over the English channel would sometimes appear on their screens. At the time, this fact was
noteworthy primarily because it was possible to mistake a bird for a fast- moving- ship— significant ornithological use
of this phenomenon did not begin until the 1960s. Sidney Gauthreaux, now Director of the Clemson University Radar
Ornithology Laboratory, began studying the radar detection of birds at that time and has accumulated over 35 years of
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experience with the method. In the 1970s, the United States Air Force also began studying bird migration as a serious
hazard to the operation of military aircraft, which often fly at high speeds and low altitudes. The Bird Aircraft Strike
Hazard (BASH) team organized by the Air Force began exploring radar's potential to provide early warning of
potential bird collisions. Their efforts were significantly aided by the emergence of "Next Generation Radar"
(NEXRAD) in the early 1990s. NEXRAD is a network of highly sensitive weather radar stations located throughout
the United States. In 1995, Sidney Gauthreaux also began using NEXRAD in his ornithological studies.
Meanwhile, in the mid- 1990s, the National Audubon Society and Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology
began applying a very different emerging technology to the field of bird conservation. These two groups collaborated
to develop BirdSource, a sophisticated computer database that uses the Internet to allow birders from across North
America to send their observations to a central repository. With financial assistance from the Packard Foundation,
these two groups spent more than $2.5 million developing the BirdSource database as a nation- wide information
technology resource for birders.
The idea of the BirdCast program emerged at a 1997 biodiversity meeting attended by personnel from both EPA
Region 3 and the Department of Defense. EPA and DoD discussed the possibility of providing the public with near
real- time information about bird migration using radar technology. BirdCast combined the capabilities of Clemson's
Radar Ornithology Lab with the information technology capabilities of BirdSource so that members of the public
would be able to not only view radar images but also submit data that might verify (i. e., "groundtruth") those images.
EMPACT began funding the project through EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs and Region 3 in 1999, and BirdCast
began its public operations in 2000.
1.2.3 Related Bird Monitoring Programs
BirdCast is not the only program that is currently using radar technology to track bird migration. Additional groups,
such as the ones listed below, either have pursued or plan to pursue radar tracking technologies:
BASH, the U. S. Air Force's program to guard against collisions between wildlife and aircraft, has developed an
Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS). AHAS can be accessed on the Web at http:// www. ahas. com. This system
uses radar to predict the risk of a bird- aircraft collision along various flight paths at various times.
The Illinois Natural History Survey, the University of Illinois (http:// www. inhs. uiuc. edu), and EPA Region 5 (http://
www. epa. gov/ regions) have pro4
Chapter 1
posed setting up a project analogous to BirdCast for the Chicago region. The organizers hope to draw Chicago
residents' attention to the unique role that their urban and suburban open spaces play in the migration of birds, thereby
encouraging interest in the conservation of those open spaces.
1.3 About This Handbook
A number of bird observatories throughout the United States have expressed interest in beginning projects similar to
BirdCast. The Technology Transfer and Support Division of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORD's)
National Risk Management Research Laboratory initiated the development of this handbook to help interested
organizations learn more about BirdCast and to provide them with the technical information they need to develop their
own programs. ORD, working with BirdCast, produced the handbook to leverage EMPACT's investment in the project
and minimize the resources needed to implement similar projects in new areas.
Both print and CD- ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct online ordering from ORD's Technology
Transfer Web site at http:// www. epa. gov/ ttbnrmrl. A PDF version of the handbook can also be downloaded from
that site. In addition, you can 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-
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8190
Please make sure you include the title of the handbook and the EPA document number in your request.
We hope that you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to use. We welcome your comments; you can
send them by e- mail from EMPACT's Web site at
http:// www. epa. gov/ empact/ comment, htm.
1.4 For More Information
Try the following resources for more on the issues and programs this handbook discusses:
Introduction 5
The EMPACT Program
http:// www. epa. gov/ empact
BirdSource
http:// www. BirdSource. org
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
http:// birds. Cornell, edu
National Audubon Society
http:// www. audubon. org
Ralph Wright EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (703) 308- 3273
Ronald Landy EPA Region 3 (410) 305- 2757
Sally Conyne National Audubon Society (215) 297- 9040
Steve Kelling Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology (607) 254- 2478
6 Chapter 1
T his handbook provides information your organization can use to create and implement a Web- based bird monitoring
program. It presents detailed guidance, based on
the experience of the EMPACT BirdCast Project, on how to: 1. Identify target communities that would be interested in
reporting on and following
the progress of bird migration. 2. Record and present real- time information about bird migration using radar, weather
information, and acoustic monitoring. 3. Collect groundtruthing information from volunteer birders and present it to
the public. 4. Provide education and outreach to members of the public about what to do when
migratory birds pass through their area. This handbook provides simple "how to" instructions on each facet of planning
and implementing a bird monitoring program, along with additional information about bird migration:
Chapter 3 discusses bird migration as a general conservation issue and how the different members of a bird migration
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monitoring organization work with each other to help birds as they migrate.
Chapter 4 discusses instrument- based observations of birds.
Chapter 5 covers a variety of issues relevant to volunteer groundtruthing, including a detailed description of BirdCast's
policies and experiences working with volunteer birders.
Chapter 6 treats the methods and strategies a bird monitoring organization may make use of to conduct public outreach
and education.
Appendix A presents examples of education and outreach materials from the BirdCast project.
Interspersed throughout the handbook are success stories and lessons learned in the course of the EMPACT BirdCast
project.
22 2 2 How to Use This Handbook
How to Use This Handbook 7
8 Chapter 2
T his chapter provides guidance on important first steps that you will need to take as you start your bird migration
monitoring program. Section 3.1 provides a brief
overview of the structure of a bird migration monitoring program and outlines the roles and responsibilities of program
partners, based on the EMPACT BirdCast Project model. Section 3.2 discusses the critical process of selecting program
partners who can best help you meet your program's objectives within your target community.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers and decision- makers who may be considering
whether to implement bird migration monitoring programs in their communities, as well as for organizers who are
implementing such programs.
3.1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration Monitoring Program
The EMPACT BirdCast project is a multifaceted project that engages a variety of activities— everything from
distributing posters to counting birds. These activities can be grouped into four main categories, which make up the
main components of the project: administration and public outreach, radar analysis, database management, and
volunteer groundtruthing.
The following paragraphs summarize these activities to provide an overview of how the EMPACT BirdCast program
works. These activities are described in greater detail in Chapters 4 through 6.
General Administration and Public Outreach. The administrator and staff of BirdCast are responsible for the primary
public relations and outreach efforts of the project. This includes managing the distribution of posters about pesticide
use, maintaining contacts with news media organizations to ensure that BirdCast stays in the public eye, issuing
periodic press releases, and working with local land managers to encourage bird- friendly gardening practices. The
administrator also provides a broad range of support tasks related to the project's birdwatching volunteer program.
These tasks include providing advice about making bird identifications, making quality control checks of data
submitted by volunteers, and networking to recruit new volunteers. The BirdCast administrator also serves a central
liaison with the other BirdCast staff, including the radar analyst and the chief database base manager.
Radar Analysis. The chief radar analyst and his assistant are responsible for predicting the degree of bird migration
activity in upcoming evenings and for measuring the actual amount of bird migration using radar data. The radar
analyst (and/ or his assistant) must make daily reports of predicted and observed migration during the periods of bird
migration (in the spring and the fall) but have fewer regular duties during the "off season." They seek out and contract
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information service providers to ensure a constant supply of radar data during the periods of migration. Once per day,
the radar analysts submit their predictions and observations to the database administrator via the Internet.
Database Administration. BirdCast's database administrator and his staff ensure that the public has access (via the
Internet) to the information submitted by the radar analyst. In the case of BirdCast, the database is actually maintained
as a separate organization called
3333 Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program
Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program 9
BirdSource. BirdSource is an entity distinct from BirdCast and it maintains a variety of other Web- enabled birding
databases. The BirdCast database administrator issues user identifications to new volunteers, implements backups and
system security measures, and coordinates the programming of changes to the database system. Also, while BirdCast's
bioaccoustic monitoring was being conducted, the project was coordinated by the database administrator.
Volunteer Birdwatching. BirdCast's volunteers provide the "groundtruthing" information necessary to verify the
observations made using radar instrumentation. Volunteers are recruited by the project administrator and contact her
with any questions or comments they may have about their participation in the program. Registered volunteers make
observations several times a week and record their findings directly to the BirdCast database (using the Internet).
The flow chart below summarizes the basic structure of the BirdCast project. The chart identifies the main activities of
the project, the team members responsible for these activities, and the flow of work among team members. It also
indicates where in this handbook you can go for more information about specific activities.
3.2 Selecting Program Partners
As described in Chapter 1, BirdCast is a partnership of several public and non- profit organizations. These have
included university laboratories, a wildlife conservation society, a park management authority, and a natural history
organization. The reason BirdCast is composed of such a wide range of partners is that its goals require the use of a
wide range range
10 Chapter 3
Management Coordination
Bird Cast Database
BIRD SOURCE BIRD CAST
Other Databases
Other Databases
Other Databases Administration
Management Coordination
Control Observations
Anonymous Observations
Results Education,
Outreach, Feedback Support,
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Feedback Control
Volunteers General
Public Radar
Ornithology Laboratory
Automated through Internet
Through a variety of media an BMP ACT- funded, collaborative
effort to track bird migration a computer facility at Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology for the collection and
dissemination of groundtracking data Daily
Radar Analysis
of skills and community connections. None of the individual organizations, working by themselves, would have been
as effective as the collaboration of many different organizations, each possessing complementary skills and abilities.
For example, the staff of Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Lab have specialized skills in forecasting and
analyzing bird migration patterns using radar images and other weather data. The National Audubon Society, on the
other hand, has an extensive media infrastructure for presenting bird conservation information to the public and can
easily enlist the support of birding communities. Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, in conjunction with the National
Audubon Society, has invested in the development of BirdSource, a sophisticated Web- enabled database for the
collection and distribution of bird monitoring data.
In starting your own bird monitoring program, you'll need to assemble a team of individuals or organizations who
offer a similar range of skills and qualifications. To select partners or team members, you should think about how each
will fit into the overall program structure, and how different partners can work together to create a successful program.
You will also need to consider their relationship to the region where you will be monitoring bird activity. For example:
A small, grass- roots organization that already has strong ties to the community can be ideal for providing public
outreach and obtaining volunteer birdwatchers. Local chapters of birding clubs, natural history associations, or
conservation groups can all be good choices. (For a directory of birding clubs in the United States, see: (http:// birding.
about, com/ hobbies/ birding/ library/ blalphausclub. htm.)
A university with an ornithology laboratory would make a good partner for identifying and interpreting radar images of
birds. A professor or graduate student working in such a lab might either already have the necessary skills or be able
to acquire them for the benefit of the bird monitoring project.
A government agency, university, or private company that employs persons with a range of programming and "new
media" skills would make a good partner for the purposes of establishing a Web site where the public can access up-
to- date radar images and submit and retrieve groundtruthing observations. Building such a Web site from the ground
up may require access to staff trained in JAVA programming, Web page design, network administration, and database
building.
3.3 Figuring Costs
One of the important first steps for your organization to take when it is considering setting up a bird monitoring
program is to estimate how much your planned activities will cost. Although your program need not be as large or
ambitious as BirdCast's, you may find it helpful to know how much money BirdCast spent in its first year of operation.
In its initial year (between December of 1999 and November of 2000) BMP ACT provided BirdCast with $449,500 for
operations and set- up. As shown above, these expenses break down into five categories, each of which was handled by
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a separate entity:
Project management and national level promotion was handled by National Audubon Society. This cost $71,000 or
16% of the overall BMP ACT budget for BirdCast. This category covers all the public promotion of BirdCast that went
on during the year, excepting a local media campaign in Philadelphia.
Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program 11
Project promotion in the Philadelphia area was handled by the Academy of Natural Sciences. This cost $76,500 or 17%
of the overall EMPACT budget for BirdCast. The Academy was responsible for encouraging local news media to
discuss BirdCast and reporting its findings.
Database and Internet support was provided by the staff of the BirdSource project at Cornell University. This support
cost $136,000, or 30% of the overall EMPACT budget. BirdSource staff maintained the BirdCast Web site, set up and
managed a database for groundtruthing observations, and coordinated BirdCast's bioacoustic monitoring program.
Generation and interpretation of NEXRAD images was performed by Clemson University's Radar Ornithology
Laboratory (CUROL) for a fee of $68,000, or 15% of the overall EMPACT budget. As described elsewhere in this
report, CUROL submitted daily radar information about bird migration to the BirdCast Web site.
Software for Processing NEXRAD images was developed by GeoMarine Software for $98,000, or 22% of the overall
EMPACT budget. GeoMarine developed software algorithms for distinguishing radar signals reflected from birds from
those reflected from clouds.
This cost breakdown represents the first- year of a cutting- edge program and should not be taken as completely
representative of the ongoing costs of other bird monitoring programs, particularly those that are smaller in scale. For
example, BirdCast organizers learned that it was neither necessary nor feasible at present to automatically distinguish
birds from precipitation with software algorithms. The expense associated with this component of the program,
therefore, was not carried forward into future years and need not be incurred by newer monitoring programs.
12 Chapter 3
F lying takes a lot of work. While larger birds (such as raptors, cranes, and waterfowl) will migrate during daylight
hours, most songbirds migrate on clear, calm nights when
weather conditions are most favorable to powered flight. Unless there is a full moon out, lack of light can make it
almost impossible to visually observe migrating songbirds. Birders can take note of where such birds land in the
morning, but actual songbird migration is typically recorded using special instruments.
The primary foundation of BirdCast's predictions and observations of bird migration is the information provided by a
network of WSR- 88D weather stations located throughout the United States. These weather stations (and the data they
produce) are collectively referred to as Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD). BirdCast has also experimented with
bioacoustic monitoring of nocturnal bird migration. Although this technique has proved promising, it is not currently in
widespread use due to cost considerations.
4.1 What is NEXRAD And What Can It Do?
Like all radar systems, NEXRAD identifies the location of distant objects by transmitting radio signals and analyzing
the returning signals that have been reflected off of those distant objects. Unlike previous radar networks, which were
composed of WSR- 57 and/ or WSR- 74C radar stations, NEXRAD radar is also able to measure the radial velocity of
objects by recording the Doppler shift of the reflected radar. (The Doppler shift is the difference between the frequency
of the transmitted radar signal and the reflected signal— if
the reflected signal is higher frequency than the transmitted signal, it is an indication that the reflecting object is
moving toward the radar station; conversely, if the reflected signal is at a lower frequency, it is an indication that the
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object is moving away from the radar station).
In addition to this new ability to detect object velocity, NEXRAD is also distinguished by increased object detection
sensitivity. This is particularly important for ornithologists because birds are relatively weak reflectors (compared to
the objects usually detected with radar, such as clouds, airplanes, and ships). NEXRAD is capable of detecting birds
flying at a range of heights and can provide a rough idea of the altitude at which a particular group of birds is flying.
NEXRAD is so sensitive that radar ornithologists need to learn how to differentiate birds and insects— both can be
detected.
Finally, NEXRAD provides information about the reflectivity of a particular object (i. e., how effective a particular
object is at reflecting radio waves). Reflectivity can be determined by a number of different factors but in the case of
migrating birds, it provides indirect information about the number of birds traveling in a particular area.
44 4 4 Instrument- Based Observation of Bird Migration
Instrument- Based Observation of Bird Migration 13
NEXRAD Radar Station in Mount Holly, New Jersey
National Weather Service
In summary, then, NEXRAD can help determine:
The location of a group of migrating birds, including general altitude information.
The speed with which the group birds are moving towards and away from a particular radar station.
The approximate quantity of migrating birds in a particular area. Quantitative NEXRAD estimates are calibrated by
"moonwatching" (counting the number of birds that fly across a visible full moon) and by making next- morning
ground observations.
4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring And What Can It Do?
BirdCast staff have been experimenting with bioacoustic monitoring as a way of keeping track of nighttime bird
migrations. Bioacoustic monitoring is the process of recording bird calls and matching them to a library of the bird
calls of different species. When birds fly at night, they typically make frequent 50- to 100- millisecond vocalizations.
Some birders can make fine distinctions between certain kinds of birds simply on the basis of these calls (e. g., the
distinction between the Veery Thrush, the Gray- Cheeked Thrush, and the Hermit Thrush). Although birders can
perform something like bioacoustic monitoring right in their heads, BirdCast staff are developing a computerized
system to automate and standardize the process of recording, filtering, and identifying bird calls.
A bioacoustic monitoring station, typically located on the property of a volunteer birder, consists of a computer with a
sound processing card and a specially designed outdoor microphone. The microphones used in bioacoustic monitoring
can detect noises made by birds that fly up to 1,500 above the ground. Throughout an entire evening, the computer
automatically analyzes the sounds picked up on the microphone and digitally records those sounds that appear to be
made by birds. In the morning, a volunteer uploads this "filtered" recording to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,
where more sophisticated computer software enters the information into a database and attempts to determine which
species are represented in the recording.
The BirdCast program has recently found it necessary to curtail its bioaccoustic monitoring program— only a very few
stations are currently in use and there are no current plans to establish new ones. The greatest barrier to the more
extensive use of bioacoustic monitoring has been the cost of manufacturing the special microphones for the monitoring
stations. The basic materials for the microphones are quite inexpensive, but because production quantities were
extremely low, the microphones were being hand- built by laboratory staff at Cornell. The microphones currently cost
about $2,500 apiece, but BirdCast staff imagine that the microphones could be dramatically reduced in price if some
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way were found to mass produce them.
Additional limitations of bioacoustic monitoring include the following:
Weather conditions can affect both the likelihood that birds will make noises and the ease with which those noises can
be picked up with a microphone. Thus, it is difficult to disentangle weather variability from variability in the numbers
of migrating birds.
Many species of birds do not make noises while flying. Therefore, it is difficult to gauge overall numbers of migrating
birds solely using this method.
14 Chapter 4
Bioacoustic technology is in an early stage of development. The software that is used to quantify and identify birds on
the basis of sound recordings is still quite experimental and there has not been enough time for scientific literature to
accumulate on this topic.
4.3 How Do NEXRAD, Bioacoustic Monitoring, and Volunteer Groundtruthing Fit Together?
It is noteworthy that the altitude detection range for bioacoustic monitoring (0- 1,500 feet) does not overlap with the
detection range for NEXRAD radar (generally between 3,000 to 6,000 feet). The non- overlap of these two ranges
complicates the correlation of bioacoustic results and NEXRAD results, as it is possible for certain bird species to
picked up by one kind of instrument and not the other. Due to the influence of variable weather conditions and a lack
of complete information about the altitude at which different bird species fly when they migrate, it is not possible to
precisely predict which species will fly within the altitude range of which instruments on any given evening.
Groundtruthing data collection, covered in greater detail in Chapter 5, is an essential complement to both NEXRAD
radar interpretation and bioacoustic monitoring. One reason for this is the fact that it is difficult to ascertain what kinds
of birds are migrating through an area solely from NEXRAD data. In combination with coordinated groundtruthing
data, however, it is sometimes possible to associate particular clusters of reflectivity with particular species of birds.
Groundtruthing also helps to calibrate the quantitative estimates of birds made from radar and it serves as a quality
control check of the basic reporting information provided by radar and bioacoustic monitoring.
Until recently, the BirdCast Web site combined the daily results of NEXRAD observations, bioaccoustic monitoring,
and groundtruthing in a single display. The purpose of this display was to show how each of these methods produced
results that were similar to those of the other methods. Under ideal circumstances, for example, all three methods
would predict the same degree of migration activity. This display has been recently discontinued on the grounds that
some viewers may have found it too complicated.
4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin Using NEXRAD To Observe and Predict Bird Migrations?
The essential first step in setting up a radar component for your migration monitoring program is to contact an
organization that is already experienced in this work, such as the Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory or
the Illinois Natural History Survey. Such contact is essential for obtaining advice about the feasibility of your project
and about the best way to obtain the expertise necessary to accomplish your project. Depending on the training and
availability of your organization's staff, you will probably need to either delegate your actual NEXRAD analysis to an
experienced laboratory or send a staff member for training at such a laboratory. Both of these plans would require
negotiating a working partnership with an organization possessing expertise in radar ornithology.
The use of NEXRAD to forecast bird migration, in the words of one practitioner, "is a difficult task that requires
laboratory and field experience as well as an appreciation for meteorological phenomena." The interpretation of
NEXRAD radar to observe current migration is a similarly complex task. At present, it is an undertaking suitable for a
graduate level or post- doctoral ornithologist who has received hands- on training with an expert.
Instrument- Based Observation of Bird Migration 15
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4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD Component of Its Bird Monitoring Program?
In July 1998, Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux of the Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory (CUROL) helped
propose the BirdCast project to EPA's EMPACT Program. His proposed task involved forecasting bird migration twice
a day (mid- morning and midevening) over the Delaware Valley and then using Doppler weather surveillance radar (i.
e., the NEXRAD network of WSR- 88D stations) to validate the forecast and measure the actual amount of bird
migration that occurred over the area. The text files and graphic radar files were to be sent to the BirdCast Web server
at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University and posted on the BirdCast Web site. GeoMarine, another
partner in the project, was to supply hourly WSR- 88D imagery that had been processed to eliminate echoes from
weather and other non- bird targets. The hourly images would also be posted on the BirdCast Web site. A proposal was
developed in August 1998 and work began after Clemson University signed a subcontract with National Audubon
Society in mid- March 2000.
4.5.1 Activities in Spring 2000
The first task was to purchase a host computer (Dell Dimension XPS T600MHz, Dell Computer Corporation) that
could be used to download the WSR- 88D images from the NEXRAD Information Distribution Service (NIDS)
provider, download the weather data necessary for generating a migration forecast, and serve as host computer where
Cornell could electronically "capture" forecast text files, analysis text files, and the mosaic radar image files. CUROL
used Marta Systems, Inc. as the NIDS provider. CUROL was familiar with Marta Systems' software, so it could easily
make the mosaic images of the radar displays from the Delaware Valley. In order to work from remote locations,
CUROL also purchased a Gateway Solo 9300 CX laptop computer. This allowed laboratory staff to work on forecasts
and analysis while at home or traveling by communicating with the Dell host computer over the Internet. CUROL
believes that laptops are essential for producing consistent and timely results for display on the BirdCast Web site.
During a previous research project in the middle 1970s, Dr. Gauthreaux developed a multivariate forecasting model to
predict the amount of bird migration in the Athens, Georgia, area. The input variables for this model were the weather
predictions for the period in question. Dr. Gauthreaux generated this model by step- wise regression analysis, choosing
an array of weather variables that best explained the variation of nightly bird migration amounts. No existing
forecasting models of bird migration were available for the Delaware Valley area and time constraints prohibited the
development of a model for the region. Given this situation, CUROL used the Athens forecast model for the spring
2000 BirdCast effort.
From 31 March through 30 May, Dr. Gauthreaux or graduate students Andrew Farnsworth or Jonathan Ariail gathered
weather data via the Internet from weather stations in the Delaware Valley for input to the Athens model. The model
generated a forecast of the amount of migration expected over the Delaware Valley. The model was run before noon to
forecast the amount of migration expected that evening at 10 PM, and it was run before midnight to forecast the
amount of migration expected the following morning at 10 AM. In addition, to verify the accuracy of their forecasts,
CUROL downloaded radar imagery from five WSR- 88D stations (KAKQ in Norfolk, VA; KLWX in Sterling, VA.;
KDOX at Dover Air Force Base, DE; KDIX at Ft. Dix near Philadelphia, PA; and KCCX at State College, PA) and
made mosaic images showing the amount of bird migration over the Delaware Valley at the forecast times. The
laboratory analyzed and interpreted the mosaics so that the viewer of BirdCast would be able to discriminate birds
from weather and insects.
16 Chapter 4
Each morning before noon and each evening before midnight, CUROL staff placed the text file of the forecast, the text
file of the analysis, the graphic file of the radar reflectivity mosaic, and the graphic file of the radar velocity mosaic in
separate folders on the Dell host computer. The BirdCast server at Cornell automatically downloaded the files and
posted the materials on the BirdCast Web site. Except for a few glitches near the beginning of the project, the CUROL
efforts proceeded with no problems.
4.5.2 Later Seasons (Fall 2000 and Spring 2001)
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CUROL was encouraged to continue with the BirdCast program because of its success in forecasting the amount of
bird migration during the initial BirdCast effort. There were a number of changes between the second season of
BirdCast and the first. For example, BirdCast coverage was expanded in this season to include the state of New York.
Also, because only a very small amount of bird movement had been found in the mid- morning hours, CUROL
discontinued forecasts and analyses of daytime bird migration.
CUROL learned from the spring 2000 effort that using a single model to forecast migration amount over the entire
BirdCast area resulted in inaccurate forecasts for some areas. In an effort to overcome the geographical limitations of
the spring 2000 model, CUROL developed two models specifically for the BirdCast area using a step- wise regression
analysis of forecast weather variables and the amount of bird migration measured (i. e., the relative reflectivity of
targets [dBZ] displayed in WSR- 88D images). CUROL used WSR- 88D data collected during the fall migration of
1999 for another CUROL project and Local Climatic Data (LCD) for September and October 1999 that it purchased
from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) for two stations: Albany, New York, and Washington, D. C. By the
spring of 2001, CUROL had developed more than 30 regional models.
As in the spring of 2000, at 2 PM every day CUROL placed a text file containing the evening forecast, a text file
containing the analysis of the previous evening, the graphic file of the radar reflectivity mosaic, and the graphic file of
the radar velocity mosaic in separate folders on CUROL's BirdCast host computer. As in the spring the Cornell
BirdCast server collected these files and posted them to the CUROL portions of the BirdCast Web site. The ability to
generate a forecast each day, including days on which both forecasters were traveling or away from the CUROL host
computer, was greatly enhanced by a laptop computer with an FTP program that allowed the forecasters to upload text
and graphics remotely. With the exception of some initial glitches that were quickly corrected, CUROL's models
worked well. A sample of the Web page products for an afternoon posting (in this case for the afternoons of 28 and 29
September 2000) can be found in Figure 1.
4.5.3 Feedback and Conclusions
CUROL received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public with regard to its forecasting and the radar
ornithology tutorial that it developed for the BirdCast Web site. Although the forecasting and analysis portion of the
BirdCast project is complete, CUROL seeks to develop better forecast models. As it refines its methodology for
building models and its understanding of the interactions and correlations between specific weather variables and the
amount of bird migration, the accuracy of its forecasting will continue to improve. Models are an absolute necessity
for any attempt to track bird migration over large spatial scales (such as the entire eastern seaboard), and improved
accuracy will improve scientists' ability to understand where and when large movements of migrating birds will occur.
Instrument- Based Observation of Bird Migration 17
Analysis 28 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area were favorable for bird migration. Northerly winds, clear skies, and cool
temperatures associated with a strong ridge of high pressure over the area facilitated southward movements of migrants
across the region. The reflectivity image (above left) shows extensive moderate to high densities (15- 28 dBZ) of non-
precipitation reflectors over the coverage area. The velocity image (above right) shows most of these reflectors are
moving S and SSW at 20- 50 knots on N and NW winds at 5- 10 knots. These are likely birds. Migration amount was
moderate to high across the region, with bird densities reaching 600- 1150 birds per cubic kilometers (25- 28 dBZ) in
many areas.
—Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
Forecast 29 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area will not be favorable for bird migration. E and S winds and warming
temperatures associated with high pressure off the coast of New England will keep most birds on the ground.
Migration amount will be low to moderate, reaching densities of 80- 120 birds per cubic kilometer (12- 16 dBZ).
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—Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
18 Chapter 4
Figure 1. NEXRAD radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
T he ornithological community uses the term "groundtruthing" to refer to a particular process of corroborating and
supplementing instrument- based observations of birds
(such as NEXRAD signals). This procedure is straightforward: one recruits birders in the area in question to count and
identify birds there. A collective groundtruthing program serves a variety of purposes:
It complements the radar data provided by NEXRAD.
As a form of "citizen science" it encourages birders to become increasingly engaged in environmental science and
conservation.
It makes birding more fun by organizing an audience for the observations of individual birders.
This chapter is oriented toward helping the administrators of bird monitoring organizations develop and manage
groundtruthing programs. It describes BirdCast's sophisticatedlnternet- based groundtruthing database (BirdSource).
However, a groundtruthing program need not use precisely this kind of tool to manage its information. Regardless of a
particular program's data distribution/ collection needs, the experiences of the BirdCast program may provide valuable
insights.
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar Analysis?
The eyes and ears of a careful observer offer the most direct indication of the number and type of birds in a particular
area. Therefore, such observations can serve as a means of calibrating, validating, and supplementing NEXRAD
images of bird migration. As described in Chapter 4, NEXRAD does not provide a direct sampling of the number of
birds traveling through a particular area and provides very little information about what kind of birds are being
detected. All it can do is record the radio reflectivity at a particular distance and angle from the station. During spring
migration in particular, there appears to be a high correlation between nights when radar shows bird- like signals and
mornings when birders see a lot of new birds on the ground in nearby areas. Radar ornithologists are still in the
process of developing relationships between radar activity at a particular place and time and groundtruthing results at
other places and times. Therefore, there is heightened value in a coordinated program of groundtruthing and radar
imaging— the connection between the two data sets is as valuable as the sets themselves. In the future, for example, it
may be possible to track the migration of individual species of birds using a combination of radar and extensive
groundtruthing.
55 5 5 Groundtruthing Observations
Groundtruthing Observations 19
Dedicated birdwatchers are often eager to contribute their observations to groundtruthing programs.
5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct its Groundtruthing Program?
Over an average week of operation, the BirdCast Web site receives more than 300 reports of bird activity from its
volunteers. The project then presents this information (in the form of charts and graphs) to the Web site's visitors, who
number over 80,000 in a 2- month migratory season. As these figures indicate, BirdCast's groundtruthing program
requires significant information technology infrastructure and program administration. Whether your organization is
planning a groundtruthing program of similar scope or one that will be smaller scale, a knowledge of the methods and
experiences of BirdCast in this endeavor is likely to be helpful.
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5.2.1 BirdCast's Information Management Infrastructure
As described in Chapter 3, BirdCast's operation relies on a substantial prior investment of time, money, and labor in
the establishment of BirdSource's information technology infrastructure. This infrastructure consists of:
Software: an Oracle database customized to handle groundtruthing data, JAVA applications to process the information
requests of users of the BirdSource Web site, and a GIS tool that allows users to specify the latitude and longitude of
their observation site by zooming in from a map of the mid- Atlantic United States.
Hardware: A four- processor server computer to maintain the BirdSource web site, an uninterruptable power supply
and tape backup system, and Internet connection service for the computer.
Support Staff: one full- time network administrator and five JAVA programmers. This infrastructure, which cost $2.5
million to establish, is larger and more robust than what is necessary to simply record and present groundtruthing
information. One proposed bird monitoring program, based in the Chicago area, expects to meet its information
technology needs for 2 years at a cost of $100,000 per year. A potentially economical option for supporting
groundtruthing programs may be to collaborate with BirdSource staff at Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology.
BirdSource staff expect that they could provide complete information technology support for an initial outlay of
$35,000- 50,000 and a maintenance fee of $5,000- 10,000 per year. Depending on the goals and needs of your
organization's groundtruthing program, it may not even be necessary to spend this much. One group planning to set up
a groundtruthing program in the Chicago area has estimated that they could store their data using spreadsheet software
and would not even need to dedicate an entire Windows workstation to the task.
5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures
BirdCast records the birding observations of both registered and unregistered visitors to its Web site. The former are
called "control" observations and the latter are called "anonymous" observations.
5.3.1 Collecting Control Observations
Control observations are repeated visual inventories of birds obtained by regularly visiting a particular site during a
bird migration season. They are made by committed, experienced birders known by or referred to the site's
administrator. It is one of the primary tasks of the administrator to identify these individuals, provide them with
support and guidance, and monitor and edit their contributions to the database.
20 Chapter 5
The site administrator actively recruits individuals to serve as control observers through several avenues:
Personal networking within the local birding community.
Appeals to local conservation groups, such as chapters of the Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy.
Postings to e- mail distribution lists dedicated to birding. A control observer needs be reasonably experienced at
quantifying and identifying birds in his or her area. He or she must also have enough free time, energy, and
commitment to make frequent visits to an observation site. Ideally, a volunteer should be able to make these visits
during the early morning hours (between sunrise and roughly 9 AM) when migratory birds are most active. It is also
very helpful for a volunteer to be able to recognize birds by their songs as this is the most rapid way of identifying the
presence of a particular species of bird. (The Cornell ornithological laboratory makes recordings of bird songs that
volunteers can use for training purposes.)
At present, BirdCast has not established a formal procedure for screening observers or checking their qualifications, as
most control observers are friends or colleagues of the project organizers. Some control observers, however, are
individuals unknown to BirdCast staff who have spontaneously approached the project about participating. It is
assumed that an inexperienced birdwatcher would tend to be discouraged by the time commitment required in making
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regular observations over a prolonged period, so there is a process of "self- screening" inherent in signing up
volunteers.
Groundtruthing Observations 21
Lessons Learned: How frequently should control observers go into the field?
In the experience of BirdCast organizers, control observers should ideally make five visits to a single observation site
during each week of a data collection period. A typical observation session takes between 1 and 2 hours, depending on
the observer's time constraints and the abundance of birds at the observation site. This schedule of frequent
observations increases the likelihood of "catching" the migration of different species of birds through an area. The goal
is to have the observation record reflect the variability of the birds' presence or absence at a particular location rather
than the variability of the observer's presence or absence.
In the mid- Atlantic region of the United States, spring migration period takes place over a relatively short period of
time: roughly from April 15 to May 15. Fall migration, however, is more difficult to observe completely because it
takes place over a more extended period of time. In the fall of 2000, BirdCast experienced significant difficulties with
volunteer burn- out when it asked control observers to work from September 1 to November 1. In the future, BirdCast
is planning to implement a staggered observation schedule that will keep observers' commitment limited to
approximately 1 month. Volunteers living at higher latitudes will begin and end their observing earlier than will
volunteers living at lower latitudes.
Once the site administrator has identified a new control observer, she briefs him or her about the standard observation
protocols used by the project and issues that person a new User ID for logging into the site. Also, new control
observers need to be shown how to use BirdSource's interactive map to estimate the latitude and longitude of their
observation site.
The interactive map is a software component of the BirdSource Web site in which users "zoom in" to their observation
site by clicking on a map of the United States. Once a user has selected a particular location, the software calculates
that location's latitude and longitude.
Once they have registered and determined the location of their observation site, control observers use their User ID to
access data entry pages on the BirdCast Web site where they can enter:
The date and time of their observations.
Whether or not they recorded every species that they saw.
The birders' estimation of their own skill at identification.
The physical environment and weather at the place of observation.
The numbers and kinds of different birds counted.
Any additional information not provided elsewhere in the form. The administrator has ongoing responsibilities for
answering any questions the control observer may have and for editing the data provided by the observer. The purpose
of this editing process is to ensure that the data provided by the control observers is of a high quality. Editing requires
some local birding expertise— one must review the submitted observations and make judgment calls about whether
they are reasonable, questionable, or obviously erroneous. The administrator flags control observations that appear
problematic and follows up with the observer to resolve her concerns. The following signs, when they appear
repeatedly or in combination with each other, may cast doubt on an observer's results:
Species that are extremely rare for the area, particularly in large numbers.
Species that are extremely rare for a particular time of year (particularly record- setting early sightings of a species).
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The omission of migratory species that are quite common for the particular area and time.
None of these signs is a certain indication that a set of observations is invalid, but they may prompt the BirdCast
administrator to request additional information from the observer, such as sketches, notes, photographs, and the names
of co- observers. Following is a sample letter from BirdCast that requests additional information in a non-
confrontational manner:
22 Chapter 5
May 10, 2001 Dear Mr./ Ms I'm interested in learning more about the birds you've reported to
our project and the site from which you're reporting. As you probably know, you've had some extraordinary sightings
during the two days for which you've reported. Standard procedure for our BirdSource projects is that we request
verification for unusual reports before the data is entered in the database.
Several of these would be all time early records for your immediate area and the numbers you report for some species
are unusually large. On the other hand, your report for a species like Yellow- rumped Warbler is very low.
We are making a great effort to report only species and numbers that were well seen and absolutely identified. Only
sightings of this type will give our project credibility and, in the long run, benefit bird conservation efforts. With this
in mind, would you review your reports that I have listed below and answer the following questions?
Was the bird well- seen? for how long? Is this a positive identification? Which of the field marks were observed? Was
the bird photographed? Was it seen by additional observers? Were notes taken? Sketches made?
American Black Duck - Wild bird? late Yellow- bellied Flycatcher - early Golden- crowned Kinglet - late Philadelphia
Vireo - 1 unusual, 2 extremely rare Bay- breasted Warbler - early, 2 Cerulean Warbler - early, 2 Mourning Warbler -
early Yellow- breasted Chat - early, 2 Rusty Blackbird - late, unusual, 10 birds
I would also like to have more information about the site where you observed these species. Is this land named? Is it
public or private?
Thanks very much for providing us with this information and thanks for your patience. Sally Conyne Audubon
Groundtruthing Observations 23
BirdCast also has a number of proactive strategies for limiting the amount of potentially unreliable observations that it
receives. These strategies include:
Putting caps on the number of individual birds of a particular species that can be reported.
Phrasing data entry questions clearly to avoid misunderstanding.
Offering assistance in the identification of birds to volunteers.
Creating area- specific checklists of birds for volunteers to use in data entry. This prevents the reporting of obviously
erroneous reports (e. g., roadrunners in upstate New York)
5.3.2 Collecting Anonymous Observations
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site do not need to register or commit to making a schedule of repeated observations in
order to submit data to the BirdSource database. Any birder visiting the site may submit information as an
"anonymous" observer. Strictly speaking, these observers are not always anonymous because they are encouraged to
submit their e- mail address along with their observations. The term is meant in distinction to the control observers,
who are either known by or referred to the BirdCast staff.
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The data entry form used by anonymous observers and the data they submit are very similar to those of control
observers. There are number of differences, however, between how control and anonymous observations are handled.
Unlike control observations, anonymous observations do not include information about the latitude and longitude of
the observation site. Instead, observers simply list the postal code of their area. Also, BirdCast does not (at present)
conduct any quality control editing of anonymous observations. BirdCast staff currently do not have enough time to
manually edit the anonymous observations, which are of somewhat less value than the control observations because
they are not made regularly. BirdCast hopes, however, that in the future they will be able to institute computer- based
"filters" that will provide automated quality control of anonymous data.
5.3.3 Displaying Groundtruthing Information
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site have two options for displaying observation data. They may either:
Select a single observation location. The user then views a table (such as Figure 2 and Figure 3) of different kinds of
birds counted at that single observation location (either an anonymous observation postal code or a specific control
site). The table also lists the numbers of each kind of bird, and the numbers of reports of each kind of bird. The user
may select whether this table lists results for the entire migration period or for a specific date.
24 Chapter 5
Lessons Learned: Data Entry Burdens
One of the lessons that BirdCast organizers learned when they established their volunteer groundtruthing program was
that they needed to minimize the data entry requirements for their volunteers. Some of the first volunteer observers
complained that the observation protocols took too long to key into the computer. BirdCast has reduced the length of
its protocol since then to make volunteers' jobs easier.
Select a single species of bird. The user then views a graph (such as Figure 4 and Figure 5) of how many times that
bird was sighted during each day of the migration period. The graph includes combined information from all the
control sites but excludes anonymous observations. This is because anonymous observations are not edited for
accuracy and are not likely to be made regularly at any single location.
Groundtruthing Observations 25
Fig 4. Single species count: Canada Goose Fig 5: Single species count: Green Heron Fig 2. Single observation location:
Dryden Lake, NY.
Fig 3. Single observation location: Chestnut Hill College, PA.
Meet Two BirdCast Volunteers
Chuck Hetzel, one of BirdCast's control observers, doesn't have to go any farther than his back yard to collect data for
the project. That's because he's fortunate enough to live at the edge of the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center near
Philadelphia. Mr. Hetzel first heard about BirdCast through his local bird club— the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
was looking for volunteers in his area to host bioacoustic monitoring stations in their homes. Through this introduction
to Cornell's research program, he became involved in making regular control observations for BirdCast. It usually
takes him between 1 and 2 hours to record the birds in his backyard, which he does nearly every day of the migration
period around 7 AM. With more than 50 years of birding experience, he doesn't need to take an identification guide
into the field with him; all he needs is a notepad or a tape recorder for keeping track of the types and numbers of birds
that he sees (or hears). Mr. Hetzel enjoys the extra motivation to go birdwatching that BirdCast provides— in sharing
his observations through the BirdCast database he enjoys an extra feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction about
birdwatching.
Hannah Suthers makes her control observations at an abandoned 108- acre farm in central New Jersey. The farm,
which has recently been converted into a wildlife sanctuary, is slowly reverting back to forest. This makes it a
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fascinating birding site because the land's habitat is undergoing continual transformation. Ms. Suthers has more than 50
years of experience as a bird bander and for more than 20 years has been studying how the farm's changing habitat has
affected the population of resident birds in the area. Now in her retirement, she continues to publish articles related to
avian population biology and trains graduate students from nearby Princeton and Rutgers Universities in bird banding.
After a friend referred her to the BirdCast project, Ms. Suthers started working as a volunteer for it, tallying migratory
birds at the sanctuary. During the BirdCast observation period, she aims to be in the field on a daily basis, tallying
birds by sight and sound. She carries a small notebook with her and jots down her tally in alpha codes. A counting
session can take anywhere between 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the time of season and how many different species
are present. It can be tiring getting up so early in the morning on a regular basis, she admits. Though she does not need
to go out as frequently to spot- map the singing males on their breeding territory, she feels that to get an accurate
picture of migratory movements one needs to go into the field daily. One of the most pleasant aspects of the work is
the opportunity to greet all her "old friends" as they fly through her area each migration season.
26 Chapter 5
Hannah Suthers Chuck Hetzel
T his chapter provides guidance on setting up and maintaining an education and outreach component of a bird
migration monitoring program. Section 6.1 provides tips
on developing an outreach plan for your program, with a focus on defining goals, key messages, and target audiences.
Section 6.2 describes a variety of outreach tools that can be used, and provides examples of outreach materials
developed by the BirdCast project. Section 6.3 describes the challenge of evaluating the success of your education and
outreach program, and Section 6.4 lists some additional sources of information for education and outreach.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers who are implementing bird migration monitoring
programs, as well as for education and outreach workers who are responsible for communicating about these programs.
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan
BirdCast represents a milestone for radar ornithology, a field that has evolved slowly for more than 30 years, advanced
by a handful of scientists working mostly in isolation. BirdCast's breakthrough is that it is the first program to bridge
the gap between these scientists, collecting and interpreting radar images in their labs using highly specialized
technologies and techniques, and the general public. The founders of BirdCast also recognized that "a picture is worth
a thousand words"— a live visual image, such as a radar image of birds migrating, or digital photos or videos from
groundtruthers, would more likely stimulate action than just a verbal description of migration.
Communication is at the heart of the BirdCast mission: to provide the public with timely information on the status of
bird migrations, and to educate land managers and the broader public about actions they can take to assist birds during
their migration and reduce the number of birds that die while passing through. An effective education and outreach
program, therefore, is key to the project's success.
BirdCast's education and outreach program is run primarily by the National Audubon Society. Staff from Audubon's
Citizen Science Program work together with Audubon's public relations department to create educational materials,
write and distribute press releases, develop and deliver presentations, and conduct direct outreach to land managers.
Other BirdCast partners (including staff from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA Region 3, Cornell University's
Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory) contribute to the outreach effort
as well, mostly by delivering presentations. In addition, Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences, a founding
partner of BirdCast, developed many of the project's original outreach materials.
The first step to creating an effective education and outreach program of your own is to develop an outreach plan. This
plan will provide a blueprint for action. It does not have to be lengthy or complicated, but it should define four things:
What are your outreach goals? Who are the target audiences? What are the key messages and types of information that
you want to deliver? And what outreach tools will you use to reach these audiences? Let's look at each of these
questions in turn.
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6 Education and Outreach
Education and Outreach 27
6.1.1 What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the first step in developing an education and outreach plan. Outreach goals should be
clear, simple, action- oriented statements about what you hope to accomplish through outreach. Here are some sample
goal statements that a BirdCast- type program might develop for its outreach effort:
Convince all local television stations in the region to give a brief report on bird migration after the weather forecast, or
to run at least one report on bird migration per migratory season.
Place a story on bird migration in the major newspaper of each state in the region.
Deliver a presentation to each bird club or Audubon chapter in the region.
Conduct direct outreach (e. g., via letter or phone call) to the managers of all public parks in your region.
Attract 100,000 visitors per year to your Web site. Where possible, outreach goals should be measureable. This will
help you when it comes time to evaluate the success of your program (see Section 6.3). Abstract statements of good
intention (e. g., "increase the public's appreciation of the wonders of bird migration") do not make effective outreach
goals, even if such statements accurately describe one of your main motivations for starting a BirdCast- type program.
6.1.2 Who Are Your Target Audiences?
The second step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the target audience or audiences for your outreach
effort. As illustrated in the sample goals above, outreach goals often define their target audiences. You might want to
refine and add to your goals after you have specifically considered which audiences you want to reach.
The target audience for the BirdCast project is broadly defined as land managers and the general public. Yet within
these groups there are a number of sub- audiences, each with specialized interests. For example, among the general
public there are (according to a 1998 report of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) roughly 55 million people who
consider themselves bird enthusiasts, and within that number there is a smaller pool of deeply committed birders. Your
goals for conducting outreach to these committed birders may be different than your goals for the general public.
Likewise, the category of "land managers" includes park managers, city officials, utility land managers, building
managers, golf course managers, and others. Here again, you will want to tailor your message for the specific
audience.
Before you can begin tailoring messages for your different audiences, however, you will need to develop a profile of
their situations, interests, and concerns. This profile will help you identify the most effective ways of reaching the
audience. For each target audience, consider:
What is their current level of knowledge about bird migration and birds in general?
What do you want them to know about birds and migration? What actions would you like them to take?
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 bird migration issues?
How much time are they likely to give to receiving and assimilating the information?
28 Chapter 6
How does this group generally receive information?
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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 Are the Key Messages and Types of Information That You Want to Deliver?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate. In particular at this stage, 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. For example:
Populations of migratory birds are declining and vulnerable.
The BirdCast Web site provides you with real- time information about the status of bird migrations.
You can take steps to help protect migrating birds. Outreach products often will have multiple related messages.
Consider what messages you want to deliver to each target audience group, and in what level of detail. As stated
above, you will want to tailor different messages for different audiences.
Let's look at how this can be done. For instance, let's say that you are writing a press release for distribution to
newspapers and other general interest publications. Your audience, the average reader of these publications, has
relatively little interest in birds. What should be the focus of your press release? Probably you will want to concentrate
on a few simple messages: that bird migration is a fascinating and magnificent phenomena; that populations of
migratory birds are declining and vulnerable; and that individuals can help protect migratory birds through simple steps
such as keeping cats indoors, providing food and water, and avoiding pesticide use during the peak of migration (you
would probably time your release for distribution just prior to peak migration).
On the other hand, if you were composing a press release for placement in bird club newsletters, you would probably
spend less time preaching the wonders of migration (after all, here you would be preaching to the converted) and more
time addressing complex issues of special interest to birders: how the technical aspects of radar ornithology work, how
birders can attract birds to residential yards by creating a landscape of native plants, how to choose pesticides that
cause less ecological harm. Your press release could also provide detailed information on how birders can participate
as citizen scientists in BirdCast's groundtruthing efforts. (See Appendix A, pages 49 to 50, for an example of a press
release for bird club newsletter.) Alternatively, you could choose to deliver all of this information through a
presentation at a bird club meeting.
Education and Outreach 29
Here's another scenario: Let's say you are targeting the managers of a number of large buildings in a downtown area.
In this case, your message might be very focused and simple: that tall, brightly lit buildings threaten migratory birds
by disrupting their ability to navigate, and that building managers can prevent bird deaths by turning off lights during
peak migrations. But the real challenge here would be reaching these building managers with your message. Could you
issue a press release or media advisory? Possibly, but even if the local newspapers picked up the story, there's no
guarantee that the target audience would read it. No, in this case, the only way to ensure that your message reaches the
target is to contact the building managers directly through a letter or phone call. In fact, you might have to follow up
with repeated letters or phone calls. This type of direct outreach is time- consuming and can be a drain on resources,
but in some circumstances it is absolutely necessary.
6.1.4 What Outreach Tools Will You Use?
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As the above examples illustrate, one of the challenges of conducting outreach and education, besides tailoring your
message for the intended audience, is choosing the best outreach tool or approach for delivering your message. There
are many different types of outreach products in print, audiovisual, electronic, and event formats (outreach tools used
by the BirdCast project are described in the next section). It's up to you to select the most appropriate products to meet
your goals within your resource and time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting products include:
How much information does your audience really need to have? How much does your audience need to know now?
The simplest, most effective, 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
development?
What other related products are already available? Can you build on existing products?
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, a first phase of products could be
designed to raise awareness, followed at a later date by a second phase of products to encourage changes in behavior.
30 Chapter 6
Tall, brightly lit buildings threaten migratory birds by disrupting their ability to navigate.
How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news value may be rapidly and widely disseminated
by the media.
The key here is to make good use of the resources available to you. In the best of all worlds, you would have the time
and budget to personally contact every land manager in your region and to craft customized press releases for every
type of publication and every audience. But it is unlikely that you will have the resources to do everything you'd like
to do. The goal, then, is to pick your spots wisely. Reach as many people as you can, but also focus on those audiences
that are most receptive to your message. If you have only limited time for direct outreach, concentrate on land
managers who control critical habitat.
6.2 Education and Outreach Tools
This section describes a variety of outreach tools used by the BirdCast project. Examples of specific outreach materials
developed by BirdCast can be found in Appendix A.
6.2.1 BirdCast Web site
In addition to hosting radar images, daily migration forecasts, and groundtruthing data, the BirdCast Web site (http://
www. BirdCast. org) also contains an array of outreach and educational information designed to assist the public in the
protection of migrating birds. Major educational pieces on the site include:
Guidance on appropriate timing and application of pesticides to minimize birds' exposure.
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Tips on preventing bird deaths caused by collisions with household windows.
Advice on controlling domestic cats to prevent predation on migratory birds.
Information on how tall buildings and radio towers can disorient birds, causing them to crash or drop from exhaustion.
Tips on bird feeding and watering, and on providing habitat for migratory birds during stopovers.
Many of these educational pieces are provided in hard copy in Appendix A of this handbook. Others can be found
online (go to http:// www. birdcast. org/ ucanhelp. html). If you are developing a BirdCast- type program of your own,
you can use these pieces as a model to stimulate ideas for your own outreach language. If you are a member of the
public interested in birds and migration, you can read these materials to learn about steps that you can take to protects
migrants.
One of BirdCast's mottos is: "Engage, educate, activate." The BirdCast Web site is a key tool for accomplishing each
of these goals. The site is designed to be both attractive and interactive. The homepage, for example, features a
colorful poster by Charley Harper, entitled "Mystery of the Missing Migrants," along with a species key to help
visitors identify the birds depicted in the poster. Any birder visiting the site is welcome to submit data on his or her
bird observations (see Section 5.3.2, Collecting Anonymous Observations), and visitors can also search the database of
groundtruthing observations to view tables and summary graphs. In addition, throughout the site there are numerous
links that visitors can follow to gather additional information and access other resources.
Education and Outreach 31
The goal of all this interactivity is to engage visitors, interest them in the plight of migratory birds, and give them a
chance to participate in protecting and researching the lives of migrants. The outreach materials are there to educate
them. The site also features several text pieces on the aesthetic and economic values of migrating birds, along with the
beautifully written preface to Scott Weidensaul's book, Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory
Birds, which BirdCast was able to use with the permission of the author.
6.2.2 Posters and Other Print Materials
Because BirdCast is a Web- based project, it has developed relatively few educational and outreach materials for
distribution in hard copy. When the project was first launched, a press packet was created for distribution to reporters
and other media outlets, containing news clippings and other outreach materials. But this is no longer in use.
The main item that BirdCast partners distribute in hard- copy format is a poster entitled "Audubon Guide for Healthy
Yard and Beyond," which was developed by the National Audubon Society. The poster lists actions that home owners
can take to limit pesticide use and create healthy habitats for birds and wildlife. It also includes a guide to home
pesticides, with information on chemicals, their uses, their toxicity to wildlife, and alternatives to the chemicals.
Altogether, over 1 million copies of the poster have been distributed through Audubon chapter offices, bird- oriented
stores, parks departments, and other groups.
To request copies of the poster, e- mail healthyhabitats@ audubon. org. A version of the poster can also be found
online at:
http:// www. audubon. org/bird/ pesticides/10% 20COMs% 20boxes. html.
32 Chapter 6
Lessons Learned: Conducting Outreach Via Television Stations
When BirdCast was first launched, one of the original goals was to encourage television coverage of bird migrations.
BirdCast's founders envisioned that there would come a day when weather forecasters would routinely include
migration updates as part of their nightly reports. But that day has unfortunately not yet arrived.
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As part of its education and outreach program, BirdCast has made a concerted effort to conduct outreach to
newscasters and weather forecasters. The idea has been to combine radar images with photographs and educational
information on protecting migrants, creating a package that will appeal to television stations. But so far the results have
been discouraging. Though several stations have produced short news pieces on BirdCast, the general response has
been that the BirdCast outreach materials are inappropriate for television in that they lack visual appeal. Newscasters
have stated that the radar images are too esoteric and difficult to interpret.
In the future, the BirdCast project will continue to look for creative ways to package its outreach materials for
television. The Illinois Natural History Survey, another organization that has succeeded at getting a local television
station to make use of NEXRAD images of bird migration, has some ideas for getting television stations interested.
The Survey suggested pointing out to television weather forecasters that significant bird migration usually coincides
with "meteorologically boring periods" when they might lack weather- related material to discuss. The Survey also
suggested developing simplified visual displays that convey basic information (e. g., presence/ absence of birds,
relative abundance of birds, general direction of bird movement) in a manner that parallels the other displays on the
weather forecast.
6.2.3 Press Releases
Press releases are a key tool in BirdCast's education and outreach efforts. Writing a single press release and
distributing it to dozens of publications simultaneously is a cost- effective way of reaching a large and varied audience.
The National Audubon Society's public relations department leads BirdCast's efforts to conduct outreach through the
media. A PR department is an ideal choice for this job for two reasons: 1) PR staff have the writing, editing, and
outreach skills needed for developing stories that will appeal to various news outlets, and 2) PR staff already have
contacts and working relationships with individual journalists, editors, and newscasters. An experienced PR worker
knows how to work with people in the media, feeding them the information they need to get stories into print and on
the air.
For BirdCast, the Audubon PR staff have done several rounds of outreach to the media, each timed to coincide with a
major migration (spring or fall). Their technique, which has produced excellent results so far, has been to write a
single, in- depth press release and distribute it to a list of roughly 500 reporters whom Audubon has worked with in the
past. (Examples of these press releases can be found on pages 45 to 48.) In some cases, Audubon staff precede the
press release with a phone call or e- mail to the reporter, meant to kindle interest in the story. In other cases, Audubon
sends the press release first, then follows up with an e- mail or phone call.
Once a reporter has expressed interest in BirdCast, the PR staff work with him or her as necessary to get the story into
print. Some reporters (maybe half) request additional interviews with BirdCast partners or want help identifying a
local angle for the story (for example, a reporter from a small city newspaper may want to interview members of a
local bird club). Other reporters will develop a story using little more than the information and quotes found in the
press release and other materials found online.
This type of personal contact with members of the press is crucial, as is the strategy of targeting individual reporters or
newscasters. The odds of placing a story fall drastically if you just send a press release to a news desk or editorial
department, since most publications are inundated with dozens (if not hundreds) of press releases daily. Audubon's PR
staff always send press releases directly to a particular reporter, and virtually every story they've placed has been
written by a reporter whom Audubon had worked with in the past.
What if you don't have a contact at a particular publication? One thing you can do is to read some back issues of the
publication, looking for a reporter who has demonstrated some interest in topics related to your project. If the
publication is a daily newspaper, it will likely have a beat reporter who focuses primarily on science and/ or the
environment. Outdoors writers often have an interest in bird migration, especially if their columns cover hunting and
waterfowl migration. BirdCast has placed several stories with gardening columnists, and numerous technology
reporters have also written about the project, focusing on the BirdCast Web site or on the project's use of advanced
radar technology.
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Once you have targeted a particular reporter, write him or her a personal e- mail or call directly. Pitch the story,
keeping your presentation short and to the point. Ask the reporter if he or she would be interested in reading your press
release (or, better yet, simply attach the release to an e- mail as an electronic file). Also, it never hurts to demonstrate
that you are familiar with a reporter's work by complimenting or mentioning some article that he or she wrote in the
past.
Education and Outreach 33
How many publications or news outlets should you target? The simple answer is, as many as possible. However, there
are different ways to use the resources available to you. One approach would be to identify a limited number of
publications that you view as critical, and then to spend extra time and resources doing everything you can to place a
story with them (this might involve customizing your press release or following up repeatedly with a reporter). If you
don't have existing contacts with the news outlets in your area, this type of intensive, focused effort might be
necessary.
Audubon's PR staff have taken the approach of writing one major press release for each migratory season (spring and
fall) and distributing it to hundreds of media outlets throughout the mid- Atlantic flyway, from New York to Maryland
and the Washington, D. C. area. Audubon's staff spend virtually no time customizing press releases for particular
publications, though they have issued press releases for particular occasions. For example, in September 2000,
Audubon issued a spur- of- the- moment press release urging health officials not to spray for West Nile Virus on a
weekend when BirdCast was predicting that a large wave of migratory birds would pass through the area. (See pages
47 to 48 for a copy of this release.)
Audubon's primary goal each migratory season has been to place a story in the major paper of each state in the region,
with the idea that smaller papers will pick up the story after seeing it in a major paper (this has turned out to be true).
The results of this PR effort have been excellent. More than 100 articles on BirdCast appeared in spring 2000,
including prominent articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other
major publications. Articles also appeared in virtually every Audubon chapter and independent bird club newsletter
from northern Virginia to southern New York. Additionally, BirdCast was the subject of stories in Scientific American
and National Audubon magazines, and the project was also featured on National Public Radio.
34 Chapter 6
Lessons Learned: Dealing with the Redundancy Issue
Audubon's PR staff have found that one of the main challenges associated with conducting BirdCast outreach through
the media is the issue of redundancy. Birds migrate through the mid- Atlantic flyway twice each year, in spring and
fall. Ideally, BirdCast would like to have the media cover both migrations, every year. However, once a publication
has covered the story once or twice, reporters and editors no longer consider it newsworthy.
Audubon's PR staff constantly search for creative ways to work around this problem. One strategy is to look for a
"news peg" or tie- in, some newsworthy happening that can provide the basis for an article. For example, you might
craft a press release about International Migratory Bird Day (an annual event set on the second Saturday in May), and
slip in some information about your program within the body of the text. Audubon staff used a similar approach when
they sent copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," to all of the reporters in their database;
the idea was to generate articles about the effects of pesticides on migrating birds and other wildlife, with BirdCast as
a subtext.
The key point here is that your program doesn't have to be the main focus of every press release you send out. Look
again at the press release on pages 47 to 48. The main message of this release was an urgent recommendation that
health officials not spray for West Nile Virus on a weekend of intensive bird migration. Yet the press release also
managed to provide a thorough description of the BirdCast project, and it also touched on a number of other important
messages: the decline in numbers of migrating birds; their vulnerability to pesticides and other man- made threats; and
steps individuals can take to protect migrants.
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6.2.4 Direct Outreach to Land Managers, Building Managers, and Others
Property managers (including park managers, city officials, utility land managers, building managers, golf course
managers, and others) are a key target for BirdCast's outreach and education efforts. Many property managers,
especially in urban areas, control large chunks of open or undeveloped land that provide important habitat for
migrating birds. These managers can help protect migrants by avoiding pesticide applications during migratory
stopovers and by considering the birds' needs when making other management decisions.
BirdCast relies on direct communication when conducting outreach to property managers. This typically involves
calling or writing property managers a few times a year to update them on the status of bird migrations and to remind
them of the need for environmentally responsible management practices. In general, BirdCast has found direct outreach
to be a relatively time- consuming process (especially in comparison to outreach through the media, where a much
larger audience can be reached with a single press release). In the future, the project may attempt to make more use of
volunteers in its direct outreach efforts.
Following are a few examples of effective direct outreach, taken from the work of BirdCast and other groups:
In Philadelphia, BirdCast has worked closely with the Fairmount Park Commission to encourage environmentally
responsible land management and to raise awareness of the plight of migrating birds. The Commission oversees a
system of parks, golf courses, and baseball fields in the city, and works with other land and utilities managers in the
Philadelphia area. BirdCast wrote to alert the Commission about the value of the parks' habitat to migrating birds and
the timing of migration. BirdCast provided copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," for
the commission to distribute, and provided all facility managers under their jurisdiction with guidance on
environmentally responsible pesticide application (e. g., how to alter the use of specific chemicals and minimize the
impacts on migrants).
The City of Chicago and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service have signed an innovative "Treaty for Birds," which
features an effort by downtown building owners to turn off their lights during migration periods. Members of the
mayor's Wildlife and Nature Committee worked with Chicago's Building Owners and Managers Association to spread
the word to owners of downtown skyscrapers. Members of the Bird Conservation Network assembled the information
needed to convince building owners that this action was warranted, and helped to identify buildings that were known
for their high bird mortality.
Education and Outreach 35
Large areas of open or undeveloped land, such as city parks, provide important habitat for migrating birds.
In the Chicago area, a partnership of researchers, government scientists, city officials, and conservationists is proposing
to use radar ornithology to identify key stopover habitat for migrating birds. The partners will then use direct outreach
to educate land managers about the habitat needs of migrating birds, and to ask them to take steps to protect and
enhance bird habitat (e. g., by controlling the spread of buckthorn, an invasive plant that impacts biodiversity).
6.2.5 Presentations
BirdCast partners regularly deliver presentations on the project to school groups, bird clubs, American Birding
Association meetings, Audubon chapters, and other groups. The partners have developed several PowerPoint
presentations for this purpose. These include:
An overview of the project.
A more detailed presentation on how BirdCast integrates multiple monitoring techniques (radar, groundtruthing,
acoustic monitoring) to achieve a unified analysis of bird migration.
A presentation focusing on the radar ornithology component. All of these presentations make use of screen captures
from the BirdCast Web site, sample radar images, and graphs from the groundtruthing database to give the audience a
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genuine feel for how BirdCast works.
6.2.6 ListServs
A ListServ is an automated system that automatically redistributes e- mail to names on a mailing list. Users can
subscribe to a mailing list by sending an e- mail note to a mailing list they learn about; the ListServ will automatically
add the name and distribute future e- mail postings to every subscriber.
There are numerous bird- oriented ListServs around the country. Some of these have a regional focus, and are used by
birders to compare field notes and share notable sightings. Others are devoted to bird conservation, activism, and other
topics of general interest. For an index of ListServs administered by the National Audubon Society, go to http:// list.
audubon. org/ archives/.
The American Birding Association also maintains a state- by- state list of birding ListServs, available at http:// www.
americanbirding. org/ resources/ reschat. htm.
BirdCast's education and outreach program utilizes ListServs as a medium for distributing information about the
program, such as press releases and announcements. ListServs make an ideal tool for targeting an audience of
committed birders. They are also cost effective, since there is no charge for subscribing to (or posting messages on)
most ListServs.
BirdCast has also occasionally used ListServs as a tool for recruiting birders for the project's groundtruthing efforts.
By monitoring the discussions at particular regional ListServs, BirdCast staff have been able to identify birders who
are both committed and skilled and then contact them directly via e- mail. For more information on recruiting birders
for groundtruthing, see Section 5. 3.1.
36 Chapter 6
6.3 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outreach Efforts
BirdCast has found no easy or cost- effective way of measuring the success of its education and outreach program.
Since the ultimate goal of the program is to encourage behavior changes (e. g., changes in the way people use
pesticides), the only true measure of success would be to document behavior changes on a large scale. Doing this is
beyond the scope and means of the project.
Due to these limitations, BirdCast's partners have been forced to rely on other indicators as a measure of the program's
effectiveness. For example:
Between September 1 and October 21, 2000, the BirdCast Web site received 1,867,163 "hits" and 147,423 visitors.
These numbers show, among other things, that many people are returning to the site multiple times.
In the spring of 2001, roughly 100 to 150 people per week were submitting "anonymous" bird observations to the
BirdCast database. (See Section 5.3.2 for more information on collecting anonymous observations.)
More than 100 articles on BirdCast appeared in the spring of 2000, including prominent articles in major publications
such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. The combined readership of
these publications is in the many millions.
If nothing else, these numbers indicate that BirdCast has reached thousands (if not millions) of people, raising their
awareness about the plight of migratory birds and things they can do to help. The numbers also seem to show that
thousands of people are engaged in the project and are participating on some level (for example, by returning to the
BirdCast Web site repeatedly, or by submitting their own bird observations). Overall, it appears that BirdCast is
succeeding in its mission: to engage, to educate, and to activate.
6.4 For More Information
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The BirdCast Web site: http:// www. birdcast. org/
To access BirdCast's educational pieces online, go to: http:// www. birdcast. org/ ucanhelp. html
Scott Weidensaul's Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds
(Northpoint Press, 1999) has been called "a nimble summation of current thinking on bird migration and attendant
environmental themes" (Kirkus Reviews).
To request copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond", developed by the National Audubon
Society, e- mail healthyhabitats@ audubon. org. A version of the poster can also be found online at:
http:// www. audubon. org/bird/ pesticides/10% 20COMs% 20boxes. html
For an index of birding ListServs administered by the National Audubon Society, go to
http:// list, audubon. org/ archives
The American Birding Association maintains a state- by- state list of birding ListServs, available at http:// www.
americanbirding. org/ resources/ reschat. htm
Education and Outreach 37
Chapter 6
Pesticides: Is Your Backyard Safe for Birds?
Our lawns and gardens are like other environments. Plants, insects and other animals all interact and affect one
another. Altering a part of that system can have unintended effects on other components of it. This is an important
thing to keep in mind when considering whether or not to apply pesticides around the home. Pesticides are not only
lethal to pests, but to other wildlife as well. Here are three important rules to consider before applying any pesticides:
1. Make sure you actually have a pest problem. Learn to identify pests and to determine at what stage they actually
become a problem. Many times people treat for pests that are either not present, or not present in large enough
numbers to cause problems.
2. Know your pesticides. Read the labels on your pesticides CAREFULLY. Learn to identify what active ingredients
are contained in the product. Read about the potential effects these pesticides can have on the other organisms in your
yard and community.
3. Check for alternative treatments. Make it a priority to use the least toxic method to control any pests or diseases.
Many simple, non- toxic solutions are as easy to employ and as effective as chemical solutions. Contact your local
garden center and Cooperative Extension for advice.
Making your garden or lawn more community friendly isn't difficult and may actually save you time and money. Plus
a little bit of education and a few changes around your home can have a lasting effect on migratory bird populations
and other wildlife.
To learn more about the pesticides commonly used around the home, refer to Audubon's pesticide summary at http://
birdsource. Cornell, edu/ birdcast/ pestsum. html.
Other useful pesticide web sites:
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs: http:// www. epa. gov/ pesticides
The National Pesticides Telecommunication Network:
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http:// ace. orst. edu/ info/ nptn/ index, html
Toxicology and Environmental Health Information: http:// sis. nlm. nih. gov/ tehip. htm
Look up all the registered pesticide products containing certain active ingredients:
http:// www. cdpr. ca. gov/ docs/ epa/ epachem. htm
The American Bird Conservancy's Pesticide Pages:
http:// www. abcbirds. org/ pesticideindex. htm
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 39
Appendix A BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials
40 Appendix A Windows: An Invisible Threat to Migrating Birds
Fact: Every year millions of birds die when they crash into windows in homes, schools, skyscrapers, factories, office
buildings, and other sites.
Why: The transparent quality of windows makes them virtually invisible to birds, often until it is too late to stop short.
It is difficult for a bird in flight to distinguish between glass and open space. It may see reflected vegetation in the
window, but not the glass itself.
What You Can Do: There are different steps you can take in your home to prevent needless bird deaths caused by
invisible windows.
Move your bird feeder. Make sure your bird feeder is either a minimum of 3 meters away from windows, or less than 1
meter away. Birds may still fly into the window if you move the feeder closer, but they will not have enough
momentum to injure themselves.
Reduce transparency and reflectivity. Change the angle or surface of the window to lessen the transparency and
reflectivity. Cover the window's external surface with a film, change the lighting, and keep all curtains closed or add
external blinds.
Mark the window. You can etch the surface of the glass or streak it with a bar of soap. Hang strips of newspaper or
ribbons, place strips of masking tape on the window. (These are more temporary measures in case there is a severe
problem. However, most of these solutions are inconvenient or unsightly.)
Apply netting. Perhaps the best and most permanent solution is to stretch netting across the windows. Fine black
netting that is used to protect berry bushes and fruit trees is available at many garden shops, home centers, and feed
mills. Stretch the netting across the window or across a frame that can be installed outside the window. Be sure it is
stretched with adequate tension to hold it several inches from the window's surface. Birds may continue to fly towards
the window, but they will bounce off the mesh unhurt.
Hang hawk silhouettes. Attach hawk silhouettes to the window's surface. These shapes probably decrease collisions
because they break up the smooth reflective surface and make the glass more "visible" rather than because they are
shaped like hawks; but, in any case, they seem to help. The silhouettes are most effective if used in multiples. It is
helpful also to attach the silhouettes by a suction cup or a hanging device from the outside so that movement caused
by wind will catch the birds' attention. Most people think that the graceful shapes are interesting rather than unsightly.
They're available commercially but they're also easy to make. (See the below instructions.)
Materials:
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black, light- weight plastic
clear, outdoor tape
scissors
a template or model of the shape (approximately 8 inches from bill to tail and 12 inches from wing tip to wing tip)—
goto
http:// birdsource. Cornell, edu/ birdcast/ images/ hawk, gif for print- ready template Simply trace or carefully draw the
shape on the plastic, cut out the silhouette, and tape it to the outside of the window. Be sure to place several on any
large expanse of glass. One word of caution: you should check with the manufacturers of thermopane windows before
you place anything on the glass surface. If this presents a problem, hang the silhouette from the sash around the
window.
Not only can you make your house safer for birds, but by making several silhouettes and giving them as gifts to
friends, neighbors, and even that office building with the big glass windows down the street, you can also encourage
others to make their houses bird- safe.
Other Useful Window Web Sites:
National Audubon Society: http:// www. audubon. org/ educate/ expert/ window, html
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 41
42 Appendix A Domestic Cats: A Cause for Concern
Fact: Every year hundreds of thousands of birds are killed in the United States by freeroaming domestic cats.
Why: Cats are natural hunters. Even your cute house pet is innately a predator. But while hunting is an instinctual
behavior, cats are not a natural link in local food chains. Cats were introduced to North America by humans towards
the end of the 19th century as a method of pest control. Since then feline populations have exploded out of control.
Their predatory activities are an unnatural burden on birds. Keeping your cat well fed does not deter it from attacking
birds; hunting birds is a natural behavior unrelated to a cat's hunger. You may not see your cat in action, but if you
routinely let it outside it is likely to be killing up to 10 birds every year. With nearly 60 million pet cats in America
today, that is a significant number of bird kills. Combined with many other threats birds face, this adds significantly to
their struggle to survive. When you allow your cat to roam free outside, you are risking the lives of countless birds.
You are also risking the life of your cat; those that are kept indoors live happier, healthier, and longer lives.
What You Can Do: A cat is only responding to a natural instinct. Ultimately you are responsible for your cat and its
behavior.
Keep your cat indoors, especially during the peak migratory seasons in fall and spring.
Put an alarm collar on your cat. Many collars exist which will hamper the cats' stalk and attack. These collars will not
harm the cat, but will give an unsuspecting bird ample warning to escape before a cat strikes. Bells alone will not stop
a cat from attacking.
Spay your cat. Make sure you spay or neuter your cat to help keep the cat population in check.
Help stray cats. In addition to house pets, there are millions of stray cats in the United States, all a potential threat to
native wildlife. You can take in some of these cats or call a local animal shelter.
Keep birdfeeders out of reach. Make sure the birdfeeder in your yard is not cat accessible. Keep it high and away from
windows and vegetation.
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Join the Indoor Cat Campaign. Encourage others to keep their cats indoors. Check out the American Bird Conservancy
"Cats Indoors" at
http:// www. abcbirds. org/ catindoo. htm
Other Useful Web Sites:
American Bird Conservancy: http:// www. abcbirds. org
May 13, 2000 is National "Keep Your Cat Indoors" Day
Man- made Obstacles Pose Problems for Migrating Birds
Fact: Millions of birds die every year in building collisions.
Why: Tall buildings and their lights pose a serious threat to migrating birds. The feat of migration is already a
dangerous one with the natural hazards due to weather, predators, and food scarcity. Birds are exhausted and hungry
and yet humans have created tall obstacles to complicate an already difficult journey.
Birds use a variety of different cues to navigate their migration route, including the pattern of the stars, topographic
features, earth's magnetic fields, and the location of the setting sun. If any of these cues are disrupted or unclear, for
example during cloudy weather, the birds will have difficulty staying on their path. The lights of tall buildings and
radio towers only contribute to this confusion. The lights will often overwhelm natural cues and disorient the birds.
These confused birds will then circle the lighted structures, not because they are attracted to the light, but because they
are following an erroneous and obscure cue. Blinking lights, which often adorn radio towers, and bad weather only
further contribute to the problem. Eventually many of these birds will collide with the building, with each other, or will
drop from exhaustion.
This problem is increasing as more and more highrise buildings are constructed. The now popular glass skyscrapers,
found brilliantly lit at night, are augmenting the dangers.
Not all birds die from the collisions. Some will only be stunned with minor injuries, but often these dazed birds will
fall prey to predators, cats and other birds, lurking on city streets. Many will panic upon finding themselves in the
midst of a busy, morning, urban setting.
Another related danger to nightflying migrants are the broadcast radio towers which may stand 200- 2000 feet into the
night sky. There are around 75,000 towers currently built in the United States and with the current progress of Internet
and satellite technology another 5000 to be added every year. Each of these towers may kill hundreds to thousands of
birds in a single migratory season. Add lights and bad weather to the scenario and the death rate grows even higher.
What You Can Do:
Turn off all lights during the peak migration seasons in fall and spring.
Write letters to the owners of tall skyscrapers requesting that lights be turned off at night during peak migration
periods.
If you find a stunned bird, carefully place it upright inside a brown paper bag and transport it to a safe area where it
can recover before resuming its journey.
Other Useful Web Sites:
Fatal Light Awareness Program: http:// www. flap, org
Towerkills: http:// www. towerkill. com
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BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 43
44 Appendix A Native Plants and Biodiversity
We have peppered our continent with new houses, sidewalks, lawns, and regimented landscapes that are relatively
devoid of seedpods, berries or other natural food sources. Imagine a different type of "yarden": birds chirping,
butterflies flitting, bees busily transporting pollen, and wildlife drinking and bathing in the rainwater you collected in
your yarden. You can create this scene, and in so doing, you'll find that you'll have to replace plants less often and
use less pesticide, time, money, and water.
To begin the transformation from traditional landscape to nativescape:
Identify your existing plants, then explore forests and other natural areas to examine differences. Never remove plants
from the wild.
For a gradual transition, retain high maintenance areas close to the house while establishing a natural garden toward
the edges and back of your property.
Consider neighboring property. Cooperate with your neighbors and extend existing plantings to create larger joint
habitat.
Reduce lawn by breaking it up with curved borders around gardens, trees, shrubs and groundcovers to create an "edge
effect."
Select native plants to attract birds through all seasons and allow space for natural growth patterns (less pruning).
Consider tall native grasses (quail and other grassland species are declining), flowering annuals and perennials, and
shrubs for shelter and food.
Consider removal of overgrown, unattractive plants that offer little wildlife value.
Add to your plan a little at a time. Enjoy a work in progress while reducing the area of lawn.
Plant more than one of a plant, as larger patches are more visible to birds. Plant them in an irregular pattern so that it
looks more natural.
AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS. Birds eat the treated insects and berries.
Remember, numerous plant species attract a greater variety of birds and other wildlife. Check links below to find out
more and where you can find native plants.
Learn more about how to reduce the use of pesticides, find alternatives, and create a healthy backyard by region
Pesticide and garden tips: Ten Commandments for a Healthy Yard:
http:// www. audubon. org/bird/ pesticides/10% 20COMs% 20boxes. html
The Environmental Protection Agency's Biopesticides site:
http:// www. epa. gov/ pesticides/ biopesticides/
Backyard Conservation: 1- 888- LANDCARE,
http:// www. nhq. nrcs. usda. gov/ CCS/ Backyard, html
Native plants and gardening links: http:// plants, usda. gov/ plants/ links, html
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Native plant societies by region: http:// www. nanps. org/ associations/ frame, shtml
Green Landscaping with Native Plants: http:// www. epa. gov/ greenacres/
Audubon Habitat Collection from Monrovia: 1- 888- PLANT IT
Further Reading:
The Bird GardenbySteve Kress Bird Gardening Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes The Chemical Free Lawn by
Warren Schultz Going Native by Brooklyn Botanic Garden Landscaping for Wildlife by Carrol L. Henderson
Redesigning the American Lawn -A SearchforEnvironmental Harmony by Bormann, Balmori & Geballe
For additional information contact:
Director, Pesticide Initiative & Healthy Habitats National Audubon Society Healthy Yards@ Audubon. org
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 45
46 Appendix A
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LEND A HAND TO BIRDS THIS FALL Award- Winning Web Site Combines Technology
and Bird Science
to Help Birds Get Home Safely
New York, NY August 28, 2000 - This fall, migratory birds will face a number of life threatening challenges in their
journey south. In addition to predators, difficult weather, and long distances, birds this year must contend with man
made threats including potential poisoning from the pesticides employed to combat the West Nile Virus. With the help
of citizen scientists and state- of- the- art forecasting technology, birds migrating through the Mid- Atlantic may get a
break.
"Using the most advanced migration monitoring techniques, in combination with the efforts of the public, BirdCast
www. BirdCast. org will become one of the most effective ways to track bird movement, and protect bird species,"
said Audubon's Senior Vice President for Science, Frank Gill. "From September 1st through November 15th, National
Audubon Society urges citizens from New York to Washington, D. C. to report bird sightings to BirdCast and to take
action to aid birds."
As birds migrate, major factors contributing to their demise include pesticide use; loss of feeding and watering
opportunities; impact with radio, television, and cellular towers, and brightly lit office buildings which disorient birds,
causing them to crash. Scientists recognize that migrating birds are in decline— down by nearly 50% since the 1960's.
BirdCast, enabling scientists to predict bird migration through a specific region, offers practical uses for homeowners
and public officials. Using BirdCast, homeowners will be advised as to when to avoid spraying pesticides in their
gardens, provide seed and water, and when to keep their cats indoors, in order to keep bird populations alive and well.
Building owners can use BirdCast to determine when to turn off disorienting lights that often cause birds to crash into
windows and die.
Public Health officials are also urged to make use of BirdCast. "This fall, BirdCast has an unintended and immediate
use for county health officers," continued Audubon's Gill. "BirdCast will provide guidelines on when to suspend spray
operations, helping officials avoid unnecessary bird deaths and violations of federal Migratory Bird Laws."
BirdCast, a project of National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Clemson University Radar
Ornithology Lab, made its debut this past spring and was a resounding success. Funded by the Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development and the Office of Pesticide Programs, the project was
granted the "Dr. Copernicus Award" by the Copernicus Education Gateway, a Web site that features the best
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educational sites for students and teachers. Using radar pictures, audio samples and most importantly, personal
observations (or "groundtruthing,") scientists were able to make predictions and draw conclusions about songbird
migratory behavior.
Participants from the mid- Atlantic region watched the skies, reported their findings to the BirdCast site and were then
advised when to keep their cats indoors, to refrain from pesticide use, and to provide food and water in order to protect
migrating birds in their region. Of particular interest to the thousands who visited BirdCast were the "10
Commandments to a Healthy Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides," still available at the site
http:// magazine, audubon. org/ backyard/ backyardOOOS. html.
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast has and will continue to enable scientists
to gather valuable information on migratory movements," said Gill. "The project will not only increase scientific
knowledge but also encourages people to make informed decisions about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or
undertake other activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, BirdCast will expand into the states of
New York and New Jersey. Scientists will generate morning and evening pictures of warbler, waterfowl, and hawk
migration through the region using NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar). These snapshots of bird migration and weather
events will be accompanied by interpretation and predictions from the Clemson Lab so that the general public and city
officials can both observe and assist migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use this new technology to observe birds and ultimately become
partners in conservation," said Sally Conyne, Director of Citizen Science for Audubon. "This fall we are eager to track
bird movement once again. Web users will be able to obtain daily forecasts of bird movements, learn about the best
bird- viewing spots and find out how human activity impacts birds. In addition, the site now includes general
information about migration, some late- breaking pesticide news, and a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important environmental indicators, helping scientists
assess the health of an ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird species in a particular region may indicate another
problem such as the loss of food or water sources, the destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic
element. Despite the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers of migratory birds that
return to the Mid- Atlantic region, and other parts of the country, decreases. These decreases may indicate problems
with broad environmental implications, problems that can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530 chapters throughout the Americas, the
National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their
habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
John Bianchi jbianchi@ audubon. org 2127 979- 3026 Kara Grobert kgrobert@ audubon. org 2127 979- 3027
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 47
48 Appendix A
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY URGES NY, NJ & CT HEALTH OFFICIALS NOT TO SPRAY PESTICIDES
THIS WEEKEND
Largest Wave of Bird Migration This Fall Predicted to Pass Through Tri- State Area
New York, NY September 15, 2000- Using the latest technology in bird tracking techniques and the efforts of citizen
scientists through BirdCast. org, National Audubon Society predicts the largest wave of migration will occur this
weekend- and strongly urges county officials to suspend pesticide spraying operations in the tri- state area.
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"This weekend will be one of the best opportunities for people to see a wide variety of species of migrating songbirds
and hawks, and to contribute their sightings to BirdCast," said Sally Conyne, Director of Citizen Science for Audubon.
"On the other hand, this weekend will be one of the worst times for pesticide sprayings to occur, due to the unknown
effects of the use of Scourge and Anvil on birds and the consequent reduction of their food source. By not spraying
pesticides in the tri- state area this weekend, county and city officials will avoid unnecessary bird deaths and violations
of federal Migratory Bird Laws."
Migratory birds usually face a number of life threatening challenges in their journey south. This weekend, in addition
to predators, difficult weather, and long distances, birds must contend with man made threats, especially potential
poisoning from the pesticides employed to combat the West Nile Virus. With the cooperation of health officials, help
of citizen scientists and state- of- the- art BirdCast technology, birds migrating through the MidAtlantic may get a
break.
"In combination with the efforts of the public, BirdCast www. BirdCast. org will become one of the most effective
ways to track bird movement, and protect bird species," said Audubon's Senior Vice President for Science, Frank Gill.
"From September 1st through November 15th, National Audubon Society urges citizens from New York to
Washington, D. C. to report bird sightings to BirdCast and to take action to aid birds."
As birds migrate, major factors contributing to their demise include pesticide use; loss of feeding and watering
opportunities; impact with radio, television, and cellular towers, and brightly lit office buildings which disorient birds,
causing them to crash. Scientists recognize that migrating birds are in decline— down by nearly 50% since the 1960's.
BirdCast, enabling scientists to predict bird migration through a specific region, offers practical information for
homeowners and public officials. Using BirdCast, homeowners will learn when to avoid spraying pesticides in their
gardens, when to provide seed and water, and when to keep their cats indoors, in order to keep bird populations alive
and well. Building owners can use BirdCast to determine when to turn off disorienting lights that often cause birds to
crash into windows and die.
BirdCast, a project of National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Clemson University Radar Ornithology
Lab, and Academy of Natural Sciences made its debut this past spring and was a resounding success. Supported by the
Environmental Protection Office of Pesticide Programs and Mid- Atlantic Office (Region III), the project was granted
the "Dr. Copernicus Award" by the Copernicus Education Gateway, an educational Web site for students and teachers.
Using radar pictures, audio samples and personal observations (or "ground truthing,") scientists were able to make
predictions and draw conclusions about songbird migratory behavior.
Participants from the mid- Atlantic region watched the skies, reported their findings to the BirdCast site and were then
advised when to keep their cats indoors, to refrain from pesticide use, and to provide food and water in order to protect
migrating birds in their region. Of particular interest to the thousands who visited BirdCast were the "10
Commandments to a Healthy Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides," available at the site
http:// www. birdsource. org/birdcast/ pestsum. html.
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast has and will continue to enable scientists
to gather valuable information on migratory movements," said Gill. "The project will not only increase scientific
knowledge but also encourages people to make informed decisions about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or
undertake other activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, BirdCast will expand into the states of
NY, NJ and CT. Scientists will generate morning and evening pictures of warbler, waterfowl, and hawk migration
through the region using NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar). These snapshots will be accompanied by interpretation
and predictions from the Clemson Lab so that the general public and city officials can both observe and assist
migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use the new technology to observe birds and ultimately become
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partners in conservation," said Audubon's Conyne. "This fall we are eager to track bird movement once again. Web
users will obtain daily forecasts of bird movements, learn about the best bird- viewing spots and find out how human
activity impacts birds. The site now includes general information about migration, some latebreaking pesticide news,
and a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important environmental indicators, helping scientists
assess the health of an ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird species in a particular region may indicate another
problem such as the loss of food or water sources, the destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic
element. Despite the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers of migratory birds that
return to the Mid- Atlantic region, and other parts of the country, decreases. These decreases may indicate problems
with broad environmental implications, problems that can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530 chapters throughout the Americas, the
National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their
habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kara Grobert kgrobert@ audubon. org 212 979- 3027
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 49
50 Appendix A
BirdCast & NEXRAD
In the early days of World War II, British radar operators noticed mysterious, ethereal shadows drifting across their
screens. Those apparitions, so wonderfully dubbed angels by pioneering radar technicians, heralded the beginnings of
radar ornithology. Radar's first major contribution to ornithology took form only a few years later when in 1958
Sidney Gauthreaux, then a high school student in New Orleans, postulated that if radar can see planes and weather,
why not birds? Only a few years later, as a Louisiana State graduate student, he found his proof. His radar images
definitively proved the existence of massive trans- Gulf migrations. Prior to these observations, there was a continuing
belief that the majority of migrants held to a more land bound, clockwise pattern; arriving in North America via
Mexico.
Through the 60's, 70's, and 80's, however, radar's promise failed to fully evolve. There were a few notable
discoveries, such as in 1989 when Gauthreaux, working from archival images, awakened the ornithological world to
the precipitous decline in migrating flocks— down by nearly half when compared to the 1960's. The existing radar of
the day, however, was proving largely inadequate. It lacked not only the necessary resolution, but it also failed to
provide a three dimensional view.
In the early 1990s, however, change was coming. The new, highly efficient NEXRAD Doppler radar (Next Generation
Radar) began to be placed in service. The Air Force started investigating NEXRAD's utility in their Bird Aircraft
Strike Hazard Program (BASH). During this period, portable NEXRAD units were teamed with vertically mounted
thermal imaging units so that the images captured by the radar could be visually verified. Elsewhere, graduate students
under Sid Gauthreaux were making their own exciting discoveries. Their breath- taking images of giant expanding
aerial doughnuts were found to be thousands of Purple Martin radiating from critical roosting sites each morning.
Radar ornithology work is now taking place in many parts of the country and it is soon to come to the Mid- Atlantic.
With the support of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development and the Office of
Pesticide Programs, a coalition consisting of National Audubon, Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson's
Radar Ornithology Laboratory, "BirdCast" will be coming soon to a computer near you on September 1, 2000. To
access BirdCast you will go to the existing Audubon/ Cornell Web site— BirdSource
http:// www. BirdSource. org. Throughout periods of peak migration, BirdCast will provide a morning and evening,
unfiltered snapshot of the eastern region of the US from New York through Virginia. The birds and weather shown in
theseimages will be accompanied by interpretation and a migration prediction provided by the Clemson Lab.
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Is this work being done just as a special favor for birders? Well, not exactly. You can think of BirdCast as an early
alert and an environmental billboard on the Internet. Linked to BirdCast will be messages such as admonitions against
the use of certain pesticides as well as a number of other migrant- friendly changes that people can make in their
backyards. We'll advise the residents of the region about the pests that actually pose local threats and the safest
management strategies. Included at the site are two charts of special interest— "10 Commandments for a Healthy
Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides." With the completion of data collection this migration season,
we hope to use the interpreted and ground- truthed images in pinpointing critical habitat in need of protection.
BirdCast Education and Outreach Materials 51
While all of this seems reasonably simple and employs proven technology, its not simple at all. In fact, it's really
research in the development stage. What has been sorely lacking in the past is you. Most earlier radar work has been
lacking a critical component— groundtruthing. Dozens, hundreds, and, indeed, thousands of sets of eyes are needed to
verify what the radar images are capturing and to that end, BirdCast will have an interactive component and will allow
you to log on and enter your daily sightings. These will feed directly into our database and be available to everyone in
real- time.
So, BirdCast needs you. Dust off those bins and get ready to head to your favorite haunts. While we encourage all of
you to post each and every sighting, of greatest value will be sightings coming from those who can afford the time to
make regular observations. Those of you who would like to participate on a daily or regular basis or if you would like
additional information please contact Sally Conyne sconyne@ audubon. org. These data you collect will greatly
enhance our overall understanding of migration patterns and movements. And this project will educate a multitude of
people about how their backyards can be made friendlier and healthier for our angels. So, please, help us help the
birds.
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Figure 1 NEXRAD Radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
I. Nl.XRAD rjcbr minges of bird migration on September 2H: rotlcLtivnv ih .UK! vt'litity ir»,
Analysis 28 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area were favorable for bird migration.
Northerly winds, clear skies, and cool temperatures associated with a strong ridge
of high pressure over the area facilitated southward movements of migrants across
the region. The reflectivity image (above left) shows extensive moderate to high
densities (15-28 dBZ) of non-precipitation reflectors over the coverage area. The
velocity image (above right) shows most of these reflectors are moving S and
ssw
at 20-50 knots on N and NW winds at 5-10 knots. These are likely birds.
Migration amount was moderate to high across the region, with bird densities
reaching 600-1150 birds per cubic kilometers (25-28 dBZ) in many areas.
— Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
Forecast 29 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area will not be favorable for bird
migration.
E and S winds and warming temperatures associated with high pressure off the
coast
of New England will keep most birds on the ground. Migration amount will be
low
to moderate, reaching densities of 80-120 birds per cubic kilometer (12-16 dBZ).
— Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
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Figure 1 NEXRAD Radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
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Figure 1 NEXRAD Radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
I. Nl.XRAD rjcbr minges of bird migration on September 2H: rotlcLtivnv ih .UK! vt'litity ir»,
Analysis 28 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area were favorable for bird migration.
Northerly winds, clear skies, and cool temperatures associated with a strong ridge
of high pressure over the area facilitated southward movements of migrants across
the region. The reflectivity image (above left) shows extensive moderate to high
densities (15-28 dBZ) of non-precipitation reflectors over the coverage area. The
velocity image (above right) shows most of these reflectors are moving S and
ssw
at 20-50 knots on N and NW winds at 5-10 knots. These are likely birds.
Migration amount was moderate to high across the region, with bird densities
reaching 600-1150 birds per cubic kilometers (25-28 dBZ) in many areas.
— Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
Forecast 29 September evening:
Weather conditions over the BirdCast area will not be favorable for bird
migration.
E and S winds and warming temperatures associated with high pressure off the
coast
of New England will keep most birds on the ground. Migration amount will be
low
to moderate, reaching densities of 80-120 birds per cubic kilometer (12-16 dBZ).
— Andrew Farnsworth, Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory.
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Figure 1 NEXRAD Radar images of bird migration on September 28: reflectivity (1) and velocity (r).
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Pratecfofi
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
Table of Contents
Next Section »
Throughout much of S'ortli Amelia, [lie iig
hii
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
exhausted and vulnerable. Many birds, particularly those that encounter
adverse weather conditions, do not survive their journeys. Unfortunately,
human activities can further increase the levels of stress and danger that a
migratory bird faces. For example:
• Inopportune application of pesticides to lawns, gardens, and parks
may poison a bird's food supply at just the moment when it is
weakest and most in need of nourishment. In the United States,
migratory birds are particularly vulnerable to pesticide application as
they migrate northward in the spring.
• Lights on tall structures (such as skyscrapers and communication
towers) may confuse and disorient birds, causing them to become
exhausted and crash into objects. Similarly, birds injure or kill
themselves by flying into panes of glass. These problems appear to be
particularly severe on overcast nights when birds may circle a light
source.
• The development of land for human purposes such as agriculture,
housing, and commerce often renders it unsuitable for use by birds.
Birds may be challenged not only by the loss of habitat in their
breeding and wintering ranges, but also by loss of habitat at key stop-
over points where they need to rest and regain strength over the
course of migration.
• Humans have imported animals to North America that prey upon
migratory birds (e.g., cats) or compete with them (e.g., starlings).
These new biological threats, combined with decreasing quantities of
suitable habitat, may reduce the population and range of a particular
migratory bird species.
There is much that property managers and the general public can do to
mitigate these problems if they are aware of them, interested in solving
them, and educated about bird conservation. During a period of peak bird
migration, pesticide applications can be delayed, bright building lights can
be turned off, and cats can be kept indoors. Therefore, outreach programs
designed to inform these audiences about the status of seasonal bird
migration are a promising route to improving the conservation of migratory
birds.
EPA has developed this technology transfer handbook primarily for
community organizers, non-profit groups, local government officials, and
other decision- makers who will implement, or are considering
implementing, bird migration monitoring and public outreach programs. The
handbook is designed with two main goals in mind. The first goal is to
present a case study showing how one regional outreach program—
BMPACT's BirdCast project for the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States
— provides information that allows property managers and the general
public to assist migratory birds. The second— and perhaps more important
— goal is to provide you with guidance for developing a similar program in
your own region. The guidance in the handbook is based on the experience
of the EMPACT BirdCast project, as well as that of other experts in the
fields of ornithology and public outreach.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
1.1 About the EMPACT Program
This handbook was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) EMPACT Program (http://www.epa.gov/empact). EPA
created EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking) in 1997. It is now one of the programs within EPA's
Office of Environmental Information. EMPACT is a new approach to
providing timely environmental information to communities across the
nation, helping people to make informed, day-to-day decisions. Residents in
156 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States have or will soon
have an easy way to answer questions such as:
• What is the ozone level in my city this morning?
• What is the water quality at my beach today?
• How high is the ultraviolet radiation in my city today?
• What is the level of contamination at the hazardous waste site in my
community?
• What are the levels of lead in the soil in yards in my neighborhood?
To help make EMPACT more effective, EPA is partnering with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey.
EPA is working closely with these federal entities to help achieve
nationwide consistency in measuring environmental data, managing
information, and delivering that information to the public.
EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental issues, such as
groundwater contamination, ocean pollution, smog, drinking water quality,
ultraviolet radiation, and ecosystem quality. Some of these projects have
been initiated directly by EPA. Others have been launched by the EMPACT
communities themselves.
1.2 About the EMPACT BirdCast Project
EPA's EMPACT program started funding the BirdCast project
(http://www.birdcast.org) **#> i n 1999, and the project started public
operation on April 1, 2000. The project began as a collaboration among
EMPACT, EPA Region 3, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the National
Audubon Society, Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology, Clemson
University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory, the Academy of Natural
Sciences in Philadelphia, and GeoMarine, Inc. The four primary objectives
of the project are:
1. To maintain an Internet Web site that posts educational information
about bird migration and the steps that property managers can take to
mitigate the danger and stress that migrating birds face when passing
through an area.
2. To predict and monitor bird migrations on a daily basis using weather
radar. The data gathered by radar are continually interpreted by
trained scientists and presented using text summaries, charts, and
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
radar maps. During its first year, BirdCast also experimented with
using microphones to perform bioacoustic monitoring of bird
migrations.
3. To collect and disseminate volunteers' reports of bird sightings. This
information collection, known as "groundtruthing," is coordinated
through the BirdCast Web site. Groundtruthing information is stored
on an Web-accessible database called "BirdSource" that Cornell
maintains. Visitors to the BirdCast Web site can query this database
and display reports in chart or graph form.
4. To raise public awareness about the sensitivity of migratory bird
populations. This pub-lie relations campaign, coordinated by National
Audubon, involves generating press releases, working with local land
managers, distributing promotional materials, and making
presentations at conferences and conventions.
1.2.1 BirdCast Regional Focus
To date, the BirdCast program has primarily covered bird migration along a
portion of the "mid-Atlantic flyway," a coastal area between North Carolina
and New England that experiences significant migratory bird activity each
spring and fall. The initial focus of BirdCast's attention has been the city of
Philadelphia. BirdCast established a local partnership with Philadelphia's
local PBS station (WHYY) and the Academy of Natural Sciences to
develop a public relations focus on the region surrounding this city. The
BirdCast project's efforts to collaborate with land managers so far have
consisted primarily of work with Philadelphia's Fairmont Park Commission.
It is hoped that eventually BirdCast can be expanded to cover the entire
Atlantic flyway. Birds could be tracked coming across the Gulf of Mexico
and at their first landfall. Birdwatchers up the coast could be alerted to the
status of the migrating birds and provided with additional early warning of
their arrival.
Despite its current regional focus, BirdCast also hopes to expand to cover
the entire United States by forming new partnerships with local
governments and birding organizations. So far, BirdCast has succeeded at
drawing both widespread media attention (it was discussed in more than
over 100 news articles by spring 2000) and attention in venues of national
importance (it has been covered by news reporters from both the New York
Times and the Wall Street Journal).
1.2.2 BirdCast in Context
The BirdCast project is a collaboration among individuals and organizations
that made significant contributions to the field of bird monitoring both
before and after receiving EMPACT funding. A brief history of these bird
monitoring activities (and of radar ornithology in particular) will help to
place BirdCast in its full context.
At the outset of World War II, almost immediately after the invention of
tracking radar, British radar operators noticed that birds flying over the
English channel would sometimes appear on their screens. At the time, this
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
fact was noteworthy primarily because it was possible to mistake a bird for a
fast-moving-ship—significant ornithological use of this phenomenon did
not begin until the 1960s. Sidney Gauthreaux, now Director of the Clemson
University Radar Ornithology Laboratory, began studying the radar
detection of birds at that time and has accumulated over 35 years of
experience with the method. In the 1970s, the United States Air Force also
began studying bird migration as a serious hazard to the operation of
military aircraft, which often fly at high speeds and low altitudes. The Bird
Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) team organized by the Air Force began
exploring radar's potential to provide early warning of potential bird
collisions. Their efforts were significantly aided by the emergence of "Next
Generation Radar" (NEXRAD) in the early 1990s. NEXRAD is a network
of highly sensitive weather radar stations located throughout the United
States. In 1995, Sidney Gauthreaux also began using NEXRAD in his
ornithological studies.
Meanwhile, in the mid-1990s, the National Audubon Society and Cornell
University's Laboratory of Ornithology began applying a very different
emerging technology to the field of bird conservation. These two groups
collaborated to develop BirdSource, a sophisticated computer database that
uses the Internet to allow birders from across North America to send their
observations to a central repository. With financial assistance from the
Packard Foundation, these two groups spent more than $2.5 million
developing the BirdSource database as a nation-wide information
technology resource for birders.
The idea of the BirdCast program emerged at a 1997 biodiversity meeting
attended by personnel from both EPA Region 3 and the Department of
Defense. EPA and DoD discussed the possibility of providing the public
with near real-time information about bird migration using radar
technology. BirdCast combined the capabilities of Clemson's Radar
Ornithology Lab with the information technology capabilities of BirdSource
so that members of the public would be able to not only view radar images
but also submit data that might verify (i.e., "groundtruth") those images.
EMPACT began funding the project through EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs and Region 3 in 1999, and BirdCast began its public operations in
2000.
1.2.3 Related Bird Monitoring Programs
BirdCast is not the only program that is currently using radar technology to
track bird migration. Additional groups, such as the ones listed below, either
have pursued or plan to pursue radar tracking technologies:
• BASH, the U.S. Air Force's program to guard against collisions
between wildlife and aircraft, has developed an Avian Hazard
Advisory System (AHAS). AHAS can be accessed on the Web at
http://www.ahas.com. Mrv This system uses radar to predict the risk
of a bird-aircraft collision along various flight paths at various times.
• The Illinois Natural History Survey, the University of Illinois
(http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu). *•"»" and EPA Region 5
(http://www.epa.gov/region5) have pro-posed setting up a project
analogous to BirdCast for the Chicago region. The organizers hope to
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
draw Chicago residents' attention to the unique role that their urban
and suburban open spaces play in the migration of birds, thereby
encouraging interest in the conservation of those open spaces.
1.3 About this Handbook
A number of bird observatories throughout the United States have expressed
interest in beginning projects similar to BirdCast. The Technology Transfer
and Support Division of the EPA Office of Research and Development's
(ORD's) National Risk Management Research Laboratory initiated the
development of this handbook to help interested organizations learn more
about BirdCast and to provide them with the technical information they
need to develop their own programs. ORD, working with BirdCast,
produced the handbook to leverage BMP ACT's investment in the project
and minimize the resources needed to implement similar projects in new
areas.
Both print and CD-ROM versions of the handbook are available for direct
online ordering from ORD's Technology Transfer Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/ttbnrmrl. A PDF version of the handbook can also be
downloaded from that site. In addition, you can 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
Please make sure you include the title of the handbook and the EPA
document number in your request.
We hope that you find the handbook worthwhile, informative, and easy to
use.
We welcome your comments; you can send them by e-mail from
EMPACT's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/empact/comment.htm.
1.4 For More Information
Try the following resources for more on the issues and programs this
handbook discusses:
The EMP ACT Program
http ://www. epa.gov/empact
BirdSource
http://www.BirdSource.org <*"»"
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
http ://birds. Cornell .edu
National Audubon Society
http ://www. audubon.org
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 1: Introduction
Ralph Wright
EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
(703) 308-3273
Ronald Landy
EPA Region 3
(410)305-2757
Sally Conyne
National Audubon Society
(215)297-9040
Steve Kelling
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
(607) 254-2478
Table of Contents II Next Section »
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 2: How to Use this Handbook
United SUes
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents
Next Section »
2. How to Use This Handbook
This handbook provides information your organization can use to create and
implement aWeb-based bird monitoring program. It presents detailed
guidance, based on the experience of the EMPACT BirdCast Project, on
how to:
1. Identify target communities that would be interested in reporting on
and following the progress of bird migration.
2. Record and present real-time information about bird migration using
radar, weather information, and acoustic monitoring.
3. Collect groundtruthing information from volunteer birders and present
it to the public.
4. Provide education and outreach to members of the public about what
to do when migratory birds pass through their area.
This handbook provides simple "how to" instructions on each facet of
planning and implementing a bird monitoring program, along with
additional information about bird migration:
• Chapter 3 discusses bird migration as a general conservation issue
and how the different members of a bird migration monitoring
organization work with each other to help birds as they migrate.
• Chapter 4 discusses instrument-based observations of birds.
• Chapter 5 covers a variety of issues relevant to volunteer
groundtruthing, including a detailed description of BirdCast's policies
and experiences working with volunteer birders.
• Chapter 6 treats the methods and strategies a bird monitoring
organization may make use of to conduct public outreach and
education.
• Appendix A presents examples of education and outreach materials
from the BirdCast project. Interspersed throughout the handbook are
success stories and lessons learned in the course of the EMPACT
BirdCast project.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 2: How to Use this Handbook
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents || Next Section»
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 3: Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program
Unitala*'t EPA/625/R-01/007
Environmental Protection
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section || Table of Contents || Next Section »
3. Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring
Program
This chapter provides guidance on important first steps that you will need to
take as you start your bird migration monitoring program. Section 3.1
provides a brief overview of the structure of a bird migration monitoring
program and outlines the roles and responsibilities of program partners,
based on the EMPACT BirdCast Project model. Section 3.2 discusses the
critical process of selecting program partners who can best help you meet
your program's objectives within your target community.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers and
decision-makers who may be considering whether to implement bird
migration monitoring programs in their communities, as well as for
organizers who are implementing such programs.
3.1 Program Structure: Overview of a Bird Migration
Monitoring Program
The EMPACT BirdCast project is a multifaceted project that engages a
variety of activities —everything from distributing posters to counting birds.
These activities can be grouped into four main categories, which make up
the main components of the project: administration and public outreach,
radar analysis, database management, and volunteer groundtruthing.
The following paragraphs summarize these activities to provide an overview
of how the EMPACT BirdCast program works. These activities are
described in greater detail in Chapters 4 through 6.
General Administration and Public Outreach. The administrator and staff
of BirdCast are responsible for the primary public relations and outreach
efforts of the project. This includes managing the distribution of posters
about pesticide use, maintaining contacts with news media organizations to
ensure that BirdCast stays in the public eye, issuing periodic press releases,
and working with local land managers to encourage bird-friendly gardening
practices. The administrator also provides a broad range of support tasks
related to the project's birdwatching volunteer program. These tasks include
providing advice about making bird identifications, making quality control
checks of data submitted by volunteers, and networking to recruit new
volunteers. The BirdCast administrator also serves a central liaison with the
other BirdCast staff, including the radar analyst and the chief database base
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 3: Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program
manager.
Radar Analysis. The chief radar analyst and his assistant are responsible for
predicting the degree of bird migration activity in upcoming evenings and
for measuring the actual amount of bird migration using radar data. The
radar analyst (and/or his assistant) must make daily reports of predicted and
observed migration during the periods of bird migration (in the spring and
the fall) but have fewer regular duties during the "off season." They seek
out and contract information service providers to ensure a constant supply
of radar data during the periods of migration. Once per day, the radar
analysts submit their predictions and observations to the database
administrator via the Internet.
Database Administration. BirdCast's database administrator and his staff
ensure that the public has access (via the Internet) to the information
submitted by the radar analyst. In the case of BirdCast, the database is
actually maintained as a separate organization called BirdSource.
BirdSource is an entity distinct from BirdCast and it maintains a variety of
other Web-enabled birding databases. The BirdCast database administrator
issues user identifications to new volunteers, implements backups and
system security measures, and coordinates the programming of changes to
the database system. Also, while BirdCast's bioaccoustic monitoring was
being conducted, the project was coordinated by the database administrator.
Volunteer Birdwatching. BirdCast's volunteers provide the
"groundtruthing" information necessary to verify the observations made
using radar instrumentation. Volunteers are recruited by the project
administrator and contact her with any questions or comments they may
have about their participation in the program. Registered volunteers make
observations several times a week and record their findings directly to the
BirdCast database (using the Internet).
The flow chart below summarizes the basic structure of the BirdCast
project. The chart identifies the main activities of the project, the team
members responsible for these activities, and the flow of work among team
members. It also indicates where in this handbook you can go for more
information about specific activities.
View Full Chart
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 3: Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program
3.2 Selecting Program Partners
As described in Chapter 1. BirdCast is a partnership of several public and
non-profit organizations. These have included university laboratories, a
wildlife conservation society, a park management authority, and a natural
history organization. The reason BirdCast is composed of such a wide range
of partners is that its goals require the use of a wide range of skills and
community connections. None of the individual organizations, working by
themselves, would have been as effective as the collaboration of many
different organizations, each possessing complementary skills and abilities.
For example, the staff of Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Lab have
specialized skills in forecasting and analyzing bird migration patterns using
radar images and other weather data. The National Audubon Society, on the
other hand, has an extensive media infrastructure for presenting bird
conservation information to the public and can easily enlist the support of
birding communities. Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, in conjunction
with the National Audubon Society, has invested in the development of
BirdSource, a sophisticated Web-enabled database for the collection and
distribution of bird monitoring data.
In starting your own bird monitoring program, you'll need to assemble a
team of individuals or organizations who offer a similar range of skills and
qualifications. To select partners or team members, you should think about
how each will fit into the overall program structure, and how different
partners can work together to create a successful program. You will also
need to consider their relationship to the region where you will be
monitoring bird activity. For example:
• A small, grass-roots organization that already has strong ties to the
community can be ideal for providing public outreach and obtaining
volunteer birdwatchers. Local chapters of birding clubs, natural
history associations, or conservation groups can all be good choices.
(For a directory of birding clubs in the United States, see
(http://birding.about.com/hobbies/birding/library^lalphausclub.htm.
• A university with an ornithology laboratory would make a good
partner for identifying and interpreting radar images of birds. A
professor or graduate student working in such a lab might either
already have the necessary skills or be able to acquire them for the
benefit of the bird monitoring project.
• A government agency, university, or private company that employs
persons with a range of programming and "new media" skills would
make a good partner for the purposes of establishing a Web site
where the public can access up-to-date radar images and submit and
retrieve groundtruthing observations. Building such a Web site from
the ground up may require access to staff trained in JAVA
programming, Web page design, network administration, and
database building.
3.3 Figuring Costs
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One of the important first steps for your organization to take when it is
considering setting up a bird monitoring program is to estimate how much
your planned activities will cost. Although your program need not be as
large or ambitious as BirdCast's, you may find it helpful to know how much
money BirdCast spent in its first year of operation.
In its initial year (between December of 1999 and November of 2000)
BMP ACT provided BirdCast with $449,500 for operations and set-up. As
shown above, these expenses break down into five categories, each of which
was handled by a separate entity:
• Project management and national level promotion was handled by
National Audubon Society. This cost $71,000 or 16% of the overall
EMPACT budget for BirdCast. This category covers all the public
promotion of BirdCast that went on during the year, excepting a local
media campaign in Philadelphia.
• Project promotion in the Philadelphia area was handled by the
Academy of Natural Sciences. This cost $76,500 or 17% of the
overall EMPACT budget for BirdCast. The Academy was responsible
for encouraging local news media to discuss BirdCast and reporting
its findings.
• Database and Internet support was provided by the staff of the
BirdSource project at Cornell University. This support cost $136,000,
or 30% of the overall EMPACT budget. BirdSource staff maintained
the BirdCast Web site, set up and managed a database for
groundtruthing observations, and coordinated BirdCast's bioacoustic
monitoring program.
• Generation and interpretation of NEXRAD images was performed
by Clemson University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory (CUROL) for
a fee of $68,000, or 15% of the overall EMPACT budget. As
described elsewhere in this report, CUROL submitted daily radar
information about bird migration to the BirdCast Web site.
• Software for Processing NEXRAD images was developed by
GeoMarine Software for $98,000, or 22% of the overall EMPACT
budget. GeoMarine developed software algorithms for distinguishing
radar signals reflected from birds from those reflected from clouds.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 3: Beginning a New Bird Migration Monitoring Program
Software for Processing
NEXRAD Images
22%
Project Management
and National-level
Promotion
Generation and
Interpretation of 1
NEXRAD Images
15%
Project Promotion in
Philadelphia Area
17%
Database and
Internet Support
This cost breakdown represents the first-year of a cutting-edge program and
should not be taken as completely representative of the ongoing costs of
other bird monitoring programs, particularly those that are smaller in scale.
For example, BirdCast organizers learned that it was neither necessary nor
feasible at present to automatically distinguish birds from precipitation with
software algorithms. The expense associated with this component of the
program, therefore, was not carried forward into future years and need not
be incurred by newer monitoring programs.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 4: Instrument Based Observation of Bird Migration
&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Protectiofi
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section ii Table of Contents
Next Section »
4. Instrument Based Observation of Bird
Migration
Flying takes a lot of work. While larger birds (such as raptors, cranes, and
waterfowl) will migrate during daylight hours, most songbirds migrate on
clear, calm nights when weather conditions are most favorable to powered
flight. Unless there is a full moon out, lack of light can make it almost
impossible to visually observe migrating songbirds. Birders can take note of
where such birds land in the morning, but actual songbird migration is
typically recorded using special instruments.
The primary foundation of BirdCast's predictions and observations of bird
migration is the information provided by a network of WSR-88D weather
stations located throughout the United States. These weather stations (and
the data they produce) are collectively referred to as Next Generation Radar
(NEXRAD). BirdCast has also experimented with bioacoustic monitoring of
nocturnal bird migration. Although this technique has proved promising, it
is not currently in widespread use due to cost considerations.
4.1 What is NEXRAD And What Can It Do?
Like all radar systems,
NEXRAD identifies the
location of distant objects by
transmitting radio signals and
analyzing the returning
signals that have been
reflected off of those distant
objects. Unlike previous
radar networks, which were
composed of WSR-57 and/or
WSR-74C radar stations,
NEXRAD radar is also able
to measure the radial velocity
of objects by recording the Doppler shift of the reflected radar. (The
Doppler shift is the difference between the frequency of the transmitted
radar signal and the reflected signal—if the reflected signal is higher
frequency than the transmitted signal, it is an indication that the reflecting
object is moving toward the radar station; conversely, if the reflected signal
is at a lower frequency, it is an indication that the object is moving away
from the radar station)
NlvXRAD K.i.lir Si.umn in Mourn I Mlv. Xov |ctvcjr
^^
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 4: Instrument Based Observation of Bird Migration
In addition to this new ability to detect object velocity, NEXRAD is also
distinguished by increased object detection sensitivity. This is particularly
important for ornithologists because birds are relatively weak reflectors
(compared to the objects usually detected with radar, such as clouds,
airplanes, and ships). NEXRAD is capable of detecting birds flying at a
range of heights and can provide a rough idea of the altitude at which a
particular group of birds is flying. NEXRAD is so sensitive that radar
ornithologists need to learn how to differentiate birds and insects—both can
be detected. NEXRAD Radar Station in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
Finally, NEXRAD provides information about the reflectivity of a particular
object (i.e., how effective a particular object is at reflecting radio waves).
Reflectivity can be determined by a number of different factors but in the
case of migrating birds, it provides indirect information about the number of
birds traveling in a particular area.
In summary, then, NEXRAD can help determine:
• The location of a group of migrating birds, including general altitude
information.
• The speed with which the group birds are moving towards and away
from a particular radar station.
• The approximate quantity of migrating birds in a particular area.
Quantitative NEXRAD estimates are calibrated by "moonwatching"
(counting the number of birds that fly across a visible full moon) and
by making next-morning ground observations.
4.2 What is Bioacoustic Monitoring And What Can It Do?
BirdCast staff have been experimenting with bioacoustic monitoring as a
way of keeping track of nighttime bird migrations. Bioacoustic monitoring
is the process of recording bird calls and matching them to a library of the
bird calls of different species. When birds fly at night, they typically make
frequent 50- to 100-millisecond vocalizations. Some birders can make fine
distinctions between certain kinds of birds simply on the basis of these calls
(e.g., the distinction between the Veery Thrush, the Gray-Cheeked Thrush,
and the Hermit Thrush). Although birders can perform something like
bioacoustic monitoring right in their heads, BirdCast staff are developing a
computerized system to automate and standardize the process of recording,
filtering, and identifying bird calls.
A bioacoustic monitoring station, typically located on the property of a
volunteer birder, consists of a computer with a sound processing card and a
specially designed outdoor microphone. The microphones used in
bioacoustic monitoring can detect noises made by birds that fly up to 1,500
above the ground. Throughout an entire evening, the computer
automatically analyzes the sounds picked up on the microphone and
digitally records those sounds that appear to be made by birds. In the
morning, a volunteer uploads this "filtered" recording to the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology, where more sophisticated computer software
enters the information into a database and attempts to determine which
species are represented in the recording.
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The BirdCast program has recently found it necessary to curtail its
bioaccoustic monitoring program—only a very few stations are currently in
use and there are no current plans to establish new ones. The greatest barrier
to the more extensive use of bioacoustic monitoring has been the cost of
manufacturing the special microphones for the monitoring stations. The
basic materials for the microphones are quite inexpensive, but because
production quantities were extremely low, the microphones were being
hand-built by laboratory staff at Cornell. The microphones currently cost
about $2,500 apiece, but BirdCast staff imagine that the microphones could
be dramatically reduced in price if some way were found to mass produce
them.
Additional limitations of bioacoustic monitoring include the following:
• Weather conditions can affect both the likelihood that birds will make
noises and the ease with which those noises can be picked up with a
microphone. Thus, it is difficult to disentangle weather variability
from variability in the numbers of migrating birds.
• Many species of birds do not make noises while flying. Therefore, it
is difficult to gauge overall numbers of migrating birds solely using
this method.
• Bioacoustic technology is in an early stage of development. The
software that is used to quantify and identify birds on the basis of
sound recordings is still quite experimental and there has not been
enough time for scientific literature to accumulate on this topic.
4.3 How Do NEXRAD, Bioacoustic Monitoring, and
Volunteer Groundtruthing Fit Together?
It is noteworthy that the altitude detection range for bioacoustic monitoring
(0-1,500 feet) does not overlap with the detection range for NEXRAD radar
(generally between 3,000 to 6,000 feet). The non-overlap of these two
ranges complicates the correlation of bioacoustic results and NEXRAD
results, as it is possible for certain bird species to picked up by one kind of
instrument and not the other. Due to the influence of variable weather
conditions and a lack of complete information about the altitude at which
different bird species fly when they migrate, it is not possible to precisely
predict which species will fly within the altitude range of which instruments
on any given evening.
Groundtruthing data collection, covered in greater detail in Chapter 5. is an
essential complement to both NEXRAD radar interpretation and bioacoustic
monitoring. One reason for this is the fact that it is difficult to ascertain
what kinds of birds are migrating through an area solely from NEXRAD
data. In combination with coordinated groundtruthing data, however, it is
sometimes possible to associate particular clusters of reflectivity with
particular species of birds. Groundtruthing also helps to calibrate the
quantitative estimates of birds made from radar and it serves as a quality
control check of the basic reporting information provided by radar and
bioacoustic monitoring.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 4: Instrument Based Observation of Bird Migration
Until recently, the BirdCastWeb site combined the daily results of
NEXRAD observations, bioaccoustic monitoring, and groundtruthing in a
single display. The purpose of this display was to show how each of these
methods produced results that were similar to those of the other methods.
Under ideal circumstances, for example, all three methods would predict the
same degree of migration activity. This display has been recently
discontinued on the grounds that some viewers may have found it too
complicated.
4.4 How Can A Bird Monitoring Organization Begin Using
NEXRAD To Observe and Predict Bird Migrations?
The essential first step in setting up a radar component for your migration
monitoring program is to contact an organization that is already experienced
in this work, such as the Clemson University Radar Ornithology Laboratory
or the Illinois Natural History Survey. Such contact is essential for obtaining
advice about the feasibility of your project and about the best way to obtain
the expertise necessary to accomplish your project. Depending on the
training and availability of your organization's staff, you will probably need
to either delegate your actual NEXRAD analysis to an experienced
laboratory or send a staff member for training at such a laboratory. Both of
these plans would require negotiating a working partnership with an
organization possessing expertise in radar ornithology.
The use of NEXRAD to forecast bird migration, in the words of one
practitioner, "is a difficult task that requires laboratory and field experience
as well as an appreciation for meteorological phenomena." The
interpretation of NEXRAD radar to observe current migration is a similarly
complex task. At present, it is an undertaking suitable for a graduate level
or post-doctoral ornithologist who has received hands-on training with an
expert.
4.5 How Did BirdCast Implement the NEXRAD Component
of Its Bird Monitoring Program?
In July 1998, Dr. Sidney Gauthreaux of the Clemson University Radar
Ornithology Laboratory (CUROL) helped propose the BirdCast project to
EPA's EMPACT Program. His proposed task involved forecasting bird
migration twice a day (mid-morning and midevening) over the Delaware
Valley and then using Doppler weather surveillance radar (i.e., the
NEXRAD network of WSR-88D stations) to validate the forecast and
measure the actual amount of bird migration that occurred over the area.
The text files and graphic radar files were to be sent to the BirdCast Web
server at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University and posted on
the BirdCast Web site. GeoMarine, another partner in the project, was to
supply hourly WSR-88D imagery that had been processed to eliminate
echoes from weather and other non-bird targets. The hourly images would
also be posted on the BirdCastWeb site. A proposal was developed in
August 1998 and work began after Clemson University signed a subcontract
withNational Audubon Society in mid-March 2000.
4.5.1 Activities in Spring 2000
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The first task was to purchase a host computer (Dell Dimension XPS
T600MHz, Dell Computer Corporation) that could be used to download the
WSR-88D images from the NEXRAD Information Distribution Service
(NIDS) provider, download the weather data necessary for generating a
migration forecast, and serve as host computer where Cornell could
electronically "capture" forecast text files, analysis text files, and the mosaic
radar image files. CUROL used Marta Systems, Inc. as the NIDS provider.
CUROL was familiar with Marta Systems' software, so it could easily make
the mosaic images of the radar displays from the Delaware Valley. In order
to work from remote locations, CUROL also purchased a Gateway Solo
9300 CX laptop computer. This allowed laboratory staff to work on
forecasts and analysis while at home or traveling by communicating with
the Dell host computer over the Internet. CUROL believes that laptops are
essential for producing consistent and timely results for display on the
BirdCast Web site.
During a previous research project in the middle 1970s, Dr. Gauthreaux
developed a multivariate forecasting model to predict the amount of bird
migration in the Athens, Georgia, area. The input variables for this model
were the weather predictions for the period in question. Dr. Gauthreaux
generated this model by step-wise regression analysis, choosing an array of
weather variables that best explained the variation of nightly bird migration
amounts. No existing forecasting models of bird migration were available
for the Delaware Valley area and time constraints prohibited the
development of a model for the region. Given this situation, CUROL used
the Athens forecast model for the spring 2000 BirdCast effort.
From 31 March through 30 May, Dr. Gauthreaux or graduate students
Andrew Farnsworth or Jonathan Ariail gathered weather data via the
Internet from weather stations in the Delaware Valley for input to the
Athens model. The model generated a forecast of the amount of migration
expected over the Delaware Valley. The model was run before noon to
forecast the amount of migration expected that evening at 10 PM, and it was
run before midnight to forecast the amount of migration expected the
following morning at 10 AM. In addition, to verify the accuracy of their
forecasts, CUROL downloaded radar imagery from five WSR-88D stations
(KAKQ in Norfolk, VA; KLWX in Sterling, VA.; KDOX at Dover Air
Force Base, DE; KDIX at Ft. Dix near Philadelphia, PA; and KCCX at State
College, PA) and made mosaic images showing the amount of bird
migration over the Delaware Valley at the forecast times. The laboratory
analyzed and interpreted the mosaics so that the viewer of BirdCast would
be able to discriminate birds from weather and insects.
Each morning before noon and each evening before midnight, CUROL staff
placed the text file of the forecast, the text file of the analysis, the graphic
file of the radar reflectivity mosaic, and the graphic file of the radar velocity
mosaic in separate folders on the Dell host computer. The BirdCast server at
Cornell automatically downloaded the files and posted the materials on the
BirdCast Web site. Except for a few glitches near the beginning of the
project, the CUROL efforts proceeded with no problems.
4.5.2 Later Seasons (Fall 2000 and Spring 2001)
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CUROL was encouraged to continue with the BirdCast program because of
its success in forecasting the amount of bird migration during the initial
BirdCast effort. There were a number of changes between the second season
of BirdCast and the first. For example, BirdCast coverage was expanded in
this season to include the state of New York. Also, because only a very
small amount of bird movement had been found in the mid-morning hours,
CUROL discontinued forecasts and analyses of daytime bird migration.
CUROL learned from the spring 2000 effort that using a single model to
forecast migration amount over the entire BirdCast area resulted in
inaccurate forecasts for some areas. In an effort to overcome the
geographical limitations of the spring 2000 model, CUROL developed two
models specifically for the BirdCast area using a step-wise regression
analysis of forecast weather variables and the amount of bird migration
measured (i.e., the relative reflectivity of targets [dBZ] displayed in WSR-
88D images). CUROL used WSR-88D data collected during the fall
migration of 1999 for another CUROL project and Local Climatic Data
(LCD) for September and October 1999 that it purchased from the National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC) for two stations: Albany, New York, and
Washington, D.C. By the spring of 2001, CUROL had developed more than
30 regional models.
As in the spring of 2000, at 2 PM every day CUROL placed a text file
containing the evening forecast, a text file containing the analysis of the
previous evening, the graphic file of the radar reflectivity mosaic, and the
graphic file of the radar velocity mosaic in separate folders on CUROL's
BirdCast host computer. As in the spring the Cornell BirdCast server
collected these files and posted them to the CUROL portions of the
BirdCast Web site. The ability to generate a forecast each day, including
days on which both forecasters were traveling or away from the CUROL
host computer, was greatly enhanced by a laptop computer with an FTP
program that allowed the forecasters to upload text and graphics
remotely.With the exception of some initial glitches that were quickly
corrected, CUROL's models worked well. A sample of the Web page
products for an afternoon posting (in this case for the afternoons of 28 and
29 September 2000) can be found in Figure 1.
4.5.3 Feedback and Conclusions
CUROL received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public with
regard to its forecasting and the radar ornithology tutorial that it developed
for the BirdCast Web site. Although the forecasting and analysis portion of
the BirdCast project is complete, CUROL seeks to develop better forecast
models. As it refines its methodology for building models and its
understanding of the interactions and correlations between specific weather
variables and the amount of bird migration, the accuracy of its forecasting
will continue to improve. Models are an absolute necessity for any attempt
to track bird migration over large spatial scales (such as the entire eastern
seaboard), and improved accuracy will improve scientists' ability to
understand where and when large movements of migrating birds will occur.
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 4: Instrument Based Observation of Bird Migration
View Figure 1
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 5: Groundtruthing Observations
&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Protectiofi
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section ii Table of Contents
Next Section »
5. Groundtruthing Observations
The ornithological community uses the term "groundtruthing" to refer to a
particular process of corroborating and supplementing instrument-based
observations of birds (such as NEXRAD signals). This procedure is
straightforward: one recruits birders in the area in question to count and
identify birds there. A collective
groundtruthing program serves a variety
of purposes:
• It complements the radar data
provided by NEXRAD.
• As a form of "citizen science" it
encourages birders to become
increasingly engaged in
environmental science and
conservation.
• It makes birding more fun by
organizing an audience for the
observations of individual birders.
This chapter is oriented toward helping
the administrators of bird monitoring
organizations develop and manage groundtruthing programs. It describes
BirdCast's sophisticatedlnternet-based groundtruthing database
(BirdSource). However, a groundtruthing program need not use precisely
this kind of tool to manage its information. Regardless of a particular
program's data distribution/collection needs, the experiences of the BirdCast
program may provide valuable insights.
5.1 How Does Groundtruthing Complement Radar
Analysis?
The eyes and ears of a careful observer offer the most direct indication of
the number and type of birds in a particular area. Therefore, such
observations can serve as a means of calibrating, validating, and
supplementing NEXRAD images of bird migration. As described in Chapter
4, NEXRAD does not provide a direct sampling of the number of birds
traveling through a particular area and provides very little information about
what kind of birds are being detected. All it can do is record the radio
^i •
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reflectivity at a particular distance and angle from the station. During spring
migration in particular, there appears to be a high correlation between
nights when radar shows bird-like signals and mornings when birders see a
lot of new birds on the ground in nearby areas. Radar ornithologists are still
in the process of developing relationships between radar activity at a
particular place and time and groundtruthing results at other places and
times. Therefore, there is heightened value in a coordinated program of
groundtruthing and radar imaging—the connection between the two data
sets is as valuable as the sets themselves. In the future, for example, it may
be possible to track the migration of individual species of birds using a
combination of radar and extensive groundtruthing.
5.2 How Does BirdCast Conduct its Groundtruthing
Program?
Over an average week of operation, the BirdCast Web site receives more
than 300 reports of bird activity from its volunteers. The project then
presents this information (in the form of charts and graphs) to the Web
site's visitors, who number over 80,000 in a 2-month migratory season. As
these figures indicate, BirdCast's groundtruthing program requires
significant information technology infrastructure and program
administration. Whether your organization is planning a groundtruthing
program of similar scope or one that will be smaller scale, a knowledge of
the methods and experiences of BirdCast in this endeavor is likely to be
helpful.
5.2.1 BirdCast's Information Management Infrastructure
As described in Chapter 3. BirdCast's operation relies on a substantial prior
investment of time, money, and labor in the establishment of BirdSource's
information technology infrastructure. This infrastructure consists of:
• Software: an Oracle database customized to handle groundtruthing
data, JAVA applications to process the information requests of users
of the BirdSource Web site, and a GIS tool that allows users to
specify the latitude and longitude of their observation site by zooming
in from a map of the mid-Atlantic United States.
• Hardware: A four-processor server computer to maintain the
BirdSource web site, an uninterruptable power supply and tape
backup system, and Internet connection service for the computer.
• Support Staff: one full-time network administrator and five JAVA
programmers.
This infrastructure, which cost $2.5 million to establish, is larger and more
robust than what is necessary to simply record and present groundtruthing
information. One proposed bird monitoring program, based in the Chicago
area, expects to meet its information technology needs for 2 years at a cost
of $100,000 per year. A potentially economical option for supporting
groundtruthing programs may be to collaborate with BirdSource staff at
Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology. BirdSource staff expect that they
could provide complete information technology support for an initial outlay
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of $35,000-50,000 and a maintenance fee of $5,000-10,000 per year.
Depending on the goals and needs of your organization's groundtruthing
program, it may not even be necessary to spend this much. One group
planning to set up a groundtruthing program in the Chicago area has
estimated that they could store their data using spreadsheet software and
would not even need to dedicate an entire Windows workstation to the task.
5.3 BirdCast's Administrative Procedures
BirdCast records the birding observations of both registered and
unregistered visitors to its Web site. The former are called "control"
observations and the latter are called "anonymous" observations.
5.3.1 Collecting Control Observations
Control observations are repeated visual inventories of birds obtained by
regularly visiting a particular site during a bird migration season. They are
made by committed, experienced birders known by or referred to the site's
administrator. It is one of the primary tasks of the administrator to identify
these individuals, provide them with support and guidance, and monitor and
edit their contributions to the database.
The site administrator actively recruits individuals to serve as control
observers through several avenues:
• Personal networking within the local birding community.
• Appeals to local conservation groups, such as chapters of the
Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy.
• Postings to e-mail distribution lists dedicated to birding.
A control observer needs be reasonably experienced at quantifying and
identifying birds in his or her area. He or she must also have enough free
time, energy, and commitment to make frequent visits to an observation
site. Ideally, a volunteer should be able to make these visits during the early
morning hours (between sunrise and roughly 9 AM) when migratory birds
are most active. It is also very helpful for a volunteer to be able to
recognize birds by their songs as this is the most rapid way of identifying
the presence of a particular species of bird. (The Cornell ornithological
laboratory makes recordings of bird songs that volunteers can use for
training purposes.)
At present, BirdCast has not established a formal procedure for screening
observers or checking their qualifications, as most control observers are
friends or colleagues of the project organizers. Some control observers,
however, are individuals unknown to BirdCast staff who have
spontaneously approached the project about participating. It is assumed that
an inexperienced birdwatcher would tend to be discouraged by the time
commitment required in making regular observations over a prolonged
period, so there is a process of "self-screening" inherent in signing up
volunteers.
r
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Lessons Learned: How frequently should control
observers go into the field?
In the experience of BirdCast organizers, control observers should ideally
make five visits to a single observation site during each week of a data
collection period. A typical observation session takes between 1 and 2
hours, depending on the observer's time constraints and the abundance of
birds at the observation site. This schedule of frequent observations
increases the likelihood of "catching" the migration of different species of
birds through an area. The goal is to have the observation record reflect the
variability of the birds' presence or absence at a particular location rather
than the variability of the observer's presence or absence.
In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, spring migration period
takes place over a relatively short period of time: roughly from April 15 to
May 15. Fall migration, however, is more difficult to observe completely
because it takes place over a more extended period of time. In the fall of
2000, BirdCast experienced significant difficulties with volunteer bum-out
when it asked control observers to work from September 1 to November 1.
In the future, BirdCast is planning to implement a staggered observation
schedule that will keep observers' commitment limited to approximately 1
month. Volunteers living at higher latitudes will begin and end their
observing earlier than will volunteers living at lower latitudes.
Once the site administrator has identified a new control observer, she briefs
him or her about the standard observation protocols used by the project and
issues that person a new User ID for logging into the site. Also, new control
observers need to be shown how to use BirdSource's interactive map to
estimate the latitude and longitude of their observation site.
The interactive map is a software component of the BirdSource Web site in
which users "zoom in" to their observation site by clicking on a map of the
United States. Once a user has selected a particular location, the software
calculates that location's latitude and longitude.
Once they have registered and determined the location of their observation
site, control observers use their User ID to access data entry pages on the
BirdCastWeb site where they can enter:
• The date and time of their observations.
• Whether or not they recorded every species that they saw.
• The birders' estimation of their own skill at identification.
• The physical environment and weather at the place of observation.
• The numbers and kinds of different birds counted.
• Any additional information not provided elsewhere in the form.
The administrator has ongoing responsibilities for answering any questions
the control observer may have and for editing the data provided by the
observer. The purpose of this editing process is to ensure that the data
provided by the control observers is of a high quality. Editing requires some
local birding expertise—one must review the submitted observations and
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make judgment calls about whether they are reasonable, questionable, or
obviously erroneous. The administrator flags control observations that
appear problematic and follows up with the observer to resolve her
concerns. The following signs, when they appear repeatedly or in
combination with each other, may cast doubt on an observer's results:
• Species that are extremely rare for the area, particularly in large
numbers.
• Species that are extremely rare for a particular time of year
(particularly record-setting early sightings of a species).
• The omission of migratory species that are quite common for the
particular area and time.
None of these signs is a certain indication that a set of observations is
invalid, but they may prompt the BirdCast administrator to request
additional information from the observer, such as sketches, notes,
photographs, and the names of co-observers. Following is a sample letter
from BirdCast that requests additional information in a non-confrontational
manner:
May 10, 2001
Dear Mr./Ms
I'm interested in learning more about the birds you've reported to our project and
the site from which you're reporting. As you probably know, you've had some
extraordinary sightings during the two days for which you've reported. Standard
procedure for our BirdSource projects is that we request verification for unusual
reports before the data is entered in the database.
Several of these would be all time early records for your immediate area and the
numbers you report for some species are unusually large. On the other hand, your
report for a species like Yellow-ramped Warbler is very low.
We are making a great effort to report only species and numbers that were well
seen and absolutely identified. Only sightings of this type will give our project
credibility and, in the long run, benefit bird conservation efforts. With this in
mind, would you review your reports that I have listed below and answer the
following questions?
Was the bird well-seen? for how long?
Is this a positive identification? Which of the field marks were
observed?
Was the bird photographed? Was it seen by additional observers?
Were notes taken? Sketches made?
American Black Duck - Wild bird? late
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - early
Golden-crowned Kinglet - late
Philadelphia Vireo - 1 unusual, 2 extremely rare
Bay-breasted Warbler - early, 2
Cerulean Warbler - early, 2
Mourning Warbler - early
Yellow-breasted Chat - early, 2
Rusty Blackbird - late, unusual, 10 birds
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I would also like to have more information about the site where you observed
these species. Is this land named? Is it public or private?
Thanks very much for providing us with this information and thanks for your
patience.
Sally Conyne
Audubon
BirdCast also has a number of proactive strategies for limiting the amount
of potentially unreliable observations that it receives. These strategies
include:
• Putting caps on the number of individual birds of a particular species
that can be reported.
• Phrasing data entry questions clearly to avoid misunderstanding.
• Offering assistance in the identification of birds to volunteers.
• Creating area-specific checklists of birds for volunteers to use in data
entry. This prevents the reporting of obviously erroneous reports (e.g.,
roadrunners in upstate New York)
Lessons Learned: Data Entry Burdens
One of the lessons that BirdCast organizers learned when they established
their volunteer groundtruthing program was that they needed to minimize
the data entry requirements for their volunteers. Some of the first volunteer
observers complained that the observation protocols took too long to key
into the computer. BirdCast has reduced the length of its protocol since
then to make volunteers' jobs easier.
5.3.2 Collecting Anonymous Observations
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site do not need to register or commit to
making a schedule of repeated observations in order to submit data to the
BirdSource database. Any birder visiting the site may submit information as
an "anonymous" observer. Strictly speaking, these observers are not always
anonymous because they are encouraged to submit their e-mail address
along with their observations. The term is meant in distinction to the control
observers, who are either known by or referred to the BirdCast staff.
The data entry form used by anonymous observers and the data they submit
are very similar to those of control observers. There are number of
differences, however, between how control and anonymous observations are
handled. Unlike control observations, anonymous observations do not
include information about the latitude and longitude of the observation site.
Instead, observers simply list the postal code of their area. Also, BirdCast
does not (at present) conduct any quality control editing of anonymous
observations. BirdCast staff currently do not have enough time to manually
edit the anonymous observations, which are of somewhat less value than the
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control observations because they are not made regularly. BirdCast hopes,
however, that in the future they will be able to institute computer-based
"filters" that will provide automated quality control of anonymous data.
5.3.3 Displaying Groundtruthing Information
Visitors to the BirdCast Web site have two options for displaying
observation data. They may either:
• Select a single observation location. The user then views a table
(such as Figure 2 and Figure 3) of different kinds of birds counted at
that single observation location (either an anonymous observation
postal code or a specific control site). The table also lists the numbers
of each kind of bird, and the numbers of reports of each kind of bird.
The user may select whether this table lists results for the entire
migration period or for a specific date.
• Select a single species of bird. The user then views a graph (such as
Figure 4 and Figure 5) of how many times that bird was sighted
during each day of the migration period. The graph includes
combined information from all the control sites but excludes
anonymous observations. This is because anonymous observations are
not edited for accuracy and are not likely to be made regularly at any
single location.
BirdCast Control Results for:
Dryden Lake, NY Lat: 42.4510113
I All Dates Combined Long: -76.2766158
Number of Number of
Species Nama Baas Seen Reports
Pied-billed Grebe 3 2
Great Blue Heron 2 2
Canada Go&se. 30 2
Wood Duck 6 2
Q spray
2 2
Bonaparte's Gull 10 2
Number of specie; seen:
2, Sinle observation kK.ulon: Hrytkn Like, NY.
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BirdCast Control Results for:
Chestnut Hill College, PA Lat: 40,0869233
I All Dates Combined Long: -75.2306741
JNumber of Number of
Species Name Birds Soon Reports
12 ~~T~
1 1
Canada Goosa j
RB [Mails d Hawk I
e
1
American Robin] 8 1
Number of species seen: 4
Fig 3. Single observation location: Chcsmm Hill College, PA.
BirdCast
if? 4f19
5TIO 5*1 T
Darts (JflOl)
'
Fi^ 4. Single species count: ('an^ta Cl
BirdCast
!>*!(? (2001)
Fit; ^: SiisnU1 sjviks iiiiuii: (ikvn H
Meet Two BirdCast Volunteers
Chuck Hetzel, one of BirdCast's control
observers, doesn't have to go any farther
than his back yard to collect data for the
project. That's because he's fortunate
enough to live at the edge of the
Schuylkill Valley Nature Center near
Philadelphia. Mr. Hetzel first heard about
BirdCast through his local bird club—the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology was
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Chuck Het/fl
looking for volunteers in his area to host
bioacoustic monitoring stations in their
homes. Through this introduction to
Cornell's research program, he became
involved in making regular control
observations for BirdCast. It usually takes
him between 1 and 2 hours to record the
birds in his backyard, which he does
nearly every day of the migration period
around 7 AM. With more than 50 years of birding experience, he doesn't
need to take an identification guide into the field with him; all he needs is a
notepad or a tape recorder for keeping track of the types and numbers of
birds that he sees (or hears). Mr. Hetzel enjoys the extra motivation to go
birdwatching that BirdCast provides—in snaring his observations through
the BirdCast database he enjoys an extra feeling of accomplishment and
satisfaction about birdwatching.
Hannah Slithers makes her control
observations at an abandoned 108-acre
farm in central New Jersey. The farm,
which has recently been converted into a
wildlife sanctuary, is slowly reverting
back to forest. This makes it a fascinating
birding site because the land's habitat is
undergoing continual transformation. Ms.
Suthers has more than 50 years of
experience as a bird bander and for more
than 20 years has been studying how the
farm's changing habitat has affected the
population of resident birds in the area.
Now in her retirement, she continues to
publish articles related to avian
population biology and trains graduate
students from nearby Princeton and
Rutgers Universities in bird banding.
After a friend referred her to the BirdCast
project, Ms. Suthers started working as a
volunteer for it, tallying migratory birds at the sanctuary. During the
BirdCast observation period, she aims to be in the field on a daily basis,
tallying birds by sight and sound. She carries a small notebook with her and
jots down her tally in alpha codes. A counting session can take anywhere
between 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the time of season and how many
different species are present. It can be tiring getting up so early in the
morning on a regular basis, she admits. Though she does not need to go out
as frequently to spot-map the singing males on their breeding territory, she
Hannah Suthers
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feels that to get an accurate picture of migratory movements one needs to
go into the field daily. One of the most pleasant aspects of the work is the
opportunity to greet all her "old friends" as they fly through her area each
migration season.
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents || Next Section»
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Unitala*'t EPA/625/R-01/007
Environmental Protect™
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section II Table of Contents II Next Section »
6. Education and Outreach
This chapter provides guidance on setting up and maintaining an education
and outreach component of a bird migration monitoring program. Section
6.1 provides tips on developing an outreach plan for your program, with a
focus on defining goals, key messages, and target audiences. Section 6.2
describes a variety of outreach tools that can be used, and provides
examples of outreach materials developed by the BirdCast project. Section
6.3 describes the challenge of evaluating the success of your education and
outreach program, and Section 6.4 lists some additional sources of
information for education and outreach.
The information in this chapter is designed primarily for managers who are
implementing bird migration monitoring programs, as well as for education
and outreach workers who are responsible for communicating about these
programs.
6.1 Developing an Outreach Plan
BirdCast represents a milestone for radar ornithology, a field that has
evolved slowly for more than 30 years, advanced by a handful of scientists
working mostly in isolation. BirdCast's breakthrough is that it is the first
program to bridge the gap between these scientists, collecting and
interpreting radar images in their labs using highly specialized technologies
and techniques, and the general public. The founders of BirdCast also
recognized that "a picture is worth a thousand words"— a live visual image,
such as a radar image of birds migrating, or digital photos or videos from
groundtruthers, would more likely stimulate action than just a verbal
description of migration.
Communication is at the heart of the BirdCast mission: to provide the public
with timely information on the status of bird migrations, and to educate land
managers and the broader public about actions they can take to assist birds
during their migration and reduce the number of birds that die while passing
through. An effective education and outreach program, therefore, is key to
the project's success.
BirdCast's education and outreach program is run primarily by the National
Audubon Society. Staff from Audubon's Citizen Science Program work
together with Audubon's public relations department to create educational
materials, write and distribute press releases, develop and deliver
presentations, and conduct direct outreach to land managers. Other BirdCast
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partners (including staff from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA
Region 3, Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson
University's Radar Ornithology Laboratory) contribute to the outreach
effort as well, mostly by delivering presentations. In addition, Philadelphia's
Academy of Natural Sciences, a founding partner of BirdCast, developed
many of the project's original outreach materials.
The first step to creating an effective education and outreach program of
your own is to develop an outreach plan. This plan will provide a blueprint
for action. It does not have to be lengthy or complicated, but it should
define four things: What are your outreach goals? Who are the target
audiences? What are the key messages and types of information that you
want to deliver? And what outreach tools will you use to reach these
audiences? Let's look at each of these questions in turn.
6.1.1 What Are Your Outreach Goals?
Defining your outreach goals is the first step in developing an education and
outreach plan. Outreach goals should be clear, simple, action-oriented
statements about what you hope to accomplish through outreach. Here are
some sample goal statements that a BirdCast-type program might develop
for its outreach effort:
• Convince all local television stations in the region to give a brief
report on bird migration after the weather forecast, or to run at least
one report on bird migration per migratory season.
• Place a story on bird migration in the major newspaper of each state
in the region.
• Deliver a presentation to each bird club or Audubon chapter in the
region.
• Conduct direct outreach (e.g., via letter or phone call) to the managers
of all public parks in your region.
• Attract 100,000 visitors per year to your Web site.
Where possible, outreach goals should be measureable. This will help you
when it comes time to evaluate the success of your program (see Section
6.3). Abstract statements of good intention (e.g., "increase the public's
appreciation of the wonders of bird migration") do not make effective
outreach goals, even if such statements accurately describe one of your
main motivations for starting a BirdCast-type program.
6.1.2 Who Are Your Target Audiences?
The second step in developing an outreach plan is to clearly identify the
target audience or audiences for your outreach effort. As illustrated in the
sample goals above, outreach goals often define their target audiences. You
might want to refine and add to your goals after you have specifically
considered which audiences you want to reach.
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The target audience for the BirdCast project is broadly defined as land
managers and the general public. Yet within these groups there are a
number of sub-audiences, each with specialized interests. For example,
among the general public there are (according to a 1998 report of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service) roughly 55 million people who consider
themselves bird enthusiasts, and within that number there is a smaller pool
of deeply committed birders. Your goals for conducting outreach to these
committed birders may be different than your goals for the general public.
Likewise, the category of "land managers" includes park managers, city
officials, utility land managers, building managers, golf course managers,
and others. Here again, you will want to tailor your message for the specific
audience.
Before you can begin tailoring messages for your different audiences,
however, you will need to develop a profile of their situations, interests, and
concerns. This profile will help you identify the most effective ways of
reaching the audience. For each target audience, consider:
• What is their current level of knowledge about bird migration and
birds in general?
• What do you want them to know about birds and migration? What
actions would you like them to take?
• 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 bird migration 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 Are the Key Messages and Types of Information That You
Want to Deliver?
The next step in planning is to think about what you want to communicate.
In particular at this stage, 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. For example:
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• Populations of migratory birds are declining and vulnerable.
• The BirdCast Web site provides you with real-time information about
the status of bird migrations.
• You can take steps to help protect migrating birds.
Outreach products often will have multiple related messages. Consider what
messages you want to deliver to each target audience group, and in what
level of detail. As stated above, you will want to tailor different messages
for different audiences.
Let's look at how this can be done. For instance, let's say that you are
writing a press release for distribution to newspapers and other general
interest publications. Your audience, the average reader of these
publications, has relatively little interest in birds. What should be the focus
of your press release? Probably you will want to concentrate on a few
simple messages: that bird migration is a fascinating and magnificent
phenomena; that populations of migratory birds are declining and
vulnerable; and that individuals can help protect migratory birds through
simple steps such as keeping cats indoors, providing food and water, and
avoiding pesticide use during the peak of migration (you would probably
time your release for distribution just prior to peak migration).
On the other hand, if you were composing a press release for placement in
bird club newsletters, you would probably spend less time preaching the
wonders of migration (after all, here you would be preaching to the
converted) and more time addressing complex issues of special interest to
birders: how the technical aspects of radar ornithology work, how birders
can attract birds to residential yards by creating a landscape of native plants,
how to choose pesticides that cause less ecological harm. Your press release
could also provide detailed information on how birders can participate as
citizen scientists in BirdCast's groundtruthing efforts. (See Appendix A. for
an example of a press release for bird club newsletter.) Alternatively, you
could choose to deliver all of this information through a presentation at a
bird club meeting.
Here's another scenario:
Let's say you are targeting
the managers of a number of
large buildings in a
downtown area. In this case,
your message might be very
focused and simple: that tall,
brightly lit buildings threaten
migratory birds by disrupting
their ability to navigate, and
that building managers can
prevent bird deaths by
turning off lights during peak
"IlilI. biigluly lii buildingp rhrc-iren migratory birds Ky
disrupting owii Ability to njvijpiti:.
migrations. But the real challenge here would be reaching these building
managers with your message. Could you issue a press release or media
advisory? Possibly, but even if the local newspapers picked up the story,
there's no guarantee that the target audience would read it. No, in this case,
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the only way to ensure that your message reaches the target is to contact the
building managers directly through a letter or phone call. In fact, you might
have to follow up with repeated letters or phone calls. This type of direct
outreach is time-consuming and can be a drain on resources, but in some
circumstances it is absolutely necessary.
6.1.4 What Outreach Tools Will You Use?
As the above examples illustrate, one of the challenges of conducting
outreach and education, besides tailoring your message for the intended
audience, is choosing the best outreach tool or approach for delivering your
message. There are many different types of outreach products in print,
audiovisual, electronic, and event formats (outreach tools used by the
BirdCast project are described in the next section). It's up to you to select
the most appropriate products to meet your goals within your resource and
time constraints. Questions to consider when selecting products include
• How much information does your audience really need to have? How
much does your audience need to know now? The simplest, most
effective, 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 development?
• What other related products are already available? Can you build on
existing products?
• 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, a first phase of products could be designed to raise
awareness, followed at a later date by a second phase of products to
encourage changes in behavior.
• How newsworthy is the information? Information with inherent news
value may be rapidly and widely disseminated by the media.
The key here is to make good use of the resources available to you. In the
best of all worlds, you would have the time and budget to personally contact
every land manager in your region and to craft customized press releases for
every type of publication and every audience. But it is unlikely that you will
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have the resources to do everything you'd like to do. The goal, then, is to
pick your spots wisely. Reach as many people as you can, but also focus on
those audiences that are most receptive to your message. If you have only
limited time for direct outreach, concentrate on land managers who control
critical habitat.
6.2 Education and Outreach Tools
This section describes a variety of outreach tools used by the BirdCast
project. Examples of specific outreach materials developed by BirdCast can
be found in Appendix A.
6.2.1 BirdCast Web site
In addition to hosting radar images, daily migration forecasts, and
groundtruthing data, the BirdCastWeb site rhttp://www.BirdCast.org a*qu)
also contains an array of outreach and educational information designed to
assist the public in the protection of migrating birds. Major educational
pieces on the site include:
• Guidance on appropriate timing and application of pesticides to
minimize birds' exposure.
• Tips on preventing bird deaths caused by collisions with household
windows.
• Advice on controlling domestic cats to prevent predation on migratory
birds.
• Information on how tall buildings and radio towers can disorient
birds, causing them to crash or drop from exhaustion.
• Tips on bird feeding and watering, and on providing habitat for
migratory birds during stopovers.
Many of these educational pieces are provided in hard copy in Appendix A
of this handbook. Others can be found online (go to
http://www.birdcast.org/ucanhelp.html *"
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follow to gather additional information and access other resources.
The goal of all this interactivity is to engage visitors, interest them in the
plight of migratory birds, and give them a chance to participate in protecting
and researching the lives of migrants. The outreach materials are there to
educate them. The site also features several text pieces on the aesthetic and
economic values of migrating birds, along with the beautifully written
preface to Scott Weidensaul's book, Living on theWind: Across the
Hemisphere with Migratory Birds, which BirdCast was able to use with the
permission of the author.
6.2.2 Posters and Other Print Material
Because BirdCast is a Web-based project, it has developed relatively few
educational and outreach materials for distribution in hard copy. When the
project was first launched, press packet was created for distribution to
reporters and other media outlets, containing news clippings and other
outreach materials. But this is no longer in use.
The main item that BirdCast partners distribute in hard-copy format is a
poster entitled "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," which was
developed by the National Audubon Society. The poster lists actions that
home owners can take to limit pesticide use and create healthy habitats for
birds and wildlife. It also includes a guide to home pesticides, with
information on chemicals, their uses, their toxicity to wildlife, and
alternatives to the chemicals. Altogether, over 1 million copies of the poster
have been distributed through Audubon chapter offices, bird-oriented stores,
parks departments, and other groups.
To request copies of the poster, e-mail healthyhabitats@,audubon.org. ***»
A version of the poster can also be found online at:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs%20boxes.html. <****>
Lessons Learned: Conducting Outreach Via Television
Stations
When BirdCast was first launched, one of the original goals was to
encourage television coverage of bird migrations. BirdCast's founders
envisioned that there would come a day when weather forecasters would
routinely include migration updates as part of their nightly reports. But that
day has unfortunately not yet arrived.
As part of its education and outreach program, BirdCast has made a
concerted effort to conduct outreach to newscasters and weather
forecasters. The idea has been to combine radar images with photographs
and educational information on protecting migrants, creating a package that
will appeal to television stations. But so far the results have been
discouraging. Though several stations have produced short news pieces on
BirdCast, the general response has been that the BirdCast outreach
materials are inappropriate for television in that they lack visual appeal.
Newscasters have stated that the radar images are too esoteric and difficult
to interpret.
In the future, the BirdCast project will continue to look for creative ways
to package its outreach materials for television. The Illinois Natural History
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Survey, another organization that has succeeded at getting a local television
station to make use of NEXRAD images of bird migration, has some ideas
for getting television stations interested. The Survey suggested pointing out
to television weather forecasters that significant bird migration usually
coincides with "meteorologically boring periods" when they might lack
weather-related material to discuss. The Survey also suggested developing
simplified visual displays that convey basic information (e.g.,
presence/absence of birds, relative abundance of birds, general direction of
bird movement) in a manner that parallels the other displays on the weather
forecast.
6.2.3 Press Releases
Press releases are a key tool in BirdCast's education and outreach efforts.
Writing a single press release and distributing it to dozens of publications
simultaneously is a cost-effective way of reaching a large and varied
audience.
The National Audubon Society's public relations department leads
BirdCast's efforts to conduct outreach through the media. A PR department
is an ideal choice for this job for two reasons: 1) PR staff have the writing,
editing, and outreach skills needed for developing stories that will appeal to
various news outlets, and 2) PR staff already have contacts and working
relationships with individual journalists, editors, and newscasters. An
experienced PR worker knows how to work with people in the media,
feeding them the information they need to get stories into print and on the
air.
For BirdCast, the Audubon PR staff have done several rounds of outreach
to the media, each timed to coincide with a major migration (spring or fall).
Their technique, which has produced excellent results so far, has been to
write a single, in-depth press release and distribute it to a list of roughly 500
reporters whom Audubon has worked with in the past. (Examples of these
press releases can be found in Appendix A) In some cases, Audubon staff
precede the press release with a phone call or e-mail to the reporter, meant
to kindle interest in the story. In other cases, Audubon sends the press
release first, then follows up with an e-mail or phone call.
Once a reporter has expressed interest in BirdCast, the PR staff work with
him or her as necessary to get the story into print. Some reporters (maybe
half) request additional interviews with BirdCast partners or want help
identifying a local angle for the story (for example, a reporter from a small
city newspaper may want to interview members of a local bird club). Other
reporters will develop a story using little more than the information and
quotes found in the press release and other materials found online.
This type of personal contact with members of the press is crucial, as is the
strategy of targeting individual reporters or newscasters. The odds of
placing a story fall drastically if you just send a press release to a news desk
or editorial department, since most publications are inundated with dozens
(if not hundreds) of press releases daily. Audubon's PR staff always send
press releases directly to a particular reporter, and virtually every story
they've placed has been written by a reporter whom Audubon had worked
with in the past.
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What if you don't have a contact at a particular publication? One thing you
can do is to read some back issues of the publication, looking for a reporter
who has demonstrated some interest in topics related to your project. If the
publication is a daily newspaper, it will likely have a beat reporter who
focuses primarily on science and/or the environment. Outdoors writers often
have an interest in bird migration, especially if their columns cover hunting
and waterfowl migration. BirdCast has placed several stories with gardening
columnists, and numerous technology reporters have also written about the
project, focusing on the BirdCast Web site or on the project's use of
advanced radar technology.
Once you have targeted a particular reporter, write him or her a personal e-
mail or call directly. Pitch the story, keeping your presentation short and to
the point. Ask the reporter if he or she would be interested in reading your
press release (or, better yet, simply attach the release to an e-mail as an
electronic file). Also, it never hurts to demonstrate that you are familiar with
a reporter's work by complimenting or mentioning some article that he or
she wrote in the past.
How many publications or news outlets should you target? The simple
answer is, as many as possible. However, there are different ways to use the
resources available to you. One approach would be to identify a limited
number of publications that you view as critical, and then to spend extra
time and resources doing everything you can to place a story with them (this
might involve customizing your press release or following up repeatedly
with a reporter). If you don't have existing contacts with the news outlets in
your area, this type of intensive, focused effort might be necessary.
Audubon's PR staff have taken the approach of writing one major press
release for each migratory season (spring and fall) and distributing it to
hundreds of media outlets throughout the mid-Atlantic flyway, from New
York to Maryland and theWashington, D.C. area. Audubon's staff spend
virtually no time customizing press releases for particular publications,
though they have issued press releases for particular occasions. For
example, in September 2000, Audubon issued a spur-of-the-moment press
release urging health officials not to spray for West Nile Virus on a
weekend when BirdCast was predicting that a large wave of migratory birds
would pass through the area. (See Appendix A for a copy of this release.)
Audubon's primary goal each migratory season has been to place a story in
the major paper of each state in the region, with the idea that smaller papers
will pick up the story after seeing it in a major paper (this has turned out to
be true). The results of this PR effort have been excellent. More than 100
articles on BirdCast appeared in spring 2000, including prominent articles in
the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA
Today, and other major publications. Articles also appeared in virtually
every Audubon chapter and independent bird club newsletter from northern
Virginia to southern New York. Additionally, BirdCast was the subject of
stories in Scientific American and National Audubon magazines, and the
project was also featured on National Public Radio.
Lessons Learned: Dealing with the Redundancy Issue
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Audubon's PR staff have found that one of the main challenges associated
with conducting BirdCast outreach through the media is the issue of
redundancy. Birds migrate through the mid-Atlantic flyway twice each
year, in spring and fall. Ideally, BirdCast would like to have the media
cover both migrations, every year. However, once a publication has
covered the story once or twice, reporters and editors no longer consider it
newsworthy.
Audubon's PR staff constantly search for creative ways to work around this
problem. One strategy is to look for a "news peg" or tie-in, some
newsworthy happening that can provide the basis for an article. For
example, you might craft a press release about International Migratory Bird
Day (an annual event set on the second Saturday in May), and slip in some
information about your program within the body of the text. Audubon staff
used a similar approach when they sent copies of the poster "Audubon
Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," to all of the reporters in their
database; the idea was to generate articles about the effects of pesticides on
migrating birds and other wildlife, with BirdCast as a subtext.
The key point here is that your program doesn't have to be the main focus
of every press release you send out. Look again at the press release on
Appendix A. The main message of this release was an urgent
recommendation that health officials not spray for West Nile Virus on a
weekend of intensive bird migration. Yet the press release also managed to
provide a thorough description of the BirdCast project, and it also touched
on a number of other important messages: the decline in numbers of
migrating birds; their vulnerability to pesticides and other man-made
threats; and steps individuals can take to protect migrants.
6.2.4 Direct Outreach to Land Managers, Building managers, and
Others
Property managers (including
park managers, city officials,
utility land managers,
building managers, golf
course managers, and others)
are a key target for
BirdCast's outreach and
education efforts. Many
property managers, especially
in urban areas, control large
chunks of open or
undeveloped land that
provide important habitat for
migrating birds. These
managers can help protect migrants by avoiding pesticide applications
during migratory stopovers and by considering the birds' needs when
making other management decisions.
BirdCast relies on direct communication when conducting outreach to
property managers. This typically involves calling or writing property
managers a few times a year to update them on the status of bird migrations
and to remind them of the need for environmentally responsible
management practices. In general, BirdCast has found direct outreach to be
a relatively time-consuming process (especially in comparison to outreach
Large ;»re» of open or undeveloped land, such ,IN diy ]\irk<,
provide important Iwlilwi for
^^
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Section 6: Education and Outreach
through the media, where a much larger audience can be reached with a
single press release). In the future, the project may attempt to make more
use of volunteers in its direct outreach efforts. Large areas of open or
undeveloped land, such as city parks, provide important habitat for
migrating birds.
Following are a few examples of effective direct outreach, taken from the
work of BirdCast and other groups:
• In Philadelphia, BirdCast has worked closely with the Fairmount Park
Commission to encourage environmentally responsible land
management and to raise awareness of the plight of migrating birds.
The Commission oversees a system of parks, golf courses, and
baseball fields in the city, and works with other land and utilities
managers in the Philadelphia area. BirdCast wrote to alert the
Commission about the value of the parks' habitat to migrating birds
and the timing of migration. BirdCast provided copies of the poster
"Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and Beyond," for the commission
to distribute, and provided all facility managers under their
jurisdiction with guidance on environmentally responsible pesticide
application (e.g., how to alter the use of specific chemicals and
minimize the impacts on migrants).
• The City of Chicago and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have
signed an innovative "Treaty for Birds," which features an effort by
downtown building owners to turn off their lights during migration
periods. Members of the mayor's Wildlife and Nature Committee
worked with Chicago's Building Owners and Managers Association
to spread the word to owners of downtown skyscrapers. Members of
the Bird Conservation Network assembled the information needed to
convince building owners that this action was warranted, and helped
to identify buildings that were known for their high bird mortality.
• In the Chicago area, a partnership of researchers, government
scientists, city officials, and conservationists is proposing to use radar
ornithology to identify key stopover habitat for migrating birds. The
partners will then use direct outreach to educate land managers about
the habitat needs of migrating birds, and to ask them to take steps to
protect and enhance bird habitat (e.g., by controlling the spread of
buckthorn, an invasive plant that impacts biodiversity).
6.2.5 Presentations
BirdCast partners regularly deliver presentations on the project to school
groups, bird clubs, American Birding Association meetings, Audubon
chapters, and other groups. The partners have developed several PowerPoint
presentations for this purpose. These include:
• An overview of the project.
• A more detailed presentation on how BirdCast integrates multiple
monitoring techniques (radar, groundtruthing, acoustic monitoring) to
achieve a unified analysis of bird migration.
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• A presentation focusing on the radar ornithology component.
All of these presentations make use of screen captures from the BirdCast
Web site, sample radar images, and graphs from the groundtruthing
database to give the audience a genuine feel for how BirdCast works.
6.2.6 ListServs
A ListServ is an automated system that automatically redistributes e-mail to
names on a mailing list. Users can subscribe to a mailing list by sending an
e-mail note to a mailing list they learn about; the ListServ will
automatically add the name and distribute future e-mail postings to every
subscriber.
There are numerous bird-oriented ListServs around the country. Some of
these have a regional focus, and are used by birders to compare field notes
and share notable sightings. Others are devoted to bird conservation,
activism, and other topics of general interest. For an index of ListServs
administered by the National Audubon Society, go to
http://list.audubon.org/archives/. *"
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(See Section 5.3.2 for more information on collecting anonymous
observations.)
• More than 100 articles on BirdCast appeared in the spring of 2000,
including prominent articles in major publications such as the
Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times,Wall Street Journal, and USA
Today. The combined readership of these publications is in the many
millions.
If nothing else, these numbers indicate that BirdCast has reached thousands
(if not millions) of people, raising their awareness about the plight of
migratory birds and things they can do to help. The numbers also seem to
show that thousands of people are engaged in the project and are
participating on some level (for example, by returning to the BirdCast Web
site repeatedly, or by submitting their own bird observations). Overall, it
appears that BirdCast is succeeding in its mission: to engage, to educate,
and to activate.
6.4 For More Information
The BirdCast Web site: http://www.birdcast.org/ "**"
To access BirdCast's educational pieces online, go to:
http://www.birdcast.org/ucanhelp.html *»"»»
Scott Weidensaul's Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with
Migratory Birds (Northpoint Press, 1999) has been called "a nimble
summation of current thinking on bird migration and attendant
environmental themes" (Kirkus Reviews).
To request copies of the poster "Audubon Guide for Healthy Yard and
Beyond", developed by the National Audubon Society, e-mail
healthyhabitats@audubon.org. ""i" A version of the poster can also be
found online at:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs%20boxes.html
For an index of birding ListServs administered by the National Audubon
Society, go to http://list.audubon.org/archives fiafj
The American Birding Association maintains a state-by-state list of birding
ListServs, available at
htto://www.americanbirding.org/resources/reschat.htm ""f
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents II Next Section»
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project
United SUB&
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents II Next Section »
4. How to Use This Handbook
« Previous Section II 'able of Contents II Next Section»
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
A
United SUes
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/625/R-01/007
September 2001
Developing and Implementing a Bird Migration Monitoring,
Assessment, and Public Outreach Program for Your Community
The BirdCast Project
« Previous Section || Table of Contents
Appendix A
Birdcast Education and Outreach Materials
• Pesticides: Is Your Backyard Safe for Birds?
• Windows: An Invisible Threat to Migrating Birds
• Domestic Cats: A Cause for Concern
• Man-made Obstacles Pose Problems for Migrating Birds
• Native Plants and Biodiversity
• CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LEND A HAND TO
BIRDS THIS FALL
• NATIONAL ATJDTJBON SOCIETY URGES NY: NT & CT
HEALTH OFFICIALS NOT TO SPRAY PESTICIDES THIS
WEEKEND
• BirdCast & NEXRAD
Pesticides: Is Your Backyard Safe for Birds?
Our lawns and gardens are like other environments. Plants, insects and other
animals all interact and affect one another. Altering a part of that system can
have unintended effects on other components of it. This is an important
thing to keep in mind when considering whether or not to apply pesticides
around the home. Pesticides are not only lethal to pests, but to other wildlife
as well. Here are three important rules to consider before applying any
pesticides:
1. Make sure you actually have a pest problem. Learn to identify
pests and to determine at what stage they actually become a problem.
Many times people treat for pests that are either not present, or not
present in large enough numbers to cause problems.
2. Know your pesticides. Read the labels on your pesticides
CAREFULLY. Learn to identify what active ingredients are
contained in the product. Read about the potential effects these
pesticides can have on the other organisms in your yard and
community.
3. Check for alternative treatments. Make it a priority to use the least
toxic method to control any pests or diseases. Many simple, non-toxic
solutions are as easy to employ and as effective as chemical solutions.
Contact your local garden center and Cooperative Extension for
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
advice.
Making your garden or lawn more community friendly isn't difficult and
may actually save you time and money. Plus a little bit of education and a
few changes around your home can have a lasting effect on migratory bird
populations and other wildlife.
To learn more about the pesticides commonly used around the home, refer
to Audubon's pesticide summary at
http://birdsource.cornell.edu/birdcast/pestsum.html. *"»»
Other useful pesticide web sites:
EPA' s Office of Pesticide Programs: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides "">»
The National Pesticides Telecommunication Network:
http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/index.html
Toxicology and Environmental Health Information:
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/tehip.htm
Look up all the registered pesticide products containing certain active
ingredients: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/epa/epachem.htm
The American Bird Conservancy's Pesticide Pages:
http://www.abcbirds.org/pesticideindex.htm
Windows: An Invisible Threat to Migrating Birds
Fact: Every year millions of birds die when they crash into windows in
homes, schools, skyscrapers, factories, office buildings, and other sites.
Why: The transparent quality of windows makes them virtually invisible to
birds, often until it is too late to stop short. It is difficult for a bird in flight
to distinguish between glass and open space. It may see reflected vegetation
in the window, but not the glass itself.
What You Can Do: There are different steps you can take in your home to
prevent needless bird deaths caused by invisible windows.
• Move your bird feeder. Make sure your bird feeder is either a
minimum of 3 meters away from windows, or less than 1 meter away.
Birds may still fly into the window if you move the feeder closer, but
they will not have enough momentum to injure themselves.
• Reduce transparency and reflectivity. Change the angle or surface
of the window to lessen the transparency and reflectivity. Cover the
window's external surface with a film, change the lighting, and keep
all curtains closed or add external blinds.
• Mark the window. You can etch the surface of the glass or streak it
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
with a bar of soap. Hang strips of newspaper or ribbons, place strips
of masking tape on the window. (These are more temporary measures
in case there is a severe problem. However, most of these solutions
are inconvenient or unsightly.)
• Apply netting. Perhaps the best and most permanent solution is to
stretch netting across the windows. Fine black netting that is used to
protect berry bushes and fruit trees is available at many garden shops,
home centers, and feed mills. Stretch the netting across the window or
across a frame that can be installed outside the window. Be sure it is
stretched with adequate tension to hold it several inches from the
window's surface. Birds may continue to fly towards the window, but
they will bounce off the mesh unhurt.
• Hang hawk silhouettes. Attach hawk silhouettes to the window's
surface. These shapes probably decrease collisions because they break
up the smooth reflective surface and make the glass more "visible"
rather than because they are shaped like hawks; but, in any case, they
seem to help. The silhouettes are most effective if used in multiples. It
is helpful also to attach the silhouettes by a suction cup or a hanging
device from the outside so that movement caused by wind will catch
the birds' attention. Most people think that the graceful shapes are
interesting rather than unsightly. They're available commercially but
they're also easy to make. (See the below instructions.)
Materials:
• black, light-weight plastic
• clear, outdoor tape
• scissors
• a template or model of the shape (approximately 8 inches from bill to
tail and 12 inches from wing tip to wing tip)—go to
http://birdsource.cornell.edu/birdcast/images/hawk.gif ""i" for print-
ready template
Simply trace or carefully draw the shape on the plastic, cut out the
silhouette, and tape it to the outside of the window. Be sure to place several
on any large expanse of glass. One word of caution: you should check with
the manufacturers of thermopane windows before you place anything on the
glass surface. If this presents a problem, hang the silhouette from the sash
around the window.
Not only can you make your house safer for birds, but by making several
silhouettes and giving them as gifts to friends, neighbors, and even that
office building with the big glass windows down the street, you can also
encourage others to make their houses bird-safe.
Other Useful Window Web Sites:
National Audubon Society:
http ://www. audubon.org/educate/expert/window.html
Domestic Cats: A Cause for Concern
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Fact: Every year hundreds of thousands of birds are killed in the United
States by freeroaming domestic cats.
Why: Cats are natural hunters. Even your cute house pet is innately a
predator. But while hunting is an instinctual behavior, cats are not a natural
link in local food chains. Cats were introduced to North America by humans
towards the end of the 19th century as a method of pest control. Since then
feline populations have exploded out of control. Their predatory activities
are an unnatural burden on birds. Keeping your cat well fed does not deter it
from attacking birds; hunting birds is a natural behavior unrelated to a cat's
hunger. You may not see your cat in action, but if you routinely let it
outside it is likely to be killing up to 10 birds every year. With nearly 60
million pet cats in America today, that is a significant number of bird kills.
Combined with many other threats birds face, this adds significantly to their
struggle to survive. When you allow your cat to roam free outside, you are
risking the lives of countless birds. You are also risking the life of your cat;
those that are kept indoors live happier, healthier, and longer lives.
What You Can Do: A cat is only responding to a natural instinct.
Ultimately you are responsible for your cat and its behavior.
• Keep your cat indoors, especially during the peak migratory seasons
in fall and spring.
• Put an alarm collar on your cat. Many collars exist which will hamper
the cats' stalk and attack. These collars will not harm the cat, but will
give an unsuspecting bird ample warning to escape before a cat
strikes. Bells alone will not stop a cat from attacking.
• Spay your cat. Make sure you spay or neuter your cat to help keep the
cat population in check.
• Help stray cats. In addition to house pets, there are millions of stray
cats in the United States, all a potential threat to native wildlife. You
can take in some of these cats or call a local animal shelter.
• Keep birdfeeders out of reach. Make sure the birdfeeder in your yard
is not cat accessible. Keep it high and away from windows and
vegetation.
• Join the Indoor Cat Campaign. Encourage others to keep their cats
indoors. Check out the American Bird Conservancy "Cats Indoors" at
http ://www. abcbirds. org/catindoo.htm *"")"
Other Useful Web Sites:
American Bird Conservancy: http://www.abcbirds.org "">»
May 13, 2000 is National "Keep Your Cat Indoors" Day
Man-made Obstacles Pose Problems for Migrating Birds
Fact: Millions of birds die every year in building collisions.
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Why: Tall buildings and their lights pose a serious threat to migrating birds.
The feat of migration is already a dangerous one with the natural hazards
due to weather, predators, and food scarcity. Birds are exhausted and
hungry and yet humans have created tall obstacles to complicate an already
difficult journey.
Birds use a variety of different cues to navigate their migration route,
including the pattern of the stars, topographic features, earth's magnetic
fields, and the location of the setting sun. If any of these cues are disrupted
or unclear, for example during cloudy weather, the birds will have difficulty
staying on their path. The lights of tall buildings and radio towers only
contribute to this confusion. The lights will often overwhelm natural cues
and disorient the birds. These confused birds will then circle the lighted
structures, not because they are attracted to the light, but because they are
following an erroneous and obscure cue. Blinking lights, which often adorn
radio towers, and bad weather only further contribute to the problem.
Eventually many of these birds will collide with the building, with each
other, or will drop from exhaustion.
This problem is increasing as more and more highrise buildings are
constructed. The now popular glass skyscrapers, found brilliantly lit at night,
are augmenting the dangers.
Not all birds die from the collisions. Some will only be stunned with minor
injuries, but often these dazed birds will fall prey to predators, cats and other
birds, lurking on city streets. Many will panic upon finding themselves in
the midst of a busy, morning, urban setting.
Another related danger to nightflying migrants are the broadcast radio
towers which may stand 200-2000 feet into the night sky. There are around
75,000 towers currently built in the United States and with the current
progress of Internet and satellite technology another 5000 to be added every
year. Each of these towers may kill hundreds to thousands of birds in a
single migratory season. Add lights and bad weather to the scenario and the
death rate grows even higher.
What You Can Do:
• Turn off all lights during the peak migration seasons in fall and
spring.
• Write letters to the owners of tall skyscrapers requesting that lights be
turned off at night during peak migration periods.
• If you find a stunned bird, carefully place it upright inside a brown
paper bag and transport it to a safe area where it can recover before
resuming its journey.
Other Useful Web Sites:
Fatal Light Awareness Program: http://www.flap.org
Towerkills: http://www.towerkill.com
Native Plants and Biodiversity
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We have peppered our continent with new houses, sidewalks, lawns, and
regimented landscapes that are relatively devoid of seedpods, berries or
other natural food sources. Imagine a different type of "yarden": birds
chirping, butterflies flitting, bees busily transporting pollen, and wildlife
drinking and bathing in the rainwater you collected in your yarden. You can
create this scene, and in so doing, you'll find that you'll have to replace
plants less often and use less pesticide, time, money, and water.
To begin the transformation from traditional landscape to nativescape:
• Identify your existing plants, then explore forests and other natural
areas to examine differences. Never remove plants from the wild.
• For a gradual transition, retain high maintenance areas close to the
house while establishing a natural garden toward the edges and back
of your property.
• Consider neighboring property. Cooperate with your neighbors and
extend existing plantings to create larger joint habitat.
• Reduce lawn by breaking it up with curved borders around gardens,
trees, shrubs and groundcovers to create an "edge effect."
• Select native plants to attract birds through all seasons and allow
space for natural growth patterns (less pruning).
• Consider tall native grasses (quail and other grassland species are
declining), flowering annuals and perennials, and shrubs for shelter
and food.
• Consider removal of overgrown, unattractive plants that offer little
wildlife value.
• Add to your plan a little at a time. Enjoy a work in progress while
reducing the area of lawn.
• Plant more than one of a plant, as larger patches are more visible to
birds. Plant them in an irregular pattern so that it looks more natural.
AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS. Birds eat the treated insects and
berries.
Remember, numerous plant species attract a greater variety of birds and
other wildlife. Check links below to find out more and where you can find
native plants.
Learn more about how to reduce the use of pesticides, find alternatives, and
create a healthy backyard by region
• Pesticide and garden tips: Ten Commandments for a Healthy Yard:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/pesticides/10%20COMs%20boxes.html
• The Environmental Protection Agency's Biopesticides site:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ "i"
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• Backyard Conservation: 1-888-LANDCARE,
http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/Backyard.html
• Native plants and gardening links:
http://plants.usda.gov/plants/links.html «")*
• Native plant societies by region:
http://www.nanps.org/associations/frame.shtml **i"
• Green Landscaping with Native Plants:
http ://www. epa. gov/greenacres/ ""i"
• Audubon Habitat Collection from Monrovia: 1-888-PLANT IT
Further Reading:
The Bird Garden by Steve Kress
Bird Gardening Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes
The Chemical Free Lawn byWarren Schultz
Going Native by Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Landscaping for Wildlife by Carrol L. Henderson
Redesigning the American Lawn - A Search for Environmental Harmony by
Bormann, Balmori & Geballe
For additional information contact:
Director, Pesticide Initiative & Healthy Habitats National Audubon Society
Healthy Yards@Audub on. org
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LEND A HAND TO BIRDS THIS
FALL
Award- Winning Web Site Combines Technology and Bird Science to Help
Birds Get Home Safely
New York, NY August 28, 2000 - This fall, migratory birds will face a
number of life threatening challenges in their journey south. In addition to
predators, difficult weather, and long distances, birds this year must contend
with man made threats including potential poisoning from the pesticides
employed to combat the West Nile Virus. With the help of citizen scientists
and state-of-the-art forecasting technology, birds migrating through the
Mid-Atlantic may get a break.
"Using the most advanced migration monitoring techniques, in combination
with the efforts of the public, BirdCast www.BirdCast.org **"?> will
become one of the most effective ways to track bird movement, and protect
bird species," said Audubon's Senior Vice President for Science, Frank Gill.
"From September 1st through November 15th, National Audubon Society
urges citizens from New York to Washington, D.C. to report bird sightings
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
to BirdCast and to take action to aid birds."
As birds migrate, major factors contributing to their demise include
pesticide use; loss of feeding and watering opportunities; impact with radio,
television, and cellular towers, and brightly lit office buildings which
disorient birds, causing them to crash. Scientists recognize that migrating
birds are in decline—down by nearly 50% since the 1960's.
BirdCast, enabling scientists to predict bird migration through a specific
region, offers practical uses for homeowners and public officials. Using
BirdCast, homeowners will be advised as to when to avoid spraying
pesticides in their gardens, provide seed and water, and when to keep their
cats indoors, in order to keep bird populations alive and well. Building
owners can use BirdCast to determine when to turn off disorienting lights
that often cause birds to crash into windows and die.
Public Health officials are also urged to make use of BirdCast. "This fall,
BirdCast has an unintended and immediate use for county health officers,"
continued Audubon's Gill. "BirdCast will provide guidelines on when to
suspend spray operations, helping officials avoid unnecessary bird deaths
and violations of federal Migratory Bird Laws."
BirdCast, a project of National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, and Clemson University Radar Ornithology Lab, made its
debut this past spring and was a resounding success. Funded by the
Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development
and the Office of Pesticide Programs, the project was granted the "Dr.
Copernicus Award" by the Copernicus Education Gateway, a Web site that
features the best educational sites for students and teachers. Using radar
pictures, audio samples and most importantly, personal observations (or
"groundtruthing,") scientists were able to make predictions and draw
conclusions about songbird migratory behavior.
Participants from the mid-Atlantic region watched the skies, reported their
findings to the BirdCast site and were then advised when to keep their cats
indoors, to refrain from pesticide use, and to provide food and water in
order to protect migrating birds in their region. Of particular interest to the
thousands who visited BirdCast were the "10 Commandments to a Healthy
Yard" and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides," still available at the
site http://magazine.audubon.org/backyard/backyard0005.html. *""!"
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast
has and will continue to enable scientists to gather valuable information on
migratory movements," said Gill. "The project will not only increase
scientific knowledge but also encourages people to make informed decisions
about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or undertake other
activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs, BirdCast will expand into the states of New York and New
Jersey. Scientists will generate morning and evening pictures of warbler,
waterfowl, and hawk migration through the region using NEXRAD (Next
Generation Radar). These snapshots of bird migration and weather events
will be accompanied by interpretation and predictions from the Clemson
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
Lab so that the general public and city officials can both observe and assist
migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use this new technology
to observe birds and ultimately become partners in conservation," said Sally
Conyne, Director of Citizen Science for Audubon. "This fall we are eager to
track bird movement once again. Web users will be able to obtain daily
forecasts of bird movements, learn about the best bird-viewing spots and
find out how human activity impacts birds. In addition, the site now
includes general information about migration, some late-breaking pesticide
news, and a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important
environmental indicators, helping scientists assess the health of an
ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird species in a particular region may
indicate another problem such as the loss of food or water sources, the
destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic element. Despite
the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers
of migratory birds that return to the Mid-Atlantic region, and other parts of
the country, decreases. These decreases may indicate problems with broad
environmental implications, problems that can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530
chapters throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves
and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their
habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
John Bianchi
jbianchi@audubon.org
212/979-3026
Kara Grobert
kgrobert@audubon.org
212/979-3027
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY URGES NY, NJ & CT
HEALTH OFFICIALS NOT TO SPRAY PESTICIDES
THIS WEEKEND
Largest Wave of Bird Migration This Fall Predicted to Pass Through
Tri-State Area
New York, NY September 15, 2000- Using the latest technology in bird
tracking techniques and the efforts of citizen scientists through
BirdCast.org, National Audubon Society predicts the largest wave of
migration will occur this weekend- and strongly urges county officials to
suspend pesticide spraying operations in the tri-state area.
"This weekend will be one of the best opportunities for people to see a wide
variety of species of migrating songbirds and hawks, and to contribute their
sightings to BirdCast," said Sally Conyne, Director of Citizen Science for
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
Audubon. "On the other hand, this weekend will be one of the worst times
for pesticide sprayings to occur, due to the unknown effects of the use of
Scourge and Anvil on birds and the consequent reduction of their food
source. By not spraying pesticides in the tri-state area this weekend, county
and city officials will avoid unnecessary bird deaths and violations of
federal Migratory Bird Laws."
Migratory birds usually face a number of life threatening challenges in their
journey south. This weekend, in addition to predators, difficult weather, and
long distances, birds must contend with man made threats, especially
potential poisoning from the pesticides employed to combat the West Nile
Virus. With the cooperation of health officials, help of citizen scientists and
state-of-the-art BirdCast technology, birds migrating through the Mid-
Atlantic may get a break.
"In combination with the efforts of the public, BirdCast www.BirdCast.org
-------
U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
"By encouraging the public to report bird sightings in their region, BirdCast
has and will continue to enable scientists to gather valuable information on
migratory movements," said Gill. "The project will not only increase
scientific knowledge but also encourages people to make informed decisions
about when to apply pesticides, let their cats out or undertake other
activities that might cause birds harm."
This fall, with additional support from the EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs, BirdCast will expand into the states of NY, NJ and CT. Scientists
will generate morning and evening pictures of warbler, waterfowl, and hawk
migration through the region using NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar).
These snapshots will be accompanied by interpretation and predictions from
the Clemson Lab so that the general public and city officials can both
observe and assist migratory birds.
"BirdCast has already inspired the general public to use the new technology
to observe birds and ultimately become partners in conservation," said
Audubon's Conyne. "This fall we are eager to track bird movement once
again. Web users will obtain daily forecasts of bird movements, learn about
the best bird-viewing spots and find out how human activity impacts birds.
The site now includes general information about migration, some
latebreaking pesticide news, and a variety of tips for the fall gardener."
Aside from adding color and music to our lives, birds serve as important
environmental indicators, helping scientists assess the health of an
ecosystem. Evidence of a declining bird species in a particular region may
indicate another problem such as the loss of food or water sources, the
destruction of specific habitats, or contamination by a toxic element. Despite
the significant role birds play in local ecosystems, every year the numbers
of migratory birds that return to the Mid-Atlantic region, and other parts of
the country, decreases. These decreases may indicate problems with broad
environmental implications, problems that can impact us in many ways.
Founded in 1905 and with over a 550,000 members and supporters in 530
chapters throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves
and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their
habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kara Grobert
kgrobert@audubon.org *"t»
212/979-3027
BirdCast & NEXRAD
In the early days of World War II, British radar operators noticed
mysterious, ethereal shadows drifting across their screens. Those
apparitions, so wonderfully dubbed angels by pioneering radar technicians,
heralded the beginnings of radar ornithology. Radar's first major
contribution to ornithology took form only a few years later when in 1958
Sidney Gauthreaux, then a high school student in New Orleans, postulated
that if radar can see planes and weather, why not birds? Only a few years
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
later, as a Louisiana State graduate student, he found his proof. His radar
images definitively proved the existence of massive trans-Gulf migrations.
Prior to these observations, there was a continuing belief that the majority of
migrants held to a more land bound, clockwise pattern; arriving in North
America via Mexico.
Through the 60's, 70's, and 80's, however, radar's promise failed to fully
evolve. There were a few notable discoveries, such as in 1989 when
Gauthreaux, working from archival images, awakened the ornithological
world to the precipitous decline in migrating flocks—down by nearly half
when compared to the 1960's. The existing radar of the day, however, was
proving largely inadequate. It lacked not only the necessary resolution, but it
also failed to provide a three dimensional view.
In the early 1990s, however, change was coming. The new, highly efficient
NEXRAD Doppler radar (Next Generation Radar) began to be placed in
service. The Air Force started investigating NEXRAD's utility in their Bird
Aircraft Strike Hazard Program (BASH). During this period, portable
NEXRAD units were teamed with vertically mounted thermal imaging units
so that the images captured by the radar could be visually verified.
Elsewhere, graduate students under Sid Gauthreaux were making their own
exciting discoveries. Their breath-taking images of giant expanding aerial
doughnuts were found to be thousands of Purple Martin radiating from
critical roosting sites each morning.
Radar ornithology work is now taking place in many parts of the country
and it is soon to come to the Mid-Atlantic. With the support of the
Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development
and the Office of Pesticide Programs, a coalition consisting of National
Audubon, Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology, and Clemson's Radar
Ornithology Laboratory, "BirdCast" will be coming soon to a computer
near you on September 1, 2000. To access BirdCast you will go to the
existing Audubon/Cornell Web site—BirdSource
http://www.BirdSource.org. *•")" Throughout periods of peak migration,
BirdCast will provide a morning and evening, unfiltered snapshot of the
eastern region of the US from New York through Virginia. The birds and
weather shown in theseimages will be accompanied by interpretation and a
migration prediction provided by the Clemson Lab.
Is this work being done just as a special favor for birders? Well, not
exactly. You can think of BirdCast as an early alert and an environmental
billboard on the Internet. Linked to BirdCast will be messages such as
admonitions against the use of certain pesticides as well as a number of
other migrant-friendly changes that people can make in their backyards.
We'll advise the residents of the region about the pests that actually pose
local threats and the safest management strategies. Included at the site are
two charts of special interest— "10 Commandments for a Healthy Yard"
and "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides." With the completion of data
collection this migration season, we hope to use the interpreted and ground-
truthed images in pinpointing critical habitat in need of protection.
While all of this seems reasonably simple and employs proven technology,
its not simple at all. In fact, it's really research in the development stage.
What has been sorely lacking in the past is you. Most earlier radar work has
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U.S. EPA - The BirdCast Project - Appendix A
been lacking a critical component—groundtruthing. Dozens, hundreds, and,
indeed, thousands of sets of eyes are needed to verify what the radar images
are capturing and to that end, BirdCast will have an interactive component
and will allow you to log on and enter your daily sightings. These will feed
directly into our database and be available to everyone in real-time.
So, BirdCast needs you. Dust off those bins and get ready to head to your
favorite haunts. While we encourage all of you to post each and every
sighting, of greatest value will be sightings coming from those who can
afford the time to make regular observations. Those of you who would like
to participate on a daily or regular basis or if you would like additional
information please contact Sally Conyne sconyne@audubon.org. <*"»"
These data you collect will greatly enhance our overall understanding of
migration patterns and movements. And this project will educate a
multitude of people about how their backyards can be made friendlier and
healthier for our angels. So, please, help us help the birds.
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