DEVELOPING A TRIBAL WATER MONITORING
STRATEGY
Supplement to the Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
What is the purpose of this tribal water monitoring strategy document? 1
What is a monitoring strategy? 2
How DOES A MONITORING STRATEGY DIFFER FROM A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN OR
AN ANNUAL WORK PLAN? 2
ELEMENTS OF A MONITORING STRATEGY 4
ELEMENTS OF A MONITORING STRATEGY 4
I. Monitoring Program Strategy 4
II. Monitoring Objectives 5
III. Monitoring Design 6
IV. Core and Supplemental Water Quality Indicators 7
V. Quality Assurance 8
VI. Data Management 8
VII. Data Anal ysis/Assessment 9
VIII. Reporting 10
IX. Programmatic Evaluation 10
X. General Support and Infrastructure 10
ATTACHMENT A: EXAMPLES FOR PRESENTING INFORMATION FOR
SELECTED ELEMENTS 12
ATTACHMENT B: EPA'S STORET/WQX SYSTEM SUPPORT 17
ATTACHMENT C: GLOSSARY 18
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Developing a Tribal Water Monitoring Strategy
Supplement to the Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance
Introduction
What is the purpose of this tribal water monitoring strategy document?
The Final Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean Water
Act (the Tribal 106 Guidance)21, requires tribes, whose CWA 106 grants start in calendar year
2007 with fiscal year 2007 funding, to develop a tribal Assessment Report. The tribal
Assessment Reports are comprised of three elements: (1) a description of your monitoring
strategy, (2) a water quality assessment, and (3) electronic copies of surface water quality data
for nine basic parameters submitted in a STORET-compatible format. This document addresses
development of a water quality monitoring strategy. Similar documents are available for both
water quality assessment reports and electronic submission of data (refer to the sections on data
management and reporting below for more information).
In developing a strategy, as per the Tribal 106 Guidance, the items below should be seen as topic
areas to cover and examples of the types of information that should be included in the strategy.
This document is meant to provide additional detail about how to describe your current and
future program in relationship to the ten elements of a monitoring and assessment program.
Example tables have been included in Attachment A for selected Elements and may serve as a
useful starting point for reviewing/describing your monitoring program. These tables are
intended to serve as general examples only. They can be modified to reflect the specifics of your
tribe's monitoring and assessment program.
The complexity of the strategy you describe will depend on the sophistication of your monitoring
program. Your strategy description can vary in length as long as you adequately describe a
program that meets your data and information needs and considers future needs. The format
should be based on what works best for each tribe. The strategy should be updated every 3-5
years, or more often as appropriate, to reflect progress and changes in the program.
Considerations for "Fundamental" and "Intermediate/Mature" water quality programs (see
definitions in the glossary [Attachment C] or in the Tribal 106 Guidance) are identified under
each Element in the following section, in tables. Intermediate programs should consider all
items in the right hand column of these tables, but may be addressing fewer objectives than
mature programs. Mature programs should include all items identified in the template.
In developing your monitoring strategy and developing objectives, you should keep in mind how
these link to EPA's 2006-2011 EPA Strategic Planb including the target showing water quality
a EPA. Office of Water. Office of Wastewater Management. 2006. Final Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian
Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean Water Act for Fiscal Years 2007 and Beyond. EPA 832-R-06-003.
(http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/106tgg07.htm')
b EPA. 2006. 2006-2011 EPA Strategic Plan. EPA 190-R-006-001. (http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm') See
page 40 (sub-objective 2.2.1—improve water quality on a watershed basis) for the strategic target to improve water
quality in tribal waters. Specifically, the target states, "[b]y 2012, improve water quality in Indian country at not
fewer than 50 baseline monitoring stations in tribal waters ... (cumulative) (i.e., show improvement in one or more
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improvement in tribal waters (SP-14) (see references for more information about this strategic
target). Monitoring efforts associated with a variety of objectives should support this measure.
Developing data reports and/or water quality assessment reports based on your monitoring
strategy will provide one mechanism for sharing information with EPA.
This document assumes familiarity with the terms and information in the Tribal 106 Guidance.
This template is relevant for fundamental, intermediate, and mature programs regardless of your
tribe's approach to implementing its water quality program (e.g., the nonregulatory, tribal law
water quality protection, or EPA-approved water quality protection approaches described in the
Tribal 106 Guidance).
This document has been reviewed and approved for publication by EPA. Mention of trade
names or commercial products or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as
conveying, official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation. Any use of words such as
"should" or "may" are not intended to be mandatory language, rather, these are statements of
suggestion that a tribal program may or may not adopt depending upon available resources.
What is a monitoring strategy?
A monitoring strategy is a long-term plan for meeting identified water resource objectives. The
document describes current and future monitoring plans and incorporates a timeline for
implementation, including milestones, to address needed enhancements. The monitoring
strategy should be comprehensive in scope (i.e., serve all water quality management needs and
address all tribal waters, including all waterbody types, e.g., streams, rivers, lakes, Great Lakes,
reservoirs, estuaries, coastal areas, wetlands, and groundwater). The strategy should also
identify the issues and needs that are currently impediments to an adequate monitoring program.
Where possible, a monitoring strategy will document plans and needed resources for filling
current gaps/weaknesses in your monitoring program. This document provides additional
guidance on what should be included in a monitoring strategy.
How docs a monitoring strategy differ from a Quality Assurance Project Plan or an annual
work plan?
While a monitoring strategy is long-term plan for meeting all water quality management needs, a
quality assurance project plan (QAPP) documents the type and quality of data needed for specific
environmental decisions/objectives. The QAPP describes why, where and how samples will be
collected, how samples will be analyzed, the quality of data needed, how data will be evaluated
and decisions that will be made based on the data. A monitoring strategy is required, but
components of a monitoring strategy may be found in existing QAPPs. Tribes and regional staff
may evaluate existing QAPPs and other programmatic documents to determine which
monitoring strategy elements are/are not covered. Based on these evaluations, regions will
of seven key parameters: dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, pathogen
indicators, and turbidity). (2005 baseline: 185 monitoring stations on tribal waters located where water quality has
been depressed and activities are underway or planned to improve water quality, out of an estimated 1,661 stations
operated by tribes.)"
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determine what additional information must be documented to meet the Tribal 106 Guidance
monitoring strategy requirements.
An annual work plan is a more project specific document than a monitoring strategy. The work
plan identifies activities your tribe will accomplish for a set period of time and for a set amount
of money. A work plan includes activities related to managing the water program/grant,
conducting public education/outreach, monitoring and assessment, and other topics. The
monitoring and assessment component of your work plan will be linked to your monitoring
strategy. It is important to note, however, the work plan will not necessarily include all of the
plans/objectives identified in your strategy. A monitoring strategy describes activities and
enhancements that will be incorporated into your program over a longer time period making it
more comprehensive in scope than a work plan.
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Elements of a Monitoring Strategy
I. Monitoring Program Strategy
EPA and the tribe should be able to answer "yes" to each of the questions below for the
strategy to be deemed acceptable. In some cases, gaps or weaknesses may still exist; and if
these gaps are identified in the strategy document, the strategy will still be evaluated as
acceptable. Fundamental programs may also discuss with their regional office whether separate
strategies for individual monitoring efforts should be considered.
Fundamental Programs
A. Does your monitoring strategy cover each of
the Elements II-X below?
B. Does your monitoring strategy include
background information on tribal waters
including extent of water resource (e.g. an
atlas), condition (if known), other pertinent
information to put monitoring program
objectives in context, and amount of data
currently available (e.g. number of years of
data)?
C. Does your monitoring strategy consider all
waterbody types on the Reservation and make
clear which type the tribe is focusing on, e.g.,
streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, springs,
wetlands, Great Lakes, groundwater, Estuaries,
reservoirs, coastal areas?
D. Does your monitoring strategy consider
resources needed to implement major
priorities? Consider:
- Training (e.g., training on data
management, data analysis, or other)
- Laboratory needs
Staffing needs (full- and part-time
employees)
- Equipment
E. Does your strategy extend over a 2-5 year
period?
F. Does your strategy include a schedule, not to
exceed ten years, for implementation of major
priorities?
Note: EPA recommends that fundamental
programs give special attention to ensuring that
data management, assessment methodologies, and
reporting capabilities are developed during the first
several years of program implementation.
Intermediate/Mature Programs
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Does your monitoring strategy cover each of
the Elements II-X below?
Does your monitoring strategy include
background information on tribal waters
including extent of water resource (e.g. an
atlas), condition (if known), other pertinent
information to put monitoring program
objectives in context, and amount of data
currently available (e.g., number of years of
data)?
Does your monitoring strategy consider all
waterbody types on the Reservation, e.g.,
streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, springs, wetlands,
Great Lakes, groundwater, estuaries, reservoirs,
coastal areas? (All of these waterbodies do not
have to be included in work/sampling plans, but
the monitoring strategy should discuss
interrelationship of these waterbodies and
identify assessment goals for determining the
condition of each waterbody type - may be a
long range goal.)
Does your monitoring strategy consider current
and future monitoring needs (that is, does it
plan for environmental information needs as
your programs expand)? In addition to general
resource needs, consider:
- Research or pilot testing that might be
needed to develop certain aspects of
your program.
- Training
- Laboratory needs
- FTE (staffing needs)
- Equipment
Does your strategy extend over a 5-10 year
period?
Does your strategy include a schedule, not to
exceed ten years, for implementation (including
plans to address gaps/weaknesses to achieve
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II. Monitoring Objectives
Objectives should identify why data are needed and how data are used. Conducting monitoring
to "collect data" is not an acceptable objective. An example of how tribes might consider
documenting their objectives is included in Table 1 in Attachment A.
current and future objectives)?
Fundamental Programs
A. Identify the current questions/objectives you are
addressing that require water quality data. EPA
recommends that fundamental programs
consider actively working on objectives such as:
- Watershed/reservation-wide
assessments to assess condition and
address other priority objectives (See
list of objectives below. Although
many of these objectives are relevant to
intermediate and mature programs,
fundamental programs may choose to
identify them as long-term objectives.
The strategy should include a
timeframe for revisiting long-term
objectives, if identified.)
- Identification of waters needing
restoration and those needing protection
- Evaluation of restoration/protection
projects at various scales (e.g., what
water quality improvements occurred as
a result of implementing a shoreline
stabilization or a local ordinance)
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include "A" under Fundamental Programs and:
B. Identify questions/objectives for which
decision makers/programs will need
information in the future (consider program
growth, introduction of new programs,
expansion to cover additional waterbody
types).
C. Prioritize monitoring objectives and/or
programs (this should play into your schedule
for making enhancements/improvements to the
program over time).
D. Identify the scale at which you need to answer
each of the priority questions/address
objectives (reservation-wide, watershed,
waterbody specific).
Example objectives may include:
- 100% assessment of waters on the reservation.
Establishment of a baseline of water quality condition for all waters for all
pertinent uses over a set time frame (status)
Periodic Reassessment (trends)
- Development/refinement of designated uses (tiered)
- Refinement of water quality criteria
- Identification of waters needing restoration and those needing protection
- Identification of causes/sources (point and nonpoint)
- Development of restoration/protection plans
- Information for permitting (as needed)
- Evaluation of program/projects at various scales (e.g., what water quality
improvements occurred as a result of implementing a shoreline stabilization or a
local ordinance); this would also include evaluating locations for the tribal Water
Quality Reporting measure in EPA's Strategic Plan (SP-14).
- Emergency monitoring (fish kills, spills)
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- Other
Additional details pertinent to your tribal program should be considered with each of the
objectives (e.g., what trends are you tracking and why).
III. Monitoring Design
Monitoring objectives outline what questions you are trying to answer with your monitoring
program. The monitoring design lays out where, on the ground, you will actually collect your
samples to meet your monitoring objectives. Designs can include:
- Census
- Probability-based
- Judgmental or targeted, including upstream/downstream designs
- Rotating basin
- Watershed
- Intensive
- Fixed station
For more information about these designs, please see the glossary (Attachment C) or page 4-15
of the Tribal 106 Guidance.
Fundamental Programs
A. Describe the monitoring programs and networks
(e.g., other sources of information) used to meet
each of your objectives (some designs will
support more than one objective). Describe the
designs and number of stations typically sampled
each year.
B. Identify which of your objectives are not yet met
by identified designs or could use additional
sites, different designs, greater frequency, etc.
(e.g., what are the gaps/weaknesses in your
current program for meeting your objectives?).
For example:
- Perhaps you cannot yet monitor all lakes
or all wetlands.
- Perhaps you are starting up a nonpoint
source (NPS) implementation program
and will need program designs to
monitor the success of implementation
projects.
Note: Fundamental programs may choose to include
possible designs for some important unmet needs as
well.
C. Describe how you allocate your resources (#
stations, # times sampled) to meet objectives (see
Table 2 in Attachment A for an example).
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include all items under Fundamental Programs;
and
- Consider all waterbody types when
identifying designs under "A"; and
- Describe designs that address
gaps/weaknesses and include plans
for implementing them (under "B").
(As noted under Element I, some
waterbody types may not have such
plans but should still be identified as
gaps.)
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D. Identify and describe other monitoring networks
you use (e.g., universities, U.S. Geological
Survey [USGS], states, watershed organizations
and partners, other tribes) to help meet
objectives. Describe the objectives they serve.
IV. Core and Supplemental Water Quality Indicators
Now that your monitoring strategy has outlined the why and where of your monitoring program,
this section deals with what environmental data (indicators) to collect at each site. An example
format for summarizing this information is shown in Attachment A, Table 3.
Fundamental Programs
A. Identify which of the nine Tribal 106
Guidance parameters you are or will be testing
for and identify at what waterbody types these
parameters will be sampled (see page 4-11 in
the Tribal 106 Guidance).
B. Identify any additional core and supplemental
indicators/parameters that are or will be used to
achieve your objectives. (See chart on page 4-
10 of Tribal 106 Guidance)
C. Describe which indicators/parameters support
each of your objectives.
Note: Fundamental programs may choose to
identify some indicators that need to be developed
over time to meet priority objectives.
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include all items under Fundamental Programs; and
D. Identify gaps in your current
indicators/parameters and/or methods for
supporting all current and future objectives
including adding any of the remaining nine
Tribal 106 Guidance parameters as your
program advances. Consider ways to address
these gaps.
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V.
Quality Assurance
Your monitoring strategy needs to outline the procedures that you will follow to ensure that your
data are of sufficient quality to meet the objectives. Attachment A, Table 4 provides an example
format for summarizing this information.
Fundamental Programs
A. Briefly describe the QAPPs that are in place for
sampling projects (identify initial grant
number, date approved, and how often the
QAPP is updated).
B. Identify the issues to be included in a
quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)
review (see page 4-20 of the Tribal 106
Guidance).
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include "A" under Fundamental Programs and:
C. Also consider describing Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs), plans for Quality
Management Plans or other QA related issues
such as training, lab QA processes, auditing
procedures (internal or external) etc.
D. Briefly describe the QA/QC process for
reviewing field and laboratory data. Highlight
any significant QC findings identified and
discuss the corrective action(s) taken or
planned.
VI. Data Management
Your strategy should describe how you will manage your data both within the tribal government
and how these data will be submitted to EPA. Please see Attachment B for information about
EPA's current database—STORage and RETrieval (STORET)c and the Water Quality Exchange
(WQX).
Fundamental Programs
A. Describe data management system(s)
(spreadsheet, database, etc.) for various
waterbody types and programs. Indicate
how tribal program managers/staff have
access to data.
B. Describe data plans/schedule for
assembling data in a STORET-
compatible format and identify
additional technical assistance that is
needed.
C. Identify the parameters for which data
will be stored in STORET.
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include all items under Fundamental Programs; and
- for "B", consider including plans for moving
data to the National STORET site via EPA's
web-based interface (in development, see
Attachment B) - interim steps may include
moving data to regional sites
D. Describe how you store assessment data (whether
water quality is good or poor, is meeting/not meeting
uses, etc.) See EPA's Assessment Database (ADB)
Web site at http ://www. epa. gov/waters/adb/ or
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/2006IRG/report/2006
irg-appendix.pdf. page A-8, for information on
possible data elements you may wish to include in
your storage system.)
0 "STORET" refers to EPA's STORage and RETrieval Data Warehouse, a repository for water quality, biological, and physical
data on surface water and ground water collected by federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, volunteer groups, academics, and
others. A new framework for data submission, called Water Quality Exchange (WQX), facilitates water quality data submission
and exchange between EPA and its data partners. For more information about STORET/WQX, please visit
http://www.eDa.gov/storet/.
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E. Describe the scale/resolution of mapping you use.
For example:
- National Hydrography Dataset (NHD),
1:100,000
- NHD, 1:24,000
- Other
F. Describe how your data and assessment results are
geo-referenced and the program's existing geographic
information system (GIS) capabilities. If you do not
yet geo-reference your data, provide plans for moving
toward this capability (including training and
equipment needs).
G. Describe whether and how you store/access land use
data or other geo-spatial data such as aerial
photography.
VII. Data Analysis/Assessment
Once data have been collected in the field and have returned from the lab, the raw data need to
be analyzed and interpreted to assess water quality conditions. Your monitoring strategy should
describe the general procedures used to assess data. Please note, EPA is developing supplements
on developing a water quality assessment and reporting data.
Fundamental Programs
A. Describe how/if assessments are done. If you
do not yet interpret your data, provide details on
your plans/resource needs to conduct
assessments. Keep in mind analyses needed to
address EPA Strategic Plan measures.
B. Identify other sources of information you use in
data analysis.
C. Describe gaps in your analytical
capabilities/methodologies (insufficient
information, training needs, etc.) Consider
ways to address these.
Note: Fundamental programs may choose to
describe training needs related to data analysis and
assessment ("F" under Intermediate/Mature
Programs).
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include all items under Fundamental Programs;
and
D. Describe other data analysis processes you use
for addressing objectives (trend analysis, etc.).
Describe the databases/software used to
complete these analyses.
E. If the tribe has a methodology for assessing
attainment of water quality standards based on
analysis of various types of data (chemical,
physical, biological, land use) from various
sources, it should be documented for all
waterbody types. If the tribe intends to assess
EPA-approved or tribal water quality
standards, describe plans for developing an
assessment methodology. The methodology
includes criteria for compiling, analyzing, and
integrating all readily available and existing
information (e.g., USGS data, volunteer
monitoring data, discharge monitoring
reports).
F. Describe any training needs you have related
to data analysis.
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VIII. Reporting
The monitoring strategy should describe how the products of your data analysis will make its
way to those who are interested in the results, such as the Tribal Council, the general public and
EPA. An example format for summarizing information pertaining to your reports is provided in
Attachment A, Table 5. EPA has developed additional information/guidance on data assessment
and reporting to meet the water quality assessment component of the tribal Assessment Reports'1.
Fundamental Programs
A. Describe all major reports and products the
tribe produces using water quality information.
Be sure to relate back to overall objectives and
consider reporting needed to address EPA
Strategic Plan measures (e.g., if you have
Stations identified in the baseline for the tribal
Water Quality Reporting measure in EPA's
Strategic Plan (SP-14)).
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include "A" under Fundamental Programs; and
B. Describe plans for ensuring that decision-
makers receive information in a timely manner.
Describe how monitoring results are
communicated to Tribal Council.
C. Identify gaps that exist and ways to address
them.
IX. Programmatic Evaluation
Your strategy should also include a process for looking at your monitoring program to see how
things are going and how to continue to improve it. An example description is provided in
Attachment A.
Fundamental Programs
A. Describe the process you use to annually
review your monitoring program. This may be
met by existing discussions held with your
EPA regional office.
X. General Support and Infrastructure
Intermediate/Mature Programs
Include "A" under Fundamental Programs, and:
B. Describe the internal process you use to
systematically and regularly look at your
monitoring to see if it is providing the answers
to support your needs, goals, and objectives,
including addressing program enhancements
such as expanding to new waterbody types,
introducing new indicators, etc.
- EPA recommends an annual review and
a more comprehensive review every
five years.
The strategy should lay out what resources you currently put into monitoring and those you need
to address all of the objectives that your tribe has to manage its water resources.
d U.S. EPA Tribal Monitoring Strategy and Assessment Workgroup. 2008. Data Assessment and Reporting: Supplement to the
Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance.
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Fundamental Programs
Intermediate/Mature Programs
A. Describe the resources of your current program.
Include "A" under Fundamental Programs, and:
B. Consider resources that are needed for major
priorities or next steps in your program.
C. Consider the resources that are needed for
additional important aspects of your program
Categories you should consider for "A" and "B"
that are not yet being implemented. Again,
include:
consider:
Staffing
Staffing (full- and part-time
- Training
employees)
- Equipment
- Training
- Lab resources, etc.
- Equipment
- Lab resources
- Other, as appropriate
Some questions that might be helpful in thinking
about resource needs include:
- Does the tribe currently have the right
expertise to implement priorities? If
not, describe what additional expertise
is needed (e.g., wetland biologist, data
analyst, etc.).
- Is appropriate training available to
personnel to develop and enhance
skills as needed? Describe. What else
is needed?
- Are laboratory resources sufficient to
support the monitoring program
(whether tribal labs or contract labs)?
What would be needed if the program
was expanded to address
gaps/weaknesses (e.g., estimate of lab
costs to implement wetlands program)?
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ATTACHMENT A: Examples for Presenting Information for Selected
Elements
Note: Examples provided for Elements II, III, IV, V, VIII, and IX only
II. Monitoring Objectives
Example: Table 1 outlines a few monitoring objectives relevant to fundamental and
more advanced tribal programs. The program area column highlights the monitoring
program area. The objective on the right captures the specific question or objective the
program is intended to address. Tribes may use this or another format to help present
monitoring objectives.
Table 1. Example Monitoring Objectives for each Program Area
Program Area
Objectives (examples)
Overall Water Quality Program
1. Assess whether water quality criteria are being
met and beneficial uses are being supported for
waterbodies across the reservation (Overall
Water Quality).
2. Establish a baseline of water quality condition
for all waters for all pertinent uses over a set
time frame.
3. Periodically reassess the baseline water quality
to look for changes (Status and Trends).
Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program
1. Identify waters needing restoration.
2. Determine the effectiveness of individual NPS
projects in meeting water quality criteria and
supporting beneficial uses.
3. Evaluate cumulative watershed impacts from
best management practice (BMP) installation.
Water Quality Standards
1. Identify the reference condition for streams to
use in the development of biological criteria.
2. Develop and refine water quality standards.
Wetlands
1. Develop indicators and assess beneficial use
attainment.
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III. Monitoring Design
Example: Table 2 describes the details of how each program/objective is implemented.
The design column refers to the examples listed above such as targeted, probabilistic, etc.
The number of sites and sampling frequency summarize the information by year.
"Resources" captures the staff time required to conduct the monitoring and the last
column provides a brief description of the program. This type of summary table can
accompany more detailed narrative information about each monitoring design.
Table 2. Summary of various monitoring activities and their design
Exfiniplc
Program Area
Design
# Sites
Frequency
Resources
Program
Description
Ongoing Am
)ient Program
Overall Water
Quality
Rotating basin
with intensive
targeted sites.
15
Quarterly
Sampling
2 FTE for 3
months
2001 - Big Muddy
2002 - James
2003 - Clear Creek
2004 - Maple River
To be resumed in
2005 following the
same rotation
Water Quality
Status & Trends
Fixed station
network of
integrator sites.
10
Annually
2 FTE for 1
month
Begun in 2000.
Located at the mouth
of main tributaries
and where the
streams flow into and
off the Reservation.
Long-term sites for
trends.
NPS Effectiveness
Monitoring
Targeted design
upstream/
downstream of
NPS projects
6 sites/
3 projects
Monthly
sampling
during the
summer
1 FTE
NPS sampling targets
sites above and below
BMP implementation
projects. Sampling
for each project
covers a 2-4 year
timeframe.
Reference Sites
Full program To Be Developed
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IV. Core and Supplemental Water Quality Indicators
Example: Table 3 provides an example format for summarizing the core and supplemental
indicators/parameters collected as part of each monitoring program. Modify this list to reflect the
current indicators used by your program. You may choose to substitute a table(s) from other
documents (e.g., quality assurance project plans [QAPPs] or sampling and analysis plans) and add
information on analytical methods, reporting limits, etc. See also page 4-9 of the Tribal 106
Guidance for an example of how the Gila River Indian Community in central Arizona
documented the relationship between their goals, sub-goals, and water quality indicators, as well
as how they tracked their indicators.
Table 3. Indicator Categories Sampled by Water Resource Type and Program Area
Example (add other columns as needed)
Water Resource Type and/or §
CWA Program Area
i O
; "O
: O
Cfl
cn
' s
Overall Water Quality (Rotating
Basin Sites)
X
X
X
X
X
Water Quality Status & Trends
(Fixed Station Network)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
NPS Effectiveness Monitoring
X
X
X
X
X
X
Reference Site Sampling
(Wadeable Streams)
TBD
V. Quality Assurance
Example: Since you probably have various quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)
documents, a simple way to display that information is to summarize it in tabular format. Table 4
lists the range of QAPPs and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that the tribe has developed.
Including the date of the document shows when the information was updated and when EPA
approval was received.
Table 4. QA System Documents
Exfimplc
Type
Title and Grant Number
Completion
Date
EPA
Approval/Date
QAPP
Sampling and Water Quality Assessment of Streams & Rivers
(updated earlier QAPP); add grant #
6/1/2005
Yes - 8/1/2005
QAPP
Sampling and Water Quality Assessment of Streams & Rivers;
add grant #
2/1/2002
Yes - 3/1/2002
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QA Report
A Summary of QA/QC Findings for 2005 Sampling Results; add
grant #
12/1/2005
N/A
SOP
Field Procedures Manual; add grant #
5/1/2004
Yes - 6/15/2004
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VIII. Reporting
Example: Table 5 provides an example template to record the various reports and documents
that you prepare. Include reports submitted to EPA, Tribal Council, or the general public.
Table 5. Tribal Reports
Example
Report
Timeframe
Entities receiving
copies of the report
Comments
Data Report
Annual
Report summarizes
results from data
collection efforts,
identifies waters
needing restoration,
and highlights data
gaps.
NPS Assessment Report
Completed on Date
NPS Annual Summary
Completed on Date
Tribal Water Quality
Assessment Report
As negotiated with
your Regional office.
Serves as the
primary assessment
of water quality
conditions on the
Reservation
IX. Programmatic Evaluation
Example: An example of a general evaluation process between the tribe and EPA is
provided below.
A primary need identified through development of the monitoring strategy is the need for
a more comprehensive annual process for reviewing existing monitoring programs. This
process should address programmatic coordination and evaluate the effectiveness of
monitoring and assessment programs. Each program would evaluate its data needs and
identify gaps and priorities that may be changing due to resource limitations, new and
emerging issues and changing program objectives. This should be part of a continuous
improvement feedback loop.
An annual review and update of the monitoring strategy between (identify appropriate)
tribal and regional EPA staff have been identified as important to implementing the
strategy. Specific areas of focus will be selected annually based on priorities outlined in
the strategy.
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ATTACHMENT B: EPA's STORET/WQX System Support
Note: An additional supplemental document such as this one has been developed called Data
Management: Supplement to the Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance that specifically
discusses performing data management for data submission in a STORET-compatible format.
STORET and WQX: EPA maintains a database that contains water quality information for the
nation's waters. The database, known as STORET, contains data collected since 1999, along
with older data that have been properly documented and migrated. STORET contains raw
biological, chemical, and physical data on surface water and ground water collected by federal,
state, and local agencies, tribes, volunteer groups, academics, and others. As noted in U.S.
EPA's recently released Final Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106
of the Clean Water Act, tribes will be required to submit electronic reports of certain data
elements discussed in the guidance to EPA in a STORET-compatible format.
The Water Quality Exchange, or WQX, facilitates water quality data submission and exchange
between EPA and its data partners. WQX consists of standard data formats for sharing data with
EPA, a centralized national database, and enhancement of the existing STORET/WQX Data
Warehouse. As a part of this new system for data sharing, U.S. EPA has developed a number of
tools and services to facilitate its use.
Additional information on STORET/WQX can be found at http://www.epa.gov/storet.
Supporting Tribal Data Management and Data Transfer: EPA will support data
management and exchange activities for the tribes through a series of tools and methods. EPA
will provide web-based tools to administer the data sharing process rather than requiring tribes to
run local copies of STORET. These tools will accept the submission of files generated by tribal
data systems and assist with any rule checking or translation issues. EPA will provide training
on how to use these web tools so that tribes can submit files on their own without extra
assistance. EPA will also provide phone and email technical support to answer any questions on
the process for submitting data or use of the web tools.
Submitting data to EPA's STORET/WQX system works most efficiently after formal training on
basic data management principles and common practices of data standardization and sharing
goals. EPA will provide training to the tribes on how best to manage data generated from field
measurements or results analyzed by laboratories. EPA will also provide documentation and
guidance on how to best conform to the rules to submit data to STORET/WQX along with
"templates" to be used to learn how data should be structured. EPA encourages tribes to seek out
their own data management solution that best meets their needs, while also striving to match the
minimum standards set by STORET/WQX. Once tribal data systems are properly set up,
submitting data to STORET/WQX should become routine.
Templates: A template for submitting data is currently available (see
http://www.epa.gov/storet/national websim.html). Work is underway on biological and habitat
templates.
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ATTACHMENT C: Glossary
Assessment database (ADB) - EPA's ADB is a relational database application for tracking
water quality assessment data, including use attainment, and causes and sources of impairment.
(For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/waters/adb/ or
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/2006IRG/report/2006irg-appendix.pdf. page A-8.)
Assessment methodology - An assessment methodology includes criteria for compiling,
analyzing, and integrating all readily available and existing water quality information (e.g.,
USGS data, volunteer monitoring data, discharge monitoring reports). The term is often used in
reference to the assessment of water quality data based on water quality standards, but it can be
applied to other assessment processes.
Best management practices (BMPs) - Best management practices are effective and practical
methods used for preventing or reducing pollution from nonpoint sources. A related term is
"management measures", which refer to a group of cost-effective practices implemented
cooperatively to achieve more comprehensive goals, such as reducing the load of sediment from
a field to a receiving waterbody. (For more information, please see example photographs of
BMPs available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ex-bmps.html. The Center for Watershed
Protection Web site at http://www.cwp.org/stormwater_mgt.htm also has information about
stormwater BMPs.)
Census (monitoring design) - This monitoring design approach involves monitoring every
waterbody on a reservation (see also page 4-15 of the Tribal 106 Guidance at
http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/final-tribal-guidance.pdf).
Core water quality indicators - Core indicators provide basic information about the aquatic
environment (Tribal 106 Guidance, page 4-10; see also list of recommended core indicators in
table on page 4-10 of the guidance).
Designated use - A designated use is a classification specified in water quality standards for
each waterbody or segment describing the level of protection from perturbation afforded by the
regulatory programs. The designated aquatic life uses established by the state or authorized
tribes set forth the goals for restoration and/or baseline conditions for maintenance and
prevention from future degradation of the aquatic life in specific waterbodies (see
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/biocriteria/glossary.html).
Elements (of a monitoring and assessment program) - The ten basic elements of a water
monitoring program as described in the Tribal 106 Guidance (page 4-3) include the following:
1. monitoring program strategy
2. monitoring objectives
3. monitoring design
4. core and supplemental water quality indicators
5. quality assurance
6. data management
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7. data analysis and assessment
8. reporting
9. programmatic evaluation
10. general support and infrastructure planning
Fixed station (monitoring design) - Fixed station networks monitor the same sites over a long
period of time. These are often used to establish long-term trends in water quality at these sites.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) - This term is used to determine the number of full-time employees
available to work on various projects within an organization, and institutions have varying
definitions for this term.
Fundamental programs - Fundamental program activities establish the foundation for a
successful tribal water quality program and help you identify water quality goals and objectives
for your program (Tribal 106 Guidance, page 1-6).
Geo-referencing - Geo-referencing describes the process of locating an entity in 'real world'
coordinates. For example, you would geo-reference your house by determining its latitude and
longitude coordinates. Geo-referencing has become more prominent in recent years due to the
increasing availability of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools designed to facilitate this
process. The Reach Indexing Tool (RIT) is an example of such a tool. It is designed to facilitate
the location and identification of surface water entities, which have associated attribute data
stored in a database, and to geo-reference them to EPA's National Hydrography Dataset (MID).
For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/georef/.
Goals - The desired outcomes for your water quality program, which are based on your water
quality needs (Tribal 106 Guidance, page 3-12).
Integrator sites - Stream sampling sites located down-stream of drainage basins that are large
and complex and often contain multiple environmental settings. Most integrator sites are on
major streams with drainage basins that include a substantial portion of the study area of interest.
Intensive (monitoring design) - Intensive survey designs incorporate a large number of sites in
an area (e.g., a watershed) for a specified period. This design may take the form of an intensive
basin/watershed survey or a site-specific study.
Intermediate programs- Intermediate water quality program activities build the tribal water
quality program and advance the program to meet its water quality goals and objectives (Tribal
106 Guidance, page 1-6).
Judgmental or targeted (monitoring design) - Judgmental or targeted monitoring designs are
based on land use, geological setting, and other natural and human influences (page 6 of
Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (U.S. EPA 2003) available at
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/elements/).
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Mature programs - Mature water quality program activities enable tribes to achieve the goals
and objectives of their programs as well as develop new water quality goals and objectives
(Tribal 106 Guidance, page 1-6).
Monitoring strategy - A long-term monitoring strategy serves as the foundation for a
monitoring program and addresses how the program will meet water management needs (see
page 4-1 of the Tribal 106 Guidance for more information).
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) - The NHD is a comprehensive set of digital spatial
data that contains information about surface water features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers,
springs and wells. Within the NHD, surface water features are combined to form "reaches",
which provide the framework for linking water-related data to the NHD surface water drainage
network. These linkages enable the analysis and display of these water-related data in upstream
and downstream order. (For more information, please visit http://nhd.usgs.gov/.)
Nonpoint source (NPS) - Nonpoint sources are diffuse pollution sources (i.e., without a single
point of origin or not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet). NPS pollution
occurs when rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation runs over land or through the ground, picks up
pollutants, and deposits them into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters or introduces them into
ground water. Common nonpoint sources are agriculture, forestry, urban, mining, construction,
dams, channels, land disposal, saltwater intrusion, and city streets. (Source:
http://www.epa.gov/trs and http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/biocriteria/glossary.html.)
Objectives - The activities you take to achieve your water quality goals (see page 3-12 of the
Tribal 106 Guidance).
Parameters (see page 4-11 of the Tribal 106) - The nine parameters in the guidance are
classified as fundamental, intermediate, or mature based on the level of complexity required by
the monitoring and reporting activities associated with that parameter. The nine parameters
include:
Fundamental reporting parameters:
1. dissolved oxygen
2. pH
3. water temperature
4. turbidity
Intermediate reporting parameters:
5. phosphorus
6. total nitrogen
Mature reporting parameters:
7. macroinvertebrates
8. E. coli or enterococci
9. basic habitat information
Point source - A point source refers to any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance,
including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure,
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container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft,
from which pollutants are or may be discharged. (Source: http://www.epa.gov/trs.)
Probability-based (monitoring design) - A probability-based monitoring design (or statistically
valid survey) is based on some form of random selection of sites or sampling locations. This
approach eliminates the potential for sampling bias toward waters with known problems. A
probability-based design allows the extrapolation from a relatively small sample of monitored
sites to the entire population of water body types covered by the design. (For more information,
see page 4-15 of the Tribal 106 Guidance.)
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) - A QAPP is a written document that outlines
procedures that a monitoring project will use to ensure that the samples collected and analyzed,
the data stored and managed, and the reports produced are of sufficient quality to meet project
needs. The QAPP documents the technical and quality aspects of a project (monitoring,
detection limits, analytical methods, data management and analysis, reporting) and provides a
blueprint for obtaining the type and quality of environmental and information needed (For more
information, see page 4-4 of the Tribal 106 Guidance or visit EPA's terminology reference
system at http://www.epa.gov/trs).
Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) - QA/QC refers to a system of procedures,
checks, audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all technical, operational, monitoring, and
reporting activities are of the highest achievable quality (http://www.epa.gov/trs/). QA is a
management or oversight function; it deals with setting policy and running an administrative
system of management controls that cover planning, implementation, and review of data
collection activities and the use of data in decision making. QC is a technical function that
includes all the scientific precautions, such as calibrations and duplications, needed to acquire
data of known and adequate quality. (For more information, see page 4-4 of the Tribal 106
Guidance or visit http://www.epa.gov/quality/).
Quality management plans - A quality management plan documents how an organization will
plan, implement, and assess the effectiveness of its quality assurance and quality control
operations. Specifically, it describes how an organization structures its quality system, the
quality policies and procedures, areas of application, and roles, responsibilities, and authorities.
(For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/quality/qmps.html.)
Rotating basin (monitoring design) - A rotating basin monitoring design targets certain basins
within a state or region for intensive and/or probability-based monitoring. The basins change
each year so that over a period of time (typically five years), the entire state or region is
monitored.
STORET (STORage and RETrieval data system) - STORET is a repository for water quality,
biological, and physical data and is used by state environmental agencies, EPA and other federal
agencies, tribes, universities, private citizens, and many others. (For more information, please
visit http://www.epa.gov/storet/.)
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Strategic plan measures - EPA's 2006-2011 strategic plan describes the programmatic and
quantitative measures for improving water quality nationwide and sets long-term goals for the
next five years (see page 1-4 of the Tribal 106 Guidance). The measures include strategic targets
that U.S. EPA uses to track progress quantitatively. (The plan is available online at
http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm.)
Supplemental water quality indicators - Supplemental indicators provide specific or
additional information (to supplement core indicators) and can be used to support a special study
or screen for a potential pollutant. (For more information, including a list of recommended
supplemental indicators, see page 4-10 of the Tribal 106 Guidance.)
Water quality criteria - Water quality criteria are adopted by states and authorized tribes to
protect designated uses (numeric pollutant concentrations and narrative requirements). Section
304(a)(1) of the CWA requires EPA to develop criteria for water quality that accurately reflects
the latest scientific knowledge. These criteria are based solely on data and scientific judgments
on pollutant concentrations and environmental or human health effects. Section 304(a) also
provides guidance to states and tribes in adopting water quality standards. Criteria are developed
for the protection of aquatic life as well as for human health. (For more information, please visit
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/.)
Water quality exchange (WQX) -EPA is working on improvements to the STORET database
through the development of WQX. WQX will facilitate water quality data submission and
exchange between EPA and its data partners. WQX consists of standard data formats for sharing
data with EPA, a centralized national database, and enhancement of the existing STORET/WQX
data warehouse. (For more information, please see Attachment B and visit
http://www.epa.gov/storet/future_storet.html.)
Water quality indicators - Water quality indicators are measurements that you can use to
assess the quality of a water body and that can be compared over time. The indicators can
measure the physical (e.g., temperature), chemical (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen), or biological
(macroinvertebrates, bacteria) characteristics of waterbodies. (For more information, see page 4-
1 of the Tribal 106 Guidance.)
Water quality standards - Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-
based pollution control program mandated by the Clean Water Act. Water quality standards
define the goals for a waterbody by designating its uses, setting criteria, to protect those uses,
and establishing provisions to protect waterbodies from pollutants. A water quality standard
consists of four basic elements:
1. designated uses of the water body (e.g., recreation, water supply, aquatic life,
agriculture),
2. water quality criteria to protect designated uses (numeric pollutant concentrations and
narrative requirements),
3. an antidegradation policy to maintain and protect existing uses and high quality waters,
and
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4. general policies addressing implementation issues (e.g., low flows, variances, mixing
zones).
Watershed (monitoring design) - A special intensive design where sites are selected specifically
to evaluate water shed-wide water quality objectives.
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