Wednesday, April 13
3:10 p.m.-4:40 p.m.
Session 4:
Citizen Science
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f*"!
Day One: Session 4
J
iL2a
Keeping It Real: Creating and Managing Citizen
Monitoring Programs for the Collection of Action-
able Data Concerning Contact Recreation Water
Quality Standards and Watershed Management
Erick Burres
California State Water Resources Control Board, Clean Water Team
Abstract
Citizen science offers communities the
chance to "share the economy" when it comes to
water quality watershed management. Through
citizen science projects, crowdsourcing, and
strategic partnerships, useful data sets can be
created through the efforts of many Ensuring
that data collected has value toward under-
standing real environmental conditions and
identifying pollution sources, empowers man-
agement decisions, and is scientifically objective
must be of primary importance for monitor-
ing programs interested in producing action-
able data. The Clean Water Team has assisted
hundreds of programs to ensure that the data
they collect is of known value, relates directly
to answering their questions of interest (e.g.,
whether the water swimmable), and is usable
within a regulatory context.
The Clean Water Team's approach to
"keeping it real" relies on question formulation,
data needed to answer that question (regulatory
and/or environmental), data quality require-
ments and program costs (including volunteer
skill levels) required to obtain the data needed,
reevaluation and adaptive alignment of pro-
gram support and data, and the consideration
of adding value so data can be used beyond the
program's primary question of interest. Our
approach supports the formation of monitoring
plans, quality assurance project plans, training
manuals, health and safety communication,
AIS-HACCPs, information management, and
project reporting. It leverages the new Federal
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit
and enables citizen scientists to conduct sani-
tary surveys, test for fecal indicator bacteria,
and conduct source identification studies using
approved methods.
This workshop will introduce the basics of
citizen science management, sampling tech-
niques, and how to use IDEXX tests and more.
Biosketch
Mr. Erick Burres is a senior environmen-
tal scientist-specialist with the California State
Water Resources Control Board. He received
his bachelor of science degree in zoology from
San Diego State University and his master's
degree in public policy and administration
from California State University, Long Beach.
Mr. Burres has worked on numerous environ-
mental issues within California since 1990,
including marine fisheries, natural lands/waters
management, endangered species protection
and recovery, and water quality monitoring.
For the past 15 years, he has served as the
Clean Water Team's citizen monitoring coor-
dinator. His main objective is protecting and
restoring watersheds and their beneficial uses
through science-based community research and
stewardship.
63
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Keeping It Real:
Creating and Managing Citizen Monitoring
Programs for
the Collection of Actionable Data Concerning
Contact Recreation Water
Quality Standards and Watershed
Management
U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
April 12-15, 2016
New Orleans, Louisiana
dean Water Team
Crick Durrei, Citiien Monitoring Coordinator
tv.watcrboardb.ea.gov/watcr_issuGs/programs/swamp/cwt_voluntGcr.shtml
CITIZEN
CITIZEN SCIENCE
ASSOCIATION
SCIENCE
DAY
Q toolkit
DIGITALGOV
IMBE Journal of Microbiology
¦ ft Riolnov filiiKalinn
ASSOCIATION
We want usable, reliable, and
scientifically defensible data
of known quality.
The Clean Wdlei Tedin hdb dbbibled hundiedb uf piugidinb Lu eiibuit: Ihdl llie ddld
they collect is of known value and relates directly to answering their questions of
interact. The Clean WaterTeam's approach to "Keeping it Real" .
Actionable data:
• Values our volunteers time and our flinders support
• Builds community Involvement with watershed
blewdidbhip.
• Helps improve and protect water quality and beneficial
uses.
Source ID
• Beach Sanitary Survey
- Homeless Encampments Mapping
- Trash Asspssmpnrs
• Molecular ID
• Anthropogenic vs Environmental Contaminants
FIBs
• Sample Collection
• Sample Processing
- E. coli
-Total Conforms
- Fecal Coliforms
- Enterococcus
64
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Day One: Session 4
HABs
• Sensory Monitoring
Visual/Photo/Spectral
Shoreline/Dock
Arcal (Kitc/Balloon/Dronc/Planc
• Sample Collection my ,
• Crowdsourcing Species ID "
l?ofumeefflgI!^IrcraTn'llofn9ee3e3To^cIemn!^esearcl
Recreation Survey
Water Body Use
- Recreation Survey
— Use Determination
Risk Assessments
Outreach & More
BMP
- Assessment
- Demonstration Projects
Crowdsoucing
Beach Health Reporting
Water Quality Modeling
Community Ownership
Please! i
Clean Up After
Your Doq
Kjlgra
^1
W. ¦
' |
It all starts with a
MONITORING
QUESTION.
And who's going to use the data produced j
• Data is only meaningful when it becomes
information.
• Transformation of data into information is a
process.
a
The transformation
process requires:
Knowledge about the question
being asked....
....and metadata for the data set
being used to answer a particular
question.
65
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Monitoring Questions
& Monitoring Plans
Should Consider
Water Quality Objectives
I Numerical objectives typically
describe poliutani concern rations,
physical/chemical conditions of the
watpr it<;plf. and thp tmririty nf thp
J water to aquatic organisms. These
1 objectives arc designed to
representthe maximum amount ot
r pulluldiilb liidl Ldii lenidin in lite
water column without
| causing any adverse effect on
1 organisms usingthe aquatic system
c hahitat, nn ppnplp
consuming those organisms or
water, and on other current or
i potential beneficial uses
lorn
: toxicwasted!
conservations nature!!*,
Narrative objectivGS present general
j descriptions of water quality that must be
^ attained through pollutant control
= measures and watershed management.
mviranmentiesS-i ri
i^ecobqu^s"'' t
renewable^
Watpr Quality fnntml Plans (Rasin Plans) prnvidp thp hasis fnr prntprting watpr quality in
California. Basin Plans are mandated by both the l-ederal Clean water Act (CWA) and the
State Porter Cologne Water Quality Act (Porter-Cologne).
The Basin Plan is each Regional Water Board's master water quality control planning
document. It designates beneficial uses and water quality objectives for waters of the
Statp, including siirfacp watprsand grnnndwatpr Thpsp pnfnrrpahlp watprquality
standards are designed to ensure that the beneficial uses of California's waters are
protected.
Each plan must contain water quality objectives, which in the judgment of the Regional
Water Board will ensure the reasonable protection of beneficial uses and the prevention
nf nukanrp, and a prngram nf implpmpntatinn fnrachipving thnsp nhjprtivps, including a
description of the nature of actions that are necessary to achieve the objectives, time
schedules for the actions to be taken, and a description of surveillance to be undertaken
to determine compliance with objectives.
Monitoring Programs Need to Take into
Account the Following:
• Time needed
• Skill sets required (recruiting talent or providing training)
• Equipment, supply and/or lab costs
• Data quality needed to answer their monitoring questions
To Ensure Data Legacy
Programs Should Follow These 7 Steps
• What ever you are going to do, do it well
• Do it with a goal in mind
• Use acceptable, standardized or validated,
instruments and or methods
• Employ sound QA/QC.
• Document everything (metadata)
• Validate all data
• Data communication (storage, sharing...)through
an acceptable repository
Metadata Needs Should
Never Be Treated Lightly
Retuid and Shdie willi Dala
Instrument - Method - Lab Procedure
• Units
• Resolution
• Detection Range (Min - Max)
MuniluiiiiK Design (& Execution)
• Completeness
¦ Comparability (approved, used by others...)
• Data Quality
• Calibration
• Precision
• Accuracy
• Drift
• I raining
• QA Standards (butters, calibration
solutions.)
66
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Day One: Session 4
New Technologies Should Undergo
Validation & Equivalency Studies
OliS^nOsVfS? Ji'
-aO-
With the rise of interest in citizen monitoring and the ease of
forming groups...
...and a disconnect between volunteer monltorlng/cltlzen monitoring and
citizen science...
...the hard work needed to make these steps happen may not always be
happening.
wvvw.wdleibudiUs.Ld.&ov/wolei Js5ues/pii^iairi>Avvdiiip/UuLb/Lvvl/lutHUux/41_:>i;lteiiidtK.inuiiiluiingli.pijr
To assist monitoring groups
devdup llieii piugidiiib llie Clean Wdlei Team piuvidtb leclmitdl
consulting on monitoring plans and Quality Assurance Project Plans.
The Team has also created tools available online.
com • pen • di • um rgjy
vyJJ /kem pendedm/
Noun a collection of concise but detailed infor
maaon about a particular subiect, especally
in book or other publication.
The Clean Water Team s QUIQANCE COMPENDI-
UM FOB WATERSHED MONITORING AMD AS-
SESSMENT is a collection of I low to Manuals
Sheets (presenting ecological significance and reg-
ulatory benchmarks), Information Papers (method
"menus" and principles), Standard Operating Pro-
cedures (step by step instructions] and more (his
Compendium was created to help citizen monitoring
programs organize and produce actionable data for
watershed stewardship.
GUIDANCE COMPENDIUM rOR WATERSHED MONITORING AND
ASSESSMENT
Serlinn 1 fl
Inlrndutlion and Overview
Sector. a 0
riefct Drocedvoc <0 9 cample collection)
secnon a o
Sfffcon Jfl
•Groo samples - Measurements 1 ancn at one comi in a water Body or m a container (inciuaing water Uuaiuy i-aci sriccts)
I'^nvnk (#. g hrw)
5W.IIVII00
Metnuiwiieiiis ToMai in a Wateiaircu ie « ion)
Section 6 0
GeoaraoiKc (niormason for Watershed use (Gis & GPS)
3«I»n7 0
Programmafcc Quality Assurance and Quality Control (OA. QC S QAPP)
$6(6^5 0
Data Quality Management (QQM)
CmlwOO
Volunteer & Ctoff note Cpecrfie DQM Materials
Appendices
Glossary and Web unlcs (Spanish)
[12125
ADout me Contents
wigeno uisueno iou)
www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issu
es/programs/swamp/docs/cwl/guida
nce/lll.pdf
THE CLEAN WATER TEAM'S TOOL BOX
In ckJUIUuii tu IIk; Clean Walei Team CunipewJIuiii tut Water ilieU Myiillunny and Assessiiienl this Toolbox has template
rues and documents mat will netp you manage and organize your water quality monitonng data Most of the items are pan
of the Data Quality Management (DOM) system that the Clean Water Team has developed for the collection management
and sharing of reliable data of known quality The utility of the tools contained within this virtual toolbox will be especially
useful 83 you begin to analyze your project's data
-» Parti: inebasics
» Part 2 Data Validation Kit
-» Part s Advanced Tools
-» Pan 4 Motiitutliiy PiujeU Ptaimiiiy Kit
u/wwwatprhnarrk ra gnv/\A/atpr_k«;iiP<;/prngra
ms/swamp/cwt_toolbox.shtml
67
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Web Accessible Multi-Media Training
SWAMP
hi-rtllwlcthodslbourscl
Velcome to the SWAMP
Field Methods Course!
http://swamp.watcrboards.ca.gov/swamp/qapp_advi50r/Fic
IdMethods/start.html
Sample Handling
& snipping
k Health K. Salnty
inaex
Resources
Topic 1 1InBMiOcn
What's in this Modulo?
ionic I.i Ceiling newly ami Geiiini
EBWHblBg"
EMMA Environmental Monitoring &
Measurement Advisor
EMMA combines decision criteria based on systematic planning (including
all elements of EPA's Oata Quality Objective (DQO) process), your specific
project needs, and methods information from the new National
Environmental Methods Index (NEMI). It also incorporates the latest
information from EPA's new Triad Approach and EPA's new Performance and
Acceptance Criteria (PAC) Process, www.emma-expertsvstem.com
NEMI is an online clearinghouse of environmental monitoring
methods. The NEMI database contains chemical, micro-
biological and radiochemical method summaries of lab and field
protocols for regulatory and non regulatory water quality
analyses.
MEMO
A
fNEMlX
Nonpoini source: volunteer Monitoring
Oarcw HjtoulNffiHintonns IMiMfes t'.'liT.gi'?1,'.'!.,! II
National
Water Program
A Partnarihip nl USDA NIFA
& land Grant Colleges and Universities
KEEP CALM
AND
MONITOR
www.waterbo
ards.ca.gov/w
ater_issueb/pr
ograms/swam
p/cwt_volunte
er.shtml
WATER QUALITY
fljSf-4' » .«•
^ i
KM
68
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f*"!
Day One: Session 4
J
iL2a
The Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task
Force: Citizen Science Applied to Enhance the
Coverage and Effectiveness of State and Local
Beach Programs
Mara Dias
Surfrider Foundation
Abstract
The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots,
nonprofit environmental organization dedicated
to the protection and enjoyment of the world's
oceans, waves, and beaches. The foundation
operates through a powerful volunteer network
supported by 85 chapters across the United
States and internationally
The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is
Surfrider's volunteer-run, water quality moni-
toring, education, and advocacy program.
While all of BWTF's more than 30 laboratories
are testing beach and other coastal waters for
indicator bacteria, each chapter has designed its
own individualized citizen science program to
best use their available resources and meet local
community needs.
Many Surfrider chapters collaborate
with other local NGOs, government agencies,
and academic institutions to implement and
enhance their monitoring programs by sharing
resources and capabilities. Surfrider brings to
these partnerships a team of highly motivated
volunteers who are very familiar with local con-
ditions at the beach and are willing to become
advocates for its protection. Surfrider also
maintains a national online database that can
easily be used to communicate and share data
with the public through conventional and social
media platforms.
This presentation will provide examples
of Surfrider chapters collaborating with state
and local governments to stretch limited agency
resources to expand the coverage and priori-
tize the focus of their beach programs and to
generate the political will and manpower to
look upstream to track and fix local sources of
pollution.
Biosketch
Ms. Mara Dias is the water quality
manager for the Surfrider Foundation, an
international, grass-roots environmental non-
governmental organzation. She received her
bachelor of science degree in marine biology
from Southampton College in New York and
her master of science degree in environmen-
tal policy from the College of Charleston in
South Carolina. Ms. Dias currently leads the
Surfrider Foundation's Clean Water Initiative,
which includes managing their volunteer-run
beach water testing program and the Blue Water
Task Force, as well as working on advocacy
campaigns to improve water quality monitor-
ing and public health protection programs at
beaches across the United States. She also assists
Surfrider chapters in addressing their local
water quality concerns by building community
awareness and partnering with local agencies to
track and fix sources of beach pollution.
69
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Who is Surf rider?
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots
organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment
[if our world's orenn, waves arid beaches.
We maintain a large network of coastal defenders
supported at the national level with policy, legal &
science experts
OUR CHAPTER
NETWORK
10 Regions 84 chapters ^ Academic Clubs
Blue Water
Task Force
The Surfrider Foundation's volunteer-
run, water quality monitoring,
education and advocacy program.
Blue Water Task Force
sources
WARNING
BACTERIA LEVELS EXCEED STATE STANDARDS
OCEAN WATER CONTACT MAY CAUSE ILLNESS
- Creek & river mouths
NO SWIMMING
-Stormwater discharge
- Upper watershed sites
Ik!
Sites tested fill in data gaps, cover popular surf
spots, or sources of pollution
Enterococcus Bacteria - IDEXX Enterolert
Quanti-Tray Methodology
Site maps & data posted online.
• BC, Canada
m
W
Blue Water Task Force
Lab Locations
Jf%
u
70
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Day One: Session 4
BWTF Labs*
Chapter maintained labs often using borrowed
space from local partneTs"
- Other local env groups, aquariums, universities
Collect samples for partner organizations &
help communicate data
— State & local beach programs, & other watershed
groups
School & youth programs
Tf'm ki i
rii
PrN #1
r i' ¦ £*' i
* E
¦— MELju. W
¦Mn n h
j M ¦ - - .„1St
"^1 PgJ
¦% L fen
Easy to Share Data from BWTF website
SHARE
LOCAL INFORMATION
San LurS Omsk Mouth
son Lus uaspo caex n
San Luis Otasoo Oeek m Sen Luis Bay Or. *2
San Uns Obispo C'®®k Estuary
Pisnw Booch, Esiua/y
Ptsmo Boacfi Ocean
03/24/16 72
03/24/18 0
Medium Bacteria
• Low Bacteria
http://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force
71
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
SANnCRUZ^WA1
HIM (iAILtKltS VIDEOS LOCAL LIKIP SORE REPORfS & CAMS SHOP EVEN
/^6fos ij T>er^t>r/rtiJt^ /Arts
\ a
LATEST LOCAL WATER QUALITY
- SURF REPORTS
Bootoria lovol lor Staamw Larva/
|jf3| ™
1 I "SgJSZ1!!
Blue Water Task Force
Activating volunteers
Educating students
Grooming future leaders
Building chapter credibility & legitimacy
Forming partnerships
Building community awareness of water
quality issues
Identifying sources of pollution
Advocating for solutions
Surfrider Foundation's Blue
Water Task Force
Citizen science applied to enhance the
coverage and effectiveness of state and
local beach programs.
Northwest Straits Chapter
• Lab at Western Washington University
• WA BEACH Program
• High bacteria counts @ Larrabee State Park
• Whatcorn County DOH found & fixed septics
• Surfrider education & _<=r-*
ECl ~ !
outreach at camp- ~~
ground
Wild Cat Cove, Larrabee State Park
• Stream survey found raccoon latrine site
• Targeted camper education program
• Scoop the poop & stream fencing
Surfrider Oregon
7 BWTF labs
Year-round testing
OR DEQ Beach Program
City & community partners I
Advocate for funding
Midcoast TMDL
Public outreach
-BAVs&WQstds
72
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Day One: Session 4
Newport, Oregon
• Lab at Oregon Coast Aquarium
• BWTF High Bacteria Counts at Nye Creek &
Nye Beach
• City posted signs & State started testing
Newport, Oregon t* -
• Smoke tests revealed sewer misconnects
• Wetland restoration projects
• Stormwater utility established &
storm water BMPs codified by City
• Bacteria levels improved at Nye Beach &
Creek
2015 Bacteria Levels Increase
• DEQ & Surfridcr data confirm problems
• City prompted study to sample upstream in
creek and stormwater system
g>T;; %[
L.
Blue Water Scholar
Surfridcr, Oregon Coast Aquarium, City of
Newport & Oregon Community Foundation
Warning Signs to Protect Public Health
in Recreational Waters
73
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Citizen Science Enhance"BEACH Program
Extend program coverage - spatially &
temporally
Local knowledge of volunteers
Public outreach & community involvement
Advocates for program funding, source
tracking studies, and implementation of
solutions
74
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f*"!
Day One: Session 4
J
iL2a
How's the Water? Using Community Science to
Measure Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Improve
Water Quality in the Hudson River Watershed
Dan Shapley
Riverkeeper
Abstract
Riverkeeper coordinates the most exten-
sive community science effort in New York
State to measure fecal indicator bacteria in the
Hudson River watershed. Because it flows past
New York City, the Hudson River is known as
the quintessential urban river, but the river's
estuary stretches nearly 150 miles north of New
York City to the federal dam at Troy, and its
watershed is diverse. People swim, boat, and
fish throughout its watershed, and its landscape
ranges from state-protected forested mountains,
to extensive farmland and communities of all
sizes, up to and including the largest city in the
United States.
Our water quality program was estab-
lished in 2008 with Columbia University's
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and CUNY
Queens College to test 74 locations monthly
along 150 miles of the Hudson River estuary
routinely visited by the Riverkeeper patrol
boat. As of 2015, we routinely monitored 300
locations spanning nearly 600 miles of water,
including community science projects sampling
waterfront access points throughout New York
City and in nine tributaries, in partnership
with more than 25 organizations and more than
130 individuals. In 2015, we and our partners
gathered 6,718 samples, and took over 2,800
measures of Enterococci, the fecal indicator
bacteria recommended by U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Recreational Water
Quality Criteria (RWQC) for assessing both
fresh and salt waters, including inland flowing
waters. The program measures water quality
based on the EPA RWQC, and all data is pub-
lished at riverkeeper.org.
Data, and the use of community science to
gather it, have influenced state and local poli-
cies, laws, and actions, leading to infrastructure
investments and improved water quality in
many locations. Data have both provided infor-
mation that enables the public to make informed
choices about recreation in and on the water,
and galvanized popular support for clean water
initiatives. Highlights of the program's impact
include the passage of the Sewage Pollution Right
to Know Law, requiring disclosure of releases
to water of raw or partially treated sewage from
publicly owned sewage systems; passage of the
Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015,
creating a new grant program for community
investments; strengthening of CSO Long Term
Control Plans in several communities; and estab-
lishment of new citizen watershed protection
efforts in several tributaries.
Biosketch
Mr. Dan Shapley manages the Water
Quality Program for Riverkeeper, Inc. A found-
ing member of the Waterkeeper Alliance,
Riverkeeper is a 50-year-old watchdog organi-
zation devoted to protecting and restoring the
Hudson River, its tributaries, and the drinking
water supply for New York City. Mr. Shapley
has worked for Riverkeeper since 2011 and has
managed the Water Quality Program since 2014.
Prior to joining Riverkeeper, Mr. Shapley was an
award-winning journalist focused on environ-
mental issues both nationally and in New York's
Hudson Valley. You can follow his work on the
Riverkeeper blog, at riverkeeper.org/author/
dshapley/, or on Twitter at @danshapley.
75
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Defend the Hudson River and its tributaries
Restore polluted waterways A,
Enrich communities "sasEF1
Swimmers and boaters want to know
about water quality
Where we test
Hudson River Estuary
2008-piebenl
74 locations
CUNY Queens College
Lamont-Doherty Earth
Obseivdluiy of Columbid
University
H
Hudson River Estuary
2008-pit:bt:iil
74 locations
CUNY Queens College
Lamont-Doherty Earth
Obstiivdluiy uf Columbia
University
Tributaries &
Waterfronts
2012-present
300 locations
35 partner organizations
IdO individuals
76
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Day One: Session 4
EPA Guidelines for Enterococcus
Beach Action Value
Single sample
Beach closure
= 60 Entero /100 mi-
Geometric Mean
Weighted average
Chronic contamination
- 30 Entero /100 mL
Statistical Threshold Value
Frequency limit
= 110 Entero /100 mL
Contamination spikes
Entero in the Hudson River
watershed: major conclusions
Entero in the Hudson River
watershed: major conclusions
1. Water quality varies over time, in
frequency and in degree, at all
locations
2. Precipitation increases contamination
3. Contamination is greater in tributaries
23% of samples exceed BAV
59% of 3ite3 3ampled would exceed GM, STV, or both
Entero in the Hudson River
watershed: major conclusions
1. Water quality varies overtime, in
frequency, and in degree, at all
locations
2. Precipitation increases contamination
3. Contamination is greater in tributaries
Q WBl Q
Entero in the Hudson River
watershed: major conclusions
1. Water quality varies over time, in
frequency, and in degree, at all
locations
2. Precipitation increases contamination
3. Contamination is greater in tributaries
Conclusions from tributary
studies are similar
1. Water quality varies over time, in
frequency, and in degree, at all
locations
2. Precipitation increases contamination
3. Contamination is greater in tributaries
Tidal Tributaries
Most tributary samples exceed EPA
beach closure guideline (BAV)
Catskill
Esopus
Rondout
Wallkill
Quassaick*
Saw Mill**
Pocantico
Sparkill
All Tributaries, Non-tidal
70% 28% if^H
¦ %Beach Advisory (>60 rells/100mL) M% Acceptable (0-60 fells/100 mL)
I "Samples piok.es seii by EnviroTesl Labs *'
'Samples processed by the Sarah Lawrence Center far lhe Urban River a! Beuok I
77
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Frequency of contamination varies
among tributaries
Catskill
Esopus
Rondout
Wallkill
Quassaick*
Saw Mill**
Pocantlco
Sparkill
All Tributaries, Non-tidal
¦ % Beach Advisory (>bU cells/100 mL) ¦ % Acceptable (0-b0 ceiis/iuo mL)
•Samples processed by EnviroTest Labs '"Samples processed by the Sarah Lawrence Ceritcrfor the Urban diver at Beczak
Tributary geomeans exceed EPA
criterion by varying degrees
Sparkill
Hudson Watershed in Context
94% (30 of 32) stream segments fail CM criterion, and
100% fail STV criterion
Vs.
23% IIihI failed IMe qPOR threshold nalionwide, and
29% in Eastern Highlands region
according to National Rivers and Streams Assessment
Putting the data to work
ocument impairments
Source tracking
Update watershed plans
Advocate for Infrastructure $
Science
Pharmaceuticals
Microbial DNA
Methane
Algae
Nutrients
Source tracking tracers
Advocacy
Plans
Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law
78
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£3
Day One: Session 4
. LAMONT-DOHERTY
(EARTH OBSERVATORY
Water quality monitoring team
Community sampling partners
The Ashokan Center
Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance
Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness
The River Project
Project
Rochester Environmental Conservation
Columbia University Lamont Dohcrty
Commission
Earth Observatory
Rosendale Commission fur Cunseivdlion of the
CUNY Queens
Environment
Gardiner Environmental Conservation
The Sarah Lawrence College Center for the
Commission
Urban River at Beczak
HnHsnn Vallpy Arts and Sripnrp
Saw Mill RivprCnalitinn
Lower Esopus Watershed Partnership
Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance
Montgomery Conservation Advisory
SUNY Coblesklll
Council
Wall kill River Watershed Alliance
New York City Water Trail Association
Wawarsing Environmental Conservation
Ossining High School
Commission
Pocantico River Watershed Alliance
Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club
Plpasantvillp fnnsprvatinn Advisnry
?f)+ NYC hnathniisps. rlnhs and parks
Council
John Lipscomb, Dan Shapley & Jen
Epstein
Riverkeeper
Dr. Greg O'Mullan
CUNY Queens College
Dr. Andrew Juhl, Carol Knudson
Columbia University Lamont-Doherty
Edilli Obseivaluiy
u t t N S
Funders
Austen Stokes Ancient Americas Foundation, Chris and Suzanne Augustin, City
University of New York, Dale and Laura Kutnick, Dextra Baldwin McGonagle
Foundation, Double K Foundation, tppley Foundation for Research, HSBC Water
Programme, Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River Foundation for Science
and Environmental Research, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia
University, John McLaughlin, Michele Hertz and Larry Friedman, The Nancy and
Fdwin Marks Family Foundation, New Fngland Interstate Water Pollution Control
Commission (NEIWPCC), S. Mackintosh Pulslfer, Mike Rlchter.Sun Hill Foundation,
Wallace Research Foundation, and many Riverkeeper members.
This presentation does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NEIWPCC or any
other funder, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
79
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Leveraging Volunteer Hours for Water
Quality Restoration
Michael Meyer
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Abstract
Water quality in the Chattahoochee River
has improved significantly in the last 20 years
due to improvements in the City of Atlanta's
sewer system. Still, many streams flowing
through Atlanta's neighborhoods are polluted
with high levels of E. coli and other pollutants
due to cracked and overflowing sewers, failing
septic systems, and polluted stormwater run-
off. Like many waterways across the nation, a
majority of these streams rarely receive routine
water quality monitoring from local, state, and
federal government agencies. Therefore, many
of the pollution sources in the watershed often
flow unchecked for long periods of time-
resulting in environmental degradation and
public health threats.
In an effort to fill this void of water quality
data and address the many pollution sources
plaguing these waterways, Chattahoochee
Riverkeeper (CRK) initiated a large-scale
volunteer E. coli monitoring program called
Neighborhood Water Watch (NWW). Since the
program's inception, we have been extremely
successful in achieving all of our goals, which
has resulted in real, measurable water quality
improvements in our community's waterways.
CRK's NWW program started in 2010 with
one stream and one concerned community
organization. Six years later, the program has
grown to monitoring over 120 stations weekly
in the Chattahoochee watershed in partnership
with community volunteers. Because of this
program, we have found and reported numer-
ous sewer leaks and stopped thousands of gal-
lons of raw sewage from reaching local streams
and the Chattahoochee River. We have learned
how to successfully leverage volunteer hours
into significant government action to solve pol-
lution problems in urban areas.
Biosketch
Mr. Mike Meyer is the director of
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's (CRK's)
Neighborhood Water Watch Program in Atlanta,
Georgia. Working with Riverkeeper Jason
Ulseth, Mr. Meyer's work ranges from program
management, field studies, and lab analysis
with his program, to conservation and educa-
tion efforts with CRK's outreach programs.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Mr. Meyer
was first introduced to Atlanta's water quality
issues in 2001 while working with Southeast
Waters, an AmeriCorps program. Shortly
after graduating from Oglethorpe University
with a bachelor of science degree in biology,
he began an internship with CRK, which led
to his employment in the Technical Programs
Department. A passionate advocate for envi-
ronmental protection and restoration, trained
watershed protection specialist, and certi-
fied Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector,
Mr. Meyer is interested in working to improve
urban waterways and greenspaces. He sup-
ports ever-expanding Atlanta's enthusiasm for
conserving and reclaiming its natural spaces for
wildlife and people alike. A long-time resident
and supporter of Atlanta's walkable communi-
ties, Mr. Meyer prefers a neighborhood in which
you can get "a popsicle, a taco, and a video, all
on the same block."
80
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[CHATTAHOOCHEE
RIVERKEEPER
Ktoping XUalrh Ctunr Dnr \SJn\orc
www.chattahoochee.org
Mikp Mpypr
Program Director
Allaiila, GA
jEVERAGlJNG VUI.UNTKKK HOURS FOR
i ati:h quality Restoration
Neighborhood
Water Watch
(NWW) Overview
Volunteer Hours
to Government
Action
bokhood Water Watch (NWW)
Overview
NWW Overview
o TCst. 2010 with one concerned
citizen
o 9/22/12 - EPA C^APP approved
laboratory and procedures
o CRK conducts inspections,
problems reported
o CRK confirms fix, and reports
HCP#
findings
Volunteer profile: Meet Alan
o Sampling since:
2012
o # of samples:
700+
o Mission:want
my grandson to be
able to play in the
creeks like I did
and not worry
about getting
sick/9
81
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
VOT,1TNTEER PROFTRE: MEET RlJBY
O Sampling since;
2014
o # of samples:
100+
o Mission:
"This work is
about community
— that's why 1 do
it" m
Tanyard "Suspect Outfall l"
o Amanda's 2010 samples at Tanyarcl Creek Park
indicated a problem, CRK began tracking.
Intermittent Dry
Weather Spikes:
>241.000 MPN/lOOmL
BEFORE THE CITY BEGAN THEIR TESTS
E. coli at "Suspect" Outfall
|
g 10000
////
///
What was the issue?
o City dye tests and CCTV
inspections in 2012 identifier!
clogged sewer lino
—
o It only seeped sewage when
volumes reached crushed pipe
top
oSSkfr ijr.
•
After the fix, numbers went down
Tanyard creek
/
Fi* cciii^jleled by 3/8/12
dooo
/
\
s
1
U.
J
J,
lljjjli j
,„iJi
W-
j,iii
ji
11
1U
82
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Day One: Session 4
Tanyaiu) creek - Atlanta
Reported 7/2/13 - Fixed 7/5/13
o Culprit:
Private lift station failure
March creek - sandy Springs
Reported 7/7/14 - Fixed 7/9/14
o Culprit:
Broken sower lino
Hollingsworth - Atlanta
Reported i 1/10/14 - Fixed 11/10/14
o Culprit:
Nancy Creek Trib - DeKalb
Reported 10/1/14 - Fixed 10/29/14
o Culprit:
Erosion caused broken private sewer line
I'ROCTOR CREEK TRIB - ATLANTA
Discovered 9/17/15 - Fixed 10/19/15
o Culprit:
Private broken line coming from homes on Lanier St
ROTTENWOOD - COBB
Reported 2/10/16 - Fixed 2/11/16
o Culprit:
Private residential line tie-in
83
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
SOUTH UTOY Tbib -East point
Reported 3/9/16 - Fixed 3/9/16
o Culprit:
Overflowing manhole clogged with FOGB's
Metro Sewer Spills Stopped
84
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f*"!
Day One: Session 4
J
iL2a
Our MS4 Permit—Reframing the
Permit's Ownership through Citizen
Jennifer McDonnell
Arlington County Department of Environmental Services
Abstract
Regulatory requirements are often framed
as something that the government imposes
on the people, instead of a joint community-
government effort to improve the environment.
Establishing responsibilities and meaning-
ful ways for the public to contribute through
citizen science reframes the conversation with
the volunteers from "the county's permit" to
"our permit." Arlington County's citizen sci-
ence macroinvertebrate and E. coli monitoring
programs have been included in their munici-
pal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit
since 2002 and were included in the most recent
2013 permit renewal. In addition to supporting
the county's MS4 permit, the collected data has
benefitted the county by identifying a water
main leak that otherwise probably would not
have been located. The many benefits of a local
government-sponsored citizen science program
will be discussed during this presentation as
well as the unique challenges it presents.
Biosketch
Ms. Jennifer McDonnell is a stormwa-
ter outreach specialist for Arlington County,
Virginia's Department of Environmental
Services, Office of Sustainability and
Environmental Management. She has a bach-
elor of science degree in kinesiology from the
College of William and Mary and more than
15 years of environmental education and out-
reach experience primarily focused on grass-
roots-level public engagement. Ms. McDonnell's
previous work with the Alexandria Seaport
Foundation and Earth Force focused on con-
necting local youths with local streams and
the Potomac River. As a consultant to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, she was
a national trainer for the "Key Internet Tools for
Watershed Management" and "Getting in Step"
courses as well as project manager for nonpoint
source-related contracts. Today, Ms. McDonnell
manages Arlington County's citizen science
programs and supports outreach efforts related
to watershed and stormwater programs, includ-
ing the Green Streets and StormwaterWise
Landscapes programs.
85
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Arlington Snapshot
• 26.S square miles
• Population. 21C,700 (2015 estimate)
• >8,000 pefbons/sq mile
• Population has increased an average 1%
per year since 2000
• 32 miles of perennial, freshwater
streams
• ;jbb miles of storm sewers
• >10,000 storm drains
• Roughly 4?% impervious coverage
Arlington's volunteer
monitoring programs have been
a part of our MS4 permit since
2002.
Arlington was the first in
Virginia to receive the renewed
MS4 permit that included the
Chesapeake Bay TMDL
lequiiemeub in 2013. The 2013
permit included the volunteer
programs plus some additional
training requirements.
W-
AR LI NGl'OM
MS4 Permit Requirements
for Bacteria Program
txcerpt:
• The permittee shall use the Coliscan EasyGel method
to analyze in-stream E-coli levels.
• "The permittee shell collect monthly samples at each of
the following locations in Four-Mile Run identified in
"Idble I.
• The permittee may rely on community volunteers to
conduct bacteriological monitoring.
• The permittee shall analyze the data for relationships
with precipitation events including recent (occurred
within 24 hours of sampling) and long term {total
monthly precipitation).
ft,
ARLINGTON
Bacteria Monitoring
• lx/ month
• Coliscan Easygel method
• Began Fall 2005 with 11
sites
• 21 sites today
• 23 volunteers
• -i (IAPP and updated in
2014
• >$1,300 is supplies per year
ARLINGTON
Arlington County, VA
Daylighted Stroomt
86
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MS4 Perrnil RequirerneriLs
for Macroinvertebrate
Program
Excerpt:
• Ihe permittee shall use a biological stream
monitoring protocol based on EPA's Rapid
Bioassessment Protocol 2 and shall include habitat
assessment, temperature and pi 1 measurements,
and an asspssmpnt nf thp hpnthir marrninvprtphratp
community. Tfie developed protocol shall be
available on the permittee's website.
jd
• Tfio permittee may rely on community volunteers to
conduct biological stream monitoring provided each
volunteer has attended two training events.
Documentation of volunteer training shall be kept on
file for review.
J
liifr
ARLINGTON
Macroinvertebrate
Monitoring
• Since 2001
• 9 sites
• Roughly 100 volunteers on the
roster
• Sampling 3xs per year
• Data reported to VA DGIF, VA
DEQ, Si public
• Each kit of materials Is > $600
1st.
ARLINGTON
Citizen Science
Program Benefits
• Ability to re sample without significant cost
concerns.
• County has background knowledge ot the
people monitoring.
• More members of the community ore
aware of the county's efforts and are
mpsspngprs in thpir nptwnrks
• Relationships are formed.
• Volunteers are more aware than most in
the community and will notice end report
pollution events.
ft-
A BLUING TON
Benefits of Program
Inclusion in the MS4
Permit
> Prnvirips spn v nf program
permanence and requires
appropriation ot funding.
> Negates the 'It's just outreach"
mindset.
• Followlne the protocol isn't ootional.
• Provides meaning to the volunteers'
• Thev understand thev are part of
somethinelareer.
» Volunteers understand where the
data goes after submittal.
"it-
ARLINGTON
Benefit of a
Government-hosted
CilUeri Science Program
• Easier tor the government
and its different
departments to use the
data because they
understand the data's
source, the managing staff,
and the protocol that was
followed.
• Easier to make program and
staffing adjustments than if
constrained through a
contract.
ARLINGTON
87
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Discoveries Since 2012
¦ Water Main Break, Upper
Long Branch - Bacteria &
Macro Programs
• Drinking Water Broken
Valve, Windy Run - Bacteria
Program
• Duck Pond, k>ur Milp Hun -
Bacteria Program
Challenges of a Hosting
a Citizen Science
Program
• If you build it and they come, you have
to maintain it.
• Programs cannot thrive on
sntnpilnt
• Effort is reauired to retain
volunteer int erect.
• Staff presence indicates
importance to volunteers.
• Frequent turnover in area/transient
nature of area. (Diplomats, military, etc)
• FVisv, overbooked lifestyles of
volunteers.
• Maintaining enthusiasm In light of poor
bug diversity
• New trainings
• Sampling Was - Biggei bugs aien'l
better buss.
AHLINGTON
2016 Suite of Trainings
Introduction to Monitoring
Macro Laval IA Improve observation and
identification skills. Improve familiarity with
macroinvertebrate body pans that are
important for identification.
Macro Level IB: Improve comfort and
familiarity with iicing toys to identify
Macro Level D A Cnddisflies, Mayflies &
Crayfish
Macro Level II B-Dragonfllei, Ddmselflles,
Aquatic Sowbugs & Scuds
Macro Level II C - Crane Flies, Black Flies,
Midees. Snails. Flatworms. Aquatic worms &
Leaches
Matter Identifiers (Mis) Test
ARLINGTON
Challenges of a
finvpmmpnr-hnsrpri
Citizen Science Program
• Frustrations with governments in general.
• Rpraine the data inriira»« there k a prnhlem
resolve.
• limitations ol what a government can legally do.
• Unrealistic expectations of a governmeni-
tfinnsnrprl prrigram
• no, weoontnaveacsi-styieiaDwitn real-time
When tied to the MSI permit:
¦ Can limit some program flexibility.
• Con add additional reporting/tracking that
you may not otherwise have done.
AH L^NGTON
If you plan to star: a
government-hosted program,
I Ldiinul eiuplidbize enuuKli
the importance of the
program "living" with the
appropriate department.
"it.
ARLINGTON
Citizen Science
Alternative:
Consultants
• hiring consultants requires
staff oversight.
kW %!
• Program costs are higher.
Kv V%
| A knowledgeable consultant can
provide a citizen science program
audit and recommendations for
°« A
improving your program 1 his ran
provide legitimacy to your work.
and bring in greater expertise on
an as-needed basis.
Ui£~
ARLINGTON
88
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Day One: Session 4
J
Lid
Jennifer McDonnell
Arlington County, DES
Office of Sustainability and
Environmental Management
2100 Clarendon Dlvd,
m W
Suite 705
Arlington, VA 22201
703-228-3042
imrHnnnfj|lrfj);irlinytf»m/;» n«^
WKl ifl
http://envlronment.arlingtonva.us/streams/stream-monitoring/
It,
ARLINGTON
89
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U.S. EPA's 2016 Recreational Waters Conference
Question & Answer Session
Question 1
(Unknown): Did you find challenges in using data provided by volunteers?
Answer 1
Michael Meyer: They know we are serious; we sued the city of Atlanta, a bit of word-of-
mouth, too, that gave us legitimacy Some were very quick and responsive.
Answer 1 (follow-up)
Erick Burres: We had some riverkeepers in California that had the same successes. We tell the
volunteers that they are scientists; it's about the data. That makes a difference. It's all about
the community.
Question 2
Keri Kaczor: I'm a big fan of citizen science—that is how a program can run. But when it comes to
sleuthing contaminated areas, can you share some best practices? We don't use citizen science for that.
Answer 2
Michael Meyer: We train volunteers very carefully and we check up on them. Our sample
sites are usually from pedestrian-friendly bridges, not a highway or something more danger-
ous, and we don't have them go down steep banks, or sample during a storm. We are care-
ful; safety is important. We have them wear gloves, use hand sanitizer, avoid touching the
sample or inside of the bag, and so forth.
Answer 2 (follow-up)
Erick Burres: Safety is always first. How do you control a volunteer, though? We tell them the
sample is not as important as you are. We had issues with booby-traps out there. With HAB
monitoring, we have some potentially really dangerous waters, so volunteers have to be very
careful and avoid harmful situations.
Question 3
Dan Shapley: I'm curious, we tried to talk to people about MS4 [municipal separate stormwater sewer
systems] permits and volunteers. Did you run into issues with union contracts?
Answer 3
Jennifer McDonnell: No, union questions never came up. This program was not replacing
other monitoring efforts.
Answer 3 (follow-up)
Erick Burres: We have legislation, a conflict in our grants, that it could be taking away poten-
tial jobs.
90
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