A Review of the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Pilot Program (1990) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-15
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Often monitoring and assessment have been included as supporting elements for "action programs" within other Budget categories at a low level of effort. However, there has been a gradual realization in Congress and within state and local governments that a well-planned, reliable water quality assessment program needs to be an integral part of any acceptable water resources strategy.
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In April 1986, based on instructions from the Department of the Interior to test and refine the program, the USGS initiated the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program, consisting of seven pilot projects: four associated primarily with surface water and three focused on ground water.
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was requested to undertake a 2-year evaluation of the NAWQA Pilot Program and to make recommendations concerning implementation of a full-scale program, including its potential usefulness 'for establishing and evaluating national policies. The NRC was also asked to consider the program's usefulness to state, local, and private entities for making decisions affecting water resources, and its usefulness in advancing the scientific understanding of water quality.
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Implementing a national water quality assessment using consistent data collection, analysis, and reporting procedures is essential if this nation is to effectively and efficiently maintain, manage, and protect our water resources. Such an assessment must go well beyond mere monitoring and data collection to focus on developing understanding of cause and effect relationships.
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However, in spite of these difficulties, the committee is confident that the USGS will make the necessary adjustments, hire and train new specialists, and develop the additional techniques required to fully accomplish the NAWQA goals. Integration of Surface Water and Ground Water Study Units has Improved Usefulness of NAWQA In its interim report, the committee suggested that an integrated approach be used whereby study units would be selected so as to involve a joint investigation of surface and ground waters.
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program, which emphasizes physical hydrology; this should result in some degree of synergism and aid in delineating cause and effect relationships. Recommendation · To determine whether a large study unit presents any problem with respect to the proposed sampling protocol and data management, it is recommended that in initiating the full-scale NAWQA program, the USGS include two large study units for investigation.
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In addition, we recommend that initially lakes should be considered but only as they affect downstream surface water quality or downgradient ground water quality. · The committee further recommends that the first set of investigations in the NAWQA program include one or more study units in which lakes are likely to be significant contributors to downstream and/or downgradient water quality.
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The emphasis of the NAWQA program is on producing timely interpretative products focused on specific topics of regional and national interest. Recommendation · While the committee agrees with the rationale for the rotational assessment approach, it is recommended that the duration and staging aspects be reevaluated by the USGS and an external scientific advisory committee after the first cycle of 20 study units is completed.
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· An external scientific advisory committee should review the constituents that are added at the regional level to determine whether a regional water quality problem is really a national problem. · The USGS should establish a library archive of spectroscopic fingerprints of selected water samples.
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· Because the pilot projects have provided few data with which to evaluate the ability of the tissue monitoring and ecolog cat survey efforts to meet the stated objectives, the committee recommends that another external science advisory committee review this component of the program when more data are available. Quality Assurance/Quality Control .
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A new NWIS-2 is being designed and is targeted for operation in FY 1992. The development of this system is currently under way as part of the upgrading of computer resources for the Water Resources Division of USGS and should be available for the full NAWQA program.
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Mathematical modeling can be used in all phases of water quality assessment, including design of the monitoring program, analysis of data, and evaluation of past and potential management options. Of particular importance is the interactive nature of modeling and data collection.
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Recommendations · The committee recommends that the concept of a retrospective report be expanded to include data on known sources of water quality~constituents, existing studies of water quality processes within the study unit, and previously developed conceptual and mathematical models of the physical, chemical, and biological processes influencing water quality in the study unit. · The committee encourages the USGS to be vigilant and creative in seeking ways to minimize the time required to publish the National Water Quality Assessment findings.
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However, although interagency cooperative agreements have existed since 1967, no federal interagency master plan has been available to ensure that existing and proposed monitoring activities will provide the basis for a comprehensive national water quality assessment program. Also missing is an effective interagency committee among those federal agencies now performing water quality assessments.
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2. Prepare an action plan of how overall agency programs will perform national water quality assessments by: a.
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