Montana DEQ and Region 8 EPA

A Joint Project for Effective Utilization of

STORET

By: Deborah DorlandMontana DEQ

Helena, MTphone: (406) 444-2407

email: ddorland@state.mt.us

Project DevelopmentConsiderations

• Limited resource

• Cycle of data management

• Sustainability

Task Based Project Components

• Data flow within the agency

• Migrate chemistry data backlog

• Migrate biological data backlog

• Web enabled SIM pilot project

• Requirements analysis for information management

Requirements Analysis

• Determine functional requirements• Recommendation for platform• Explore options for data analysis• Survey of staff needs• Oral interviews for key topics• Summary report developed by MT DEQ,

EPA region 8 and Research Triangle Institute

Task Based Project Components

• Data flow within the agency

• Migrate chemistry data backlog

• Migrate biological data backlog

• Web enabled SIM pilot project

• Requirements analysis for information management

Enhance User Acceptance

• Increase data quantity

• Enhance data quality

• Reduce turnaround time from data collection to STORET warehouse

Data Backlog for Migration

• Chemistry data

• Biological data (taxon abundance)

• Historic data from special projects

Evaluate Data Flow

• Efficiency

• Streamline quality control activities

External Data Flow

Strategy for 319 Project Data and Other External Data Sources

• Standardize format for electonic data deliverables

• Incorporate into contract requirements

• Guidance for data formats

• Provide access to import data directly to STORET through web-enabled SIM

Getting to the Complete SIM Deliverable

• Many data providers manage only a subset of metadata required for STORET– Field monitors create stations and take field

measurements

– Laboratories analyze samples and generate results

– Planning staff or project administrators develop project details

• Data provider must construct the complete data deliverable

Standardize LIMS EDD

• Data from multiple labs in variable formats– State agency labs– University labs– Commercial Labs

• 319 projects use various approaches

• RFP for consistent STORET deliverables

Training and Technical Support

• Workshops

• Telephone / email

• Volunteer training

• Contracted support?

• General guidance

• SIM templates (spreadsheets)

• Lists of acceptable values for STORET

Support

Web-enabled SIMHosted by Gold Systems

• Upload text file

• Select import configuration

• Import data to STORET

Scope and Scalability

Web SIM Pilot Project

McCone Conservation District Water Quality Monitoring

Acknowledgements:

Tom Patton

And

Luke Buckley

Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

Acknowledgements:

Diane Williams

Dave Stasney

Will McDowell

And

John Babcock

Tri-State Water Quality Council

Acknowledgements:

Jeanne Rae Kirkegard

McCone Conservation District

and

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC)