National Aquatic National Aquatic Resource SurveysResource Surveys

National Coastal Condition National Coastal Condition Assessment – 2010Assessment – 2010

Sarah LehmannSarah Lehmann

National Aquatic SurveysNational Aquatic Surveys

EPA and our State, Tribal and Federal EPA and our State, Tribal and Federal Partners are conducting statistical surveys Partners are conducting statistical surveys of the condition of the Nation’s watersof the condition of the Nation’s waters Unbiased estimates of condition based on a Unbiased estimates of condition based on a

representative sample of watersrepresentative sample of waters Core indicators using standardized field and lab Core indicators using standardized field and lab

methodsmethods Surveys cover Rivers/Streams, Surveys cover Rivers/Streams,

Lakes/Reservoirs, Wetlands, and Lakes/Reservoirs, Wetlands, and Coastal Coastal WatersWaters

Key Objectives of the Key Objectives of the SurveySurvey

What is the extent of waters that What is the extent of waters that support healthy ecosystems, support healthy ecosystems, recreation, and fish consumption?recreation, and fish consumption?

How widespread are the most How widespread are the most significant water quality problems?significant water quality problems?

Is water quality improving?Is water quality improving? Are we investing in restoration and Are we investing in restoration and

protection wisely?protection wisely?

National Aquatic Resource National Aquatic Resource Survey ScheduleSurvey Schedule

20062006 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010 20112011 20122012

LakesLakes DesignDesign FieldField Lab,dataLab,data Report*Report*ResearcResearc

hh DesignDesign FieldField

RiversRiversResearcResearc

hh DesignDesign FieldField Lab,dataLab,data ReportReportResearcResearc

hh DesignDesign

StreamStreamss ReportReport

ResearcResearchh DesignDesign FieldField Lab,dataLab,data ReportReport

ResearcResearchh

CoastalCoastalOW/OW/

Sec.Sec.106106 DesignDesign DesignDesign DesignDesign DesignDesign FieldField Lab,dataLab,data ReportReport

ORD/ORD/OWOW

CoastalCoastal

LastLastEMAPEMAPSurveysSurveys

NEPNEPCCRCCR

NCCR 3NCCR 3ReportReport2001-022001-02

NCCR 4NCCR 4ReportReport2003-062003-06

WetlanWetlandsds

ResearcResearchh

ResearcResearchh

ResearcResearchh

ResearcResearchh DesignDesign FieldField Lab,dataLab,data

Monitoring Initiative –Monitoring Initiative –Current Allocation of Funds Current Allocation of Funds

Provide States $8.45M in 106 grant to participate Provide States $8.45M in 106 grant to participate in statistically-valid surveys of the Nation’s watersin statistically-valid surveys of the Nation’s waters $8000 per site for regional/national scale survey $8000 per site for regional/national scale survey

in lower 48in lower 48

Provide an additional $9.8M in 106 grant for Provide an additional $9.8M in 106 grant for improved monitoring programs and state prioritiesimproved monitoring programs and state priorities $169,900/State annually for program $169,900/State annually for program

enhancements outlined in state monitoring enhancements outlined in state monitoring strategiesstrategies

EPA Use of the SurveysEPA Use of the Surveys

The results of the first national surveys -- the The results of the first national surveys -- the National Coastal Assessments and the National Coastal Assessments and the Wadeable Streams Assessment – are Wadeable Streams Assessment – are included in EPA’s Report on the Environmentincluded in EPA’s Report on the Environment http://www.epa.gov/roe/http://www.epa.gov/roe/

EPA’s strategic plan uses survey results as a EPA’s strategic plan uses survey results as a key measure of the performance of our key measure of the performance of our protection and restoration programs.protection and restoration programs. http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.htm

National Coastal Condition National Coastal Condition ReportReport

The National Coastal Assessment was the first The National Coastal Assessment was the first national survey using the EMAP survey design. national survey using the EMAP survey design.

Three national reports produced since 2001 (one Three national reports produced since 2001 (one is still in draft). is still in draft).

These National Coastal Condition Reports include These National Coastal Condition Reports include statistical assessments of 100% of the nation’s statistical assessments of 100% of the nation’s estuaries in the contiguous 48 states, Puerto Rico, estuaries in the contiguous 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. and Hawaii.

Great Lakes information included but collected Great Lakes information included but collected from SOLEC indicators.from SOLEC indicators.

http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/

National Coastal Condition National Coastal Condition ReportReport

Reports address five key indicators of Reports address five key indicators of ecological health: ecological health: water quality, water quality, coastal habitat loss, coastal habitat loss, sediment quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition, and benthic community condition, and fish tissue contaminants. fish tissue contaminants.

Overall Condition NCCR IIIOverall Condition NCCR III

NCCRs PlanningNCCRs Planning

NationalNational

DataData

NEPNEP

DataData

NCCR I2001

NCCR II2005

NCCR III2008

NCCR IV2011

NCCR V2012

NEP REPORT I2007

NEP REPORT II2012 ??

200220011997-2000

2003 2004 2005 20072006 2008 2009 20101990-1996

Blue – Data Collected

Pink – No Data Collected

National Coastal Condition National Coastal Condition Report - 2010Report - 2010

First meeting of State/Federal Workgroup First meeting of State/Federal Workgroup planned for June 10-11 2008planned for June 10-11 2008

Workgroups will modify and add indicators Workgroups will modify and add indicators in 2008in 2008

New Issues:New Issues: Add Great LakesAdd Great Lakes Section 106 funding Section 106 funding

Schedule:Schedule: Sampling in 2010Sampling in 2010 NCCR V in 2012NCCR V in 2012

Draft Agenda for June Draft Agenda for June MeetingMeeting

San Antonio, TX June 10-11, 2008San Antonio, TX June 10-11, 2008 Discuss funding approachDiscuss funding approach Present and discuss sample draw – first Present and discuss sample draw – first

“throw away draft” for the Great Lakes“throw away draft” for the Great Lakes Begin discussion of indicators – including Begin discussion of indicators – including

focus on appropriate Great Lake indicatorsfocus on appropriate Great Lake indicators Establish indicator workgroups Establish indicator workgroups Plan future Webinars/meetings Plan future Webinars/meetings

Questions?