Data Collection with a Purpose
Introduction
As watershed groups work their way through planning and implementation, they often find that their understanding of the watershed and the processes that influence water quality are incomplete.
Even if your watershed group has completed a comprehensive watershed inventory*, deliberations over action strategies will inevitably lead to additional questions.
Often times, groups must decide if they should gather additional data in order to make more informed management decisions.
Data collection can help groups identify specific critical areas for restoration or protection, verify assumptions about causes and sources, and identify more recent threats to water quality. In addition, you may want to collect baseline data to evaluate the impact of future restoration efforts.
Remember that data collection is an on-going process. It informs all aspects of decision making from problem identification, goal formation, implementation and evaluation. You may never have the resources to collect all the data you would like to have, so prioritizing data needs will enable your group to get the greatest return on time and money invested in data collection.
There are several methods you can use to gain a more complete understanding of your watershed. Review the readings below for a description of techniques for collecting data. Your group may want to designate a technical committee to work on the inventory. In addition, your group may wish to solicit input from the community to take advantage of local, historical knowledge.
*See link to Appendix 8 of the Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio for guidelines established by Ohio EPA.
Learning Objectives
After completion of the module the learner should be able to:
- Develop an action plan to collect data to improve management decisions.
Background Readings
Required:
- USEPA. (2005) Gather Existing Data and Create and Inventory. In EPA Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters. (Pp. 5-1 thru 5-54)
- USEPA. (2005) Identify Data Gaps and Collect Additional Data. In EPA Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters. (Pp. 6-1 thru 6-24)
** Read both chapters as needed. There is a lot of useful material covering a range of issues that may or may not apply to your needs. ** - For a comprehensive list of inventory elements required by Ohio EPA for an endorsed watershed plan, read pages 4-6 of Appendix 8 of the Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio.
Additional Resources:
- Ohio EPA. (1997). A Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio. (Chapter 2, pp. 64-66, 75-79.)
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/nps/wsguide.pdf (PDF format)
(In 2002, OEPA and ODNR released an update to Appendix 8 of this guide. It is available as a pdf document at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/12/water/watershedprograms/Appendix8Update.pdf.) - Murdoch, T., Cheo, M., and O'Laughlin K. (1996). Streamkeeper's Field Guide, (pp. 30-41). Adopt a Stream Foundation.