Oregon's 2012 Integrated Report

DEQ is currently compiling the 2012 Integrated Report. Call for Data for the 2012 report is closed. This page will be updated as DEQ progresses on the 2012 report.

Call for Data Open: Dec. 16, 2011 - midnight, Jan. 31, 2012

DEQ requests that stakeholders including local, state and federal agencies, tribal nations, local interest groups and watershed councils submit water quality data to be considered for inclusion in the Oregon 2012 Integrated Report as required by 303(d) and 305(b) sections of the Clean Water Act.

The following information, procedures, templates, and forms are provided with the 2012 Integrated Report Call for Data:

Background

DEQ intends to submit Oregon's 2012 Integrated Report to EPA early next year. This report will include an updated 303(d) list of water quality limited waters needing TMDLs and an improved 305(b) report. DEQ has established priorities for developing the report and list and is aligning this effort with other water quality program priorities described below. The goal is to develop a robust data set with which to compile the report. As of December 2011, EPA has not approved DEQ’s 2010 303 (d) list. Upon approval, DEQ will incorporate any necessary changes to the process and to the 2012 Integrated Report.

Priority Basins and the Watershed Approach

DEQ will use the Watershed Approach to develop the Integrated Report. This represents a significant change. The Watershed Approach allows DEQ to work cooperatively within a geographic area to help coordinate internal sub-programs with stakeholders to effectively identify, prioritize, and address the most pressing needs in a watershed. For 2012 this means DEQ will consult with local, state and federal agencies, as well as local interest groups and watershed councils, to identify high quality data that is appropriate and readily available. Another change to the 2012 report process is that DEQ will prioritize its call for data in two basins, the Willamette and Umatilla. While DEQ will accept data from other watersheds around the state, the focus will be on data and information from these basins.

DEQ will also update the assessment methodology to reflect recent changes to the water quality toxics criteria for human health fish consumption and metals. Of particular interest is water quality data that allows us to evaluate new and revised criteria in Table 40. This focus will allow us to begin developing a thoughtful approach for protecting people from toxic pollutants in fish, shellfish and drinking water.

In addition, DEQ is interested in statewide data that will help us to evaluate stream listings based on criteria that have been revised or withdrawn (i.e., iron and arsenic).

Many of Oregon’s watersheds are listed on the 303(d) assessment because of stream temperature data. While still valuable for developing TMDLs and evaluating the impact of implementation programs and restoration projects, temperature data will be a lower priority for this assessment.

Find Information About:

Data Submittal – Procedure: Data already existing in the DEQ’s LASAR database, USGS NWIS database or EPAs Water Quality Exchange framework do not need to be submitted separately to DEQ.  Data not already in one of these databases will need to be submitted to a DEQ server over the Internet using a network File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
Note: Organizations that are on-going participants in DEQ’s Volunteer Monitoring Program can continue to use data reporting procedures established for that program.

Data Submittal – Templates and Forms: Forms and templates for data submittal with required information and formats. Data in EXCEL files or comma delimited text files (CSV) are acceptable.

• Questions about Call for Data or Data Submittal - See Frequently Asked Questions or contact DEQ via email.

Other Topics and Tools

• 2010 Assessment Methodology PDF
  Contains the protocols and "decision rules" DEQ uses to evaluate data and information.



• DEQ Data Quality Procedures and Policies
  Analytical laboratory data is first evaluated based on the presence of a laboratory quality system.  Laboratories accredited under a nationally recognized program (e.g. NELAP, ISO 17025, AIHA) for the submitted analyses will be considered a sufficient quality system for this evaluation.  Laboratories not accredited by a nationally recognized program must provide sufficient information for DEQ to evaluate the submitted data.
  
  Analytical data is compared to current Quality Control (QC) limits established by the referenced analytical method and/or the QC limits established by the laboratory that performed the testing for data submitted to DEQ. DEQ also utilizes EPA National Functional Guidelines for data review as guidance when evaluating laboratory data.



• DEQ Data Quality Matrix PDF
  Provides data validation criteria for water quality parameters measured in the field (March 2009).
  
  
• LASARWeb
  DEQ web application to retrieve monitoring data from DEQ's Laboratory Analytical Storage and Retrieval (LASAR) database.



• Longitude and Latitude Identification (LLID) Application
  DEQ on-line map tool that can be used for Oregon to obtain geographic information such as Longitude, Latitude, LLID, stream Name and River Mile.



• Voluntary Monitoring Program
  Information and resources for volunteer groups participating in DEQ's Volunteer Monitoring Program to identify and solve Oregon water quality problems.

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