The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2008-09

PLAN AND ASSESS: SURFACE WATER MONITORING (SWAMP)

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GROUP:

SURFACE WATER MONITORING

MEASURE:

SITE VISITS AND SAMPLING EVENTS
ANALYSES CONDUCTED

MESSAGE:

Variations in surface water monitoring efforts throughout the State are influenced by differences in regional needs, strategies, and resources.

*KEY STATISTICS FOR FY 2008-09*
Site Visits and Sampling Events	2,659
Analyses Conducted	8,057

MEASUREMENTS

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008-09, the State and Regional Water Boards conducted 2,659 site visits to take samples and measurements that resulted in 8,057 analyses. Monitoring needs, strategies, and resources vary among the Regional Water Boards, so the number of samples collected and analyses conducted also varies among the regions.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Monitoring and assessment of the State’s waters provides data and information to determine the status and trends of their condition, establishing water quality standards, determining compliance with requirements, guiding actions to protect the waters, and evaluating the effectiveness of pollution control efforts. The Water Boards’ Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) monitors and assesses the State’s surface waters, directly and through collaborative partnerships, to support water resource management. Data from SWAMP is used for many purposes, including the State’s water quality assessment report, “California 305(b) Report on Water Quality”, and the impaired waterbodies list.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Data Source: SWAMP. Period: July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. Extracted in July 2009.
Unit of Measure: Number of site visits and sampling events, and analyses conducted in FY 2008-09.
Data Definitions: Site visit: A monitoring station visit on a given day for making observations and taking measurements. Sampling event: A monitoring station visit on a given day where one or more samples are collected for analysis. Analyses: Samples taken during a site visit may undergo chemical, physical, toxicological, or biological analysis in the field or laboratory. While analyses address a wide range of parameters, from $3 pH measurements to $6000 toxicity identification evaluations, each analysis reported is counted the same, regardless of cost or complexity.
References:
- Water Boards’ SWAMP program
- Regional Water Board fact sheets on regional monitoring strategies:
  - Region 1 - North Coast Region
  - Region 2 - San Francisco Bay Region
  - Region 3 - Central Coast Region
  - Region 4 - Los Angeles Region
  - Region 5 - Central Valley Region
  - Region 6 - Lahontan Region
  - Region 8 - Santa Ana Region
  - Region 9 - San Diego Region
- The Water Boards’ latest water quality assessment report, 2002 California 305(b) Report on Water Quality
- The Water Boards’ latest list of impaired waters. The next update of the water quality assessment and impaired waters list will be prepared as an integr9/20/11ARY
  
  Ambient Monitoring
  
  Ambient monitoring refers to the collection of information about the status of the physical, chemical, toxicological, and biological characteristics of the environment.
  
  Parameter
  
  A parameter is a measurable or quantifiable characteristic or feature of water quality, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, sediment, bacteria, metals, nutrients, pesticides, and toxicity.
  
  (Updated 9/20/11 )