SWAMP: SURFACE WATER AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM

Introduction to SWAMP

The Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) is a program of the State Water Resources Control Board that monitors and assesses waters throughout California. The State Water Resources Control Board and San Diego Water Board conduct monitoring and assessment of San Diego waters through SWAMP funding; this monitoring and assessment program is independent of permit-required monitoring. SWAMP is designed to provide resource managers, decision makers, and the public with accurate and timely information to evaluate the conditions of surface waters throughout California. This is accomplished through carefully designed monitoring programs and by coordinating monitoring with other entities within the region and statewide. This generates comparable data in integrated assessments that provides answers to important management questions. SWAMP is based on three priorities: (1) Statewide and Regional Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting, (2) Coordination of Monitoring Activities, and (3) Development of Infrastructure and Tools.

The State Water Resources Control Board established SWAMP in 2000. Under SWAMP, "ambient" monitoring refers to any activity in which information about the status of the physical, chemical, and/or biological characteristics of the water bodies of the state is collected to answer questions about the status and trends in water quality and beneficial uses of the water bodies. Monitoring under SWAMP does not include effluent or discharge monitoring, which is covered under the various Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) issued by the San Diego Water Board.

Statewide SWAMP Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting

The Statewide Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting of SWAMP consists of three large statewide programs: (1) Perennial Streams Assessment, (2) Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program, and (3) Stream Pollution Trends. Access more information on these programs at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/.

Regional SWAMP Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting

Information on previous, current, and future SWAMP Monitoring, Assessment, and Reporting in the San Diego region can be found below.

SWAMP Quality Assurance

SWAMP ensures high quality data that is produced by SWAMP regional and statewide efforts. The SWAMP Quality Assurance Team develops and applies Quality Assurance systems to all program phases from sample collection to analysis to data processing and management. Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) are developed for each of the statewide and regional monitoring programs.

The overall SWAMP Quality Assurance Program Plan can be accessed here: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/tools.html#qa.

REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Reports and publications that were produced and/or funded (in whole or in part) by the San Diego Water Board's SWAMP program are available upon request. Please contact Chad Loflen, SWAMP coordinator for the San Diego Region, at (619) 521-3370 or Chad.Loflen@waterboards.ca.gov

Additional Information

For additional information, please contact: Chad Loflen, SWAMP coordinator for the San Diego Region, at (619) 521-3370 or Chad.Loflen@waterboards.ca.gov