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Purpose and Goals of the Coordinated Monitoring Program

• Submitted on 2011-08-18 16:23
• Last Updated on 2011-09-22 20:32

Purpose: The purpose of the Coordinated Monitoring Program (CMP) is to compile data on the various types of monitoring activities that are being conducted on the Truckee River, the frequency at which the monitoring is conducted, and identify the agencies conducting the monitoring. The CMP will also serve to establish common definitions that can be used to clarify procedures, and to serve as a basis of metadata in the Truckee River Info Gateway (TRIG) database.

Goals: The goals of the CMP are to find efficiencies in sampling efforts and share data more easily, leading to a better understanding of health and processes in the Truckee River and its tributaries.

This CMP compendium was prepared in response to the need for better data sharing and efficiencies among the resource management agencies and non-profit organizations responsible for management of the Truckee River. These resource agencies and organizations united and developed a MOU that sets goals for improving the exchange of information pertaining to their respective river monitoring activities. The MOU outlines specific goals for the development and maintenance of a CMP:

Increasing efficiency and minimizing duplication of effort among the Parties;

Encouraging the Parties to utilize a central clearinghouse of technical and water-related information;

Encouraging the Parties to develop robust data that may facilitate timely identification of potential problems with water quality or environmental degradation of the Truckee River, to the extent they have the authority and funding to do so;

Promoting the future protection of the Truckee River; and

Encouraging the Parties to share this information with each other, the public, and other interested parties.

In short, this CMP compiles and shares information on what monitoring data is being conducted, by whom, and the frequency at which data is collected. The CMP provides common monitoring site location information and sampling and analysis definitions that can be used to clarify procedures, and to serve as a basis of metadata and resources in TRIG.

These goals were met through a process of information requests (three surveys) followed up with a series of half-day meetings focused on goal setting, sample locations and site naming conventions, field protocols, laboratory methods, the TRIG database, and CMP document review and comments. A focus group also met by telephone to discuss biological monitoring methods. Each of these efforts resulted in specific work products that have been compiled into the following sections of the CMP. It is expected that this document will be updated as new information is developed and shared, and when more work is done to implement recommendations and ideas from this CMP in the TRIG website.