2025 EPA Region 8 Diatoms WQX Virtual Workshop Session 1
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Biological data are valuable for states to determine if waters are meeting their designated uses, such as aquatic life use, and support development of numeric nutrient criteria. More specifically, diatoms are excellent biological indicators. EPA Region 8 state monitoring teams have been collecting diatom data for over 20 years. States have invested substantial staff and external contractor resources to collect these samples from streams and rivers across their states. For states that collect biological data using funds administered through the EPA, submitting data to the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) is a grant requirement. WQX is a mechanism for EPA’s data partners to upload data to be shared in an accessible format and to support water quality data analyses. Additionally, storing and sharing data in a national database allows other scientists, beyond the state staff, to leverage decades of valuable data to support research projects, management, and decisions that protect aquatic resources. While Region 8 states have tried to migrate data to WQX, they face many challenges and hurdles that make it difficult or impossible to complete this process.
Participants in a virtual workshop held over 5 sessions will meet to develop a regionally consistent approach for submission of diatom data, associated data quality documents to WQX, and justification for adding new names. With input from experts, state and EPA Regional partners, and the EPA WQX team, a best practices document for diatom data quality will be developed as a resource for WQX diatom data providers and data users. Staff with the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) will participate in the virtual workshop. This presentation will introduce the workshop objectives, goals, and schedule of topics for discussion during session 1 of the workshop.