Robert
Bradley has been appointed as the new Secretary
of the Texas Water Monitoring Council. Darrell Peckham
announced his resignation to pursue a career opportunity. We wish Darrell
good luck in his new pursuit and thanks for work well done with the Council.
The mailout of the brochure was discussed. Ronn Brock presented the observations of Patsy Waters and Robert Bradley. An article on the Congress is to be featured in the next quarterly newsletter of the Water Development Board. This publication will reach over 4000 people. In addition to this mail out another 1500 email addresses have been sent the electronic version of the brochure. A lot of overlap was noticed between these addresses and the addresses for the brochure mail out. After discussion, the Council decided to continue with mailing the brochure. To reduce the mailing list size, duplicated agencies will be removed from the mailing list. This includes TNRCC, USGS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Corps of Engineers. Interagency mail will be used when possible.
However, the dates for the first and second early registration prices were extended to August 1 and September 1, respectively.
Team Leaders of the Breakout Groups next discussed the state of their group.
Dee Lurry, team leader of the Public Outreach Group began the discussion. She wanted to include topics that public information offices would deal with. Will need to do telephone conferencing to originate new ideas. Wants people to participate in the discussion and come up with topics for the agenda.
Eric Mendelman, leader for Quality Assurance breakout group first discussed a current volunteer topic as applicable. He described tension within the volunteer groups over resources placed on quality assurance. Another topic is the "Need for Volunteer Data" and another is "Need for Action in the Watershed". He is looking for a constituency to contribute ideas. He may borrow ideas from the Data Management Group.
There was a discussion on how the web has generated busy work and overkill for agencies. Need to contact Agencies like the LCRA and see if there is a public information officer that might suggest topics. Patrick will provide speakers within the TNRCC who are experienced in dealing with public information.
Possible Tracks include:
- Distribution of resources for volunteer monitoring between public education and data collection.
- How are agencies utilizing web sites as public outreach.
- Response for water quality information related to public health
Miles Hall discussed his Data Collection Group. He is working on who is doing what, where. He had three responses to a survey sent to breakout group members.
One tract - How are you doing data collection and why.
There must be a moderator and achievable goals.
Quality Assurance Group is being captained by Eric Mendelman. He is working on possible topics:
- Verification and Validation
- Reporting Limits
- Auditing
- Lab Certifications
- Data Quality Objectives
- Standardization of Format
- Clean Rivers/TNRCC requirements for fish tissues, saltwater and sediment sampling.
- False detects
- Progress in QA accomplished through the CRP Program should be reviewed
Patrick Roques discussed his Technology Group:
- How can we be really sure of water quality in public access beach areas. -
- A discussion on Real Time Surface Water Quality
- There should be a discussion on monitoring metals for public standards compliance.
- Fish tissue contamination and how this does not relate to ambient levels.
- Sources of water quality monitoring could include a possible poster session.
- The topic of nutrient standards is not developed enough for discussion
- The new standards for surface water, including bacterial indicators, will also be approved
- 24 hour dissolved oxygen (a possible topic for the vendor challenge)
- Methods and equipment that are easy to use for volunteers
Vendor Challenge Group - possible topics:
- 24 hour monitoring - continous
- Telecommunication for data collection
- Water level Monitoring
- Consulting Services - How do we handle them?
Need to decide on a fee for displays by the vendors.
The souvenir - There was discussed the mug was very good and had a historic significance and was a great collectors' item. Some people also wanted a travel mug. There seemed to be a consensus that there was enough feeling to have both available and registrees could choose which one they want.
Next meeting, Thursday August 3, 2000.
Dee Lurry will hold a meeting of the breakout session leaders before the next council meeting.