The Need
The Problem
While water quality data is being collected across the country, only a small portion is currently interconnected in a way that easily allows us to comprehensively assess the health of our waterways. Using rivers and streams as an example, only 31.4% of the 3.5 million stream miles are assessed by state and federal partners. Despite almost 50 years of monitoring enabled by the Clean Water Act, almost 70% remain “unassessed.” In short, this means the health of many streams and rivers is simply unknown, and state and federal governments do not have the resources to fill that data gap. With water quality information still unknown, problems remain undiagnosed, affecting the health of our environment and communities.
The Solution: The Water Data Collaborative
Community scientists are striving to deliver vital information on local water quality conditions that is both credible and available to all levels of decision-makers to encourage measurable actions that protect and restore our nation’s waterways. The Water Data Collaborative unlocks the power of an entire network of innovative community efforts, by offering an unprecedented opportunity to elevate community science, through unity and standardized processes.
WDC Fundamental Pillars
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Champions
Identify and elevate regional experts that can train, support, and verify local monitoring quality to WDC standards.
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Network of Networks
Establish data standards that facilitate the sharing of data across platforms and different organizations.
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Distributed Data Management
Technical services offer the bridges for creating, managing, and accessing data across protocols and regional differences.
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Grant Funding
Identify committed funders that recognize the value of monitoring programs and the cost of sunsetting datasets solely due to insufficient funds.
“Citizen science is much more than collecting data. It provides a way to engage all parts of society in gaining a deeper understanding of human environments, build an informed population that can advocate successfully for environmental protection, and more effectively protect human health and the environment.”