Ohio Credible Data Program

	Sept 26, 2011  -  OHIO EPA OFFERING 2011 QHEI TRAINING OCT 4, 5, 6 and Oct 18 & 19. For those wishing to collect data for Ohio watersheds and brush up your monitoring skills, Ohio EPA has a few spots open for two Ohio QHEI trainings this Fall.  One will be two-days (now rescheduled for Oct 18 & 19 due to weather) and one will be three-days (Oct. 4-6) with Oct. 18-20 [still] serving as backup/contingency days.  Two-day training focuses on the QHEI and scoring lots of sites (in response to past trainee comments, the biocriteria lecture was reduced in favor of more sites).  Three-day training gives the full biocriteria lecture, providing a more thorough context for how QHEI fits into Ohio EPA biological sampling program.  The three-day will also give plenty of site scoring opportunity too.  Contact Natalie Farber at Natalie.Farber@epa.state.oh.us for additional info.
	June 30, 2011  The Agency adopted final revisions to the credible data program rules. The effective date is July 29, 2011.  Go here for more information.
	On-line Database Now Available. Access it through the Ohio EPA eBusiness Center.

Introduction

There are many watershed groups, community associations, educators, local governmental organizations, and private sector businesses that collect water quality data in Ohio. The purposes of these sampling efforts vary, as do the methods, quality control and data reporting procedures used. Given such a wide variation in sampling and analytical techniques, is it possible and worthwhile to consider the use of data collected by these individuals, volunteer groups and organizations?

Yes. That was the determination and public policy made when the Ohio General Assembly passed Amended House Bill 43 in 2003. While there were a number of motivating factors that caused this legislative bill to be enacted into law, the concept that the State should have as much good scientific information about our surface waters as possible in order to properly manage them was a primary reason for the legislation. Ohio EPA uses the data submitted through the program in several ways dependent upon how the data was collected and whether it meets various review standards. See additional information on Ohio EPA's use of submitted data.

Ohio EPA, using the framework established by this legislation, has adopted rules for the surface water monitoring program designed to encourage and oversee the collection, analysis and use of data collected by volunteer individuals and organizations. To promote scientific validity, Ohio EPA has established specific requirements to participate in the program and to collect data using approved study plans. Data generated under approved project study plans will be collected from the program's Qualified Data Collectors through the use of an on-line data entry system. Interested parties can then view this data (and water quality data collected by other state agencies) through this on-line system, which is accessed through the Ohio EPA eBusiness Center. We hope that more water quality monitoring will be done by volunteers, both professionals and non-professionals, now that a formal program exists and that sharing water quality data will benefit volunteers, state agencies and others in Ohio.  

Administrative Rules 

The program's authorizing legislation was passed and signed by the Governor in 2003. Ohio EPA then wrote and adopted administrative rules that allow for the program’s operation. These rules are effective as of March 24, 2006 and can be seen on the OAC Chapter 3745-4 web page. The legislation and the rules are explicit in the desire to not only encourage the collection of monitoring data by volunteers, but also to ensure that the data is valid and useful for its intended purpose. In other words, the data should be “credible.” The rule package bears the name “Credible Data” because of this important feature, and because the enabling legislation was referred to as the credible data bill. However, the intention to encourage volunteer monitoring remains.

Contact Information

For additional information about the credible data program, contact: