California Water Quality Monitoring Council (CA Senate Bill 1070)
Quick Links
- Background | Membership | Meetings | Products | Work Groups | More Information.
Announcements
- Welcome Prop 1 Applicants! - Guidance on the WRAMP framework for monitoring and assessment is available on our website.
- Save the Date - 10th National Monitoring Conference, May 2-6, 2016 in Tampa, Florida
This national forum is for all water stakeholders, including federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, non-profits, academia, volunteer citizen scientists, and industry. Come to exchange information, network, develop partnerships and new skills, and see the latest technology related to the water resources we know and love -- rivers and streams; lakes; wetlands; coastal waters and estuaries; groundwater; and processed water -- that are all part of this great gathering. Conference themes attract professional papers and posters on topics that range from monitoring and assessment, to protection and restoration, to cutting-edge technologies and methods. - Environmental Data Summit White Paper Available for Public Comment
In June 2014, the Delta Stewardship Council hosted an Environmental Data Summit to explore data challenges identified by the Delta Science Plan. One outcome of the Summit is a draft vision document, Enhancing the Visions for Managing California's Environmental Information. This paper is a preliminary synthesis of ideas explored during the Summit that have emerged from initiatives, current programs, and the experiences of individuals from State and federal agencies, academia, private, and non-governmental entities. Comments on the public review draft are being accepted until March 18.- The Monitoring Council endorsed the recommendations contained in this white paper as being consistent with earlier Monitoring Council recommendations.
- Monitoring Council releases First Triennial Audit of Implementing A Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy for California
The California Water Code requires the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a triennial audit of the effectiveness of the Monitoring Program Strategy developed by the Monitoring Council in 2010. Cal/EPA Secretary Rodriquez requested that the Monitoring Council conduct a self-audit. - Executive Director Jon Marshack presents an overview of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, its workgroups and the My Water Quality portal at a Delta Science brown bag seminar jointly hosted by the Delta Science Program, Ecosystem Restoration Program, and Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
- Monitoring Council comments on the draft Interim Science Action Agenda of the Delta Science Program, Delta Stewardship Council
Background
In November 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Natural Resources Agency to establish the California Water Quality Monitoring Council (Monitoring Council). The MOU was mandated by CA Senate Bill 1070 (Kehoe, 2006) and requires the boards, departments and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Natural Resources Agency to integrate and coordinate their water quality and related ecosystem monitoring, assessment, and reporting.
CA Senate Bill 1070 (Water Code Sections 13167 and 13181) and the MOU require that the Monitoring Council develop specific recommendations to improve the coordination and cost-effectiveness of water quality and ecosystem monitoring and assessment, enhance the integration of monitoring data across departments and agencies, and increase public accessibility to monitoring data and assessment information. While the Monitoring Council may recommend new monitoring or management initiatives, it will build on existing effort to the greatest extent possible. The Monitoring Council published its initial recommendations in December 2008, and its recommendations for A Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy for California in December 2010.
Membership
The membership of the Monitoring Council is intended to represent a variety of water quality related interests. Monitoring Council members are selected by the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the Natural Resources Agency. The Monitoring Council has allowed each Member to designate and Alternate who would participate on those occasions when the Member is unable to participate in person.
- California Environmental Protection Agency (Co-Chair)
- Jonathan Bishop, Chief Deputy Director
State Water Resources Control Board - Alternate: Greg Gearheart, Deputy Director
Office of Information Management and Analysis
State Water Resources Control Board
- Jonathan Bishop, Chief Deputy Director
- California Natural Resources Agency (Co-Chair)
- Vacant
California Department of Water Resources - Alternate: Stephani Spaar, Chief, Office of Water Quality
Division of Environmental Services
California Department of Water Resources
- Vacant
- California Drinking Water Program
- Karen Larsen, Assistant Deputy Director
Program Management Branch
Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board - Alternate: Bruce H. Burton, P.E., Chief
Northern California Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board
- Karen Larsen, Assistant Deputy Director
- Regulated Community - Publicly Owned Treatment Works
- Phil Markle, Environmental Scientist
Water Quality and Soils Engineering
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
- Phil Markle, Environmental Scientist
- Regulated Community - Storm Water
- Armand Ruby
California Storm Water Quality Association and Armand Ruby Consulting - Alternate: Geoff Brosseau
California Storm Water Quality Association
- Armand Ruby
- Agriculture
- Parry Klassen, Executive Director and Board Chairman
East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition - Alternate: Bruce Houdesheldt, Manager
Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition
- Parry Klassen, Executive Director and Board Chairman
- Citizen Monitoring Groups
- Beth Christman, Director of Restoration Programs
Truckee River Watershed Council
- Beth Christman, Director of Restoration Programs
- Public
- Sara Aminzadeh, Executive Director
California Coastkeeper Alliance - Alternate: Travis Pritchard, Program Director
San Diego Coastkeeper
- Sara Aminzadeh, Executive Director
- Scientific Community
- Steve Weisberg, Executive Director
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project - Alternate: Ken Schiff, Deputy Director
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
- Steve Weisberg, Executive Director
- Water Supply
- Sarge Green
California Water Institute and Association of California Water Agencies - Alternate: Adam Walukeiwicz, Regulatory Advocate
Association of California Water Agencies
- Sarge Green
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Liaison (non-voting)
- Terry Fleming
Water Division
Pacific Southwest, Region 9
- Terry Fleming
Meetings
Meetings of the Monitoring Council are open to the public. Actions of the Monitoring Council are advisory to Cal/EPA and the Natural Resources Agency. Please visit our Meetings web page for details.
Products
- First Triennial Audit of Implementing A Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy for California
The California Water Code requires the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a triennial audit of the effectiveness of the Monitoring Program Strategy developed by the Monitoring Council in 2010. Cal/EPA Secretary Rodriquez requested that the Monitoring Council conduct a self-audit. - California Water Quality Monitoring Council: Increasing Efficiency & Effectiveness Through Collaboration - Delta Science brown bag seminar jointly hosted by the Delta Science Program, Ecosystem Restoration Program, and Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program - presented by Jon Marshack, Monitoring Council Executive Director
- My Water Quality Ocean Portal Roadmap - prepared for the California Ocean Science Trust
A scoping document outlining steps toward formation of one or more collaborative ocean and coastal ecosystem health workgroups and My Water Quality portals - Comments on the Draft Delta Science Plan of the Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Science Program
- Comments on the draft Interim Science Action Agenda - by the Monitoring Council
- Comments on the Final Draft Plan - by the Monitoring Council
- Comments on the Second Draft Plan - by the Monitoring Council
- Comments on the First Draft Plan - by the Monitoring Council Coordinators
- Monitoring Council letter to the Ocean Protection Council regarding Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring integration
- Estuaries Monitoring Workgroup of the Monitoring Council launches the California Estuaries Portal
- "How Healthy Are California's Tide Pools?" Monitoring Council releases new Rocky Intertidal Portal
- “Where Are Our Wetlands and How Are They Doing?” Wetland Monitoring Workgroup of the Monitoring Council releases two new web-based wetland information tools, a completely redesigned California Wetland Portal and EcoAtlas
- 2012 Annual Progress Report of the Water Quality Monitoring Council
- Fourth "My Water Quality" Portal Focuses on the Health of California's Streams and Rivers
- 2011 Annual Progress Report of the Water Quality Monitoring Council
- A Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy for California
- Press Release
- Entire Strategy Report, Including Cover Letter and Appendices
- Cover Letter and 2010 Progress Report
- Strategy Report
- Appendix 1: SB 1070 Requirements Matched to Recommended Comprehensive Monitoring Program Strategy Components
- Appendix 2: California Water Quality Monitoring Council Annual Progress Report, December 2009
- Appendix 3: Monitoring Council Governance -
- Appendix 4: Guidelines for Workgroups and the Development of My Water Quality Theme-Based Internet Portals
- Appendix 5: SWAMP Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, Assessment Framework, and Needs Assessment
- Appendix 6: California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup, Tenets of a State Wetland and Riparian Monitoring Program (WRAMP)
- California Water Quality Monitoring Council Endorses Statewide Wetland Monitoring Strategy
- Third "My Water Quality" Portal Evaluates Quantity and Quality of California's Wetlands
- 2009 Annual Progress Report of the Water Quality Monitoring Council
- New “My Water Quality” Portal Evaluates Safety of Fish and Shellfish Consumption in California
- California Water Quality Monitoring Council Unveils Internet Portals to Connect Decision Makers and the Public with Water Quality Information
- Monitoring Council Recommendations to Agencies, December 1, 2008
- Preliminary Statewide Inventory of Monitoring Programs
Work Groups
- Master Calendar of the Monitoring Council and its Workgroups
- Bioaccumulation Oversight Group
- California CyanoHAB Network
- California Estuary Monitoring Workgroup
- California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup
- California Water Quality Monitoring Collaboration Network
- Data Management Workgroup
- Healthy Watersheds Partnership
- Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health
- Safe Drinking Water Workgroup
- Safe-to-Swim Workgroup
More Information
- Welcome to My Water Quality - Web Portals
- For additional information on the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, please contact Monitoring Council staff
- Executive Director, Jon Marshack - email: Jon.Marshack@waterboards.ca.gov or phone: (916) 341-5514
- Assistant Director, Kris Jones - email: Kristopher.Jones@water.ca.gov or phone: (916) 654-4925
Receive updates by email regarding activities of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council. Subscribe online to the "SB 1070 - Water Quality Monitoring Council" email list.