Overview of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP)

Cindy Johnson Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

The Start of the Bay Program

1976 Congress directs EPA to conduct an intensive five-year study of the Bay’s resources and water quality and develop related management strategies. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program was formed as a result of that directive. EPA staff, officials from MD and VA and citizens identified 10

areas as foremost water quality problems of the Bay of which 3 were prioritized for intensive study: Nutrient Enrichment, Toxic Substances and the decline of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation. USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), 1982. Chesapeake Bay Program Technical Studies: A Synthesis. September 1982. 635 pp.

Data issues prior to 1984 Duplication of effort, lack of coordination and

communication among agencies, scientists and managers collecting data

Sampling, analytical and other methodological differences among past programs and lack of comprehensive QA procedures make comparisons and trend descriptions difficult, and sometimes impossible.

Data Integrity Workgroup Implement the Coordinated Split Sample program to assess

water quality data comparability.

Participate in blind audit and reference sample programs to demonstrate data accuracy; Investigate potential analytical issues; Determine corrective actions to resolve data discrepancies; Improve efficiency of data collection and reporting procedures; Perform method comparability studies.

Explore new technologies for water quality analyses; Standardize field and laboratory techniques among agencies; Prepare reports on the quality of nutrient, chlorophyll and sediment data.

Evaluate the use of non-traditional partner monitoring data, including quality assurance of field and lab methods.

DIW Products Data Analysis Issues Tracking System (DAITS)

Sampling & Analysis Guidelines

Reports on findings of the Coordinated Split Sample Program and Blind Audits

Ensuring Comparability A1 – Virginia Labs (HRSD, Occoquan etc.) B1 - ODU C1 – CBL D1 – DCLS E1 - VIMS

A2 – Virginia Labs (HRSD, Occoquan etc.) B2 - ODU C2 – CBL D2 – DCLS E2 - VIMS

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USGS Sediment Laboratory Quality Assurance Project - Study 2, 2014 Sediment Mass Percent Difference Results

Class 1 Target Sediment Mass = 91 mg

Results Median (-4.02%) Median +/- 5% Median +/- 3 F-pseudosigma

Ensuring Accuracy

Using Citizen Monitoring Data Currently the Bay Program utilizes data from relatively

few citizen groups for assessment.

Alliance for Chesapeake Bay

South River Federation

The Bay Program realizes this is a resource that can provide useful information

The recent EPA grant awarded to the Alliance of the Chesapeake Bay is designed to help this effort

Will most likely be utilized on a tiered approach

Advantages to a Regional Program The problems facing the Bay do not stop at local or state

boundary lines

Restoring the Bay is an enormous task that can best be accomplished through a pooling of resources – of funding, technical and scientific expertise and a long term commitment on local, state and Federal levels

Consistency in field collection and analytical methods across jurisdictions allows for better accuracy when determining effectiveness of Bay-wide decisions and outcomes.

Having a regional program ensures transparency and accountability of all those participating in the program.

Questions? /Contact Information

Cindy.johnson@deq.virginia.gov Virginia DEQ CBP Monitoring Coordinator/grant manager

Charles.torbeck@deq.virginia.gov Virginia DEQ Citizen Monitor Coordinator

James.beckley@deq.virginia.gov Virginia DEQ QA Coordinator