Data Submittals

SWQB prepares and submits an assessment of surface waters in the Clean Water Act (CWA)  §303(d)/ §305(b) Integrated Report and List every even-numbered year.  Although our monitoring section collects data during our rotational watershed surveys to update water quality assessments of a number of waterbodies each listing cycle, we realize that many other organizations, both within and outside of state government, may also collect water quality data that may be incorporated into development of the Integrated List.

What kind of information is needed?

SWQB is specifically seeking chemical, physical, biological, habitat, and bacteriological (i.e., E. coli) data for any streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the state, preferably acquired within the last 5 years, that can be compared to water quality standards published in 20.6.4 NMAC. Watersheds of particular interest vary depending upon our most recent rotational watershed surveys. See the list of recent surveys here.

How to submit data and supporting information

Several items must be submitted in order to determine data eligibility for assessment, including the below.  See Data Submission Guidelines (above) for additional details:

• CONTACT INFO – Contact information including, at a minimum, name, phone number, and email for the entity that generated the data set;
• ELECTRONIC DATA – Chemical data submitted for consideration must be submitted in an electronic format (Excel or compatible format – see data template with example data) and include, at a minimum, the information in the template.  Habitat and biological data should be submitted in a common electronic format.  Data that are submitted in hard copy, PDF, or alternate formats will be considered subject to SWQB resource limitations to convert the data into the needed format, and therefore may not be included in the Bureau’s assessment process.  Please also include information on any citable reports summarizing the data, if available; and
• QUALITY ASSURANCE SUMMARY – First time data submitted must be accompanied by a description of the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols under which the data were collected. All data submissions from outside sources will be reviewed by the SWQB QA Officer to ensure the suitability of the QA/QC procedures under which the data were collected. Specifically, submitted documentation associated with the dataset will be reviewed to determine: (1) if there is documentation of QA/QC procedures that, at a minimum, meet the QA/QC requirements described in the SWQB’s most recent quality assurance project plan (QAPP); and (2) if there is reasonable evidence or assurance that these procedures were followed. If these minimum requirements are met, the submitted data will be incorporated in the data set used to make attainment decisions.

Data packages will be evaluated and incorporated as appropriate into future draft CWA §303(d)/§305(b) Integrated Lists. Data packages submitted after the cut off date for a particular Integrated List may be considered for the development of subsequent Integrated Lists. For additional information, please contact the SWQB Assessment Coordinator, Meredith Zeigler at Meredith.Zeigler@env.nm.gov.

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