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National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) Technical Support and Research
Impact/Purpose:
Water Quality MYP
Description:
OW has overall responsibility for all operational aspects of the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) and funds all field operations, laboratory analyses, and information management. They are responsible for preparation of all documents, including QAPP, field operation manuals and assessment reports. NHEERL provides scientific input to OW’s national working groups on survey design, indicator selection, field protocols, laboratory protocols, stressor and condition indicator construction, and assessment approaches. Where the tools have not been completely developed, as in the case of wetlands, rivers and lakes, NHEERL will finalize the indicators and analysis tools so that they can be utilized by OW and the States. In some cases, this requires hands-on training with OW and the States to demonstrate the most effective way of collecting the samples and using the indicators and analyses procedures. Under this research track, final survey designs are currently developed for all NARS Assessments. NHEERL has led the development of physical habitat and multi-metric biological indicators for lakes, rivers/streams, and coastal waters in previous assessments, and is helping with their development for use in the wetlands assessment. Statistical estimates for regional and national assessments will be provided for lakes, rivers/streams, coastal and wetlands.