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Integrating modeling and surveys for more effective assessments
Citation:
OELSNER, G. P., J. L. STODDARD, AND S. G. PAULSEN. Integrating modeling and surveys for more effective assessments. Presented at Proceedings of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council Eighth National Monitoring Conference, Denver, CO, April 25 - 29, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
A false dichotomy currently exists in monitoring that pits sample surveys based on probability designs against targeted monitoring of hand-picked sites.
Description:
A false dichotomy currently exists in monitoring that pits sample surveys based on probability designs against targeted monitoring of hand-picked sites. We maintain that judicious use of both, when designed to be integrated, produces assessments of greater value than either independently implemented. Using experience with monitoring aquatic effects of acidic deposition on streams and lakes in the eastern United States, we demonstrate how surveys can be implemented to estimate the proportion of lakes and stream length experiencing chronic acidification during the summer and monitoring of individual hand-picked sites can be used to evaluate site specific episodic acidification occurring during spring snowmelt. We evaluate several approaches to modeling the relationship between spring and summer acidification status (based on acid neutralizing [ANC]) and then apply those models to estimate the proportion of lakes and stream length experiencing episodic acidification.