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Stream Segment Evaluation Program

Manual data analysis of water quality assessments is time-intensive and subjective. The Stream Segment Evaluation Program automates the process, saving time and improving the quality of assessments. This program is transferable to other states and has potential benefits in terms of labor and cost savings.

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Stream Segment Evaluation Program

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  1. Stream Segment Evaluation Program Jessica Franks, PhD Phil Hutchison NWQMC2006

  2. Arkansas Experience 2004 Integrated Report 175 stations evaluated

  3. Manual Data Analysis • Process is time intensive, subjective in nature and has opportunities for math errors • Select proper numeric criteria • Extreme data values- what to include • Values near the numeric criteria- what to count as exceedance • Count of the samples • Count of the exceedances

  4. Manual Data Analysis (continued) • Calculate the acceptable number of exceedances • Decide on impairment • Review all above to confirm the decision • Notes in margins of data sheets constitute the record of the decision

  5. Automated Data Analysis • Accurate calculations • No keying errors • Same standard numeric criteria selected each time • No selective use of data • Objective answers

  6. Segment Evaluation Program Benefits • Automated calculating and assessment decision making tool for use with monitoring data • Saves labor and time money • 3,100 to 7,200 man hours in data analysis • 15,800 to 36,300 man hours in preparing the Integrated Report • Reduces subjectivity and arbitrariness in the assessments • Improves quality of the assessments

  7. Segment Evaluation Program Benefits (Continued) • Reproducible results • Cross-reference file invaluable in answering water quality standards questions • Tool transferable to other states

  8. 6-Minute Plan • Access- 7 Queries and Exports to Excel • 7 Excel copy from export file - paste to SegEval tab • Enter segment number on Sheet 6 • Copy from Sheet 4 to Paste Special to Sheet 6 • Click on report tab and review • Enter comments, print, sign

  9. Segeval.xls Tabs

  10. Export Data Options • Arkansas monitoring data is available on the Web in a Microsoft Access database • Any tabular data can be pasted to the Microsoft Excel tabs • Data can be typed directly into the Microsoft Excel tabs

  11. Automated Edits • Eliminate hand correcting data entries • Excel treats all information from Access as text. Fix-multiply by 1 • Monitoring data quirks- void, less than, question marks • Replace hardness values (mg/l) < 25 and > 400 with 25 or 400

  12. Cross Tab • Cross index reference file embedded in the Segeval.xls • Stores the numeric criteria and acceptance criteria for each segment • Pulls data associated with segment number entered on Sheet 6 • Advises proper segment number to be used for a monitoring station • Allows segments to be evaluated against data froma monitoring station not on the segment

  13. How SegEval.xls Works • Extracts from the Cross Tab • Uses • Numeric criteria • Screening percentages • Moves data from input tabs and cleans the inputs • Calculates site specific acute and chronic numeric criteria for parameters that have equations rather than constants

  14. How SegEval.xls Works (continued) • Determines if sample values meet the numeric criteria • Counts exceedances of the numeric criteria • Determines if there are more than the acceptable number of exceedances based on the screening percentage and sample size • Calculates statistics • Organizes information on the report

  15. Report: Complete Assessment on a Single Page • Parameters arranged by Use • Group number assigned based on impairment and sample size • Displays calculated statistics, numeric criteria and screening percentages • Second page of report only shows impaired groups • Comment section

  16. Report – Top Page 1

  17. Report – Bottom Page 1

  18. Report – Top Page 2

  19. Report – Bottom Page 2

  20. SegEval Evolves • Standards change • Methodologies change • Data Quality changes • New data sources • New decisions

  21. Transferability • Tool is transferable to other States • Oklahoma and Texas have shown an interest in automated assessments

  22. Questions Contacts: Jessica Franks email: Franks.Jessica@epa.gov Phil Hutchison email: Hutchison.Philip@epa.gov

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