National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Conference

The Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Wicomico Soil Conservation District, University of Maryland System, and the Sussex County (Delaware) Soil Conservation District will host the 12th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Conference September 26 – 30, 2004 in Ocean City. The conference will focus on the management of nutrient inputs and exports in the rural landscape. Presentation sessions will focus on BMP effectiveness evaluations, runoff and water table management, modeling applications for nonpoint source management and nutrient input management. (Register Now) Conference registration and agenda may be viewed at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/NPSWorkshop/NPSworkshop.html.

This conference will bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality, effective monitoring techniques and statistical analysis of watershed data. The conference will focus on the success of the Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects as well as other innovative monitoring projects from throughout the United States. The agenda includes three days of conference sessions/presentations, two half-day workshops and a one-day field trip to visit either Upper Eastern Shore or Lower Eastern Shore nonpoint source conference related projects. The Lower Eastern Shore field trip will include a visit to the Upper Pocomoke project (Wicomico County). This innovative project has documented the positive effect of nutrient and poultry litter management on water quality. To view a project fact sheet, go to: http://dnr.maryland.gov/bay/czm/nps/publications/pocomoke_fact_sheet.pdf 

Conference registration may be viewed at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/NPSWorkshop/NPSworkshop.html

National Monitoring Program

In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency established the National Monitoring Program to evaluate the effectiveness of nonpoint source pollution controls in designated watersheds. A set of national program guidelines was established to insure appropriate experimental design and water quality monitoring protocols. Nationwide there are 23 national monitoring projects. All projects effectively integrate water quality monitoring with best management practice implementation to evaluate the effectiveness of different pollution control practices. National monitoring projects typically last five to ten years. Generally, there is monitoring of baseline conditions for at least two years followed by bmp implementation and monitoring for an additional three to six years. National monitoring projects are funded through state nonpoint source programs. 

The State of Maryland’s Nonpoint Source Program funded a University of Maryland national monitoring project – “Monitoring and Modeling Water Quality Response of the Mixed Land Use Basin.” This project successfully provided water quality data that demonstrated the water quality benefits of best management practices implementation as well as a simulation technique that could translate project results to other parts of the state. This University of Maryland project and many other national monitoring projects will be highlighted this fall in Ocean City at the 12th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Conference. Conference registration may be viewed at: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/NPSWorkshop/NPSworkshop.html.

To find out more about the national monitoring program, visit EPA’s website at: 
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/cwact.html