Improving the Management and Use of Community Science Data: What Can We Learn from Current State and Tribal Programs?

Thursday, October 8, 2020
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern

Community science, or the involvement of the public in expanding scientific knowledge and understanding, is becoming more and more widespread in environmental and public health programs at the local, state, and national levels. The use of community-collected data to help address environmental issues presents both opportunities and challenges for government agencies. This session will showcase results from an EPA-funded project at the Environmental Law Institute that is assessing how different state and tribal environmental programs use community science.  Panelists will review and discuss a diverse set of state and tribal case studies. The goals are to: 1) learn about different types of state and tribal community science programs that can serve as models; 2) analyze different programs’ operations and best practices, and; 3) engage the audience in their ideas for how EPA, states and tribes can better partner on community science programs.  Panelists will include state and tribal leaders responsible for managing programs with expertise in the data collection process and subsequent data management needs.     

Resources

Webinar Agenda

1:00 – 1:10 | Welcome and Introduction

Webinar Logistics
Sarah Abramowitz, Ross Strategic

Welcome, Agenda, and Goals for the Webinar
Kari Hedin, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Co-Chair of the E-Enterprise for the Environment Leadership Council

Audience polling questions

1:10 – 1:20 | Overview of EPA, State, Tribal Use of Community/Citizen Science

Jay Benforado, EPA Office of Research and Development
Review of a recent study by the Environmental Law Institute, including case studies and proposed best practices.

1:20 – 1:50 | Panel on Tribal Agency Experiences in Community Science

Introduction on Tribal Engagement in Community Science (5 min)
Kari Hedin, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Co-Chair, E-Enterprise for the Environment Leadership Council
Demi Gary, ORISE fellow in EPA Office of Research and Development

Highlights from Tribal Community Science Projects (10 min)

  • Shinnecock Nation Microbial Source Tracking
    Demi Gary, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development
    This project monitors water quality in Shinnecock Bay for fecal coliform presence and attempts to determine the sources. The project, based on long-standing partnerships with several agencies, helps inform tribal members about cesspool/septic tank systems that need upgrades.

  • Watershed Monitoring with Tribes in Northern New Mexico
    Cynthia Naha, Hopi Tribe, Santo Domingo Pueblo Natural Resource Director
    The Watershed Watch program is a public-private partnership that works with Tribes and First Nations in northern New Mexico to co-create conservation projects that involve students and community members.  The program uses quality assured data collection techniques that are suitable for community science, and the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) has been reviewed by the New Mexico Environmental Department’s Surface Water Quality Bureau. Data is collected by community members, which range from 2nd graders to people in their 70s.

Quick Reactions and Perspectives (5 min)

  • Opportunities for Tribes - Kari Hedin, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

  • Possible Concerns for Tribes - Cynthia Naha, Hopi Tribe, Santo Domingo Pueblo Natural Resource Director

Open Discussion with Webinar Participants (10 min)

 1:50 – 2:25 | Panel on State Agency Experiences in Community Science

Introduction to State Engagement in Community Science (4 min)
James Beckley, Chesterfield County, Virginia (recently retired from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality)

Highlights from State Community Science Projects (16 min)

  • Arizona Water Watch
    Meghan Smart, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
    This new program enables local volunteers and state scientists to work together to collect high quality data on Arizona’s streams and lakes. Program components include training workshops, standardized monitoring protocols, scientific equipment loaner library, guidance on creating watershed monitoring plans, an online data entry portal, and visually friendly video lessons.  The program’s mobile app allows volunteers to electronically submit water data, as well as contribute photos and observations that help ADEQ scientists analyze water quality issues, update flow data and identify waterbodies for future studies. 

  • Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps)
    Marcy Knoll Wilmes, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
    This statewide network of volunteer water quality monitoring programs collects and shares water quality data for use by the state agency and the public. The MiCorps database provides access to stream and lake volunteer monitoring data through a publicly searchable database. The program uses a three-tiered data classification system based on the level of QA documentation.  In addition to contributing reliable data, the program educates the public about water quality issues and promotes water resources stewardship.

  • Puget Sound Air Quality Sensor Map
    Graeme Carvlin, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
    Air sensors can be a valuable addition to an air monitoring network; however, care has to be taken to properly calibrate and check the quality of their data. This tool combines air quality data collected by the public and regulatory monitors in a single on-line interface. The Sensor Map pulls in data from every PurpleAir monitor from the four-county region. This platform calibrates this crowd sourced data relative to the nearest regulatory monitor and displays the data from both the regulatory and PurpleAir monitors on the same map.

  • Citizen’s Engine Idling Enforcement Pilot Program
    Kelly Crawford, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment
    The new program tests the feasibility of public reporting of violations of District of Columbia’s engine idling regulations for commercial trucks, buses, and vans.  Members of the public can anonymously contact DC’s 311 or file a complaint online, including information that allows for civil enforcement.  One innovative aspect of the project is that people can provide documentation (including time and date stamped video) and potentially receive a monetary award through the Citizens Air Complaint Program.

Quick reactions and perspectives (3 min)

  • Opportunities and Possible Concerns for State Agencies
    Barb Horn, Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Open Discussion with Webinar Participants (10 min)

2:25 – 2:40 | Best Practices for State and Tribal Environmental Programs

  • Ideas on How to Strengthen Partnerships in Community Science among EPA, States and Tribes
    Kasantha Moodley and George Wyeth, Environmental Law Institute

  • Discussion

2:40 – 3:00 | Additional Discussion and Q&A