Data Integrity Workgroup
The Data Integrity Workgroup provides direction and guidance on field and laboratory methods and QA/QC related to the collection, processing and assessment of water quality monitoring data.
Meetings
No upcoming meetings.
Data Integrity Workgroup Quarterly Meeting - February 2025
Data Integrity Workgroup Meeting - September 2024
Data Integrity Workgroup Meeting - June 2024
About
The Data Integrity Workgroup was formerly known as the Analytical Methods and Quality Assurance Workgroup. Its members are technical advisors to the monitoring and modeling workgroups of the Scientific, Technical Analysis and Reporting Team concerning field and analytical methodology and quality assurance issues related to collection, processing and assessment of water quality data. The workgroup provides a forum for exchange of technical information focused on the standardization of methods/use of comparable methods throughout the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program. Members of the workgroup participate in the Coordinated Split Sample, Blind Audit and Reference Sample Programs and use this information to evaluate the quality of the monitoring data and to identify areas that require further study.
Mission Statement
To provide professional direction and guidance on field and laboratory methods and QA/QC, resulting in accurate and comparable Chesapeake Bay and tributary water quality monitoring data.
Objective
- Implement the Coordinated Split Sample program to assess water quality data comparability.
- Participate in blind audit and reference sample programs to demonstrate data accuracy; Investigate potential analytical issues; Determine corrective actions to resolve data discrepancies; Improve efficiency of data collection and reporting procedures; Perform method comparability studies.
- Explore new technologies for water quality analyses; Standardize field and laboratory techniques among agencies; Prepare reports on the quality of nutrient, chlorophyll and sediment data.
- Evaluate the use of non-traditional partner monitoring data, including quality assurance of field and lab methods.
Publications
Methods and Quality Assurance for Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Programs
Publication date:This document provides field and laboratory methods and associated quality control requirements for use in Chesapeake Bay water quality monitoring programs.
Data Analysis Issues Tracking System (DAITS)
Publication date: Not listedA central collection point for issues raised by those involved in the management, operation and review of Chesapeake Bay Program monitoring programs.
View document [PDF, 10.8 MB] Data Analysis Issues Tracking System (DAITS)
Split Sample Water Quality Results from Laboratories Participating in the Chesapeake Bay Program: 1985-1989
Publication date:An analysis of data from five split sample programs.
Our Members
- Cindy Johnson (Chair)
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality csjohnson@deq.virginia.gov - Durga Ghosh (Coordinator)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) dghosh@chesapeakebay.net - Allison Welch (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium awelch@chesapeakebay.net - Jay Armstrong
Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services jay.armstrong@dgs.virginia.gov - Becky Monahan
Maryland Department of the Environment becky.monahan@maryland.gov - Carl Friedrichs
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) carl.friedrichs@vims.edu - Mike Mallonee
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) mmallone@chesapeakebay.net - Doug Chambers
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) dbchambe@usgs.gov - Betty Neilkirk
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) betty@vims.edu - Dongmei Wang
Virginia Tech Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory (OWML) dongmei@vt.edu - Meg Maddox
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science mmaddox@umces.edu - Alice Volpitta
Blue Water Baltimore avolpitta@bluewaterbaltimore.org - Roque Hernandez
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) roque.hernandez@dc.gov - Matthew Stover
Maryland Department of the Environment matthew.stover@maryland.gov - Michael Mueller
Fairfax County (VA) Michael.Mueller@fairfaxcounty.gov - Liz Chudoba
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay lchudoba@allianceforthebay.org - Dongmei Alvi
Virginia Tech Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory (OWML) dongmei@vt.edu - Kristen Heyer
Maryland Department of Natural Resources KHeyer@dnr.state.md.us - Evelyn Ragsdale
Fairfax County (VA) Evelyn.Ragsdale@fairfaxcounty.gov - Betty Neikirk
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) betty@vims.edu - Martina McGarvey
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection mmcgarvey@pa.gov - Cynthia Stevenson
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cynthia.stevenson@maryland.gov - Beth Wasden
bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org - Sally Bowen
Maryland Department of Natural Resources sbowen@dnr.state.md.us - Suzanne Doughten
Old Dominion University (ODU) sdoughten@odu.edu - Alexandra Fries
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science afries@umces.edu - Carol Pollard
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) pollard@vims.edu - Breck Sullivan
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) bsullivan@chesapeakebay.net - Ken Hyer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) kenhyer@usgs.gov - Tammy Zimmerman
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tmzimmer@usgs.gov - Mark Nardi
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mrnardi@usgs.gov - Mark Brickner
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection mbrickner@pa.gov - Peter Tango
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ptango@chesapeakebay.net - Matthew Kierce
Izaak Walton League mkierce@iwla.org - Doug Moyer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) dlmoyer@usgs.gov - James Shallenberger
Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) jshallenberger@srbc.net - Pam Higgins
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection pahiggins@pa.gov - Jerry Frank
UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) frank@umces.edu - Samira Azemati
Maryland Department of Health samira.azemati@maryland.gov - Sarah Holter
Blue Water Baltimore sholter@bluewaterbaltimore.org - Tyler Shenk
Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) tshenk@srbc.net - Tracee Cain
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control tracee.cain@delaware.gov - Kim Blodnikar
UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) blodnika@umces.edu