The State of Colorado's Watersheds Report 2005

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r r r r r The Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council will initiate the Colorado Data Sharing Network Project in early September, 2005. This project, which has been in the plan- ning for approximately two years, will provide data sharing through an inter- active web map linked to STORET. All interested parties will be able to enter water quality and biological data into the system and retrieve data utilizing software tools donated by the USEPA. Users will also have the option to up- load their data to the national STORET database. Project Funding The project has been made pos- sible through an EPA RGI grant and a state Non -point source grant as well as software tools donated by the EPA. In- kind services from EPA, several state agencies, municipalities, wastewater districts, and watershed organizations have also been committed toward the success of this project. South Platte CURE will be the fiscal agency for the Non -point Source grant and the Colo- rado Watershed Assembly will act as the fiscal agency for the RGI grant. The Colorado Watershed Network and Gold Systems were selected as contractors to perform the technical and outreach tasks of the project. ARC -IMS and an interactive web map will be the central components of the Data Sharing Network. Users statewid Colorado Data Sharing Network Project will be able to view locations of water quality monitoring sites on the web map to determine who is collecting data and will be able to access the data. All water quality monitoring entities will be able to sponsor their monitoring sites, upload data, and choose whether to upload to the national database. Ac- cess and participation with the system will not require any special software and will only require internet access. Training will be provided for future Non -point Source grant sponsors, who will be required to use the Data Sharing Network, and for all interested par- ticipants. The schedule for uploading historical water quality data and user training will coincide with the Water Quality Control Commission basin hearing schedule. At this point the intent is for the Data Sharing Network to be available to all interested parties at no cost, at least during the initial 3 to 5 year phase while the system is being fully devel- oped and is funded through grants. The Data Sharing network will eventually require a hosting management agency to house the system. Region VIII EPA has committed, however, to continue technical support and maintenance of the network for the eventual hosting agency. If you are interested in participat- ing in this very exciting project or would like to get more information, you can call Barb Horn at 790- 382 -6667 or Vic Lucero at 303 - 255 -7771.