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Data User Corner

Features

This webpage contains updated instruction for data submission after 09/30/2008.

Under the BEACH Act Grant Program states (including tribes and territories) are required to submit their beach monitoring (water quality), notification (advisory and closing), and beach location data to us. This site was established to provide an easily accessible location for state beach program managers and IT staff to obtain beach data updates and other reference materials. You can download these files directly from this site by clicking on the relevant item below.

If you are responsible for submitting beach data, and you have not been registered to use the EPA systems identified below, please contact Bill Kramer (kramer.bill@epa.gov); 202-566-0385. To see how submitted data is presented to the public by EPA, see our seasonal reports.

  1. Overview
  2. Locational Data
  3. Monitoring Data
  4. Notification Data
  5. Support
  6. Historical files

You can also download a zip file with all active materials (3.6 MB, Requires archiving software).

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Overview

  1. Central Data Exchange (CDX) (this graphic comes from the eBEACHES Data Flow Diagram (PDF))

    eBEACHES Data Flow Diagram (PDF) (3 pp, 19 K) Contains overview diagrams of the pathways along which the three required types of submitted data flow (locational, monitoring, and notification), and includes definitions of all of the components that compromise the eBEACHES system referred to in the materials on this webpage.
  2. Submission Method Selection Instructions (PDF) (4 pp., 49 K; Changes from the previous version include: how to add WQX webservices to Node Client Lite (see file in "c." below), and how to find updated domain values.) Contains general instructions on how to select either a State Node, Node Client, or EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX) as the starting point for submitting monitoring and notification data. If you do not have a Beach Program Organization ID from EPA, prior to submitting data, contact Bill Kramer (kramer.bill@epa.gov); 202-566-0385.
  3. WQX Services File (189 K) These services provide a way to check what data a user has submitted or a way to access domain values, this is helpful when responding to error messages. For Beach Program users, although the file below is v2.0, the v1.0 domain value and transaction ID services are still supported, and this file works with both.

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Locational Data (Beach Location—PRAWN, RAD)

  1. NHD-RIT to RAD (this graphic comes from the eBEACHES Data Flow Diagram (PDF))

    eBEACHES Location Data SOP Describes the steps to assign, change, or retire Beach IDs, what beach locational data to submit, and in what form. A Beach ID (with location) is necessary before you can submit monitoring or notification data. You can use the following materials to convert latitude and longitude point data to index beach shape files to maps to support environmental and public health analyses. (Changes from the previous version include: when to submit beach end-point latitude and longitude to PRAWN, indexing support for states, locational data Q/A, producing future National List of Beaches, and allotment formula for 2010.)
  2. Reach Indexing Tool (RIT) Part of the NHD Toolkit, the National Hydrography Dataset Reach Indexing Tool (NHD-RIT) is an interactive GIS application that allows users to georeference surface water data using the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). The process of identifying and assigning attributes to portions of the NHD is referred to as Reach Indexing.

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Monitoring Data (WQX/STORET, includes station location)

  1. WQX to STORET (this graphic comes from the eBEACHES Data Flow Diagram (PDF))

    WQX Beach Monitoring Data User Guide (PDF) (66 pp, 780 K; Changes from the previous version include a note under the ResultStatusIdentifier data element to explain using the value Final.) Contains descriptions of all required beach water quality data fields to be reported in XML file format and how to input XML files from WQX.
  2. Water Quality Exchange XML Training Manual for BEACH Monitoring Data (PDF) (24 pp, 728 K; Changes from the previous version include: Update of Trip Blank Activity Section to indicate the need for the Sample Collection Method (because it is a type of sample); Updated Figure 14 to show that Sample Collection Method block is included; Updated Figures 10, 11, 13 for incorrect unit format to "MPN/100ml", instead of the incorrect "MPN/100 ml"; Removed "overview of beach data submission process" section (page 1), removed Table 1; New screen capture for Figure 14; and provision of example XML files) (and Beaches/WQX Crosswalk [MS-Excel] [43 K]) For states not using the Monitoring Data Access Database (d, below), explains how to configure a local state database to produce WQX compliant XML submission files.
  3. WQX Homepage, see particularly, Submitting Data to EPA Using WQX: Steps for an organization to take in order to begin submitting data.
  4. Monitoring Data Access Database Quick Reference (PDF) (1 pp, 18 K) Provides steps to install the Monitoring Data Access Database (next item).
  5. WQX Monitoring Data Access Database v2.1.2 (.mdb) (5.9 MB, Requires MS-Access) A state can choose to use this database to store all required beach water quality data fields, input XML files from WQX, and generate an XML file for data submission to WQX. Zipped file of this database (.zip) (986 K, Requires archiving software)
  6. Monitoring Database Update Instructions (v2.1.1 to v2.1.2) (PDF) (1 pp., 11 K) Use these instructions to update your Monitoring Access DB with new WQX domain values
  7. Downloading & Using Data from the STORET Warehouse (PDF) (12 pp, 98 K) An Exercise for the BEACH Program to QA IDs

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Notification Data (PRAWN)

  1. PRAWN (this graphic comes from the eBEACHES Data Flow Diagram (PDF))

    PRAWN Beach Notification Data User Guide v2.1 (PDF) (86 pp, 581 K; Changes from the previous version include: adding Great Lakes waterbody names, defining "possible" sources, adding beach location coordinates, and integrating the "done" flag into the main XML file.) Contains descriptions of all required beach advisory and closing data fields to be reported in XML file format.
  2. PRAWN Notification Submission Corrections User Guide (October 01, 2008) (PDF) (18 pp., 68 K) Details the process of modifying incorrect, but already submitted, information usually as a result of annual QA review.
  3. PRAWN Beach Notification Data Schema and Development Documents v2.1 Exit EPA Disclaimer Contains all required beach advisory and closing data fields to be reported to PRAWN. (Particularly for States not using the following Access DB for notification data.)
  4. PRAWN Notification Data Access Database Quick Reference (PDF) (1 pp, 18 K) Provides steps to install the Notification Data Access Database (next item).
  5. PRAWN Notification Data Access Database v2.1 (.mdb) (1.8 MB, Requires MS-Access) A state can choose to use this database to store all required beach advisory and closing data fields and generate an XML file for data submission to PRAWN. Zipped file of this database (.zip) (367 K, Requires archiving software)

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Support

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Historical Files

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Current Year

Previous versions of the files for the current year (2008).

Past Years

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