The Workgroup members are technical advisors to the Monitoring and Assessment Subcommittee 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; Transfer field and laboratory techniques among agencies; Prepare reports on the quality of nutrient, chlorophyll and sediment data.