FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:  Lori Harrison, (703) 684-2480
lharrison@wef.org
March 28, 2008   

Water Environment Federation Announces the 2008 National Water Quality Monitoring Conference - Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters

Alexandria, Va. - The Water Environment Federation (WEF) announces the 2008 National Water Quality Monitoring Conference - Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters. Organized by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC), in cooperation with WEF, this sixth conference will be held May 18-22, 2008 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“This conference, which is has been held every other year since 1998, serves as an important forum for the entire water quality monitoring community to share their latest monitoring approaches and findings,” said NWQMC Co-Chair Gail Mallard. “I have been especially impressed with the range of subjects covered and the quality of the presentations. Previous participants have said that they learn something new at every conference that can be directly applied to their work.”

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, NALMS, the U.S. National Park Service, and YSI, the conference will focus on seven themes that highlight the importance of monitoring in achieving the goal of clean water:

• Connecting and Integrating Data About Hydrologic Resources
• Collecting, Assessing, and Interpreting Data: New Technologies and Analytical Methods
• Describing the Sustainability and Condition of Water Resources
• Understanding Water Quality Stressors
• Exploring Federal, State, and Local Monitoring Needs
• Enhancing State, Regional, and Local Monitoring Programs
• Addressing Multi-Jurisdictional and International Monitoring Issues
• Improving Communication through Innovative Outreach

Also integral to effective monitoring networks are the “3C’s” of NWQMC’s Framework for Monitoring: Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination. These concepts will be woven into the themes and overall conference agenda. Designed to be rich in scope and content, the program will include more than 300 platform presentations as well as technical posters, workshops, short courses, regional tours, and an exhibition. Presenters from across the globe will share their unique experiences and perspectives on current water quality issues including topics applicable to monitoring of all water body types such as streams, large rivers, lakes, groundwater, wetlands, estuaries, and oceans.

“During the conference there will be plenty of time and opportunity for networking with friends and colleagues,” added NWQMC Co-Chair Charles Spooner. “Sharing results and experiences is an important feature of this conference which draws attendees with a broad range of expertise including representatives of federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, universities, the private sector, and the volunteer monitoring community.”

The advanced registration deadline for this conference is April 11, 2008. For more details visit: www.wef.org/Monitoring or http://acwi.gov/monitoring/.

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