By Kimberly Mazza
The Watershed Protection Program housed under the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Quality Division (WQD) has developed a new mapping tool that will provide access to combined information that was previously available on two different maps. The “Wyoming’s Assessed Waters, Surface Water Monitoring Locations, and TMDL Map” offers various audiences that are interested in understanding the state of Wyoming’s surface waters a much easier and user-friendly application because it combines information from two previous map tools in addition to significant revision of the interface.
In the past, monitoring locations and resulting reports were available on one map and assessment information was available on a separate map.
According to the lead person for this project, WQD Natural Resources Program Analyst Joanna Harter, the two maps played a critical role in the Watershed Protection Program and the primary work that she and other DEQ staff do each day. “Combining the two maps into a one-stop map, plus making the vast amount of information that DEQ staff and the public need easily assessable from one location made complete sense,” said Joanna. “The new map now provides access to information from the Assessment, Monitoring, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) sections all in one place.”
Joanna predicts the interactive web map will be popular among conservation districts, county, state and federal agencies, advocacy groups, and perhaps researchers. It can be used to explore the following questions about Wyoming’s surface waters:
- Which waterbodies have been assessed against Wyoming’s water quality standards?
- In which waterbodies are pollutants impairing the designated use of the water?
- Where are the locations where water quality data have been collected by DEQ?
- For which watersheds have TMDLs (plans to achieve water quality standards) been developed?
- And more!
Users can also:
- Click on any assessed stream or lake and access a linked factsheet with information about impairment decisions and designated uses of the specific waterbody.
- Download shapefiles of individual (or all) assessed waterbodies.
- Access links to Monitoring, Assessment, or TMDL reports for assessed waters.
- Click on specific monitoring points to see the types of data collected (i.e., physical, chemical, biological) and from what year(s). The monitoring points also include links to the Water Quality Portal and the WDEQ request portal from which chemical and biological data can be requested.
The map contains a host of information and resources and took over a year to develop. Joanna will be introducing the map and giving an overview of its functions at the upcoming Wyoming Water Quality Conference (WWQC) to be held at the University of Wyoming’s Conference Center in Laramie, WY.
To access the Wyoming Assessed Waters, Surface Water Monitoring Locations, and TMDL Map, go to https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/watershed-protection/surface-water-monitoring/ and click on the “Interactive Map” option.
To register for the WWQC go to https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/water-quality-conference/