DEQ accepts volunteer and other non-agency water quality data to be reviewed and evaluated for assessment purposes on a continual basis. A Data Use Authorization Form must be completed and sent to DEQ for any data you wish to submit.
The Virginia Data Explorer (VDE) is the the preferred method for groups with a DEQ approved QAPP in place to submit their Level II or Level III monitoring data to DEQ for use in the water quality assessment process. All other groups should consult the Data Submittal to DEQ Guide for information on how to format and submit their data.
The VDE is a data portal that mirrors the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) data portal, which is limited to groups within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Groups who already submit data through the CMC portal can choose either portal for Virginia data- your login information will work for either method. DEQ accesses VDE data annually from groups who use the Virginia Data Explorer. These data are in a format that is easy for DEQ to process for assessment purposes. The DEQ and CMC provide technical, programmatic, and outreach support to integrate volunteer-based water quality and macroinvertebrate monitoring data into the VDE. Please reach out to DEQ with any questions regarding use of the VDE or data submission.
Volunteer and other non-DEQ water monitoring data may be used by DEQ in these ways:
- List and delist impaired waters on the 303(d) List
- Source identification for TMDL development for waters already listed as impaired
- Track progress towards the restoration of waters which have an approved TMDL and may also have a TMDL Implementation Plan
- Target waters for future DEQ monitoring
- Educate landowners on the water quality impacts of land use activities
The above uses are subject to DEQ’s quality assurance analysis. Please refer to the Volunteer Monitoring Methods Manual and the DEQ Volunteer Data Levels table for more information about the data levels DEQ uses to classify non-agency data.
