How to access Waterwatch data
About this page
Keen to access Waterwatch data, but don't know where to start? The following steps should help you access the information you need.
The Steps
Please note, that in late 2011, the Waterwatch Victoria Data Management System will make Waterwatch Victoria data publically available online.
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Identify and make contact with your local community monitoring program coordinator or key contact. If you aren’t sure where to start, search for your local coordinator on our Contact page. Local Waterwatch coordinators manage the the local Waterwatch database and produce interpreted reports.
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Inquire about data confidence processes (eg QA/QC programs and structures) in place within the program. Waterwatch programs are highly variable depending upon the needs of the region and local community. If data quality is important to you, ask some questions: Does the regional program have a data confidence plan, or similar, that you can access?
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Identify what characteristics an ‘ideal dataset’ would have to satisfy your data needs. Have a strong idea about what metadata you are seeking from any new data source. What parameters? What monitoring frequency? Over what spatial or temporal scale? What accuracy or resolution do you require for your purpose? Do you require physical-chemical monitoring data, or habitat survey data, or maybe historical photographs and observations?
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Through dialogue with the local Waterwatch coordinator, identify whether past, present or future monitoring might meet your data needs. Regional Waterwatch databases contain data for sites that have been monitored for a range of purposes for up to 12 years. If existing data isn’t suitable for your purpose, many community monitoring programs are willing to discuss picking up new monitoring sites or increase monitoring frequencies to fill the need of a program sponsor, volunteer or natural resource management agency.
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Access QA/QC records or documentation to support any decision –making about the quality of Waterwatch data. Regional Waterwatch programs serious about data confidence will have a range of records available to potential data users. Such records are likely to include training records, calibration records, and/or field blanks/mystery sample/parallel testing records. These records are kept to provide accuracy and precision support to community monitoring efforts.
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If you use community–collected data, report back to the local community group or individual, and advise them of how their data has been used. Data users have a responsibility to report back to their data provider how the data has been used successfully. This feedback is important, as many monitors sustain their volunteer effort from knowing that their data has been useful to natural resource managers, scientists, educators and other community members.
