To our Water Monitoring Colleagues around the Nation, As Co-Chairs of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (or “Council”), we are pleased to release the fourth edition of our online newsletter National Water Monitoring News : http://acwi.gov/monitoring/newsletter/National_Monitoring_News_fall2011.pdf . This newsletter provides a forum of communication among water practitioners across the Nation. In support of the national Council’s mission, this newsletter is geared to foster partnerships and collaboration; advance water science; improve monitoring strategies; and enhance data integration, comparability, and reporting. This edition highlights many events, activities, and new products and we hope the information is useful for your water needs. Among the topics included: The Council’s upcoming 8th National Monitoring Conference (April 30 – May 4, 2012, Portland, OR) Updates on monitoring including: Chesapeake Bay Partners monitor the effects of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Depression Lee U.S. Forest Service’s Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Program U.S. EPA’s National Wetlands Condition Assessment and National Lakes Assessment Bivalve monitoring in the Great Lakes New national network of reference watersheds and monitoring sites for freshwater streams San Diego Coastkeeper toxicity testing and volunteer monitors Updates from the Indiana, North Dakota, and Colorado Councils Increased data sharing in New Jersey through state-nonprofit volunteer monitoring partnership Urban Water Federal Partnership New tools including: An online Decision Support System for assessment of nutrients in streams and rivers “BioData” – the USGS web-based bioassessment database Many thanks to the editorial board: Cathy Tate, Dan Sullivan, Wendy Norton, Alice Mayio, and John Hummer; Kim Martz for the layout, and to all contributors nationwide. On behalf of the entire Council, we hope you enjoy this newsletter and we encourage your feedback and input in future editions! Respectfully yours, Mike Yurewicz, USGS Co-Chair and Susan Holdsworth, EPA Co-Chair To learn more about the National Water Qualtiy Monitoring Council please visit: http://acwi.gov/monitoring/ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Check out the latest AFS books at www.afsbooks.org Join AFS or renew for 2012 at www.fisheries.org/afs/membership.html