External Data Submittals to the Watershed Planning Program

WPP categorizes external data into three levels, which are related to its usability for WPP assessments of surface water quality:

1. Level 1 - Educational/Stewardship-level
2. Level 2 - Screening level
3. Level 3 - Regulatory/Assessment level

While extremely important, data determined to be Level 1 generally do not meet the rigor (i.e., accuracy, precision, frequency, comparability, overall confidence, etc.) required for use in waterbody assessments or TMDL development. MassDEP would not use Level 1 data for CWA section 305(b) or 303(d) decision-making. These data are commonly collected and/or can be used for educational and/or stewardship purposes.  Data classified as Level 1 generally (1) lack an agency-approved QAPP, (2) may not use a state certified or otherwise qualified laboratory for analyses, and/or (3) lack representative, documented, and accurate data and/or metadata. Regardless of usability, WPP encourages groups to submit for review data that are anticipated to be classified as Level 1.

Screening-level data (Level 2) may meet the data quality objectives in the submitter’s QAPP but generally fail to meet one or more WPP criteria required for direct use in assessments (i.e., fail to meet criteria used in WPP’s monitoring program QAPP approved by the EPA). These data, however, are important for their potential to direct future sampling efforts or as supporting evidence. 

Regulatory/Assessment-level data (Level 3) are determined by MassDEP, based on WPP's external data review procedures, to be directly usable for CWA sections 305(b) and 303(d) decision-making. These data are considered scientifically sound and legally defensible, and are typically the result of extensive planning, attention to detail, relatively stringent data quality objectives, training, standard field and lab procedures, metadata collection, project organization, and data verification. Contingent upon WPP staff review and approval, quality-controlled data can help determine if a waterbody is healthy (i.e., meeting water quality standards) or impaired (i.e., not supporting the designated use).

All external data submitted electronically are reviewed by WPP using a defined and consistent procedure. Use of WPP's data submittal template is required for external data submittals when not submitting data to EPA’s Water Quality eXchange (WQX). NOTE: QAPP approval, submittal of the data integrity statement and/or submittal of monitoring data do not guarantee that the data will be used by WPP for CWA sections 305(b), 314, and 303(d) decision-making.

Submittals of surface water quality data and information (e.g., physico-chemical and biological data) from our external partners are welcome at any time for potential use by MassDEP for CWA sections 305(b), 314, and 303(d) assessment and reporting purposes.

Quality-controlled data submitted prior to the date(s) shown below will be reviewed and may be considered in the development of the Integrated Report (IR), dependent on the planned cycle-specific assessment workload. Data submitted after the listed deadline(s), including during the public comment period, will be reviewed and considered for possible use in a future IR cycle, dependent on the workloads planned for future assessment cycles.

• The data submittal deadline for the combined 2024/2026 IR was January 18, 2023.
• The data submittal deadline for the 2028 IR is January 23, 2026. 
   

• Cover letter / email.
• Data Files. Quality-assured monitoring data can be electronically submitted in either of two ways (or both):
  • Using WPP’s data-submittal template:
    Data files may be submitted using WPP’s data-submittal Excel template, available via WPP's external data webpage (link below). Data sent using other formats may not be reviewed for usability by WPP. Data file(s) must include quality-controlled data. 
  • Using EPA's WQX online database:
    If submitting data via WQX, please use the email address below to notify WPP when data uploaded to WQX are also intended as the submittal to WPP. The notification email to WPP should include the following: (1) a brief list of the data submitted, and (2) all quality-controlled data that were not included in the WQX submittal (e.g., field duplicates, blanks, instrument calibration check results, etc.).
• Statement of Data Integrity (see link below).
• Electronic copy of the approved QAPP. If the QAPP was approved by WPP, it is sufficient to cite the QAPP title and approval date in the cover letter/notification email.
• In addition to the final data submittal, a summary report (optional) may also be provided. Suggested content for data reports can be found in the Recommended Content of Data Report Submittals for CWA Reporting Purposes document (see link below).

Electronic data files, related information, and questions should be sent to: WQData.Submit@mass.gov. For regular mail delivery (e.g., CD), data and all associated required files and information can be mailed to:  

Dr. Bob Smith, External Monitoring and Data Coordinator
Watershed Planning Program
Division of Watershed Management, Bureau of Water Resources
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
8 New Bond St., Worcester, MA 01606