Monitoring Partner Resources

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Since 1998, DEQ has coordinated with individuals and organizations to build a robust network of monitoring partners who play an instrumental role in supplementing the agency’s monitoring efforts and are an important resource fostering stewardship, water quality education, and outreach in communities across Virginia.

DEQ continues to support and expand our monitoring partner network in the following ways:

Financial and technical support through the Citizen Monitoring Grant program
Technical support and guidance for volunteer and other external monitoring partners
Data solicitation from monitoring partners for potential use in the assessment process

Additionally, DEQ encourages community engagement and feedback about agency monitoring priorities through the annual monitoring plan nominations process.

Potomac Riverkeepers Network volunteer monitors working outside

Starting a Water Monitoring Project

DEQ has a variety of resources that can help individuals and organizations begin a water monitoring project. The Volunteer Monitoring Methods Manual provides an overview of how to develop a monitoring program from the ground up, as well guidance on selecting monitoring parameters based on your resources and interests. DEQ also provides programmatic and financial support to proposals awarded funding through the Citizen Monitoring Grant Program. The grant program is designed to support monitoring projects of varying complexity; Mini grants are a great way to get your feet wet and don’t require the higher levels of quality assurance needed in Regular and Coordination grants. More information about the grant program can be found in the DEQ Citizen Monitoring Grant accordion below. Other helpful guides and templates can be found in the resources box at the top right of this page.

The Virginia Water Monitoring Council webpage hosts resources and tools for volunteer water monitors, including additional documents and publications, as well as links to organizations and activities in your area.

DEQ’s Citizen Monitoring Grant Program

The application period for 2027 DEQ Citizen Monitoring Grant proposals is now open! Individuals and organizations wishing to submit an application must download and use the materials found in the 2027 application package. A brief summary of the program is available in the announcement memo. All other program requirements are detailed in the Request for Applications, which can be found in the application package. Applications must be received by August 31, 2026. Awarded proposals are expected to perform project activities between January 2027 and December 2027.

The Citizen Monitoring Grant program provides guidance and support for activities promoting volunteer collection of water quality data and community-based education on water quality monitoring and the environment

Potential applicants are encouraged to review the information from the 2025 Citizen Monitoring Grant Information Session found below.

2027 Monitoring Year Application Package (closes August 31, 2026)

2025 Citizen Water Monitoring Grant Information Session

Webinar recording (includes transcript)
Presentation slides

Develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan

A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) documents all of the quality assurance procedures used to ensure the data generated in a monitoring project are scientifically valid. A DEQ approved QAPP is required for the Regular and Coordination tier grants offered through the DEQ Citizen Monitoring Grant, as well as all level II and level III data submissions.

DEQ must approve a QAPP before data can be used for assessment or watershed modeling purposes.

To assist with the QAPP process, DEQ has developed a template that organizations can use to develop their own, project specific QAPP.

Please refer to the Volunteer Monitoring Methods Manual and the Water Quality Data Leveling guide for more information about the data levels DEQ uses to classify external data.

Submit Monitoring Data to DEQ

DEQ accepts external water quality data to be reviewed and evaluated for assessment purposes on a continual basis; however, in order to be used for the next integrated report, data must be received by the cutoff date. Any data received after the deadline will be included in subsequent assessments. For more information on the data solicitation period please visit the Integrated Report webpage.

External data submitters should carefully review the Data Submittal Guide for prerequisites and other requirements that must be met before data submission.

The Virginia Data Explorer (VDE) is 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. Benthic macroinvertebrate data are currently handled outside of the VDE. Groups submitting benthic macroinvertebrate data for the first time should contact DEQ. All other groups should consult the Data Submittal 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.

External 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 Water Quality Data Leveling guide for more information about the data levels DEQ uses to classify non-agency data.

Bacteria Criteria and Tools for Monitoring Partners

External Monitoring Partners play an important role in collecting bacteria data across the state.

DEQ has prepared several resources to help monitoring partners and the public understand the more comprehensive bacteria criteria adopted in 2019. Please read through the below for more information about why the criteria were revised, how DEQ programs are adapting to the revised criteria, and how monitoring partners can collect bacteria data to meet a variety of needs.

To ensure use of the appropriate fecal indicator for level III bacteria data collection, please review the Fecal Indicator Guide.

Updated Bacteria Criteria Resources

Related Resources

For more information and recommendations for safe swimming, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s beach monitoring webpage.