Data confidence and interpretation report

The WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch programs have invested considerable time and effort over many years supporting and highlighting the strengths of citizen science data.

To ensure the programs provide data of a known quality to inform estuary management the program follows a  Data Confidence Plan

Data confidence procedures used by EstuaryWatch and WaterWatch Victoria are outlined in the table below:

Section of the WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch programs	Data confidence procedures used
EstuaryWatchers and WaterWatchers	All EstuaryWatch and WaterWatch data is collected by competent adults. School groups and families are involved with the programs in other ways.
Training	All EstuaryWatchers and WaterWatchers are trained to collect data consistently and accurately.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)	Data collection practices are validated by a regular QA/QC programme, in which data collection is checked against other citizen scientists and the programs’ coordinators.
Equipment	All equipment is checked for calibration monthly and serviced annually.
Database	The database is checked by EstuaryWatchers and WaterWatchers and the programs’ coordinator.
Analysis	Regular independent data reviews are planned.

EstuaryWatch and WaterWatch Victoria strives to support and promote the strengths of community collected data. The program recognises that monitoring is a long-term commitment, and that one of the keys to recruiting community monitors is the subsequent data use for managing waterway health.

The program recognises that monitoring is a long-term commitment. The coordinators work with waterway managers in the community and are dedicated to ensuring that data collection is meaningful. It is important to the program that data collection is relevant to the work being done by waterway managers to protect and restore the environmental condition of waterways.

Data interpretation

To find out more about WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch in your region please contact us.