How to Use Virginia's Web-Enabled Assessment Database

Virginia has a new system that allows citizens to view water quality assessment data using an online mapping system for all waters in the state. To help citizens learn how to use this system, a step by step example is provided on this webpage. In this example, a citizen is looking up information on Lick Run near the City of Roanoke. Using the same methods found in this example, everyone can review the water quality assessment data in streams throughout Virginia.

A copy of this help file in PDF format can be found HERE.

This is the intial screen you will see once the applcation is started.

The ‘ZOOM IN’ button is selected upon entry to the site (default) active navigational tool. Take a moment to look at the panel on the left. These navigational and selection tools are available to you during your mapping session. Each tool must be selected (highlighted-light blue) before it will function.

The further you zoom in the more layers of information are available for viewing. All layers available at the current scale are listed in the right panel, along with the symbology for each layer.

Zoom in to an area of interest, in this case the Botetourt/Roanoke County area, by holding down the left mouse button and drawing a box over the point of interest. Continue to zoom in until you reach the stream of interest. Please be patient as the map redraws with each navigational action.

In this example, we have zoomed into the Lick Run area. Notice there are 5 ‘Layers that can be made Active’ (the Hillshade layer cannot be made active as it is imagery). The Riverine Waters layer is default active layer. Notice that the layer name is in bold text. To make a layer Active, simply click on the layer name. Making a layer active allows you to select feature from that layer

To make a layer Visible place a check mark (click in) in the square box or turn off a layer remove the check mark by clicking in the square box again. The first time you turn a layer on/off the system will prompt you as to whether you wish for the system to automatically refresh the map as layers are turned on/off. You should answer yes.

To view the 305(b) assessment for Lick Run click on the ‘select rectangle’. Next, holding the left mouse button drag a box over the Lick Run then release the left mouse button. This will select the feature and some basic information will appear in the bottom-center window of the mapping application.

If you wanted to select a reservoir or estuarine water, you simply need to make that layer active as described above before using the ‘select rectangle’ tool.

To view the assessment factsheet for the water of interest, simply click the number in the left hand column in the bottom-center of the window. In this example, we clicked on the number 1, which will bring up the factsheet on Lick Run.

There are four tabs across the top of the page that is returned. Assessment Unit Description contains basic summary information about the water you have selected. The Use Support Assessment tab contains details about the assessment that was performed for the selected water. The other two tabs, TMDL Information and Monitoring Station Information are currently not active but will contain data when the 2006 assessment is released.

Water quality monitoring data for DEQ Ambient stations may be retrieved in much the same way as waterbody assessment information. First make the Assessment Monitoring Stations layer active by clicking on it, then use the ‘select rectangle’ to select one or more monitoring stations. Then simply click on the cooresponding number to the station you wish to retrieve data for in the left hand column in the bottom-center of the window.

Monitoring station data is then displayed in the new window.

While the example above uses the initial map that is displayed which shows assessment information for all designated uses, you may select to view assessment information for a specific designated use. To view data for a specific designated use, select the desired use from the dropdown menu at that top-center of the window.

How to Use Virginia’s Web-Enabled Assessment Database
Virginia has a new system that allows citizens to view water quality assessment data using an online mapping system for all waters in the state. To help citizens learn how to use this system, a step by step example is provided on this webpage. In this example, a citizen is looking up information on Lick Run near the City of Roanoke. Using the same methods found in this example, everyone can review the water quality assessment data in streams throughout Virginia.
A copy of this help file in PDF format can be found HERE.
This is the intial screen you will see once the applcation is started. The ‘ZOOM IN’ button is selected upon entry to the site (default) active navigational tool. Take a moment to look at the panel on the left. These navigational and selection tools are available to you during your mapping session. Each tool must be selected (highlighted-light blue) before it will function. The further you zoom in the more layers of information are available for viewing. All layers available at the current scale are listed in the right panel, along with the symbology for each layer.
Zoom in to an area of interest, in this case the Botetourt/Roanoke County area, by holding down the left mouse button and drawing a box over the point of interest. Continue to zoom in until you reach the stream of interest. Please be patient as the map redraws with each navigational action.
In this example, we have zoomed into the Lick Run area. Notice there are 5 ‘Layers that can be made Active’ (the Hillshade layer cannot be made active as it is imagery). The Riverine Waters layer is default active layer. Notice that the layer name is in bold text. To make a layer Active, simply click on the layer name. Making a layer active allows you to select feature from that layer To make a layer Visible place a check mark (click in) in the square box or turn off a layer remove the check mark by clicking in the square box again. The first time you turn a layer on/off the system will prompt you as to whether you wish for the system to automatically refresh the map as layers are turned on/off. You should answer yes.
To view the 305(b) assessment for Lick Run click on the ‘select rectangle’. Next, holding the left mouse button drag a box over the Lick Run then release the left mouse button. This will select the feature and some basic information will appear in the bottom-center window of the mapping application. If you wanted to select a reservoir or estuarine water, you simply need to make that layer active as described above before using the ‘select rectangle’ tool.
To view the assessment factsheet for the water of interest, simply click the number in the left hand column in the bottom-center of the window. In this example, we clicked on the number 1, which will bring up the factsheet on Lick Run. There are four tabs across the top of the page that is returned. Assessment Unit Description contains basic summary information about the water you have selected. The Use Support Assessment tab contains details about the assessment that was performed for the selected water. The other two tabs, TMDL Information and Monitoring Station Information are currently not active but will contain data when the 2006 assessment is released.
Water quality monitoring data for DEQ Ambient stations may be retrieved in much the same way as waterbody assessment information. First make the Assessment Monitoring Stations layer active by clicking on it, then use the ‘select rectangle’ to select one or more monitoring stations. Then simply click on the cooresponding number to the station you wish to retrieve data for in the left hand column in the bottom-center of the window.
Monitoring station data is then displayed in the new window.
While the example above uses the initial map that is displayed which shows assessment information for all designated uses, you may select to view assessment information for a specific designated use. To view data for a specific designated use, select the desired use from the dropdown menu at that top-center of the window.