The Excel spreadsheets on the CRP Monitoring Station Data website contain data that is slightly different from the data available on the TCEQ website and that TCEQ uses for biannual assessments. Here are the differences:

USIBWC CRP data files contain both non-accrediated and accredited by NELAC (spell out) . TCEQ requires that all data submitted after July 1, 2007 be analyzed by a laboratory accredited by NELAC. Since our lab did not yet have accreditation in bacteria, USIBWC CRP partners analyzed ecoli and fecal coliform bacteria throughout the basin using traditional methods not accredited by NELAC. The ecoli and fecal coliform results are posted on the website for informational purposes only. USIBWC CRP's contract laboratory is now accredited and all bacteria data beginning September 1, 2009 are analyzed by a NELAC accredited laboratory, although most bacteria is analyzed during an extended holding time (8-48 hours after collection, which is storet 31704).
USIBWC CRP data files contain some data reported outside of the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the corresponding time. In the above example, bacteria, ecoli nor fecal coliform were in our QAPP, because they were not being analyzed by an accredited laboratory. In addition, some parameters were temporarily taken out of our QAPP (ex: alkalinity, Nit+Nit) during 2009 but these parameters were still analyzed by our laboratory and are posted for informational purposes.
USIBWC CRP data files contain some fields with combined storets, from various entities collecting data (such as TCEQ and USIBWC CRP). The following storet codes are combined:

Nitrate+Nitrite 00593 and 00630
Orthophosphorus 00671 and 70507
Chlorophyll-a 70953 and 32211

Other data for certain parameters are available that are not included in the USIBWC CRP data files, including metals data and organics/pesticides in sediment . Some of these parameters, such as bromide, can be found on the TCEQ data website as well as our website. To download data from TCEQ website, you need to download two text files, an events file which contains information about who, when are where of the sampling, and the results file, which contains the parameters and their values for each sampling event. The two text files are related by a common TAG_ID which can be related in a database.

If you have questions regarding these notes, please contact CRP.

Back to the Monitoring Station Data files