San Francisco Estuary Regional Monitoring Program Data

Data Usage and Publication Policy

The links below will direct the user to access the RMP Status and Trends Monitoring data (water, sediment and bivalve bioaccumulation data), RMP Status and Trends Annual Monitoring Results, QA/QC data tables for the period of 1993-2001, RMP Status and Trends Sampling methods, static tables of fish tissue, pilot and special study data and and a link to the Applied Marine Science RMP Information Center. The data will be updated as needed, and major changes will be listed in an errata section.

San Francisco Estuary
Regional Monitoring Program

One of the main principles of the RMP is to obtain and provide data in a timely manner to a variety of potential users. All RMP data goes through both an internal and external review before it is released to the public. The purpose of this Policy Statement is to provide some guidelines for usage, reporting and publication of RMP data. It is not the intent of this Policy to restrict RMP data usage or availability.

All of the RMP data have been obtained and analyzed using funding from bay dischargers (Table 1.1). Therefore, the data are public domain and the RMP cannot constrain the availability or usage of the data. However, prudent usage, knowledge of the data quality, and professional courtesy should all be considered in obtaining and using RMP data.

The first obligation of RMP investigators and participants is to provide RMP data to SFEI to assure publication in a timely manner. RMP publications include written contributions from lead investigators, collaborating scientists and SFEI staff. Pilot and Special Studies summaries will usually be written under contract by the lead investigator. The Steering Committee (SC) upon recommendation by the Technical Review Committee (TRC) will determine the content of the RMP publications.

Annual Report. The RMP Annual Report (AR) was the main way information from the base program and Pilot and Special studies were collectively reported from 1993 - 1997.

Pulse of the Estuary. Beginning in 1998 a new format of data reporting evolved. The publication Pulse of the Estuary in combination with a web based Annual Result section replaced the Annual Report. The Pulse of the Estuary summarizes current chemical contaminant problems in the Estuary and discusses efforts by environmental managers to reduce existing problems and prevent the development of new ones.

Annual Results. The annual result section presents comprehensive data results, including data tables, discussions of results, and charts, from the Status and Trends Monitoring component.

Publications, Presentations and other Reports. There are many other opportunities to disseminate RMP results. Some formal journal publications and technical reports have been produced from RMP data, and several presentations at regional and national symposia have been made by RMP participants and SFEI staff. The use of RMP data in presentations, peer-reviewed publications, or other technical reports is encouraged. However, peer-reviewed publications using RMP data should be the privilege of the RMP investigators. Other researchers who want to use RMP data should extend professional courtesy to the RMP investigator(s) that produced the data, which includes consideration for co-authorship or acknowledgment on publications or reports based mostly on RMP data. It is recommended that researchers who want to use RMP data discuss their intentions with the RMP investigator(s) early on in manuscript preparation. Notification of the RMP Program Manager is also requested so that an RMP Contribution Number can be issued (see below).

RMP Contribution Numbers. A record of all RMP-related publications and reports will be maintained by SFEI. All authors that publish RMP data should obtain a RMP Contribution Number from the RMP Program Manager. Publications that use mostly RMP data should cite a RMP Contribution Number in the Acknowledgments.

Contact: RMP Program Manager, Jay Davis, Ph.D., or RMP Associate Manager, Sarah Lowe at SFEI, Oakland, CA. (510) 746-7334

Table 1. RMP Investigators. This list is for the RMP base program. Principal Investigators for RMP Pilot and Special Studies are included in the Annual Reports.