The Surface Water Database (Surf): A California Database For Surface Water Pesticide Monitoring Data

The Surface Water Database (SURF) was created by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) to store surface water ambient monitoring results on pesticides in California. SURF is updated annually and is available to the general public. This chapter covers the design, management, and application of SURF. The chlorpyrifos example is included to show that data from SURF have been instrumental for CDPR and other stakeholders in identifying and solving water quality problems related to pesticides. CDPR will continue to improve the database, especially the user interface. As more monitoring data on wastewater and mitigation studies become available, SURF may be expanded to include these potentially useful data sets. The database will continue to serve as a valuable and handy tool for various stakeholders, including water quality researchers, regulators, and the general public of California, who are interested in better understanding and possibly solving water quality issues.