IEP Data Utilization Working Group

The Data Utilization Work Group (DUWG) is a multi-agency group established as part of the IEP Program Support Team to address IEP’s data management needs. The DUWG assists in setting internal procedures and guidelines, recommending and implementing shared data standards across member agencies, facilitating data sharing in a timely manner, and coordinating with other data management teams in the Delta science community.

DUWG Priorities

• Develop best data management practices, including minimum standards for data descriptions, definitions, and documentation.
• Increasing efficiency and openness of data sharing and interoperability among datasets.
• Providing support for IEP member agencies.

DUWG Resources

Policy Documents

• Charge (PDF) - This document describes the purpose and background for the DUWG.
• Charter (PDF) - This document describes the goals, scope, membership and policies of the DUWG.

Training Materials

• IEP Data Management Showcase (DWR YouTube Channel) - The DUWG put on a data management showcase in 2019 to educate the Delta Science community on best practices for data management. Topics included data management plans, metadata, and QAQC.
• The State Water Boards College of Water Informatics has a number of resources for data management training.

Data Publication Materials

• Guidelines for Data Publishing and Formatting (PDF)
• Code for formatting metadata in Ecological Metadata Language format and publishing to the Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) website is available on the DUWG GitHub page.
• Publishing IEP datasets to EDI (PDF)
• Connecting EDI datasets to the California Natural Resources Agency Open Data Platform (PDF)
• EML assembly line instructions for creating machine-readable metadata (PDF)

Templates and Guidelines

• Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Descriptive Metadata (EML) using ezEML (PDF) NEW!
• IEP Historical Metadata Template (PDF)
• IEP Digital Datasheet Best Practices (PDF)
• IEP Fish Data Quality Control Best Practices (PDF)
• IEP Data Management Plan template (Word)
• IEP Data Management Plan instructions (PDF)
• IEP Metadata template (PDF)
• Synthesis Data Management and QAQC guidelines (PDF)
• Vocabulary Crosswalk and Standards (Excel)
• IEP Standard Operating Procedures template (Word)