The Environmental Information Management System (EIM) is the Department of Ecology's main database for environmental monitoring data. EIM contains records on physical, chemical, and biological analyses and measurements. Supplementary information about the data (metadata) is also stored, including information about environmental studies, monitoring locations, and data quality.

• A Searchable Database
  Search over 5 million environmental records from 40,000 monitoring locations throughout and adjoining Washington state. Access data from over 1500 studies including information about where samples were collected, study details, and data quality.
• Search by Map
  Search for environmental data by navigating a map of Washington state.
  
• Search and Download
  Conduct a custom search for environmental datasets by form or by map, then download for analysis.
• Ready-made Downloads: Download ready-made datasets from the following categories:
  - Studies: Download data from 1500-plus environmental studies.
  - Parameter: Access statewide data for 1500-plus parameters such as mercury, E. coli, and water temperature.
  - WRIA: Get monitoring results for entire watersheds or Water Resource Inventory Areas.
  - County: Get monitoring results for entire Washington state counties.
  - Reference Tables:  Also known as lookup tables, reference tables contain current valid values for EIM parameters, methods, units of measure, labs, taxon, and tissue types.

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• SEDQUAL Merger
  We are in the process of bringing Ecology's SEDQUAL sediments database into EIM.  SEDQUAL tools will be web-based, using the data in EIM.  We are roughly halfway through the process.  Completion is expected in Spring 2008.  After that time, sediments data can be submitted in EIM format.  Until that time, the SEDQUAL format should still be used.
• New Way to Submit Data
  EIM Import Module Version 2006, originally released in August 2004, allows users to submit data online. See Submit Data for more information.
• Online Reference Tables
  Also known as lookup tables, reference tables contain current valid values for EIM parameters, methods, units of measure, labs, taxon, and tissue types. You can now download the reference tables at any time in CSV format by going to Reference Tables on the Downloads page. The parameter and taxon reference tables also contain synonyms and common names, respectively.
• New Features, Format, and Design for Searching Data
  EIM Database Search Version 2006, originally released in October 2003, has numerous technical improvements. If you have comments or questions about the new EIM features, contact us.
  - Search by Map
  EIM now gives you the ability to search for environmental monitoring data by navigating a map, as well as plot the locations of search results to a map.  "Search by Map" is found under "Search Database - Search by Location."
  - Search by Study List
  We have added a Study List to "Search by Study," from which you can pick any of the 400-plus environmental studies in EIM.
  - Study Advanced Search
  Within a particular Study, Advanced Search allows you to filter data unique to that Study.  See Advanced Search Help for details on how to use this feature.
  - Parameter Advanced Search
  For a particular Parameter, Advanced Search allows you to filter the data by specifying the Sample Matrix and the Unit of Measure (UOM) in which you want the Results displayed.  Advanced Search also allows you to specify a Result Reported Value range.  See Advanced Search Help for details on how to use this feature.

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• Chemical measurements
  Metals, PCBs, etc.
• Physical measurements
  Water clarity, flow, temperature, groundwater levels, etc.
• Biological measurements
  Fish measurements, plant tissue, benthic organisms, etc.
• Study Information
  Study purpose and contact information, data quality, links to bibliographic information, etc.  Studies range from statewide ambient stream monitoring to hazardous waste site cleanups.
• Location Information
  Detailed physical and geographical information about monitoring locations.  Includes information about well construction and use, when available.
• Data Sources
  Most data in EIM is collected by Ecology or on behalf of Ecology by environmental contractors.  However, Ecology grant recipients, local governments, and volunteers also contribute data.

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Online data
Listed below are additional sources of environmental monitoring data collected by Ecology that are not available through EIM but are available either online or via download:

• Air quality telemetry network
  Ambient air quality data and information.
• River and stream water quality
  Monthly water quality monitoring of hundreds of stream stations throughout Washington State.
• River and stream flow monitoring
  Ecology's statewide flow monitoring network.
• SEDQUAL - Sediment management
  SEDQUAL is used to assess sediment toxicity. Although it is not available online, you can download a copy to your local drive.  SEDQUAL includes a SQL Server database, a user interface, and integrated GIS components.  It contains roughly 8,500 sample collection stations, 13,000 sediment sample records, 688,000 chemical analysis records, 141,000 benthic infauna analysis records, and 36,000 bioassay analysis records.

Refer also to Ecology's Environmental Information page for additional information.

Legacy and offline data
In addition to the data sources listed above, we are constantly in the process of migrating legacy and offline datasets into EIM.  An example is Ecology's Southwest Regional Office Groundwater Database, which was in an older, stand-alone database but is now part of EIM, making over 35,000 groundwater level records available to the public.  We are also working on getting historical hazardous waste site cleanup data into EIM, which has until now only existed on paper or in spreadsheets.  For more information on legacy and offline datasets, please contact the EIM Data Coordinator:

• E-mail the EIM Data Coordinator: eim_data_coordinator@ecy.wa.gov
• Call the EIM Data Coordinator: (360) 407-6258 (Olympia, Washington)

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• For searching data, use Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.x or Netscape® 7/8.x browsers.  Netscape works in all cases except when using the "Select Polygon" tool on the map - the polygon sides will not display until the polygon has been completed. Other browser clients or versions might not support all features in this application.  Optimal display resolution is 1024 x 768 or higher.  Optimal browser text size is medium.  Other display settings may diminish your viewing experience. 
• For submitting data, only Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.x will work correctly.
• To obtain the correct browser version or to change your display settings, refer to your desktop support center.  Free upgrades are available for Microsoft® Internet Explorer and Netscape® browsers.

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For periodic updates about EIM, we invite you to join our EIM email list.  We normally send updates when significant changes have been made to our website or when new datasets have been added, about two to three times per year.  You can opt out any time by following the instructions in any e-mail we send or by going to our ListServ website, typing in your e-mail address or name, and clicking "Leave the List."

View our latest email announcement.

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• For searching data, EIM Database Search Version 2006, released in February 2006.  It has a GIS (Geographic Information System) map interface.  For information about new features in this version, please see What's New above.
• For submitting data, EIM Import Module Version 2006, released in February 2006.  It allows data to be submitted online.  Learn more about the Import Module on the Submit Data page.