Tessa gave a project update on SEEDEN 2, the Water Boards' customization of EarthSoft's EQuIS (Equus) platform for data intake and storage. The planned first release focuses on the chemistry module, with field results and basic habitat measures worked in parallel and taxonomy and tissue modules to follow later. "We're hoping that sometime in early 2026... that first quarter, we think we could release and have people, public users start submitting," she said.
Staff said a contracted lab will begin testing the chemistry test environment in September and continue testing through October and November to identify errors and usability issues. The goal is to finalize and publish the chemistry data template and a submission-guidance document by November so system integrators and other users have time to adapt existing workflows.
Other milestones discussed: staff intend to build API connections with regional data centers in the fall, to test field forms and basic field measurements late in the year, and to involve users in testing biosurvey/habitat field forms in the coming months. Tessa said Excel or flat-file uploads will remain available as an option and staff will work with programs that already use local tools to ease the transition.
Why this matters: SEEDEN 2's rollout changes submission templates and business rules; laboratories and RDCs should review the November data template and participate in testing to avoid downstream errors when the new system goes live.