Introduction

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What is MADSIC?
The Mercury and Decision Support in California (MADSIC) Web site provides information and links to mercury research in California relevant to water quality trading and offset programs, mercury TMDL development and management, and decision support for water quality decisionmaking. In addition, MADSIC hosts the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)’s mercury offset-feasibility pilot project describing an alternative decision-analytical approach for analyzing various mitigation scenarios (with or without offsets) to meet discharge-permit requirements and TMDL-imposed water-quality standards.

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Who is building MADSIC?
The USGS Western Geographic Science Center.

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Who uses MADSIC?
MADSIC can be used by the general public to access information on water-quality trading/offsets, mercury TMDL development, and mercury research specifically for the State of California. MADSIC also provides information on an alternative decision-analytical approach for supporting TMDL decisionmaking.

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Who is funding the creation of MADSIC?
MADSIC is currently being funded by the Geographic Analysis and Monitoring (GAM) Program of the USGS Geography discipline. The offset feasibility project was funded by the GAM program and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Water Quality Trading Pilot Projects).