The collaborative shall have the following powers:

(1)  To effectuate and implement a state monitoring strategy that addresses critical state resource management needs, including, but not limited to, water quality protection, water pollution control, fisheries and wildlife management, habitat restoration, coastal management, public health protection and emergency response and that assesses and tracks environmental health and function. Within six (6) months of its enactment, the collaborative shall adopt a statewide monitoring strategy that will provide cost-effective and useful policies, standards, protocols and guidelines for monitoring programs undertaken for the waters of the state. This strategy shall be reviewed and updated every five (5) years. This strategy shall include the following elements:

(i)  An inventory of existing monitoring programs;

(ii)  An outline of additional monitoring programs the state needs;

(iii)  A list of indicators that will be used to measure the health of the marine and freshwater habitats of the state;

(iv)  Identification of data standards and protocols that will be used on a reasonable and consistent basis by monitoring programs that contribute data to the state monitoring system;

(v)  A plan for data sharing among all monitoring programs that optimizes the ability of both monitors and users to securely access monitoring data via the Internet and to retain the integrity of such data;

(vi)  A plan to provide data from the state environmental monitoring system for disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts in the marine environment; and

(vii)  A communications strategy to provide for public access to monitoring data.

(2)  To assist with the development and implementation of a state water monitoring and assessment program, developed consistent with guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and to augment such a program to achieve the purposes of this strategy set forth in subdivision (1).

(3)  To prepare an annual report in the month of January to the governor and general assembly on the activities for the preceding year as well as the predicted financial needs of the system for the upcoming fiscal year.

(4)  To enter into data sharing agreements with federal and state agencies, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations for the purposes of coordination and management of monitoring data and programs.

(5)  To accept grants, donations and contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise, from the United States or any of its agencies, from this state and its agencies, or from any other source, and to use or expend those moneys, services, materials or other contributions in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

(6)  To enter into agreements for staff support that it deems necessary for its work, and to contract with consultants for the services it may require to the extent permitted by its financial resources.