This guidebook was developed and is being made available by the Regional 8 Coordinated Regional Natural Resource Monitoring and Training Program team, a USDA-CSREES funded coordination team. As U.S. domestic demand for natural gas grows, so has the coal bed methane industry. In an effort to enhance communication among water quality specialists in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah and with our EPA Region 8 partners, we have co-developed this guide to address significant resource management issues encountered within the region.