************************************************************* Watershed Watch In Kentucky 1999 Interbasin Scientific Study Plan Draft version 2.2 Abstract: In order to provide standards of comparison between Watershed Watch Projects on critical water quality measurements, the following set of recommendations are made for each basin's scientific study plan. I.) Monitoring Objectives: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. To provide current data on general water quality conditions to local stream based organizations working to protect their watershed. 2. To provide wide spread screening for potential water quality problems to resource management agencies. 3. To provide auxiliary information to assist resource management agencies in meeting specific operational and management objectives. 4. To identify specific impacts to water quality through targeted observations and measurements. 5. To develop a better understanding of stream science and water quality issues among participants II.)Monitoring Parameters: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Each monitoring parameter listed is designated essential* or optional+. Essential* monitoring parameters are those highly recommended for each Watershed Watch Project to incorporate in their scientific study plan. Optional+ monitoring parameters are a suggested monitoring protocol that has been accepted for use by one or more our Scientific Advisory Groups (SCIADS). 1. General Field Observations A) May-June visual/photographic Field Surveys: *1. Stream Habitat Assessment (US EPA Protocol) Survey Items: -Latitude and Longitude for location sites. -Riparian zone, in stream Features, bank stability -Riparian and aquatic vegetation, vegetative zone width -Sediment substrate components odors, oils and deposits -Riffle quality, embeddedness, sediment deposition -Flow, Velocity depth combinations. -Photo documentation of riparian conditions -Stage or water level information *2. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure (Flowing streams) Level I (group level field identification) by lay volunteers *3. Field Chemistry (all sites) *a. Dissolved Oxygen (Lamotte Modified Winkler Method) *b. pH (Lamotte colormetric wide range indicator) *c. Temp +d. Specific Conductance: With Cole Palmer TDSTSTR3 P-19800-20 0-2000 +4. Lake shore Surveys -Bank stability -shoreline vegetation -Water Clarity (Secchi disk depth) +5. Wetland Area Surveys -Indicator Plant Species -buffer or lack of buffer -presence of fill material -evidence of discharges or dumping -Photo documentation of habitat conditions (reference: http://www.epa.gov/volunteer/spring98/pg17.html) +6. Benthic Algal Biomass Semi-quantitative assessments of benthic algal biomass and taxonomic composition can be made rapidly with a viewing bucket marked with a grid and biomass scoring system (Stevenson 1996). +7. Freshwater clam survey, (Mid Summer) estimations and photography of presence of mussel shells and living populations (no collection) with voucher collections of empty shells (with permit). +8. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure Level II (Family Level lab identification) by advanced teams. +9. Discharge measurements in Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) will be assessed at each time of sampling. B) Water quality "lab" Parameters *1)Herbicide/Pesticide Sampling (flowing streams) Teams will conduct water sampling for agricultural chemicals. These samples are for laboratory analysis (Immunoassay) of the more common herbicides applied at that time. These herbicides (and other relevant parameters) are listed below. Samples will be preserved by ice for transport to the lab with no more than a seven day holding time *a. Triazine (used as pre-emergent for corn) *b. Metolachlor (used on Soybeans) +c. 2,4-D (amine) Pastures and Lawn chemicals +d. Chlorpyrifos (Dursban, replacing Diazinon) +e. Alachlor (used on soybean cultivation) *2)Microbiological testing (Flowing Streams and Lake Sites) Teams will be recruited to conduct microbiological sampling of *Fecal Coliform (colonies/100 ml) and +Fecal Strep during prime recreation season. Samples will be collected using EPA standard methods with no more than six hour holding time from sample collection to lab delivery. Samples will be held at 4 degrees centigrade in wet ice. Labs will use Membrane filtration method with test volumes of 1 ml and 10 ml from the 500 ml sample. For Fecal Strep Labs would use 10 ML and 100 ML sample. from one 500 ML sample. (Standard Boston Round) +3)Chlorophyll a (Lake Sites) Chlorophyll a is the green photosynthetic pigment found in the cells of all algae. By taking a measured sample of lake water and extracting the chlorophyll a from the algae cells contained in that sample, monitors can get a good indication of the density of the algal population. Chlorophyll a is analyzed in a laboratory from a sample collected by a volunteer. The simplest protocol is to ship the water sample to the laboratory for analysis http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/monitoring/volunteer/lake/chapter3.html#3a *4)(Fall Low Flow Grab Sample Collection) (Flowing streams, Lakes) Teams will conduct water sampling during low flow periods for laboratory analysis of a wide range of water quality parameters. Parameters may vary depending on the site and the land use activity in the watershed. Suggested "Fall Low Flow" sampling falls in three tiers. Tier 1: lowest cost option. indicated by * Tier 2. RECOMMENDED Parameter list. Includes Lowest cost option plus ICP scan with EPA Method 300.0 and 200.7 for cations and anions. Indicated by *+ Tier 3. Used by start up projects who's analysis is done by the Division of Environmental Services running standard parameter list from the Kentucky Division of Water Ambient Monitoring Protocols. Indicated by + Watershed Parameter Suggested EPA Method # ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ *Total suspended solids 160.1 *Total organic carbon 415.2 *Phosphorus, total 365.2 *Conductivity (Lab) 120.1 *Nitrate 300.0 *Phosphorus, ortho 300.0 *Chloride 300.0 *Sulfate 300.0 *Iron 200.7 +*Alkalinity 310.1 +*Magnesium 200.7 +*Calcium 200.7 +*Ammonia-nitrogen 350.1 +*Total Kjeldhal nitrogen 351.2 +dissolved volatile solids +total volatile solids +Nitrite 300.0 +Hardness, total 130.2 +Bromide 300.0 +Fluoride 300.0 +Aluminum 200.7 +Antimony 200.7 +Arsenic 200.9 +Barium 200.7 +Beryllium 200.7 +Cadmium 200.9 +Chromium 200.9 +Cobalt 200.7 +Copper 200.9 +Lead 200.9 +Manganese 200.7 +Mercury 245.1 +Molybdenum 200.7 +Nickel 200.7 +Potassium 200.7 +Selenium 200.9 +Silver 200.7 +Sodium 200.7 +Strontium 200.7 +Tin 200.7 +Vanadium 200.7 +Zinc +Turbidity If you are doing metels, you would be required to do hardness. 6) Standard Methods of Collection and Analysis: Samples are to be gathered using (EPA) Standard Methods of collection, preservation and analysis under full chain-of-custody using scientifically trained volunteers. Sample analysis will performed by a laboratory using standard methods of analysis. Sample splits may be provided to the State Division of Environmental Services Lab. 7) Resampling will be conducted on 10% of collection sites for Habitat and Biological Monitoring. A random selection of sites will be revisited by volunteers to check comparability of results. C) Sampling Site Selection Parameters: 1. Habitat Assessment/Biological Monitoring Volunteers will be asked to seek out the highest quality habitat for biological screening sites. We request them to locate sites below any significant discharges or land use features. Habitat assessments need only be competed once per site unless significant changes take place at the site. 2. Grab Sample Sites "Monitoring Stations" Sites should be distributed as evenly as possible among the 11 digit hydrologic units in the watershed. Before a site can be considered, the volunteer group should submit a Site Characterization Form describing the area. (This is part of the spring habitat assessments) Once a sample site is selected it will be given a unique "Monitoring Station Code" consisting of the River Basin Project Letter and a number from 1-1000. (S,L,K,F,U,G,B) that will be used to identify all samples taken at that location. Should a site be retired from monitoring, that site's identification code will be retired as well. D) Sampling Schedule: Date ranges suggested, Each basin project has freedom pick specific dates and to alter schedule) 1. Herbicide/Pesticide (May-June) 2. Fecal Coliform/Strep (Recreation Season) 3. Chlorophyl a (April-October) 4. Fall "low flow" samples (September-October) 5. Field Surveys (Duration of project) D) Selecting Labs: Labs used for the project should provide assurances of their ability to follow Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Analysis. Their credibility is essential. Below is a list of labs used that would meet this criteria: Ogden Environmental Laboratory C/0 Rose Hullet Western Kentucky University 1 Big Red Way Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576 EKU Geological Chemistry Lab Dr. Melissa Dieckman 103 Roark Bld Dept. of Geology Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY 40475-3129 Kentucky Geological Survey Labs (At UK) Dr. Henry Francis, 606-257-5500 228 Mining and Mineral Resources Bldg University of Kentucky Lexington, KY40506-0107 Envirodata Group (formerly Commonwealth Technology's Lexington Lab) 2520 Regency Road Lexington, 40503 Att: Randy Shelley, rshelley@envirodatagroup.com 606-276-3506 University of Louisville Dept. of Biological Sciences. Tina Montgomery, Microbiologist Rich Schultz, Chem Services Jeff Jack Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292. 502-852-5940 jeff.jack@louisville.edu Beckmar Environmental Lab Inc. 3251 Ruckriegel Parkway Louisville, KY 40299 502-266-6533 Contacts: Paul Barker Dave Tracy beckmarlab@aol.com MSD Labs, (For samples in MSD service area only) 700 West Liberty, Louisville 40203 Dr Dennis Lye, 606-572-5301 [lyed@nku.edu] Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099-0400 Dr. Ted Pass, MSU Water Testing Laboratory Morhead State University, Morehead, KY 606-783-2961 Kentucky Division of Environmental Services Bill Davis, 502-564-6120 East West Connector Frankfort, KY 40601 McCoy and McCoy Paducah, KY, Pikeville, KY Hankock Biological Station Murray State University 561 Emma Drive Murray, KY 42071 ASPU Center for Field Biology 601 College Street Clarksville, Chem Services Murray State University David Owen, Director 502-753-5551 NOTE: This is a partial list of labs used in the past. This does not exclude any lab from consideration for bids on project work nor imply an endorsement of a lab listed. III.) Data Management: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A) Observational data Reports from the stream surveys shall be compiled in flat-record file in MS Excel 97 with photographs referenced by site code. Key photographs may be scanned in JPEG format if resources permit. B) Reports from contracted labs should be requested in electronic spread sheets containing the following fields: ID#, Watershed# Stream_Name, Location, Sample_Time, Sample_Date, Sampler_Name, followed by the results. C) Monitoring station results will be incorporated in a relational data base (Microsoft Access) then imported into E.S.R.I. Arcview 3.1 for GIS applications. Copies of the maps will be made available on the World Wide Web. D) Hard copy field records generated by the project will be stored at Kentucky Water Watch Offices, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY and made available to the public during regular business hours. Evening and weekend access by appointment. E) Each Watershed Watch will appoint a "Data Manager" to coordinate with other basins on compatibility of the table and field structure of project data. Each project is encouraged to adopt the data storage structure as called for in the Watershed Watch Data management System as found at: http://water.nr.state.ky.us/watch/2000/ib_datasystem.txt IV) Review of Literature ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A) Where possible, electronic copies of current professional research studies shall be obtained for inclusion in Watershed Watch Summary Reports. Executive Summary level information will be obtained where possible for all reports available. Reports shall be maintained in MS Word Format exported to Word Perfect 5.1 for distribution. B) Reports, data and information shall be made available to volunteer participants in hard copy, with electronic archives available via World Wide Web at this web address: http://water.nr.state.ky.us/watch/ ============================================================ V.) Conclusions and Data Analysis: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A) Preliminary reports will simply include the raw data with sufficient background for interpretation. Users will be cautioned not to draw hasty conclusions from single data points that may lie outside the norm. Further review and discussion will be warranted before specific conclusions and calls for action are made. We do want the volunteers to have access to the raw data as soon as it is available. B) Roundtable meetings will allow for professionals and lay participants to discuss findings and conclusions. An effort to involve all the members of a community interested in water quality will be made. Including representatives from industry, the scientific community, agricultural businesses and local officials. The conclusions from these meetings will then be turned over to the agencies active in the basin, such as the Kentucky Division of Water, The United States Geological Survey, The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority. The United States Department of Agriculture, NRCS, The Kentucky agriculture Water Quality Authority and any other organization that offers to comment and respond to the reports. C) The raw data will be available to any party that wishes to review and comment on the information via the Web Site but it must be marked "Provisional: Subject To Review". Each basin steering committee is responsible for approval and issuance of the official set of results from monitoring work in its area. Minority reports are allowed. VI.) Adoption of this plan ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ a) We suggest that each Watershed Watch Steering Committee convene a Scientific Advisory Group before each season of study. This group is to review previous work and issue a set of recommendations on specific monitoring protocols for the coming year of study. We hope that the Watershed Project will consider this set of recommendations in development of that plan. But, each watershed should have maximum flexibility to adjust its plan of work to meet the needs of its participants and to address the unique nature of the waters in its area. This is still a draft. If the SCIAD from an individual watershed adopts a study parameter not listed in the current plan, we will automatically include it as an "Optional" parameter. To be listed as "Essential" for all basins, each science advisory group should agree to it's adoption. END Draft Version 2.2 +++ Send Comments Via E-mail to: kywwp@igc.org (Ken Cooke)