Water Quality Monitoring -Sampling Design- May 15, 2012

Presentation Outline: Choosing the right projects Initial project considerations Project design Monitoring network design Project reporting Safety

Choosing the right projects What a strong vision statement will do…. It will help lead the way to goal setting and task completion Provide a framework while prioritizing objectives Set the stage for focusing resources

Choosing the right projects Does monitoring effort fit within the vision, objectives and goals of the organization? Does it provide useful and sufficient information? Do the projects quality goals fit within attainable resources? Expertise Budget Time

Choosing the right projects Don’t over commit prematurely Start small and build to larger projects Build knowledge and capacity before more complex projects Don’t underestimate the effort needed for high certainty studies Know when to monitor and when to wait

Statistical Design Weighing certainty vs. budget Ways to reduce budget without reducing certainty DEQ completed statistical design approach for minimum certainty we will accept for data quality objectives for certain pollutants

Scientific Method Observe and describe water quality Existing data GIS maps Field Reconnaissance Local input Further monitoring Form a hypothesis Too much nutrients from septic systems Design tests to prove or disapprove predictions Evaluate the hypothesis Too much algae

Project Design Parameters to monitor? Monitor most direct and apparent problem Think about cause – effect relationships Physical – too much fine sediment Chemical – nutrients associated with sediment Biological – algae can’t grow on fine sediment – algae can’t grow without light – Insects affected by sediment

Project Design What sampling or analytical methods for each parameter? Different ways to analyze for total nitrogen data Many ways to collect pebble counts

Project Design What will data be used for? How dependable does the outcome have to be? Highly variable with volunteer monitoring.

Project Design Choosing sampling locations? Fix station Random Targeted Easiest access Project scale Education/outreach/teaching Existing conditions Baseline data Reference Compliance Source assessment/watershed management Restoration effectiveness Trends

Project Design When does the data need to be collected? Runoff or baseflow? Does season matter? Frequency of data collection Data independence and representation

Project Planning and Implementation Set up a schedule of when preparation and monitoring tasks will be completed. TASK Montana FY14 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014) Montana FY15 (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015) Montana FY16 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) 1st 2n d 3r d 4t h Task 0. Administration   Planning discussions and organizational meetings Task 1. Water quality sampling guidance document Development of guidance document for water quality sampling Task 2. Water quality and water level sampling Obtain well logs from HIS, GWSI, GWIC Select wells for sampling with local partners Obtain permission for water quality sampling Sample wells for baseline water quality. Measure water levels. Sample wells for additional water quality parameters using baseline water- quality analyses Send water quality samples to laboratories, QA/QC samples. Obtain certification and approval for Montana laboratories that have not been previously approved. Populate water levels and water quality samples into appropriate State and Federal databases. Task 3. Water quality data report Summarize water quality sampling data for each Conservation District and Reservation.

Project Planning and Implementation Identify key roles, responsibilities and relationships

Project Planning and Implementation Identify who is going to complete each task

Project Planning and Implementation What level of training is needed?

Project Planning and Implementation What equipment is needed? What calibration is needed?

Project Planning and Implementation Data analysis plan – Summary of data? –tables, graphs, summary stats, maps Compare to thresholds? exceedance rate, timing and location of exceedances Trend analysis? Seasonal or discharge weighted? Compare one site to another?

Project Planning and Implementation Data analysis plan – Will you have enough data? Will you have the right data?

Project Planning and Implementation Information sharing – When will data be shared during the project? How will it be shared? What is the audience? How controversial is the information?

Project Planning and Implementation Long term data storage? In a file cabinet? In a database? Online? What should be stored? Electronic Data, COCs, lab results, field sheets, pictures, sampling plan, presentations, reports, etc.

Project Plan Outline Background Data quality considerations Why monitor? Project goals What will be monitored? When? How? Who? With what? Where? Project team and roles Data quality considerations Data analysis considerations Data management and project documentation Reporting

Safety! Try to be in teams Have a safety plan First aid kit and training Heed the weather Wading safety Don’t trespass Confirm location Watch for wildlife If you feel uncomfortable don’t do it