1. Water Quality Monitoring -Sampling Design-
May 15, 2012

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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.

14. Project Planning and Implementation
Identify key
roles, responsibilities and relationships

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

16. Project Planning and Implementation
What level of training is needed?

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

18. 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?

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

20. 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?

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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