U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Water-Quality Monitoring: Data Collection and Analysis Strategies for Designing Program

Measuring the Success of Best Management Practices (BMP) Implementation Missouri Water Science Center Rolla, Missouri presented by Miya N. Barr Hydrologist/Water-Quality Data Base Administrator (573) (573)

BMP Project Goal The most common goal is to improve the water resources in the watershed The most common goal is to improve the water resources in the watershed How can project success or failure be measured? How can project success or failure be measured?

Watershed Natural Resource Issues Ecological, physical, and chemical variables Ecological, physical, and chemical variables Social, economic, and ethical issues Social, economic, and ethical issues Involves a mix of:

Evaluation Strategy Evaluation Strategy Involves systematic collection of information about: Involves systematic collection of information about: The needs the project should address The needs the project should address The most effective ways to meet those needs The most effective ways to meet those needs The extent to which the project met those needs and project goals The extent to which the project met those needs and project goals

Ways to Measure Project Success Water-quality monitoring to detect changes in water quality Water-quality monitoring to detect changes in water quality Evaluate change in the human dimension, i.e., the application of the project and the impact of the project on people Evaluate change in the human dimension, i.e., the application of the project and the impact of the project on people Evaluation strategy should include physical and social aspects of project impacts

Barriers to BMP Project Evaluation Poor planning Poor planning Failure to collect baseline data to measure change against Failure to collect baseline data to measure change against Selection of ineffective evaluation methods Selection of ineffective evaluation methods Reliance on single evaluation method Reliance on single evaluation method

Barriers to BMP Project Evaluation, cont’d Failure to consider both physical water-quality parameters and social/human indicators of change Failure to consider both physical water-quality parameters and social/human indicators of change Insufficient time, financial resources, and staff expertise Insufficient time, financial resources, and staff expertise Overlooking the obvious, i.e., existing data Overlooking the obvious, i.e., existing data

Physical Indicators of Water-Quality Changes Water chemistry Water chemistry Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates Algae Algae Fish population Fish population Habitat measures Habitat measures Water-Quality Monitoring:

Water-Quality Monitoring Water chemistry: Water chemistry: Early planning essential Early planning essential Target constituents (nutrients, suspended sediment, indicator bacteria, etc.) Target constituents (nutrients, suspended sediment, indicator bacteria, etc.) Importance of baseline data collection Importance of baseline data collection Long-term (5-10 years) monitoring may be necessary Long-term (5-10 years) monitoring may be necessary Monitoring can be costly Monitoring can be costly Complicated process; consult the experts Complicated process; consult the experts

U.S. Geological Survey Mission The USGS provides the Nation with reliable, impartial information to describe and understand the Earth

Purpose of the USGS Water-Quality Program To provide a long- term data base so that the general water quality of the hydrologic system is known to allow for proper planning and management of potential concerns in the State

Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network Stations: USGS/MODNR ( Missouri Department of Natural Resources)

National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) U.S. Forest Service Federal Program Water-Quality Stations

St. Louis: USGS/MSD (Metropolitan Sewer District)

Special Studies: Water-Quality Monitoring of the East Fork of the Black River and the Black River (Taum Sauk project)

Sample Collection Monthly to biannually by hydrologic technicians

Typical Constituents Measured Field parameters Field parameters Nutrients Nutrients Major ions Major ions Trace elements Trace elements Pesticides Pesticides Indicator bacteria (Fecal coliform and E. Coli) Indicator bacteria (Fecal coliform and E. Coli)

Sampling Goals Obtain a representative sample Obtain a representative sample Use “clean” sampling and processing techniques Use “clean” sampling and processing techniques Measure unstable physical properties and chemical constituents at site Measure unstable physical properties and chemical constituents at site Determine streamflow at time of sample collection Determine streamflow at time of sample collection Quality-assurance practices Quality-assurance practices

What is a representative water-quality sample? A water-quality sample that represents the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the flow of a stream at the sampling point

Sampling Methods of the USGS Purpose: To obtain a sample that is representative of the stream cross section Weighted bottle Weighted bottle Equal-width increment Equal-width increment Equal-discharge increment Equal-discharge increment

Equal Width Increment Stream cross section Sampling points Sampled at equal widths in cross section; verticals will have different volumes

Equal Discharge Increment Stream cross section Sampling points Sampled at equal discharge increments; each vertical will have equal volume

Sampling Equipment “Isokinetic” and “Clean” 8-Liter Bag Sampler

“Clean” Sampling Techniques

“Clean” Processing Techniques

Why are some physical properties and chemical constituents measured in the field? Unstable and change with time Unstable and change with time Preservation is not feasible Preservation is not feasible Change cannot be accurately predicted Change cannot be accurately predicted

Field Measurements Temperature Temperature Specific conductance Specific conductance pH pH Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen Alkalinity Alkalinity Indicator bacteria Indicator bacteria

Why is streamflow important? To compute constituent transport loads To compute constituent transport loads To understand discharge- constituent relations To understand discharge- constituent relations Chemical constituent concentration must be related to stream discharge

Quality Assurance Practices Instrument calibration Instrument calibration Equipment blanks Equipment blanks Replicate samples Replicate samples “Clean” techniques “Clean” techniques National Field Quality Assurance Program National Field Quality Assurance Program

After Sample Collection Measure field parameters Measure field parameters Process sample for shipment to laboratory Process sample for shipment to laboratory Laboratory analysis Laboratory analysis Retrieve data and review Retrieve data and review Store in data base Store in data base

Continuous/Real-Time Water-Quality Monitoring  Use YSI brand equipment  Provide customers and public with web-based, real-time data (  Continuous collection of data for up to five different parameters simultaneously  Data stored in USGS database

Real-time view of data Data updated hourly

Continuous WQ Monitor Quality Assurance  Standard guidelines set by USGS for installing and calibrating monitors, as well as reporting monitor data  Monitor sites visited frequently and data watched online daily to detect issues  Calibrations are checked for each parameter and documented  Must correct for monitor fouling and drift in data set

Continuous WQ Monitor Fouling: Before and After

Ancillary Activities Maintain a quality-assurance plan Maintain a quality-assurance plan Review quality-assurance data Review quality-assurance data Maintain data bases Maintain data bases Participate in National Water-Quality Assurance program Participate in National Water-Quality Assurance program Replace and repair sampling and measuring equipment Replace and repair sampling and measuring equipment Continuing education Continuing education

USGS Water-Data Collection Experts in the field Experts in the field Continuous methods development Continuous methods development Standardized sample collection, processing, and analysis protocols Standardized sample collection, processing, and analysis protocols Centralized storage of data with links to other data bases Centralized storage of data with links to other data bases Not biased, non-regulatory Not biased, non-regulatory Quality motivated, not profit motivated Quality motivated, not profit motivated

Conclusions Early planning essential Early planning essential Select effective evaluation methods Select effective evaluation methods Consider both physical water-quality parameters and social/ human indicators of change Consider both physical water-quality parameters and social/ human indicators of change Allow sufficient time for monitoring; 5-10 years may be necessary to detect change Allow sufficient time for monitoring; 5-10 years may be necessary to detect change

Conclusions, cont’d Collect baseline data to measure change against Collect baseline data to measure change against Careful selection of target constituents Careful selection of target constituents Be sure of financial resources; monitoring is not cheap! Be sure of financial resources; monitoring is not cheap! Monitoring is a complicated process; consult the experts! Monitoring is a complicated process; consult the experts!