Effective Date: 04/01/2013

KENTUCKY WATERSHED WATCH RECERTIFICATION – PHASE 1

P h a s e 1• Field Chemistry Assessment• Grab Sample Collection

Training and Certification WorkshopsTraining and Certification Workshops

Phase 2• Biological Assessment• Habitat Assessment

Phase 1Watershed Watch

Recertification

Goals for this module• Refresh your skills• Highlight changes to sampling procedures• Distribute NEW flip books• Check out any replacement equipment you need• Complete essential recertification paperwork

Active Watershed Watch Sampling Sites

How we’re set up:

Basin Steering Committee or Board of Directors

Watershed Watch In KentuckyBoard of Directors

Sampling Event Coordinator

Lab Manager Science Advisor(s)

Area coordinator

Area coordinator

Area coordinator

Watershed Watch Trained

Sampler

Watershed Watch Trained

Sampler

Watershed Watch Trained

Sampler

Watershed Watch Trained

Sampler

Goal: Get people into the real world to see first hand the condition of their streams.

Watershed Watch provides you the tools and information you need to

educate and inform

YouFamily Friends

NeighborsCommunity

Local LeadersResource Management Agencies

How you can use your information

• Personal decision making• Local action• Grant applications• Watershed planning• Assessment screening• Enforcement efforts• Scientific research

Data usage depends on the quality control applied…

Standard OperatingProcedures (SOP)

• Training workshops for certification• Standard methods of collection• Standard methods of analysis• Full chain of custody and/or forms• Careful recordkeeping!

For good Quality Assurance of results, we require:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

To ensure standard

methods of collection, always useflip cards

when sampling:

This presentation is based on the “Kentucky Watershed Watch Field Chemistry Sample Collection Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP01000” and is available fromwwky.org

SOP Statement

Standard OperatingProcedures (SOP)

NEW Flip Book

Field Chemistry

• You will receive materials from program coordinators or by mail

• Read instructions upon receipt! (Critical info on sample times and delivery included)

• Inspect all sample and preservative containers upon receipt for damage or breakage

You will receive for sampling:• Instructions• Transport information• Chain of Custody Records• Gloves (disposable)• Sample containers• Preservative (if required)

Pre-sampling Information

•During high flow, sampling should be postponed until baseline conditions exist – do not sample in any unsafe conditions•Waders and specialized wading boots can be utilized•Use extreme caution when wading in streams above the knee•Samplers should exhibit caution in and around streams to reduce the threat of a falling injury •Secure permission from landowner •Be aware of increased risk for frostbite or hypothermia in cold temperatures•Do not stick hands or feet under large objects. Exercise caution when handling aquatic life. Some organisms pinch, bite, etc.• All water bodies have the potential to be contaminated • Notify others of your whereabouts and carry a cell phone• Use caution and be aware of your surroundings and location

Be Safe!

Equipment

• You will need to purchase a gallon of distilled water for use during sampling events

• All field chemistry sample containers must be rinsed with distilled water after each test

Equipment

• Use your Waste Container to dispose of all used chemicals

• After rinsing field chemistry sample containers, dispose of rinse water in Waste Container

• After sampling event, flush contents of Waste Container into a system that goes to a wastewater treatment plant

• Store in a cool, dry place (climate controlled) NOT a hot car or freezing garage!• Store out of reach of children and pets

In addition:• Chemicals should be replaced every three years at your recertification training• Kits have enough chemical for 50 tests! (use them all you want!)• Should you need replacement chemicals or glassware before then, let us know

Equipment

• There are hazardous chemicals in these kits!• Dissolved Oxygen (DO) test uses a strong acid and alkali (like bleach)

• pH Test chemical is flammable• Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for further information on chemical safety• Dispose of used chemicals in plastic waste container at stream and then flush into municipal wastewater treatment system (no septic systems)• Trade in old chemicals for proper disposal when you receive replacement chemicals

Equipment

Chemical Safety

Proper attire for performing tests• Gloves (disposable)

• Eye protection

Equipment

Chemical Safety

What to do if you get a chemical on you

•For emergency first aid in the field, flush affected area with large amounts of water and seek medical attention if necessary

•Follow the first aid procedures found on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Equipment

Chemical Safety

Field Observations and

Water Chemistry Assessment

• Enter stream at a downstream location • Walk upstream to avoid disturbing bottom • Perform your observations and tests just below your grab sample location

Sampling Procedure

0 = Dry1 = Ponded2 = Low3 = Normal4 = Bank Full5 = FLOOD!

Field ObservationsFlow Rate

0-5 Point Scale

Do not sampleduring these flow conditions

48 Hour Rainfall

Use Weather Channel, local paper or rain

gauge

OR Use any of these

websites

www.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=ky

wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/cgi-bin/ky_clim_data_www.pl

water.weather.gov/

www.kymesonet.org/

Field Observations

To determine 48 hour rainfall in inches

Site coordinates and Photos• GPS (decimal degrees – 5 decimal places)

OR Digital map (KGS WW Site - http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsmap/krww/viewer.asp or Google Earth)

• Take photos upstream and downstream of sampling point – with recognizable landmarks; should be taken annually during Summer sampling event

• Label photos: “Site#upstream” and “Site#downstream”

• Submit information to Water Watch office Email: OllieTheOtter@ky.gov

Phone: 1-800-928-0045

Additional Field Observations

• Put on gloves• Collect water just below your grab sample location• Rinse bottle, tube or cup and any associated caps or lids with stream water three times (fill container ¼ full of stream water, cap, shake, and discard downstream)• Point mouth of bottle, tube or cup directly at the surface of the water, submerge entire container to mid-depth of stream, scoop upstream and fill to appropriate level

For Field Chemistry tests:• pH• Dissolved Oxygen• Conductivity(does not include Temperature)

Field Measurements

Conductivity EquipmentField Measurements

Meter Calibration

• Must be calibrated for each sampling event• Calibrate to 720 µS (standard solution is 718 µS)

New MeterOld Meter

Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record

Conductivity EquipmentField Measurements

Meter Calibration

• Record meter calibration date on COC

• Must be calibrated within 24 hours prior to sampling event

Conductivity Equipment – New MeterField Measurements

New Meter Calibration

• Display

• Hold/enter

• Calibrate

• Power

• Calibration Standard

Conductivity EquipmentField Measurements

Conductivity Equipment – Old MeterField Measurements

Old Meter Calibration

• Display

• Hold

• On/off

• Calibration Standard

Conductivity EquipmentField Measurements

Decrease

Increase

Conductivity EquipmentField Measurements

Calibration (Old Meter):• Twist open lid on wider end (battery compartment)• Place narrower end (electrodes) in calibration standard

• Press ON/OFF button and wait for display to stabilize

• When viewed from top, hold meter with white buttons on left

• Press the Increase (top) or Decrease (bottom) button until display reads 720 µS

• When display flashes 3 times, then shows ENT, the meter is calibrated

• Replace lid

Water Conductivity Test ProcedureField Measurements

• Fill sampling container halfway with stream water• Press Power (ON/OFF) button and allow to stabilize to 0 in air• Place meter in sample, stir once, and wait for reading to stabilize• Record result in µS• Rinse container and narrower end of meter (electrodes) with distilled water

Field Measurements

Remember to rinse the narrower end of meter (electrodes) and sampling container with distilled water!

Water Temperature Test ProceduresField Measurements

• Place thermometer at mid-depth of stream in location with constantly flowing water

• Leave thermometer there until readingstabilizes

• Record temperature in degrees Celsius (°C)

This presentation is based on the “Kentucky Watershed Watch Stream Grab Sample Collection Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP02000”and is available fromwwky.org

Grab Sample SOP

Standard OperatingProcedures (SOP)

NEW Flip Book

Grab Sample

Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record

The sampling containers are pre-marked with a unique Site Number

The Site Number should match the number on the “Chain of Custody Record”

Pre-sampling Information

I received a bottle with a site number I don’t recognize!Check the documents in your packet, you may have been

randomly assigned to collect a blank or a duplicate

Pre-sampling information

Blank - A sample bottle filled while at the stream site with distilled water• Serves as a check for

possible contamination during sample handling or processing at the lab

• DO NOT indicate that the sample is a blank – the lab should not know

Pre-sampling Information

Duplicate - A sample bottle filled with stream water at your site at the same time as your regular sample• Serves as a check for

variability among samples that should yield approximately the same lab results

• DO NOT indicate that the sample is a duplicate – the lab should not know

Pre-sampling Information

Sample collection location

Collection Procedures

Sample in an area of the stream where the flow is concentratedand where you can completely submerge the bottle without touching the bottom

NOTE: It is important that you collect your sample at the same location each time

Concentrated Flow

Location

Collection Procedures

Grab SampleCollection

• Enter stream at a downstream location • Walk upstream to avoid disturbing bottom • Collect sample at the same location each time in the middle of your concentrated flow location and at mid-depth of stream

Collection Procedures

• Put on disposable gloves• DO NOT RINSE BOTTLE• Point mouth of bottle directly over surface of water, dip and scoop bottle upstream beneath water surface, and through water column in one swift motion to fill above line marked on bottle• If preservative is in bottle, take caution to angle mouth so as not to spill any while collecting sample• Cap container, leaving at least a small airspace at top to allow lab mixing• Place in wet ice immediately

For E. coli grab sample collection:

Collection Procedures

• Put on disposable gloves• Rinse bottle with stream water three times

(fill bottle ¼ full of stream water, cap, shake, and discarddownstream)• Point mouth of bottle upstream (against the flow), submerge entire bottle to mid-depth of stream, scoop and fill• Rinse cap in stream and cap bottle• Add preservative (if necessary) and place in wet ice

Collection Procedures

For grab sample collection other than E. coli:

• Samples must be kept immersed in wet ice(but not frozen) until received by laboratory

• Some samples may require other preservatives(check your sample event packet)

Preservation

Preservation

Sample Holding Time:

• length of time a preserved sample can be stored after collection and before it is analyzed without significantly affecting the results• from the minute you collect a sample, the clock starts ticking on the holding time• varies for different types of analysis• established by the US Environmental Protection Agency

E. coli = 6 hours maximum

Other than E. coli = Follow holding time instructionsreceived in your samplingevent packet

Preservation

Sample Holding Times

Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record

• Date and Time of sample collection

• Field Observations and Measurements

• Date and time of sample Relinquished/Received

must be identical

Recordkeeping

Volunteer entries on the Chain of Custody

Cross through any mistakes and initial – do not erase

Phase 1 (Program Logistics, Field Chemistry and Grab Sample) Training:

Your sampling and field testing skills are considered current for three years after completing WWKY-approved training

Training updates must be completed at least every three years

In addition, chemicals must be replaced every three years for your field test results to be accurate. These chemicals should be replaced at your training update.

Recertification

IMPORTANT: If you observe an outfall, pipe, or anything that might indicate illegal pollution of a waterway, contact Kentucky Division of Water to report complaints or concerns at 502-564-3410 during business hours.

For environmental emergencies such as spills of gas, oil or other substances, contact the Environmental Response Team at 502-564-2380 or 1-800-928-2380.

Environmental Safety

Go to your basin’s Watershed Watch Webpage through

the“Quick Links” at:

How do I find out moreabout my basin?

wwky.org

Phase 2 – Biological and Habitat Assessment

Habitat Assessment

• Stream and Watershed Investigation Methods• Classroom and Streamside Instruction

Biological Assessment

• Benthic Macroinvertebrate Collection and Identification Methods• Classroom and Streamside Instruction

Streams are constantly changing

GRAB SAMPLE & FIELD CHEMISTRY• Instantaneous water quality • Quick process• Specific pollutant analysis

BIOLOGICAL & HABITATASSESSMENT• Water quality over time• Takes more time• Collective pollution indication

VS.

Phase 2 (Biological and Habitat Assessment) Training:

Your sampling and assessment skills are considered current after completing WWKY-approved training

You will be notified that training updates are required if modifications are made to WWKY methods

Recertification

If you have any questions after today’s workshop,please contact your “Area Coordinator” or the

KY Water Watch Office at 1-800-928-0045

Questions?

Participant Agreement

Records:

• Accurate contact information

• Equipment loaned

• Site(s) selected

• Training received

Participant Agreement

Records:

• Accurate contact information

• Equipment loaned

• Site(s) selected

• Training received

Fill out Participant Agreement Form, sign and turn into trainer