Standard Operating Procedures for Surface Water Sampling

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR SURFACE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING2.1.1 FILLING OUT DATA SHEETSThe purpose of field data sheets is to document field data, how water samples were collected andother important observations. It is essential that staff write legibly and document information insuch a way to enable future samplers and possibly the public to understand the observations andmeasurements collected in the field (FIGURE 2.2).An important quality control check is to have the second field person (i.e. a personother than the one who filled out the form) check over the form before leaving thesite.2.1.1.1 Instructions for filling out Reach Observations on the Ambient Stream FormNarrative observations aboutthe general stream conditioncan be helpful in diagnosingpotential problems. Theobservations consist ofgeneral appearance of thestream reach and streambank, water appearance andodor, presence of fish,especially sunfish and crayfishas well as hydrologicalinformation about flood ordrought evidence, flow regimeand water source (FIGURE2.3). Biotic interactions byexotic species such as crayfishand sunfish are an importantsource of impairment of the FIGURE 2.2. Staff filling out a site sketch in the field.macro-invertebrate community. Hydrological information is important for identifying flood ordrought impacts, and ensuring that the stream is perennial prior to macroinvertebrate samplecollection.REVISED SEPTEMBER 2012 23