Standard Operating Procedures for Surface Water Sampling

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR SURFACE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING2.1.2 PHOTO MONITORINGPhotos are taken at each visit to a sampling site. Based on the desired objectives, the photo shouldprovide a representative view of that site. Ideally, the photo should be taken at a fixed point ofreference to enable comparison of photos over time.For streams, the minimum number of photos is two: looking upstream from below the samplepoint and looking downstream from above the sample point.For lakes, photos should be taken to support any observations. Ideally with some recognizablelandmark in the background.Taking additional photos is encouraged. Document the sampling event, any changes from the lastvisit, outgrowths of filamentous algae on the stream bed, channel obstructions, man-made channelalterations or disturbances, floodplain debris, trash, sediment deposition features, point bars, bankerosion, head cuts, streambed particles, riparian community, wetlands community, bank particlecomposition, etc. The objective is to fully document the condition of the site and photos are idealfor this purpose.Photos should be taken to include the sample point with a person framed within the photo toshow scale. If the stream channel has been altered since the last site visit, additional photos shouldbe taken. Site alteration may include recent flood evidence, channel scour, sediment deposition,construction or man-made alterations in the floodplain or channel, or other biological orecological changes that warrant documentation. All photos taken at a site should have the photonumber recorded on the Field Data Sheet form with the description of the photo (e.g. lookingupstream, looking downstream, dam site).Any photos taken at a site whether print film or digital, should immediately be printed and labeledupon return to the office.2.1.2.1 Labeling PhotosEach photo should be labeled with the following information. Site ID The date the photo was taken Description (e.g. looking downstream, erosion along right bank, cottonwood-willowcommunity), and Any applicable notes.Photos should be placed in holders and placed into the respective site file.2.1.2.2 Digital PhotosRepresentative digital photos should be downloaded to S:\common\photos\water. Create a newsite folder on the “S” drive using the site ID, if a site folder does not yet exist. LCCOY002.34 andSRROO-A are examples of a correctly formatted site IDs. Do not add any extra spaces. File namesshould be in a yyyymmdd format followed by a one word photo description (ex. 20070930up). BeREVISED SEPTEMBER 2012 25