BRODHEAD WATERSHED ASSOCIATION'S CITIZEN STREAMWATCH PROGRAM

Transcription

1 BRODHEAD WATERSHED ASSOCIATION'S CITIZEN STREAMWATCH PROGRAM PROCEDURE MANUAL Updated: Spring 2014

2 INTRODUCTION The Brodhead Watershed Association was founded in 1989 to protect and preserve the water resources of the Brodhead Creek and its tributaries. The organization has a diverse membership including individuals, municipalities, businesses, educators, sportsmen/women, resort owners and environmentalists. Our work focuses on increasing public awareness of issues relating to water resources through education, community involvement, and stewardship. The Brodhead Watershed Association's Streamwatch Program has been developing since August The parameters included in the study were identified with the assistance of the Monroe County Planning Commission and East Stroudsburg University's Biology Department. Procedures were standardized under the direction of the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Office and Dickenson University s ALLARM program. The Streamwatch Program is dependent entirely upon volunteer commitment. A study of this kind would be financially impossible if professional services were contracted. Given reliable equipment, informative training sessions, and standardized procedures, volunteers have proven to be a reliable means of stream monitoring. As a volunteer with the Brodhead Watershed Association's Streamwatch Program, you are committing approximately one to two hours per month of your valuable time. More importantly, you are becoming involved in the future of your own water quality. The individuals who choose to participate in this program will be rewarded by a new sense of appreciation for the incomparable significance these streams give to the Pocono Mountains. Sometimes it s cold and rainy when we are out on the stream, but more often the weather is beautiful, the stream flows clear and you'll be glad you have a reason to be out enjoying nature. Thank You...

3 VOLUNTEERS' JOB DESCRIPTION By becoming a Streamwatch Volunteer you are committing one to two hours once a month to get out on the stream and monitor your site(s). Volunteers generally work in pairs for safety in the field and back up if one person is occasionally not available. You and the other members of your group arrange a mutually agreeable time to do your monitoring, choose a leader who is responsible for picking up or passing on the equipment, and make sure someone, and preferably two people, monitor your site(s) regularly according to the instructions in the BWA Streamwatch Manual. Volunteers are also asked to complete an Incident Report Form and call their Team Leader if they spot any unusual occurrence at their site(s). (See Red Flag Procedures.) Streamwatchers are also asked to become members of the Brodhead Watershed Association. By being BWA members, Streamwatchers are covered by the Association's liability insurance -- if anything should happen that triggers a suit against the Association, members are covered but others are not. We also hope Streamwatchers are committed to the goals of the BWA and willing to support the Association which depends completely on contributions from members to buy equipment, and keep the organization functioning. TEAM LEADERS' JOB DESCRIPTION The Team Leader is an essential link in the operation of the Streamwatch program. Team Leaders are the first connection between Streamwatchers and the Streamwatch program. Team Leaders review field data sheets from their Team to assure data is being recorded properly, and contact volunteers to clarify handwriting or data entry errors. Data sheets are then sent to the Data Entry volunteers and/or Streamwatch Coordinator for further review. Team Leaders also keep Streamwatchers supplied with necessary forms and see that the equipment is passed along quickly so monitoring continues on schedule. Team Leaders call team meetings when training is needed, train new volunteers, arrange for new sites to be covered if appropriate and answer volunteers questions if possible. Team Leaders are also the link for reporting of unusual events. Streamwatchers are asked to complete an Incident Report Form and call their Team Leader if they determine something unusual has occurred at a site. The Team Leader passes the report on to the Streamwatch Coordinator or the BWA Administrator, who follows up on the report. (See Red Flag Procedures.) Team Leaders work with the Streamwatch Coordinator to manage the program in each sub region of the watershed. The Team Leaders work directly with the volunteer monitors to assure they are following proper procedures, submitting their data regularly and remain committed to the program. The Team Leaders job combines the talents of cheerleader and coach to ensure a quality program. Team Leaders keep the Streamwatch Coordinator informed about how their teams are functioning and seek help if needed. 3

4 STREAMWATCH COORDINATOR The Streamwatch Coordinator is the Chair of the Streamwatch Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. S/he works with the Streamwatch Committee and through the Team Leaders to manage the Streamwatch Program. S/he offers introductory training sessions for prospective volunteers annually. S/he reviews all field data sheets prior to data entry, and reviews incident reports and recommends follow-up actions, if any, to the Board. S/he is also the Quality Control Supervisor of the program. Those responsibilities are to: 1) conduct quality control sessions, 2) train Team Leaders and oversee training of volunteer monitors and their replacements. 3) order and calibrate equipment, 4) provide replacements for damaged equipment and refill reagents. STREAMWATCH COMMITTEE The Streamwatch Committee consists of the Streamwatch Coordinator as chair, Team Leaders, interested volunteers and advisors on such issues as data management and testing procedures. The Committee meets on the Coordinator s call and assists with all facets of the Streamwatch program. DATA MANGEMENT Streamwatch data is compiled into an Excel database by Data Entry volunteers. Because this is a crucial step in maintaining quality of the database, data entry is limited to a very few volunteers. The BWA master data files are stored in Dropbox ( cloud storage). Team Leaders or volunteers can receive copies of files for their team by sending requests to info@brodheadwatershed.org. PROGRAM MECHANICS Streamwatch volunteers are organized in seven Teams according to the major tributaries in the watershed. Each of the seven regions has a Team Leader and several testing kits. Volunteers will be scheduled for use of the equipment at their convenience. On a monthly basis, volunteers will pick up the testing equipment, go to their sites and measure air and water temperature, ph, nitrate-n and orthophosphate. These readings in combination with visual observations will be recorded on a Field Data Sheet. The equipment will then be passed on to the next set of volunteers. Monthly or quarterly, the Team Leaders will assemble the Data Sheets and forward them to the Streamwatch Coordinator for review and entry in the Streamwatch database. An assessment of physical habitat has been done at most sites. This assessment will be in the form of a Habitat Survey, (a state modified version of EPA protocol) which is to be completed once a year. Questions pertain to current land use, discharges, erosion, streambed composition, and stream bank vegetation. The survey gives each site a habitat "score" which is useful in interpreting water quality data. From time to time an up-dated Habitat Assessment should be done. Frequently we have the help of a student intern for this update. Depending on funding, on an annual basis water samples will be collected from several sites to be tested for fecal coliform -- an indicator of the presence of harmful bacteria. Annual training is held for new volunteers, as well as brush-up for current volunteers as well as 4

5 discussion of questions that may have come up over the year. CHOICE OF PARAMETERS In view of the BWA's goal for the Streamwatch program, which emphasizes education and volunteer stewardship, the Streamwatch committee chose to begin the BWA Streamwatch program with two parameters (ph, water temperature) and test many sites on a monthly basis. The program has expanded since its beginning and now includes nitrate-nitrogen and orthophosphate. It should be noted that observations recorded each month by the volunteers are very important. These observations in terms of the stream's visual appearance and odor may act as a "Red Flag" indicating further examination by a local regulatory authority is needed. RED FLAG PROCEDURES During the monthly test, if a Streamwatcher detects a significant change in any parameter, (e.g. plus or minus 1.0 units of ph), a reading for nitrate-n or phosphate of 1 or greater, r or significantly higher than readings previously reported, or any other unusual occurrence, the Team Leader should be notified immediately. If that is impossible the Streamwatch Coordinator or the BWA Administrator should be contacted. If possible the Streamwatcher should walk upstream to determine the point of change, however, do not trespass on private property. The condition should be described on the Data Sheet and an Incident Report form should be completed by the Streamwatcher and handed to the Team Leader immediately. The Team Leader will notify the Streamwatch Coordinator who may investigate the occurrence independently and then, if a violation is suspected, notify the appropriate regulatory agency. If the regulatory agency does not report back to BWA on what they find after investigating the complaint, a follow-up call will be made. At no time should a Streamwatch volunteer confront a possible offender. The role of the BWA's Streamwatch program is to monitor water quality, not to enforce regulations. CHOOSING TEST SITES Test sites were chosen using the following guidelines. If the stream changes at your test site, or the site needs to be moved for any reason, please follow these guidelines. They are designed to make your stream monitoring experience not only valid, but also pleasurable. 1.) When choosing a site on a tributary, make your selection relatively ( feet) close to where it meets the larger stream. The rational for this is that if the tributary shows high quality at its mouth, it is most probable that the quality of the water upstream is high as well. 2.) If there are any discharge points (or other suspected problem areas) on the stream, choose two sites, one above the discharge (or suspected problem) and one below. 3.) Choose a site which is relatively easy to access and where you will be able to secure the property owner's permission. Be sure to obtain the property owner s signature on the BWA Property Owner Form before beginning your testing. 4.) The actual test location should be in a riffle, i.e. running water, and not a still pool. 5

6 5.) Mark your test site with a stake or other means that will be visible throughout the year.. PERFORMING THE TEST AT YOUR SITE Please keep in mind that this is a scientific study, which requires standardization and objectivity. If the data is to be useful in the future it is very important that you follow the same procedure each time you test your site(s). 1.) Take your readings from the same spot, at the same time, and during the same week of each month. If you question the results of any test, repeat the test to verify your results. 2.) Work with one or more partners. This is important in terms of objectivity, safety and backup if you are not available at the time of testing. 3.) Begin by filling out the date, time, and weather information on the data sheet. This will allow sufficient time for the thermometer to adjust to the air temperature. Then record the air temperature (in Celsius). (To convert F to C use: [F-32] x 5/9= C). 4.) Submerge the thermometer into the water for at least one minute before reading. 5.) ph Use the Hach Bromthymol Blue Test Kit (Model 17-F). Rinse two clean (see cleaning procedures) test tubes with stream water. Fill one test tube to the lowest (5ml) line with stream water. Be certain the meniscus of water level is lined up with the mark on the test tube. Place this tube in the top left opening of the color comparator. Fill the second test tube to the 5 ml line with stream water. Place in the top right opening of the color comparator. Add 8 drops of reagent to the second test tube. Swirl to mix and return the test tube to the color comparator. With the sunlight coming over your shoulder, hold the comparator against a white background and turn the wheel until the color matches in the two openings.. You and your partner should determine the reading that matches most closely color of the sample. Empty the test tube contents into a jar, dilute it with additional water and dispose of the liquid away and back from the stream bank. Record the results on the data sheet. 6.) Record the water level -- depth from stream bottom. Find a nearby permanent reference point (i.e. bridge, stake) to confirm your estimate of the water level. If a gauge is present, record level on gauge. This is a very subjective measurement as bottom strata moves; if you feel you are not getting meaningful readings, use Low, Medium or High (add Very if appropriate). 7.) Record water clarity and color information using the following terms: clear, muddy, brown, rusty, gray, green, milky (add v= very, m= moderately, or s= slightly, as needed. 8.) Fill a jar with water and wave your hand over the opening to check water odor. 9.) Read the thermometer and record the water temperature (in Celsius) on the data sheet. 10.) Collect a water sample in a plastic bottle marked with the number of the site you are testing. Rinse the bottle three times with stream water before taking sample. Use this sample to test for nitrate-n and orthophosphate using instructions with the kits. 6

7 The following kits are part of our testing procedures: Hach Low Range Nitrate Test Kit (Model NI-14, catalog No ) Hach Orthophosphate Test Kit (Model PO-19, catalog No ) Hach Wide Range (4-10) ph Test Kit (Model 17-N, catalog No ) RECORD KEEPING Record test results each month on the data sheets. We have various styles of data sheets some are designed to hold data for up to five sites for one month, one site for a year or two sites for three months. Use the data sheet most suited to your needs. In your written comments on the Data Sheet be sure to indicate any information you think would be useful in characterizing the stream condition. This might include extreme weather conditions (e.g. very dry, or flood conditions), new impacts occurring upstream or nearby (e.g. construction activities) or sightings of animals (e.g. ducks or geese that are fouling the stream). Your team leader will request your data periodically; make a copy of your completed data sheets for yourself and deliver completed sheets to your Team Leader. (Alternately, you can keep a record for yourself on the sheet designed to hold data for one site for twelve months.) For your own information, record your temperature data for one, or several sites, on the temperature graph. This will show whether your site is meeting the temperature standard for cold-water fish. Temperature is an important pollutant in cold water streams. Extra sample containers are available from your Team Leader or the BWA office ( ). WASTE HANDLING Each kit should contain a bottle for collecting waste, clearly marked as containing hazardous substances. If you kit does not contain a bottle, please provide one (empty peanut butter jars a good). Put the waste (this contains cadmium) from the Nitrate-Nitrogen test (rinse water from the cleaning step and the final solution only) in this bottle. Waste from the ph test and ortho-phosphate test can be safely disposed of on the land, away from the stream, or down the drain. When the waste bottle is full it should be delivered to the BWA office and emptied into the red hazardous waste container that is located there. Safety tips: It is unfortunate that the test for nitrate-nitrogen uses a heavy metal, cadmium, in the testing procedure. However, the Hach test kit uses less cadmium than other testing procedures. Streamwatchers should handle all chemicals used in testing carefully and avoid spills. Review the Material Safety Data Sheets for information on safe handling of the chemicals used. Available at BWA will see that the cadmium waste from the nitrate-nitrogen test is disposed of in an environmentally sound way. 7

8 HINTS FOR IMPROVING OUR STREAMWATCH PROCEDURES Temperature of the sample the sample MUST be at room temperature when you test for Nitrate-N and Ortho-phosphate. This is because the chemical reaction that takes place with the reagent works properly at room temperature. When testing sample water that is too cold, nutrient results will be lower than the true value. Do not use a microwave to warm the sample. Hold the sample in the test tube in your hand for a minute and it will be the right temperature. In cold weather, take the sample home and allow it to reach room temperature, 2-3 hours depending on the size of your sample bottle. Pour off a little of the sample into another container (so you don t contaminate the sample with the thermometer) to test the temperature, which should be around degrees Celsius (68 degrees F). In warm weather, if you are going to be driving to several sites, keep the sample on ice until you get home. Allowing the sample to sit in a hot car for several hours could also skew your results. If you can t test your samples immediately, keep them in the refrigerator until you can. Don t wait over hours. Testing at low concentrations - When testing nitrate-n and ortho-phosphate at very low concentrations, the sample water may appear to be virtually clear after testing, but a small color reaction may have taken place. For the ortho-phosphate test, the sample water near 0 ppm will be a faint gray, rather than a true blue. Use the following procedure, even if sample water looks clear: Place the sample test tube in the color reader, and make sure the internal mirror is correctly in place for the phosphate test. Hold the sample up to as bright a light as possible. Natural light is best. Hold a white paper behind the sample. Have light shining downward into test tubes to read result for the phosphate test. For the nitrate test, hold the color reader up to the light, natural light if possible, & hold a white paper behind the color reader to read the results. Cover the readout with your thumb until the color is visually matched. (Covering the opening prevents you from biasing your result based on what you believe it should be.) It helps to start with the wheel at a darker color, and then move slowly toward the lighter color of your test result. Cleaning equipment At most sites in the Brodhead watershed we find very low concentrations of the parameter being measured. For example if we measure a nitrate concentration of 1.0 mg/l, this is equivalent to finding and measuring 1 part of nitrate within a total sample size of 1,000,000 parts. In dealing with such extremely low concentrations care must be taken in maintaining and cleaning the testing equipment. It is extremely important, therefore to clean all monitoring equipment after use and then store them in a cool, dry place, away from kitchen cleaners and other contaminants, until they are again needed for analysis. See Cleaning Procedure for guidance. 8

9 EQUIPMENT CLEANING PROCEDURES Please clean all equipment: test tubes, bottles, sample bottles, droppers between each use. Always wear latex gloves when using this cleaning procedure 1. wash with non-phosphate detergent, such as Dawn liquid dish detergent 2. rinse with tap water until all soap is gone 3. rinse with white vinegar, (use small amount and shake vigorously) 4. rinse twice with tap water 5. rinse twice with distilled water 6. dry upside down on paper towels TIPS TO MAKE CLEANING EASIER For droppers: 1. Pull off the rubber bulbs and thoroughly wash the bulb and tube of the dropper; 2. Pour a small amount (0.5mL) of the white vinegar into the dropper tube. Carefully reattach the rubber bulb and thoroughly rinse all inside surfaces of the tube and bulb by rotating and inverting the dropper. Do this for 2 or 3 minutes, and then empty. For syringes: 1. Wash the syringe by separating the plunger from the body of the syringe; After cleaning with a brush, a good flushing techniques involves repeatedly pulling and pushing the plunger into and out of the body of the syringe, while pulling in and expelling out the detergent Tip: Unless noted in the applicable procedure - kit parts do not have to be completely dry before re-use Before testing rinse all equipment 3 times with the sample to be tested!! Label sample bottles with the sampling site number and stream name. 9

10 Tip: Do not leave your kit in the trunk or passenger compartment of your vehicle and do not store the kit near household, gardening or other chemicals. Keep kits out of reach of young children. Importance of ph and Water Temperature ph - The ph of a substance is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity just as a degree is a measure of temperature. ph is the measurement of the ratio of acid to base of a solution. ph is the effective acidity or alkalinity of a solution. ph is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 with a ph of 7 as the neutral point. ph monitoring and control are critical to the continuation and quality of all plant and animal life. The ph of a body of water is affected by its age and by the chemicals dumped into it by communities and industries. Most streams in the Pocono Plateau region are naturally on the acidic side due to the decomposition of hemlock and pine. As organic substances decay, carbon dioxide forms and combines with water to produce a weak acid, called carbonic acid. Large amounts of carbonic acid lower the ph of the water. The ph value of most natural waters fall within the range of 4 to 9. Most fish can tolerate ph values from 5.0 to 9.0; however, the best fishing waters fall within the 6.5 to 8.2 range. Water Temperature - Temperature is very crucial for the survival of fish and other aquatic life. A gradual change in temperature readings through out the seasons is to be expected, but a fast and/or drastic change can be fatal. Warm water also makes some substances, such as cyanide, phenol, xylene, and zinc more poisonous to aquatic animals. If high water temperatures are combined with low amounts of dissolved oxygen, the poisonous effects of this chemical are made worse.

11 Effects of ph on Fish and Aquatic Animals Limiting ph Values Minimum Maximum Results of Some Scientific Studies Fish eggs could be hatched, but deformed young were produced Limits for the most resistant fish eggs Range tolerated by trout Carp died in five days Trout eggs and larvae develop normally Limits for perch Limits for stickleback fish Tolerable range for most fish Upper limits for good fishing waters Fish avoided waters beyond these limits Optimum range for fish eggs Mosquito larvae were destroyed at this ph Mosquito larvae lived within this range Best range for the growth of algae. Effects of Water Temperature on Fish Fish Won't Grow Maximum Fish Won't Fish Embryos Optimum or When It Gets Temperature Spawn (lay Can't Survive Preferred Warmer Than Fish Will Survive eggs) Above Above This Temperature This (C means (-- Indicates This Temperature Celsius, F is information Temperature Species of Fahrenheit, is unavailable) Fish degrees) C (F) C (F) C (F) C (F) C (F) Atlantic Salmon 20 (68) 23 (73) 5 (41) 11 (52) --- Black Crappie 27 (81) (63) 20 (68) --- Bluegill 32 (90) 35 (95) 25 (77) 34 (93) --- Brook Trout 19 (66) 24 (75) 9 (48) 13 (55) --- Carp (97) 21 (70) 33 (91) 32 (90) Chan. Catfish 32 (90) 35 (95) 27 (81) 29 (84) --- Coho Salmon 18 (64) 24 (75) 10 (50) 13 (55) 20 (68) Emerald Shiner 30 (86) (75) 28 (82) --- Lake Herring 17 (63) 25 (77) 8 (37) 8 (46) --- Lg.Mth. Bass 32 (90) 34 (93) 21 (70) 27 (81) 23 (74) Northern Pike 28 (82) 30 (86) 11 (52) 19 (66) --- Rainbow Trout 19 (66) 24 (75) 8 (46) 15 (59) 13 (55) Sauger 25 (77) (54) 18 (64) --- Sm.Mth. Bass 29 (84) (63) 23 (73) --- Sockeye Salmon 18 (64) 22 (72) 10 (50) 13 (55) 15 (59) White Sucker 28 (82) (50) 20 (68) --- Yellow Perch 29 (84) 32 (89) 12 (54) 20 (68) --- From Quality Criteria for Water, EPA, July 1976 and Water Quality Criteria, California Water Quality Control Board,

12 DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF PARAMETERS Water temperature Stable temperatures are critical to the survival, health and well-being of fish and other aquatic life. A gradual change in temperature thru the seasons is expected, predictable and adapted to. However, rapid changes can be fatal. Warm water has less capacity to hold dissolved oxygen, which most aquatic organisms depend on for respiration. In addition, chlorine, heavy metals and many pollutants are more toxic at higher temperatures. ph - In scientific terms, ph is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. ph measures water s acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Values below 7 are acid; those above are alkaline. Extremes in acidity or alkalinity can be quite deleterious to aquatic organisms. The ph of most natural waters falls within the range of 4 to 9. Many fish can tolerate ph values between 5.0 and 9.0, but the most productive waters are between 6.5 and 8.0. The ph of a body of water can change with time, especially if the alkaline content, primarily calcium bicarbonate and carbonate (which comes from limestone rocks) is low. Most streams in the Pocono region are naturally acidic due to the limestone poor geology and the abundance of wetland bogs. As organic material decays in a wetland, carbon dioxide forms and combines with water to produce a weak acid, carbonic acid, which can lower ph. Nitrates Nitrates are primary plant nutrients which dissolve easily in water and are carried off the land in rain and snow melt. Nitrates also dissolve in water that travels underground, raising nitrate levels in groundwater that eventually flows into streams. Levels in Pocono Streams are normally low (<1.0 mg/l), however, man s activities can raise concentrations. For example treated sewage effluent may contain high levels of nitrate. Surface run-off from lawns and cropland receiving high applications of fertilizer can also elevate nitrate concentration in streams. High nitrate levels, particularly in lakes and ponds can cause rapid growth of algae, known as algae blooms. The subsequent die off of algae will consume oxygen in the water and can cause fish kills. Phosphates Phosphorous is another important plant nutrient found in fertilizer and sewage effluent receiving only secondary treatment. Phosphorus is less soluble in water than nitrates, but clings to soil particles and reaches streams with sediment that washes off the land. Small amounts can trigger excessive aquatic plant and algae growth, hence phosphorus is often considered a factor which limits plant and animal production in freshwater ecosystems and is a good indicator of stream degradation. Orthophosphate, the form of phosphorous measured by BWA Streamwatchers, is the most oxidized and most easily absorbed form used by plants. Should be <1 mg/l. Turbidity Turbidity measures water clarity, not color. Dissolved or suspended material, such as plankton, can reduce clarity. These microscopic algae grow and multiply rapidly in arm, sunlit, nutrient rich waters. During periods of heavy rain or snow melt, silt-laden water from disturbed soil can flow into streams. This siltation can destroy habitat of and suffocate fish and aquatic macro-invertebrates. On most occasions, turbidity readings in Pocono streams will be < 1 using the LaMotte kit. This is an optional test. If your sites lack clarity, let your Team Leader know, and we can add a turbity measure to your kit, 12

13 Aquatic macro-invertebrates Macro-invertebrates, organisms that lack a backbone and can be seen with the naked eye, are perhaps the best long-term indicator of water quality because they are relatively immobile and are year-round residents. In addition, many insects, such as stoneflies, mayflies and caddis flies, require high levels of dissolved oxygen and cannot tolerate high temperatures or extremely low flows of toxic substances. For this reason, macroinvertebrate populations are often adversely affected by rapid temperature fluctuations, pollutants and siltation. Hence, the health of a stream can be evaluated by measuring the number and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates present. In general, the greater the abundance and diversity, the better the water quality. Pick up a rock at your site and see what insects are clinging to the bottom of the rock. This will give you an idea of what s living in the water. As you become more familiar with the insects, note what you see on your data sheet. 13