Southwest Florida Regional Ambient Monitoring Program
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
10:00am – noon
Mote Marine Laboratory
Buchanan Conference room, 3rd floor of the main building
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Sarasota, FL 34236
AGENDA
1) In attendance: Natasha Dickrell (Pinellas County), Gigi Claiborne (USF-Tampa),
John Osbourn (SPC), Nicholas Fineo (FSC), John Hoffman (Pinellas County Lab),
Victoria Skrimshire (Pinellas County Lab), Susan Launay (Mote Marine Lab), Jamie
Darrow (FFWCC), Ernesto Lasso de la Vega (Lee County Hyacinth Control), David
Karlen (EPCHC), Jon Perry (Sarasota County), Jeffery Winter (Atkins), Catherine
Wolden (SWFWMD), Matt Jablonski (SWFWMD), John Applewhite (SJRWMD),
Rob Johnson (City of Cape Coral), Kelli Dixon (Mote), Kerry Harkinson (Manatee
County), Matt Garrett (FWC/FWRI), Neil Ayers (Lee County Lab), Jessica Sierra
Medina (Benchmark EA), Alina Corcoran (FWC/FWRI), Keith Kibbey (Lee County),
Judy Ott (CHNEP), Kirby Wolfe (FDEP)
2) Additions or deletions to the agenda
a) K. Dixon (Mote) presentation and discussion of true v. apparent color
3) Minutes from last meeting
a) M. Jablonski (SWFWMD) collected samples for the SJRWMD lab to participate in
split study 71
4) Interlaboratory Results
(1) Table individual laboratory replicate analysis, standard score, and reported
data. Data highlighted in yellow represents results more than 1 standard
deviation from the mean and red represents 2 standard deviations from the
mean. Only one pheophytin result was identified in red.
(2) Graphs depict the average values of each lab’s results per parameter and
method as indicated on the axis.
(3) Microbiological data prompted discussion about dilutions based on
observed variability. All methods recommends dilution preparation work.
Even Quanti-Tray methods require a 1:10 dilution while other laboratories
offered matrix parameters (e.g. salinity exceeding 15 ppt prompts dilutions).
5) Old Business
a) LIMS survey
Representative
Pinellas County DEI Lab - Tori
Skrimshire
Mote Marine Lab - Susan Launay
Contact
LIMS System
Satisfaction
727-582-2391
941-388-4441
LV6
Dbase
LabVantage & SQL LIMS
v.5.1.0
386-329-4418
ATL (highly modified)
n/a
n/a
Highly
satisfied
Highly
satisfied
Highly
satisfied
n/a
n/a
SWFWMD Lab - Matt Jablonski
SJRWMD Lab - John Applewhite
Benchmark EA - Jessica Sierra
Medina
Lee County Lab - Keith Kibbey
FDEP - Kirby Wolfe
Alpha fire
LabWorks
FDEP created LIMS
b) True v. Apparent Color sample comparison of 4/16/14 turbid (~ 5 NTU) data and
reran out of hold time on 7/15/14 presented by K. Dixon (Mote Marine Lab).
(1) Compared the optical density of 465 nm R2 = 0.9999) to 345 nm (R2 =
0.9997) in true color analysis.
(2) Compared raw, unfiltered samples to filtered samples to compare true color
methods to apparent (visual) color methods with some interesting results:
1. Results from unfiltered (raw) color at O.D. 465 nm were
comparable to the apparent color (visual) results.
2. Color analyzed at O.D. 345 nm showed the least amount of
variability between unfiltered (raw) and filtered sample
comparisons for spectrophotometric analysis.
3. Results from filtered samples between O.D. 465 nm and O.D. 345
nm were more comparable compared to the same comparison with
raw (unfiltered) samples.
(3) Highly suggests that RAMP analysis support separate comparability for
each analysis based on either wavelength and/or method.
c)
6) New Business
(1) FWC Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Monitoring Alina Corcoran
Presentation and discussion of Pyrodinium bahamense research being
conducted in Old Tampa Bay through discrete sampling, continuous data
collection, real-time (underway) mapping, and excystment/encystment
experiments. Application of models suggest that daily water quality
influences on species population are dependent on visibility, salinity, and
outflow while weekly influence can be dependent on wind and outflows.
Strong seasonal signals are observed and can be associated with freshwater
pulses. Seasonal signals are found to be stronger than regional attributes.
Next steps include wrapping up sampling to begin analyzing data to identify
and predict changes in communities as changes in water quality variables
occur. Please contact Alina with contributions or interest in these analyses.
(2) Interagency Voluntary Field Audit Options Catherine Wolden
SWFWMD’s Water Quality Monitoring Program had previously been
contracted by FDEP to complete sample collection and included quarterly
external field audits. Catherine proposed the opportunity for continued
external audits among RAMP entities for the region. The group discussed
the benefits and potential limitations to participate in this type of voluntary
program. Benefits include concerted effort to provide feedback to
mandatory programs in the future, build partnerships, and strengthen internal
procedures. Limitations in travel and/or funding to participate were
discussed. The RAMP attendees agreed that a subcommittee led by
Catherine Wolden is recommended to propose organization and criteria.
The subcommittee will coordinate a program based on FDEP and TNI
resources to look at documentation (SOPs, QA/QC, etc) and field
procedures. Catherine will email RAMP members to form the
subcommittee.
(3) Recommendations regarding water quality monitoring sondes were
requested to the group. Many brands were discussed by the group. The
consensus of purchasing a particular brand has to do with the downloading
and interface software provided by the company. Many agreed that each
brand has different issues regarding calibrations and/or reproducibility, yet
most were happy with their brands. Those looking to purchase new brands
were least happy with maintenance and service plans. Also, the group
members with shared experiences with sonde deployment recommend
weekly attention because of consistent fouling regardless of brand.
Representatives agree to continue to share their experiences as more brands
are becoming available in the market.
7) Next Meeting:
a) Colonial Oaks Park (Sarasota) on 10/22/2014
b) Agenda Items
8) Sample Exchange, with PAR (PAR collection will be rescheduled due to weather).
Sample has been fortified with nutrients for detection.
Next meeting in October will include field meter result comparisons.
SWF RAMP Mission
To foster cooperative participation of regional monitoring program staffs to improve
comparability of surface water sample collection, in situ field measurements, and laboratory
methods used by surface water quality monitoring programs in southwest Florida marine and
freshwater systems.