Stream and Lake Monitoring Protocol
SOP 16 – Quality Assurance and Quality Control, v. 1.0, Page 1 of 4
Stream and Lake Monitoring Protocol
Arctic Network National Parks and Preserves, Alaska
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) # 16
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Version 1.0 (November 2007)
I
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This SOP provides the procedures for quality assurance and quality control for water
quality of streams and lakes in the Arctic Network (ARCN) under this protocol. Many aspects of
the ARCN QA/QC program are discussed in the Stream and Lake Limnology Monitoring
Narrative. Detailed information regarding the target population, representativeness, and
completeness as well as information regarding data comparability can be found in the narrative.
Because it is essential that QA/QC be implemented at every phase of the program additional
QA/QC information regarding particular methods can be found in individual SOPs. SOPs
specifically related to water quality include SOP 8: Continuous Lake Monitoring, SOP 17: Water
Chemistry Field Data and Sample Collection, and SOP 21: Field Processing of Water Samples.
These three SOPs explain in detail several aspects of QA/QC including: measurement sensitivity,
measurement precision, systematic error and blank controls. We also have outlined QA/QC
procedures in several other SOPs not directly related to water quality (see individual SOPs for in
lake sampling.)
The information outlined here represents the preliminary phase of developing a complete
Quality Assurance Project Plan. Because many of the SOPs for shallow lake monitoring are
subject to review and revision a detailed plan has not been developed. Once the general plan for
sampling has been accepted and revised we intend to develop (adopt) a detailed QAPP. We
expect to begin developing this plan in fiscal year 200? and will have completed it by the
summer 200? (our first non-pilot field season).
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SOP 16 – Quality Assurance and Quality Control, v. 1.0, Page 2 of 4
II
Approach
An extensive review of literature revealed that little work has been conducted on shallow
lakes in the boreal forest, and surprisingly little is known about shallow lake ecosystems in
Alaska. The work that has been done typically reported incomplete methodology or used
methods that are inappropriate to the broad-scale and remote nature of the ARCN vital signs
monitoring project. Because of these factors, we were required to combine elements of multiple
study designs into a model we felt best suited the logistic and budgetary restraints of the
program, yet maintained scientific integrity. As a result we were unable to simply adopt a
developed QA/QC program. To compensate for this, the ARCN has been using a variety of
established QA/QC programs to build a sound monitoring program these programs include:
1.
Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Site
Selection, Field Operation, Calibration, Record Computation, and Reporting
Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4252
By Richard J. Wagner, Harold C. Mattraw, George F. Ritz, and Brett A. Smith
2.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Fish and
Game
Additionally we have relied heavily on Part B of the Vital Signs Long-Term Aquatic
Monitoring Projects document generated by Roy Irwin with WRD.
III
Representativeness, Target Population, and Completeness
There are two target populations for monitoring water quality in shallow lakes of the ARCN.
The first population of lakes is the six lakes that will be selected by parks to continuously
monitor water quality. The monitoring procedures used for tracking change in these lakes are
detailed in SOP 8 (Continuous Lake Monitoring). Data collected from this small number of lakes
will be used to track seasonal changes in water quality and to compare patterns of variation in
water quality among years. These data will also be used to assess the validity of monitoring lakes
at the landscape scale, synoptic sampling, and the suitability of using an index time period. These
three issues are closely tied to the second component of the ARCN water quality monitoring
program for shallow lakes. The second population of lakes is the randomly (SOP 7) selected set
of lakes that will be monitored to detect landscape scale changes in water quality. Lakes included
in this population are a subset of all shallow lakes within the ARCN that are larger than > 1 Ha <
50 Ha. The process by which we identify these lakes is detailed in SOP 5 (Delineation of ClosedBasin Water Bodies) and the method by which the sample of lakes is drawn is discussed in SOP
7 (Sampling Frame and Lake Selection). These lakes will be monitored using a one time/season
sampling technique. Each lake selected (SOP 7) for sampling will be sampled for two
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November, 2007
Stream and Lake Monitoring Protocol
SOP 16 – Quality Assurance and Quality Control, v. 1.0, Page 3 of 4
consecutive years and re-sampled 8 years later. The sampling frame was constructed in this way
to provide some information regarding inter-annual variation in water quality and other
important factors such as vegetation, macroinvertebrate composition, water level etc. We have
not determined the number of lakes to be sampled at this extensive scale. The number is
dependent of several variables including cost, logistical accessibility and our power/ability to
detect differences among years and lakes. In fiscal year 2005 we will be drawing the sampling
frame. At this time we will also use the data collected during the pilot study to estimate the
number of lakes required to detect change on a decadal scale. It is important to understand that
we do not expect to detect small amounts of change rather major shifts in water quality and the
other biological components we are monitoring.
IV
Data Comparability
To maintain the quality of data collected within this program we intend to minimize
changes and or alterations to the sampling methodologies once they are finally employed
(expected fiscal year 2006). Given the long term nature of this program, there is no question that
methodologies will change over time. These changes may be due to changes in manufacture of
instruments, laboratory methods that are beyond our control, funding of this program or access to
sites. To overcome these changes in methodologies/accessibility/funding we will collect data
using the older method alongside the new method for a season to ensure that the new methods
result in comparable data or if the data are not equivalent develop a method to correlate the
measurements.
Water Chemistry methods are similar to those used by the state of Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Fish and Game on studies reported from
the Matanuska-Susitna Borough area (OASIS 2004; Edmundson 2002). Methods could not be
exactly mimicked due to transportation, number of lakes to monitor, sizes of lakes monitored,
and monitoring objectives. However, these data should be largely compatible with that collected
by those state agencies. The methods adopted here are compatible with pilot study data collected
to date by ARCN personnel.
We are working with several local agencies and institutions to ensure that our data are
comparable. We have been consulting with USFWS (Kanuti and Yukon Flats National Wildlife
Refuges) for the past three years to share our methods and data to better understand shallow lake
dynamics in interior Alaska. We will also be working with the Cold Regions Research and
Engineering Laboratory to ensure that our data will be comparable with their water quality
program. We have a cooperative agreement with the University of Alaska Fairbanks to maintain
data comparability in regards to remote sensing and evaluation of lake surface area a critical
component to our water quality monitoring program.
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November, 2007
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SOP 16 – Quality Assurance and Quality Control, v. 1.0, Page 4 of 4
Measurement Sensitivity
See SOPs
SOP 17: Water Chemistry Field Data and Sample Collection
SOP 21: Field Processing of Water Samples
V
Measurement Precision
See SOPs
SOP 17: Water Chemistry Field Data and Sample Collection
SOP 21: Field Processing of Water Samples
VI
Measurement Systematic Error/Bias/Percent Recovery
See SOPs
SOP 10 and SOP 11: Water Chemistry Field Data and Sample Collection
SOP 12: Field Processing of Water Samples
VII.
References
Edmundson, J.A. 2002. Limnological Information Supporting the Development of Nutrient
Criteria for Alaskan Lakes: water quality monitoring and trophic assessment of seven
lakes in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.. Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of
Commercial Fisheries, Anchorage Alaska. Regional Information Report No. 2A0224:72p.
OASIS Environmental, Inc. 2004. Big Lake and Lake Lucille Water Quality Monitoring, Final
Report, QAPP. AK DEC.
http://www.state.ak.us/dec/water/wnpspc/pdfs/fy04_finalreport_big_lucille_lakes_oasis.p
df
Arctic Network
November, 2007