INTERAGENCY FIELD MANUAL FOR THE COLLECTION OF WATER-QUALITY DATA

Appendix A

Appendix A. Field-folder checklist for water-quality stations
Check
list		 Item
  Station description
 
  • Location of gaging station (if one is present)
 
  • Location of sampling sites: high and low streamflows
 
  • Hydrologic and geologic sections
 
  • Name of landowner, tenant, or other responsible party
 
  • Site access instructions (for example, call owner or site operator before arrival at site, obtain key to unlock security gate)
 
  • Photographs to document site conditions
  Maps to site (State and local)
  Profiles of cross section of stream channel at sampling locations(s)
 
  • Stream-bottom geometry
 
  • Physical and field measurements
  Safety information
 
  • Nearest emergency facilities
 
  • Phone numbers (home) of supervisor
 
  • Traffic condition and traffic plan showing where to park, placement of flags and cones
 
  • Location of power lines
 
  • Environmental hazards, such as weather and animals
  Sampling schedule
 
  • Laboratory analyses to be requested and associated codes
 
  • When to collect samples (high or low flow)
  Bottle types needed for each analytical schedule
  Sampling instructions
 
  • Cumulative discharge curves at about 10-, 50-, and 90-percent duration
 
  • Velocity cross sections at about 10-, 50-, and 90-percent duration
 
  • Equipment to use at various flows
 
  • Flow-duration curve
 
  • Discharge rating curves and (or) tables
  Shipping instructions
 
  • Amount of ice to use
 
  • Mailing labels to and from laboratory
 
  • Location of nearest post office or shipping agent
  Surface-water field form and an example of completed form
  A tabulation sheet for each type of bacteria enumerated at the site (include example with date of sample, streamflow, volumes filtered, dilutions, plate counts)
  Plots of field-measured data (last 5–10 years of record); if a good enough relation exists to show outliers, include:
 
  • Specific conductance versus streamflow
 
  • Specific conductance versus alkalinity
 
  • Temperature versus time
  Statistical summary of historical water data
 
  • Seasonal, maximum-minimum values
 
  • Discharge-related maximum-minimum values
  Special equipment needed to address site-specific conditions
 
  • Sampling
 
  • Safety
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