QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
Maryland Department of Natural Resources followed specific procedures to ensure that the Tributary component of the Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program design was properly implemented and managed with sufficient accuracy, precision and detection limits. Accuracy (closeness to the true value) of collected data was controlled and assured by proper use, calibration and maintenance of both field and laboratory equipment for the measurement of physical and chemical parameters.
The procedures to control and assure the accuracy of field measurements involved the calibration of field instruments, the verification of calibrations, and equipment maintenance. Most of the details of how data acquired with YSI sondes and Hydrolab sondes were quality assured and quality controlled are described in the process description elements in the Lineage portion of this metadata record.
Daily quality control checks which included the running of blanks and standards were used to control and assure laboratory accuracy.
Accuracy of Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Nutrient Analytical Services Laboratory (CBL NASL) and Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) results was also assessed through DNR's participation in the Chesapeake Bay Coordinated Split Sample Program (CSSP) a split sampling program in which five laboratories involved in Chesapeake Bay monitoring analyze the coordinated split samples. CSSP was established in June 1989 to establish a measure of comparability between sampling and analytical operations for water quality monitoring throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. DNR followed the protocols in the Chesapeake Bay Coordinated Split Sample Program Implementation Guidelines (EPA 1991) and its revisions. Split samples were collected quarterly. Results were analyzed by appropriate statistical methods to determine if results differed significantly among labs. If a difference occurred, discussions began regarding techniques and potential methods changes to resolve discrepancies.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
January 2013 - A comment on the station CON0005 field data sheet stated that debris was still built up against the bridge. At station LYO0044 it was noted that the temperature was well below minus10 Celsius, the lowest mark on the thermometer. The gage house at station MON0528 was not present due to bridge construction and a temporary gage had been installed on site.
February 2013 - The comment on the station CB1.0 field sheet stated: river high - dam releasing. River level high was also noted at station CAC0031. The presence of a large amount of debris was observed at station CON0005.
March 2013 - The pH 7 reading was 0.3 units high during post calibration at the following stations: CB1.0, DER0015, GUN0258, GUN0476, CAC0031, MON0020, MON0155, POT1471, POT1472, POT1595 and SEN0008. An extreme low tide level was noted at station ANA0082. Heavy road salting was done in preparation for a predicted storm a day before stations CJB0005 and RCM0111 were sampled. The center of the bridge at station CON0005 was still blocked with debris. High water levels were noted at stations: CON0180, NBP0023, NBP00103, NBP0326, NBP0461, POT2386 and
WIL0013. Very high water levels were noted at stations: LYO0004, CAS0479 and YOU0925. The water at station LYO004 was observed to be very brown. Very high flow as noted at station POT2766. Station GEO0009 was sampled during peak flow.
April 2013 - The bridge at station MON0528 was under construction. Station CON0180 filter pads were tinted green. High water was noted at stations NBP0461, NBP0534 and YOU0925. The presence of lots of dirt, ash and gravel was noted along the bridge at station CCR0001. Dust was reported in the parking lot at station NBP0103.
May 2013 - Bridge construction was occurring downstream when station MON0528 was sampled. Many fishermen were nearby in the stream when station CAS0479 was sampled. When station CCR0001 was sampled the lake had backed up into the creek due to high water levels. Construction on the bridge was noted at station YOU0925. Debris from the old bridge being torn down fell nearby when samples were collected at station NBP0461.The mine slightly downstream of station NBP0689 was being flushed. At station ANT0366, high murky water was noted and the pH was re-checked with a second meter when it was observed to be higher than normal. Murky, high water was also observed at stations CON0005 and CON0180. The center of the station CON0005 was still blocked. Very high water level was noted at station POT2386.
June 2013 - Very clear water was remarked at station BDK0000. Water was backed up from lake and running very slowly when station CCR0001 was sampled. A large amount of debris was piled up against the bridge at station NBP0023. The station NBP0326 temperature measurement was taken from the guardrail. Removal of the old bridge at station was complete when NBP0461 samples were collected from the gravel extension. Orange acid mine drainage precipitate was noted in the water at station GEO0009. A fisherman was under the bridge at station LYO0004.The parking lot at station NBP0534 was dusty due to trucks. Brown water was noted at station ANT0203. High water level and murky water were noted at station CON0180. Muddy waters and over-bank stream flow were seen at stations: GWN0115, PAT0176 and PAT0285. Muddy, high water and road construction was noted at station JON0184. No discharge and high muddy flow was remarked at station PAT0285. The water was slightly murky at station POT2386. A new USGS gage was installed on the station BPC0035 bridge. High water level and muddy water were noted at stations: CAC0031, MON0020, MON0155, POT1471, POT1472, POT1595, POT1596 and SEN0008. The water at station PXT0809 was high and fast moving. Station MON0269 bridge construction continued.
July 2013 - The comment on the station GEO0009 field data sheet was: very orange water, acid mine drainage. At station NBP0461 it was observed that the gravel extension was mostly removed and that the river bed was back to normal. A man asking questions who seemed nervous about what was being tested in the water was noted at station NBP0534. At station CCR0001 there was orange precipitate, very dark water was backed up due to high lake water levels. Station MON0528 bridge construction continued.
August 2013 - Canada geese were noted nearby when station ANT0203 was sampled. Very little flow, bridge construction and lots of aquatic life were station CON0005 observations. Lots of algae, covered with acid mine drainage precipitate, was observed at station GEO0005. The temperature measurement at station NBP0326 was taken from the guardrail. The pipe upstream of NPA0165 was not discharging. Very little flow due to the creek being backed up from high lake level was noted at station CCR0001. There was bridge construction at station MON0528.
September 2013 - At station MON0528 bridge construction continued and there was very little flow. A fisherman was under the bridge at station CAS0479.
October 2013 - The low river level was noted at stations GUN0145, JON0184 and PAT0176. Murky water was observed at station CAS0479. The flow at station WIL0013 was heavily influenced by Braddock Run waters. A fishy smell and recent flooding were noted at station CON0180.
November 2013 - The pipe was not discharging upstream of station NPA0165.
December 2013 - The water was running very high, level with the weir at station ET5.0.