MD DNR 2019 CORE/Trend Water Quality Monitoring Project

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 used to control and assure the accuracy of field measurements involved the calibration of field instruments, 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 (MDH) 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. The Chesapeake Bay Program Data Integrity Workgroup (formerly AMQAW) oversees the CSSP. 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. January 2019: River levels were high at stations: MON0155, CAC0031, POT1596, POT1595, MON0020, POT1472 and POT1471. Water was flowing through open Conowingo Dam floodgates when samples were collected at station CB1.0. High water levels were noted at stations POT2386, ANT0366 and CON0180. Signs of recent bank flooding were evident at station ANT0366. The bridge at station CON0005 was almost completely blocked with trash and debris. A portable toilet was seen among the flotsam. The water was clear at station BDK0000. Snow fell over the weekend and the day prior to sampling at station NBP0534. The station POT2386 sample collection area was underwater when samples were collected. Rain fell the night before station TF1.0 was sampled. Soil boring activities, related to new pump station construction, were underway upstream during sample collection at station WIL0013. February 2019: Ice was noted along the shorelines when samples were collected at stations DER0015 and GUN0476. Ice extended 15 feet from the shore upstream of station MON0528. Bridge construction continued while station MON0020 was sampled. Due to equipment issues, station POT1184 gage and discharge values were acquired an hour after sampling. Snowmelt was noted to have occurred during the days prior to sampling at station NBP0461. March 2019: Rain fell heavily two days prior to sample collection at station ET.5.0. Ice affected discharge at stations BPC0035, CAC0148 and MON0528. The air temperature was cool enough to freeze sample water in filtration frits at station MON0528. When stations POT2386 and ANT0366 were sampled the ground was snow covered and air temperatures during the preceding days was noted to be very cold. The majority of the upstream side of the bridge at station CON0005 was blocked with debris. The water level was high when station NBP0023 samples were collected and notable snowmelt occurred during the days prior to sampling. April 2019: The effects of heavy rainfall two days before sampling were noted at the following stations BDK0000, GEO0009, NBP0023, NBP0103, NBP0326, NBP0461, NBP0534, NBP0689, POT2766, SAV0000, and TOW0030. Construction activities continued at the bridge at station MON0020 where the sample bucket was filled by the construction crew. Fish-stocking was occurring nearby when samples were collected at station WIL0013. May 2019: Heavy rain fell in the days preceding sampling at station POT2386 where the water was dirty and the river level was high. Weekend storms were thought to be have resulted in high water levels at stations ANT0203, ANT0366, CON0180 and CON0005. Two thirds of the bridge at station CON0005 Bridge were blocked by debris and the water was dirty. Rain showers fell during the morning before station TF1.0 was sampled. The waters at station BDK0000 were characterized as being relatively clear for Braddock Run. Lots of rain fell during the week before station SAV0000 sampling was conducted. June 2019: Debris blocked the majority of the bridge at station CON0005 and waters were murky. Light rains occurred in the hours prior to sampling at station ET5.0. Overnight rains preceded sample collection at stations NBP0689 and SAV0000. July 2019: Bridge work at station ANT0203, with an estimated completion date of February 2020, was close to starting. Most of the bridge at station CON0005 was blocked with debris but both ends were open. The MON0020 water sample was collected by wading and processed at the Dickerson post office. Station POT1471 samples were collected from the river bank. At station POT2386 the water level was high and the water color was brown. Braddock Run waters at station BDK0000 were clear. Station YOU1139 samples were collected from the bank. August 2019: Station ANT0366 samples were collected from the bank. Water flowed past both ends of the bridge at station CON0005 but the majority of the bridge was blocked with debris. A large dog swimming at station CAC0148 may have affected the water quality. Station MON0020 water samples were collected under the bridge and processed at the Dickerson Post Office. There was lots of algae in the creek at station TOW0030. A duplicate water sample was collected at the surface at station XGG8251. The water was low at station LY0004. September 2019: The station DER0015 gage height was estimated due to equipment malfunction. Overnight thunderstorms preceded water sample collection at station GUN0476 where the water color was brown. The river level at station CAC0031 was very low. Station CJB0005 samples were processed at Lock 6. The river was very low at station POT1471. Bridge construction was ongoing upstream and geese were in the water when station ANT0203 samples were collected from the bank. A USGS field crew was recording flow readings when the DNR field crew collected samples at station CAS0479. There was lots of algae in the creek at station TOW0030. The water at station NBP0689 was very low and ultra-clear. October 2019: The water level was low at station GUN0258. Rainfall preceded sampling at stations POT2386, CON0180, CON0005 and ANT0366. The station MON0020 water sample was collected by wading in fast flowing water. The hydrograph was rising due to rain at station CAS0479. Rain fell early on the morning station NBP0023 samples were collected. Station NBP0103 samples were collected at the ramp. Rainfall preceded sampling at station POT2766. The water level at station YOU0925 was rising due to rain. The river water level was low at station LYO0004 and samples were collected from the river bank. Station NBP0326 samples were collected from the river bank upstream of the bridge. The water at station NBP0461 was very clear. There were fishermen upstream when station NBP0534 samples were collected. The water at station NBP0689 was super clear. When samples were collected at station SAV0000, the water was not clearing and appeared to have been stirred up upstream. November 2019: The water at station ANT0366 was crystal clear. The dam was discharging when samples were collected at station CB1.0. The station MON0020 water sample was collected by wading into the river. The station POT1471 sample was collected from the bank. The station POT1472 samples were collected from the ferry. Two gates were open at the dam at station PXT0809 and the water was brown. The water was orange at station BDK0000 and there was lots of algae. There was ice around rocks and on the edges of the creek at station CAS0479. Sediment buildup at station NBP0023 resulted in no flow on the Maryland side. The Braddock River heavily influenced the creek when sampling was conducted at station WIL0013.The air at station NBP0326 was dusty due to corn harvesting and smelled fishy. There was algae on rocks at station SAV0000. December 2019: Light overnight showers fell prior to sampling at stations CB1.0, DER0015 and GUN0258. Early morning showers preceded sampling at station GUN0476. Two thirds of the bridge at station CON0005 was blocked by debris. There was dredging in the river when station ANA0082 samples were collected. Overnight rain fell before sampling at stations CAC0031, MON0020, MON0155, POT1184, POT1471, POT1472, POT1595, POT1596 and SEN0008. Station MON0020 samples were collected from the bridge. Rain fell the day and night prior to sampling at station BDK0000 and the water was orange and without sediment from the rain. Station NBP0023 and station NBP0103 waters were clear. The water at station TOW0030 was clear. Rain fell all the previous day and overnight prior to station YOU0925 sample collection. Two days of rainfall preceded sampling at stations LYO0004, NBP0689, SAV0000 and YOU1139.