Field data sheets are printed or photocopied on waterproof plastic-coated paper using water-, formalin-, and ethanol-resistant inks. Three field data sheets are needed for invertebrate sampling: one for QMH samples and two for semi-quantitative samples. Each field sheet has a space for entering a page number and a cumulative page number. The page number is used by each field sampling team to consecutively number field data sheets. Therefore, the page number is unique only for a particular field sampl ing team during a specific field sampling effort. The cumulative page number is used by the study unit to consecutively number invertebrate field data sheets obtained from multiple field sampling efforts and teams. This procedure provides a unique number for each data sheet placed in the study-unit biological field data notebook and(or) file.
The QMH field data sheet (fig. 13) is divided into eight sections for entering site and sampling information, and information on the instream habitat types sampled and the samplers used. The "SITE INFORMATION" section is for recording the sampling date, the site name, the site identification (ID) number, and the identity of the sampling team members. Dates are entered in double-digit numeric format for month, day, and year (for example, November 9, 1992, is entered as 11/09/92). The site name is either a descriptive name (for example, Yakima River at Kiona, Wash.) or an official USGS station name if one is available. The site identification number is an official USGS station number, such as 12510500. The site name and identification number must be us ed consistently within the study unit and among NAWQA Program cycles. The full names of the sampling team members are entered with the team leader's name enclosed in parentheses.
The section on "RELATED SAMPLING ACTIVITIES" contains a checklist for other sampling activities that co-occur or immediately precede the benthic invertebrate sampling. Activities which occur, but are not listed in this section, are specified in the "Other" category. Listing related sampling activities makes it easier to find other supporting data or to determine possible factors that can interfere with invertebrate sampling.
The "PHYSICAL SITE CONDITIONS" section is for recording weather conditions, water temperature, and river stage. Data on local weather conditions that might affect sampling, such as percent cloud cover, wind direction and speed, and type, relative intensity, and duration of precipitation, are entered in the appropriate spaces. Other relevant weather-related conditions are entered in the space provided for "Other." Water temperature and time of determination are entered for the start and finish of the o verall sampling effort (QMH, RTH, and DTH sampling). All times are entered in a 24-hour format. Finally, the river stage is recorded, as well as the time of determination. Stage data place the hydrologic conditions at the time of sampling in the overall context of the annual hydrograph for gaged sampling sites.