September 15, 1977 QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 77.11 Subject: PROGRAMS AND PLANS--Data networks: Hydrologic Benchmark and NASQAN; water-quality program components, 1978 FY New laboratory schedule numbers have been established for NASQAN and Benchmark water-quality samples for water year/fiscal year 1978. These numbers replace the old numbers immediately. In some cases the new schedule numbers are the result of adding new determinations to network operations. The remainder of this memo describes the new schedules as well as changes in sampling frequency and constituents to be determined for the two networks. Appendices A to D are lists of stations in the two networks and Appendix E defines the constituents and sampling requirements that are included in each laboratory schedule. NASQAN Program Major changes in the NASQAN program this year include: (l) adding determinations of total ammonia and dissolved phosphorous to the schedule for nutrient samples; (2) adding dissolved and total barium and silver to the list of trace elements determined; and (3) adding determinations of dissolved and suspended organic carbon to the program. Sampling frequencies have been increased for total organic carbon and decreased at most sites for phytoplankton. A list of current NASQAN stations is included in Appendix A. Approximately 100 stations will be added to NASQAN within the next few weeks. Separate instructions for implementation of the new stations will be issued soon. Sampling frequencies and lab schedules for all NASQAN stations are as follows: 12 per year- field measurements 1/ Temperature, water, deg C 2/ Specific conductance, micromhos per cm at 25 deg C 2/ Instantaneous discharge 3/ pH Dissolved Oxygen Fecal coliform bacteria Fecal streptococci bacteria - Suspended sediment Concentration in mg/l % finer than 0.062 mm - Common constituents, lab schedule 1704 Includes major nutrients 8 per year - Total Organic carbon, lab schedule 1707 Sample taken on the same date as sample for common constituents except for the months when trace element sample (4 per year) is analyzed for DOC and SOC 7 per year - Phytoplankton, lab schedule 1706 Except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico, collect 4 samples in growing season months of June, July, August, and September and 3 samples in non-growing months, preferably in months of November, March, and May. Hawaii and Puerto Rico sites should have phytoplankton collected 12 times per year. 4 per year - Trace elements, dissolved organic carbon, suspended organic carbon; lab schedule 1705 (Do not collect sample for total organic carbon, lab schedule 1707, when lab schedule 1905 is run.) - Periphyton, lab schedule 1708 _________________ 1/ A 24-hour evaluation is to be made once per year at stations in the Missouri River Basin (WRC Region 10) only. Measure during most critical water-quality period (usually late summer low flows, but possibly under ice cover). Measure at least every 2 hours for the following: a. Oxygen, dissolved, mg/L; code 00300 b. pH, units; code 00400 (optional) c. Temperature, water, deg C; code 00010 d. Specific conductance, micromhos per cm at 25 deg C; code 00095 (optional) 2/ Continuous or daily at selected sites. Data from sites with continuous or daily records should be stored using statistic code 00003 or 00011. 3/ Enter discharge at the time of sampling in the water-quality file using parameter code 00061. At certain stations daily mean flow (00060) may be entered instead, with permission from the Region and the QW Branch. In addition, all NASQAN stations are to have records of daily discharge, or there should be the capability to estimate daily discharge based on records from a nearby station. NASQAN Radiochemical Subnetwork Stations listed in Appendix B have radiochemical samples collected at high and low flow periods. The sampling frequency and schedules are: 2 per year - Radiochemical, lab schedule 1703 NASQAN Pesticide Subnetwork Stations in the Pesticide Subnetwork remain essentially the same as in the 1977 water year. Samples are collected 4 times per year in November, February, May, and August. Sample containers are provided by the EPA laboratory, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and samples are analyzed by EPA. The stations in the subnetwork are listed in Appendix C. Benchmark Water-Quality Program Appendix D lists the stations included in the water quality part of the Hydrologic Benchmark program. The last column of the table indicates sampling frequencies, which are: Schedule M - Monthly - Field measurements Instantaneous discharge Specific conductance Temperature, deg C pH Dissolved oxygen Total coliform Fecal coliform Fecal streptococci - Suspended sediment concentration - Common constituents, lab schedule 1700 2 per year - Minor elements, lab schedule 1701 1 per year - Pesticides, lab schedule 1702 - Radiochemical, lab schedule 1703 Schedule B - Bimonthly - Field measurements (same as Schedule M) - Suspended sediment concentration - Common constituents, lab schedule 1700 2 per year - Minor elements, lab schedule 1701 1 per year - Pesticides, lab schedule 1702 - Radiochemical, lab schedule 1703 Schedule Q - Quarterly - Field measurements (same as Schedules M and B) - Common constituents, lab schedule 1700 R. J. Pickering Chief, Quality of Water Branch Attachments Appendixes: A. List of NASQAN stations B. List of NASQAN radiochemical subnetwork stations C. List of NASQAN pesticide subnetwork stations D. List of Benchmark water-quality stations E. Laboratory schedules WRD Distribution: A,B,S,FO,PO