Use of National Water-Quality Assessment Program Protocols in District Projects
In Reply Refer To: May 17, 1994
Mail Stop 412
OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 94.14
Subject: Use of National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Protocols in District Projects
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for use of
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program protocols in
District projects.
BACKGROUND
Protocols for the NAWQA Program have been published on methods for
collection of benthic invertebrates, algae, tissue, habitat, and
fish, and for processing and quality assurance of benthic
invertebrate samples. Additional protocols are under way. A
protocol on analysis and interpretation of biological information
by Tom Cuffney of the North Carolina Ecology Group will be in
draft form this summer. Stephen Porter is drafting a document on
quality assurance of algal samples. Published protocols have been
distributed to each District and are also available electronically
via anonymous ftp. A limited number of additional copies are
available through the Office of Water Quality (OWQ). References
to protocols can be found in Attachment 1. For details on how to
access the protocols electronically, contact Sarah Griffin at
(703) 648-5818.
The OWQ encourages District personnel to consider using these
protocols in their projects where appropriate. The use of the
protocols will promote national consistency, provide an excellent
review of the literature, and help District personnel make
informed decisions on the choice of taxa and other project
components. Some District projects can apply aspects of the
protocols unchanged; other projects will have to modify the
protocols to varying degrees. Direct applicability depends on how
closely project objectives match the specific NAWQA objectives for
which the protocols were created. The further the objectives of
the study depart from the objectives of the protocols, the more
the methods will require modification.
The protocols were designed to determine the occurrence and
distribution of algae, invertebrate, and fish communities, or
concentrations of contaminants in biological organisms at sites
over time in a national program in order to better understand the
effects of human activities on aquatic communities and
concentrations of contaminants in tissues. The protocols will be
broadly useful for projects that (1) establish a baseline and
periodically go back to the site to document changes, (2) compare
sites over time, or (3) compare differences among sites.
Attachment 2 summarizes the objectives, design considerations,
site selection and sampling strategy, sampling gear, field
processing, taxonomic identification, target taxa, and data
analysis for the protocols. This information will help readers
understand why the protocols were developed and whether the
readers' needs are similar or very different.
Projects that require comprehensive characterization of particular
taxonomic groups to evaluate a site might require additional
components or measurements beyond those indicated in the NAWQA
protocols. For example, studies on algal dynamics related to
nutrient inputs might require information on algal growth.
Studies of effects of acid deposition on fish and fish populations
might include additional information on biomarkers or life tables
of fish. Studies of endangered fish might include more intensive
measurements of contaminants or habitat than recommended in the
protocols.
ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Individuals who wish to modify the protocols to address more
precisely water-quality problems in their project should contact
protocol authors, their regional biologist, local NAWQA Program
biologists, or Sarah Gerould in the OWQ for assistance. Names and
addresses of these individuals can be found in Attachment 3. If
you intend to use the protocol in a project, please inform your
Regional biologist so that you will receive any additional
guidance sent out by the authors of the protocols. Information on
where to find specific types of expertise within WRD is in the
list of WRD Ecologists and Biologists, Attachment 4.
ALTERNATIVE METHODS
Alternative methods are available from other agencies. In some
cases, these may be more suitable for the project than the NAWQA
protocols. For example, many District programs may wish to focus
on human health impacts, which was not the primary objective of
the NAWQA Program. Basic instructions for sampling edible
portions of fish are given in the NAWQA tissue protocol. More
detail can be found in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) document, Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data
for Use in Fish Advisories, Volume 1, Fish Sampling and Analysis
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, EPA
823-R-92-0021993, 1993). Another example of an alternative method
that may be more suitable for District projects is EPA's
Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Rivers
(J.L. Plafkin and others, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Water, EPA/440/4-89/001, 1989).
A summary of methods and program objectives used by different
agencies is currently under review and will be available soon. The
summary will be contained within a report of the Interagency
Biological Methods Workshop by Marty Gurtz, North Carolina Ecology
Group, and Tom Muir, National Coordinator for the National
Biological Survey for NAWQA. The Workshop compared NAWQA protocols
for fish, invertebrates, algae, habitat, and tissues to protocols of
regional and national programs of other Federal and State agencies.
Among the programs also represented are those of EPA (Rapid
Bioassessment Protocols and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
(National Status and Trends Program), and Ohio EPA. Detailed charts
in the resulting report will compare the objectives and methods of
the programs that were represented. Copies of the final report will
be sent to each District when available.
TRAINING
Information on additional methods in biology is also available in
training courses. Biology courses, course coordinators, and date
of next offering can be found in Attachment 5. If you have need
for additional formal or informal training, or wish to be informed
of informal training exercises, please contact your regional
biologist, or Sarah Gerould in the OWQ (703) 648-6895.
BIOLOGICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC) UNIT
Algae and macroinvertebrates collected in the field can be sent
to the National Water Quality Laboratory, Biological QA/QC Unit,
for identification. The laboratory provides quality assurance
for samples sent to carefully selected contractors for
identification. The taxonomic data received from contractors
will be entered into NWIS II at the laboratory, as part of the
check for correct identification and spelling. The Biological
QA/QC Unit will help to ensure that WRD produces quality
biological data. We encourage District personnel to use this
service when it becomes available later this fiscal year. For
more information on the QA/QC Unit, contact Allison Brigham at
(303) 467-8268.
David A. Rickert
Chief, Office of Water Quality
5 Attachments
This memorandum does not supersede any other Office of Water
Quality Technical Memorandum.
Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO, AH
Regional Biologists
Regional Water Quality Specialists
District Water Quality Specialists
Kent Crawford, Pennsylvania District
Marty Gurtz, North Carolina District
Tom Cuffney, North Carolina District
Mike Meador, North Carolina District
Sam Luoma, Western Region
Donna Myers, Ohio District
Tom Muir, Headquarters
Julio Betancourt, Arizona
Office of Water Quality Staff