Water-Quality Flood Plan
In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 412 October 24, 1995
OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 96.01
Subject: Water-Quality Flood Plan
This memorandum transmits guidelines for developing a water-
quality component for District flood plans. The 1993 Mississippi River
Basin floods illustrated the paucity of historical information to
document water quality during wide-spread flooding. Data were collected
during that flood and in a subsequent flood in Georgia to begin filling
this information gap; however, much work remains.
The U.S. Geological Survey is uniquely qualified to collect flood
water-quality data because of its dispersed District structure and cadre
of skilled water-quality personnel. Each District has a plan for
measuring stage and discharge during floods. Each District is now asked
to develop a complementary plan for measuring water quality during
floods. The goal is to develop a culture and a means to do "whatever is
necessary" to document water-quality conditions during a flood and to
share the information with agencies involved in public health, public
safety, and resource decision making.
The purpose of the attached guidance document is to assist Districts in
preparing plans for collecting water-quality data during floods and for
quickly disseminating the results. Districts should develop this plan in
coordination with other Federal, state, and local agencies to define
their data-collection needs, coordinate sample collection, and determine
how quickly the results will be needed.
Funding is an obstacle to collecting water-quality data during floods.
Districts which have active National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Projects and/or National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) II
stations already receive funds to collect high-flow samples. These
Districts should collect sample sets during floods at the stations
designated by the NAWQA and/or NASQAN programs. For other stations,
Districts should develop flood-sampling plans around the core of NAWQA
and NASQAN stations in coordination with city, county, State, and other
Federal agencies and attempt to interest other agencies in paying for the
additional work. Districts that do not have NAWQA or NASQAN stations
should work with cooperators to develop a flood water-quality monitoring
plan. In some cases, funding for the plan may be available from other
agencies and within the Federal-State Cooperative Program. In other
cases, full cost recovery may not be available. When a flood is imminent,
Districts can use their plans to discuss potential, unmet funding needs
with the Regional office, which will work with the Office of Water
Quality (OWQ) to determine if partial funding can be made available.
During fiscal year 1996, the Division will be reviewing the use and
allocation of Federal Collection of Basic Records (CBR) funding. As part
of this process, the OWQ will evaluate the pros and cons of allocating an
annual percentage of water-quality CBR funds to flood-sampling work.
The OWQ would like to receive feedback and comments as the guidance
document is used to develop water-quality flood plans. Please provide
comments to Steve Blanchard by geomail (sfblanch) or by phone
(217/344-0037 x3003).
Attachment
Keywords: Floods, water quality
Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO
District Water-Quality Specialists
Regional Water-Quality Specialists
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
WATER-QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR DISTRICT FLOOD PLANS
In recent years, water-quality data-collection efforts during wide-spread
floods in the upper Mississippi River Basin, and in Georgia, provided
valuable information on the quality of the flood waters. However, these
efforts also illustrated the paucity of historical information for
documenting flood-water quality.
This guidance document was developed to assist Districts in preparing a
plan for water-quality sampling during floods, and for disseminating
results quickly. Information provided herein should be used to develop a
formal water-quality component for the District Flood Plan. The goal is
to develop a culture, structure, and means to do "whatever is necessary"
to document water-quality conditions during floods. The objectives of
USGS flood-water-quality sampling are to: (a) provide information on
critical aspects of water quality, particularly relating to health
concerns, to a broad audience in a timely manner, and (b) document the
quality of important waters under various flood conditions.
DATA OBJECTIVES
The objective and scope of USGS water-quality data-collection
activities during a flood will vary depending on factors such as the
geographic location and areal extent of flooding, type of flooding,
land-use of the flooded area, data-collection activities conducted by
other agencies, and funding level and source(s). Flood data-collection
activities will be aimed at complementing available water-quality data
and current water-quality data-collection programs to spatially and
temporarily describe constituent concentrations and transport during
floods. Flood data-collection activities in cooperation with state,
local, and other Federal agencies will be aimed at accomplishing the
shared objectives of the agencies involved and may, at times, be very
specific (i.e., documenting constituent concentrations near the intake of
major public water supply).
Three primary reasons for collecting water-quality information during
flooding are:
1. Public Health Issues. Public-health issues are a common concern
associated with flooding, especially drinking-water safety. Information
on fecal coliform bacteria counts, and concentrations of trace metals,
and synthetic organic compounds is needed. State regulatory agencies can
provide information for developing a priority list of constituents that
relate to public health concerns. In addition to in-stream public health
issues, contamination of public supply wells and rural drinking-water
wells in areas inundated by floods is often a concern.
2. Characterization of Constituent Concentration During Floods. Data on
the spatial and temporal variation of constituent concentrations are
needed to address issues such as:
· The effects of dilution on the concentration of various
constituents;
· Whether resuspension is a cause of water-quality degradation;
· Whether water-quality changes over a hydrograph in a large basin
are similar to those that occur in small basins; and
· Whether high constituent concentrations persist during sustained
flooding.
3. Quantification of Constituent Transport. Most of the transport of
constituents -- particularly sediments, and sediment associated
contaminants -- occurs during floods. To understand constituent transport
in most riverine systems, one must understand constituent-transport
characteristics at high flows. Data from samples collected frequently
over a hydrograph can be used with stream-discharge data to determine
constituent transport. If funding is limited, a composite of several
samples collected over the hydrograph can be used to determine
constituent load for an entire flood period.
FUNDING
Funding is the biggest obstacle hindering Districts from collecting
water-quality data during floods. Ideally, Headquarters would
disburse funds to collect data at other stations during floods, such as
we periodically do for surface-water measurements. At present,
Headquarters lacks specified funding to cover water-quality sampling
during floods. During fiscal year 1996, the Division will be reviewing
the use and allocation of Federal Collection of Basic Records (CBR)
funding. As part of this process, the OWQ will evaluate the pros and cons
of allocating an annual percentage of water-quality CBR funds to
flood-sampling work.
In the meantime, Districts which have active National Water Quality
Assessment (NAWQA) Projects and/or National Stream Quality Accounting
Network (NASQAN) II stations already receive funds to collect high-flow
samples. These Districts should collect sample sets during floods at the
stations designated by the NAWQA and/or NASQAN programs. For other
stations, Districts should develop flood-sampling plans around the core
of NAWQA and NASQAN stations in coordination with city, county, State,
and other Federal agencies and attempt to interest other agencies in
paying for the additional work. Districts that do not have NAWQA or
NASQAN stations should work with cooperators to develop a flood
water-quality plan. In some cases, funding for the plan may be available
from other agencies and within the Federal-State Cooperative Program. In
other cases, full cost recovery may not be available. When a flood is
imminent, Districts can use their plans to discuss potential, unmet
funding needs with the Regional office, which will work with the Office
of Water Quality (OWQ) to determine if partial funding can be made
available.
PLANNING ACTIVITIES
1. Agency Coordination and Background Information. To the extent
possible, preflood activities should include: (a) meetings with Federal,
State, and local agencies to plan each agency's role during flooding, and
(b) compilation of background data and ancillary information. Lack of
coordinated planning among agencies may result in duplication of effort
and excessive lead time to prepare for sampling resulting in missed
opportunities. Plans should specify sampling locations, data-collection
responsibilities, and mode of information dissemination. Background
information should be compiled on maps to show major tributaries;
potential contaminant sources such as hazardous-waste sites and
landfills; waste-water treatment plants; intakes for water-treatment
plants; major industrial plants; storm/combined sewer outflows;
agricultural drains; levee locations, and critical instream habitat for
aquatic life such as spawning beds.
2. Identify Potential Sampling Stations. In general, to define water-
quality during a flood, sites should be selected that have historical
water-quality data (NASQAN, NAWQA, or other Federal, State, or local
monitoring site), and for which stage/discharge data are currently
collected. A priority list of stations to be sampled should be compiled,
keeping site accessibility and safety in mind. The priority list should
be included in the District flood plan in the form of an information
matrix, listing field and lab constituents to be sampled by station.
3. Identify Desired Constituents for Field Measurements and Laboratory
Analysis. Districts should consider data objectives and other factors,
such as upstream land use, when determining which constituents to analyze
for in flood samples. To aid in selection of analytes, the current
analytical list for NASQAN II is attached. This list may be used as a
menu to select constituents to fit various objectives and to ascertain
requisite sample volumes and methods for sample collection and
preparation. Provided that costs can be covered, we suggest that the
complete list of identified constituents be sampled for general
characterization of the flood-water quality and for quantifying transport.
Field Measurements: Collection and analysis for the following
constituents should be considered "required" at all sites--dissolved
oxygen, pH, specific conductance, barometric pressure, air and water
temperature, alkalinity, and fecal coliform bacteria.
Laboratory Analyses: Samples will be collected and submitted to the
National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) or a local lab (if prior
approval has been obtained) for analysis. The lab should analyze the
samples for the current standard set of NASQAN II constituents, which can
be requested individually or as custom schedules through the NWQL.
Immunoassay field kits are now available for atrazine, alachlor, 2,4-D,
PCBs, and cyclodienes (chlordane and toxaphene), and should be considered
for use as screening tools. All "hits" using the field kits should be
confirmed by GC/MS analysis.
4. Determine Sample-Collection Frequency and Method. Data objectives and
available funding will determine sampling frequency. Ideally, samples
should be collected on the rising limb (just before the peak), at peak
discharge, and during the recession. This may not be possible because of
cost and/or time constraints. The single most desirable sample is usually
the sample collected just before the peak; it is also typically the most
difficult to collect. At a minimum, at least one sample should be
collected at or near the peak.
Existing data should be examined to determine if samples have been
previously collected at high flows. This can be done by plotting the
discharge at which water-quality samples were collected on a flow-
duration plot for each station. Samples should be collected at those
discharges where there are little or no data, or where previously
collected data indicate the need for additional information. Ideally,
discharge-weighted samples (EDI or EWI) should be collected. This,
however, may not be practical because of sampling conditions. The
following sampling-method guidelines are listed in order of preference:
a) Discharge-weighted sample (EDI or EWI)
b) Composite sample of 3-5 depth-integrated verticals in the
cross section
c) Sample from single depth-integrated vertical at the
centroid
d) Sample from partial depth-integrated vertical at the centroid
e) Surface-dipped grab sample at the centroid
Choosing the sampling method will depend on knowledge of the
characteristics of the site to be sampled and sampling conditions (rising
or falling stage; cross-sectional mixing; amount of debris; and safety).
The method of collection should be carefully documented.
5. Identify Appropriate Field Equipment. The type and proper use of the
required sampling equipment is documented in Office of Surface Water
Technical Memorandum 94.05 and Open-File Report (OFR) 86-531 for
suspended sediment, and in Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandum
94.09 and OFR's 86-531 and 94-539 for water-quality sampling. Samplers
may require additional weight for immersion in swift currents.
Streamgagers have long used the following rule-of-thumb to select the
appropriate minimum sounding weight: Sounding weight required, in pounds,
is estimated as equal to or greater than the product of flow velocity, in
feet per second, and the depth, in feet (for example, a flow velocity of
5 feet per second in 10 feet of water will require a minimum 50-pound
sounding weight for streamgaging). Because the drag force on most
samplers is larger than that on a current meter, more weight than that
estimated by this rule-of-thumb equation may be required to stabilize the
sampler.
Field measurements of dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and
temperature should be recorded at the time of collection, preferably with
a 4-parameter monitor such as a Hydrolab or YSI. If volatile organic
compound (VOC) or biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) are to be measured, the
samples should be collected in a non-aerated fashion using a sampler
similar in design to a stainless-steel sewage sampler. VOC, BOD, and
bacteria samples should be collected at the centroid of flow. Bacteria
should be collected with a sterile bottle in a weighted bottle holder or
a D-77/DH-81 with a sterile bottle, cap and nozzle.
District vehicles and boats should be equipped with the appropriate power
equipment necessary to move the heavy samplers needed to collect samples
at the increased depths and velocities characteristic of floods.
Districts should consider upgrading their power equipment to hydraulic
systems when bag samplers or D-77s are used; this will allow for depth
integration at more controlled rates.
6. Identify Laboratory Facilities. It is USGS policy to use USGS
laboratories whenever possible. Because analytical turnaround time is
critical for some flood samples, especially health-related analyses, use
of a non-USGS lab may be necessary. Therefore, the plan may require a
memorandum of understanding or a cooperative agreement with a non-USGS
lab. Division approval from the Branch of Technical Development and
Quality Systems is required for certification of non-USGS labs (Water
Resources Division Memorandum 92.35).
Please obtain approval from the NWQL for "rush" samples before shipping
such samples. There will be a surcharge for the "rush" samples; the rates
are
+ 200 percent for 1-week turn-around time
+ 100 percent for 2-week turn-around time
+ 75 percent for 3-week turn-around time
7. Identify Health and Safety Issues. All personnel doing flood sampling
should have typhoid, polio, and tetanus immunizations. Cholera shots are
recommended for personnel performing flood work in coastal states. Some
immunizations take several weeks to become effective, so prior planning
is necessary.
Safety considerations may require three or more people when sampling from
a bridge or cableway. At least one person should monitor river conditions
to alert the sampling crew of debris, boat traffic, or other potential
hazards. Cable cutters should be attached to suspension equipment booms
for
safety purposes.
Some samples may need to be collected from a boat. All personnel
operating boats must have had the required boat safety training and meet
all applicable state and U.S. Coast Guard requirements. Life jackets
should be worn at all times, whether working from a boat, bridge, or
cableway.
8. Identify Quality-Control Practices. Quality-control practices cannot
be ignored during floods. Field crews should follow the guidelines in OFR
94-539 whenever possible; however, safety considerations may preclude the
use of the double-bagged, enclosed churn splitter at bridge or cableway
sites. As suggested in OFR 94-539 a minimum of 10 percent of the samples
analyzed ideally should be quality-control samples.
9. Identify Data Dissemination Procedures. Because of the intense
interest in data collected during flooding, review and release of these
data, especially public health-related data (e.g., fecal coliforms and
trace metals) in the shortest time possible is desirable. All USGS flood
data should initially be released as "unpublished, subject to revision."
For verbal release of flood-related information, one spokesperson should
be appointed; this helps control the type of information and manner of
release to the media and general public. The use of WWW (World Wide Web)
pages on the internet for release and dissemination of flood data should
also be planned for and used.
Following the flood, more permanent types of documentation should be
pursued. Two- and four-page Fact Sheets, Circulars, and other types of
USGS reports should be used to provide an appropriate permanent
documentation of the flood. This allows for data previously qualified as
"unpublished, subject to revision" to be finalized and released as
published and approved data. Circular 1120 A-F, published following the
1993 Mississippi River flooding, and the Fact Sheet "Suspended sediment
and agricultural chemicals in floodwaters caused by tropical storm
Alberto," are excellent examples of the types of flood information that
can be documented in short reports.
ATTACHMENT
OCTOBER 1995 NASQAN II ANALYTICAL LIST
Constituent Lab Code WATSTORE Bottle Types
Nutrients--Schedule 2702
N, nitrite, filtered 1973 00613 FCC--125 mL
P, ortho-phosphate, filtered 1974 00671
N, nitrite plus nitrate, filtered 1975 00631
N, ammonia, filtered 1976 00608
P, phosphorus, filtered 1983 00666
N, ammonia plus organic nitrogen, 1985 00623
filtered
P, phosphorus, unfiltered 1984 00665 RCC--125 mL
N, ammonia plus organic nitrogen 1986 00625
Major ions and dissolved trace elements--Schedule 176
Turbidity (NTU) 50 00076 LC0050--125 mL
pH (laboratory) 68 00403 RU--250 mL
Specific conductance (laboratory) 69 90095
Alkalinity, total (laboratory) as CACO3 70 90410
Solids, filtered, ROE at 180oC 27 70300 FU--500 mL
Fluoride, filtered 31 00950
Potassium, filtered 54 00935 FA--250 mL
Selenium, filtered 87 01145
Barium, filtered 641 01005
Cobalt, filtered 644 01035
Iron, filtered 645 01046
Manganese, filtered 648 01056
Molybdenum, filtered 649 01060
Strontium, filtered 652 01080
Vanadium, filtered 653 01085
Calcium, filtered 659 00915
Magnesium, filtered 663 00925
Lithium, filtered 664 01130
Silica, filtered 667 00955
Sodium, filtered 675 00930
Aluminum, filtered 1284 01106
Silver, filtered 1552 01075
Nickel, filtered 1562 01065
Chloride, filtered 1571 00940
Sulfate, filtered 1572 00945
Trace elements to be added
Beryllium, filtered 655 01010
Cadmium, filtered 673 01025
Chromium, filtered 722 01030
Lead, filtered 1560 01049
Arsenic, filtered 112 01000
Zinc, filtered 671 01090
Copper, filtered 1558 01040
Organic carbon--Schedule 2075
Carbon, organic, filtered 113 00681 125-mL amber
glass
Carbon, organic, suspended 305 00689 Silver
filter, petri
dish
Pesticides--Schedule 2001
Alachlor 4001 46342 1-L baked
Atrazine 4003 39632 amber glass
Benfluralin 4005 82673
Butylate 4006 04028
Chlorpyrifos 4009 38933
Cyanazine 4010 04041
DCPA (Daethal) 4011 82682
DDE, p, p'- 4012 34653
Diazinon 4013 39572
Dieldrin 4015 39381
Diethylaniline 4016 82660
Disulfoton 4018 82677
EPTC (Eptam) 4019 82668
Ethalfuralin 4020 82663
Ethoprop 4021 82672
Fonofos 4022 04095
HCH, alpha- 4023 34253
HCH, gamma- (Lindane) 4025 39341
Linuron 4026 82666
Malathion 4027 39532
Metolachlor 4029 39415
Metribuzin 4030 82630
Molinate 4031 82671
Napropamide 4032 82684
Parathion, ethyl- 4033 39542
Parathion, methyl- 4028 82667
Pebulate 4034 82669
Pendimethalin 4035 82683
Permethrin, cis- 4036 82687
Phorate 4037 82664
Pronamide 4038 82676
Prometon 4039 04037
Propachlor 4040 04024
Propanil 4041 82679
Propargate I and II 4042 82685
Simazine 4043 04035
Thiobencarb 4044 82681
Tebuthiuron 4045 82670
Terbufos 4047 82675
Triallate 4049 82678
Triflualin 4050 82661
Atrazine, desethyl- 4002 04040
Azinphos, methyl- 4004 82686
Carbaryl (Sevin) 4007 82680
Terbacil 4046 82665
Acetochlor 4053 49260
Diazinon, d10-surrogate % 4014 91063
HCH, alpha d6-surrogate % 4024 91065
Terbuthylazine surrogate % 4048 91064