Summary of Documentation that Describes Instrumentation and Field Methods for Collecting Sediment Data
In Reply Refer To: October 8, 1992
Mail Stop 415
OFFICE OF SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 93.01
SUBJECT: Summary of Documentation that Describes Instrumentation
and Field Methods for Collecting Sediment Data
Office of Surface Water Technical Memorandum No. 92.08 listed all
Water Resources Division (WRD), Office of Water Quality (OWQ), and
Office of Surface Water (OSW) memorandums issued since 1971 that
pertain to sediment activities. The present memorandum builds
upon OSW Technical Memorandum No. 92.08 by summarizing
documentation that describes instrumentation and field methods
recommended for collection of sediment data. Information
contained in this memorandum should provide a reference for field
personnel involved in collecting sediment data. Subsequent
memorandums will be issued that summarize procedures recommended
for other aspects of sediment activities.
INSTRUMENTATION
SUSPENDED SEDIMENT
Instrumentation currently available for the collection of
suspended sediment is summarized in Edwards and Glysson (1986),
which was announced in OSW Technical Memorandum No. 88.17. There
are seven depth-integrating, three point-integrating, and two
pumping samplers currently available from either the Federal
Interagency Sedimentation Project or the Hydrologic
Instrumentation Facility (HIF) for collecting suspended sediment
samples. Proper use of all samplers is described in Edwards and
Glysson (1986). Sampler characteristics are summarized in Edwards
and Glysson (1986), Table 1. Tables and text in "Guidelines for
the collection, treatment, and analysis of water samples,
U.S.JGeological Survey Western Region Field Manual, (Written
communication, M.JA.JSylvester) provide concise, field-oriented
information on proper use of suspended-sediment samplers. It
should be noted that this field manual has not received Director's
approval. Several errors, omissions, and/or inconsistencies have
been noted between the manual and WRD policy and within the manual
itself (see attached comments on "Guidelines for the Collection,
Treatment, and Analysis of Water Samples, U.S. Geological Survey,
Western Region, Field Manual"). Official WRD policy should be
followed if any inconsistencies are found. The field manual is
printed on waterproof paper to maximize usefulness in the field.
In addition to the references mentioned above, information on
availability and proper use of suspended-sediment samplers is
contained in the following U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
memorandums:
WRD Technical Memorandum Nos. 76.07, "New suspended sediment--
water quality samplers" and 76.156T, "Suspended-sediment sampler,
D-74"--
Memorandum No. 76.07 announces the availability of the D-74
depth-integrating sampler. Memorandum 76.156T reiterates that
the D-49 sampler was replaced by the D-74 sampler and lists
advantages of the D-74 over the D-49 sampler.
Quality of Water Branch (QWB) Technical Memorandum 77.03, "DH-75
Suspended-sediment sampler"--
Announces the availability of the DH-75 suspended-sediment
sampler, which was designed to sample under ice. Versions
capable of holding both pint or quart plastic bottles are
available. A version of this sampler capable of holding a half-
gallon bottle was originally available. The half-gallon
version, designated DH-75H, is no longer available due to the
large unsampled zone associated with it. This problem was
alluded to in Memorandum No. 77.03. The DH-75 is generally not
recommended for general use. It should only be used under
freezing conditions.
WRD Technical Memorandum No. 77.151, "Removal of sediment samplers
from controlled property"--
Announces that sediment samplers costing less than $500 will no
longer be considered controlled property.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 80.03, "P-61 and P-63 point-
integrating samplers"--
This memorandum informs users that the P-61 and P-63 samplers
most commonly malfunction because water gets into the head
cavity and corrodes the plug and solenoid assembly. The
memorandum describes how this can happen and what can be done to
avoid it. A summary of operating procedures for the P-61
sampler is also attached to the memorandum.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 81.02, "Operation and availability,
D-77 water-quality sampler"--
Announces availability of the D-77 sampler. The D-77 sampler
uses a relatively large 3-liter plastic bottle that can be
autoclaved. The design was chosen to allow a large volume,
depth-integrated sample for biological and chemical studies.
The memorandum describes the sampler design and recommended
uses.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 81.06, "Automatic pumping samplers--
Test of efficiency of Manning and ISCO samplers"--
Transmitted a brief technical report written by the U.S. Forest
Service describing tests done on performance of Manning and ISCO
pumping samplers. The report discusses the need to frequently
check the efficiency of pumping samplers. The memorandum
indicates that sampler efficiency is generally reduced as the
concentration of sand-size material increases.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 80.06, "Samplers: color-coded
nozzles for sediment samplers"--
Announces use of color coded nozzles for sediment samplers.
Sediment samplers are now supplied with color-coded nozzles to
easily identify what nozzle should be used with a given sampler.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 80.18, "Samplers--Problems with
installation of plastic nozzles on samplers"--
Warns against overtightening plastic nozzles when installing
them in sediment samplers, particularly the DH-48.
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 83.08, "Bag-type suspended-sediment
sampler"--
Announces a modification of the D-77 sampler, termed the bag-
type suspended-sediment sampler. The bag-type sampler can
collect samples at depths greater than 19 feet, which is
generally accepted as the maximum depth at which samples can be
collected isokenitically in rigid containers. This is usually
referred to as the "compression-depth limit." Memorandum 83.08
suggests four rules that should be followed when using the bag-
type sampler. These rules should be followed closely, because
the sampler is prone to undersampling.
TRACE ELEMENT DATA
Epoxy coated versions of the D-77 and DH-81 samplers are available
for collecting trace metal data. However, recent experiments to
identify sources and levels of contamination have brought
traditional field methods and sampling equipment into question.
Actions being taken by the OWQ to improve trace element sampling
and to provide advice to field personnel are described in several
recent OWQ memorandums:
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 91.10, "Dissolved Trace Element
Data"--
Describes the present understanding, ramifications, and issues
that require resolution surrounding possible contamination of
dissolved trace-element data.
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.03, "Statement Regarding Dissolved
Trace-Element Data Production Through Water Year 1991"--
Provides a statement to be placed in State annual data reports
that warns that some trace-element data contained in the reports
might reflect sample contamination. This memorandum was
replaced by OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.04 (see below).
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.04, "Revised Statement Regarding
Dissolved Trace-Element Data Production"--
Revises statement included in OWQ Technical Memorandum
No.J92.03.
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.05, "Quality of Existing Dissolved
Trace-Element Data"--
Describes implications of OWQ Technical Memorandum 91.10. Also
describes how the Division can deal with issues of uncertainty
in the validity and usefulness of existing dissolved trace-
element data.
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.12, "Trace Element Concentrations
in Deionized Water Processed Through Selected Surface-Water
Samplers: Study Results and Implications"--
Identifies levels of dissolved trace element contamination
associated with selected surface-water samplers. Additionally,
concludes a cleaning procedure using acid is necessary for all
samples to be used in parts-per-billion protocols.
OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 92.13, "Trace Element Concentration:
Findings of Studies on the Cleaning of Membrane Filters and
Filtration Systems"--
Summarizes results and conclusions from a series of experiments
emphasizing the cleaning of filters and filtration systems.
Also, compares dissolved trace element concentrations in
sequential rinses of three brands of filters.
PUMPING SAMPLERS
Pumping samplers can be used where frequent samples are needed and
conditions make manual collection of samples impractical. In the
past the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project has supplied
two samplers, the US PS-69 and US PS-82. Neither sampler is
presently in stock. US PS-69 samplers can be special ordered from
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station
(WES) (contact Wayne O'Neal at 601/634-2624) at 3909 Halls Ferry
Road, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. US PS-82 samplers have been
phased out. Some parts for both samplers are available from the
Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project. Electrical repairs on
either the US PS-69 or US PS-82 samplers should be coordinated
through the HIF at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
Mechanical repairs on either type of sampler should be coordinated
through WES. There are a number of automatic pumping-type
samplers available commercially. The Manning S-4050 and ISCO 1680
are two that are commonly used by USGS personnel. Edwards and
Glysson (1986) list 17 criteria that should be met when operating
pumping-type samplers. Edwards and Glysson (1986) also describe
installation and use of pumping samplers as well as how the
"point" data collected by these samplers should be analyzed.
TURBIDITY
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 73.11 transmits "Falling-stream
turbidimeters as a means of measuring sediment concentrations in
streams," by H. P. Guy and R. C. Olson. The memorandum and report
discuss the use of turbidity as an indicator of suspended-sediment
concentration. Records of turbidity should only be used to
provide an indication of variations in sediment concentration with
time. Any record of turbidity must be accompanied with actual
samples of sediment concentration.
BEDLOAD
OSW Technical Memorandum No. 90.08 summarizes WRD policy issues
relevant to bedload. As pointed out in Memorandum 90.08, bedload
samples can be collected wherever physical conditions permit. OSW
Technical Memorandum No. 90.08 lists 10 different samplers
available for sampling bedload. Four of those samplers have a
nozzle expansion ratio of 3.22. The other six have an expansion
ratio of 1.40, which is the ratio accepted by the Technical
Committee of the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Subcommittee.
As pointed out in OSW Memorandum No. 90.08, samplers with a nozzle
expansion ratio of 1.40 are presently recommended, although use of
samplers with a 3.22 expansion ratio is acceptable. OSW Technical
Memorandum No.J90.08 supercedes OWQ Technical Memorandum No.
76.04, 77.07, 79.17, and 80.07, as well as WRD Technical
Memorandum No.77.60.
BED MATERIAL
There are at least 17 different samplers available for sampling
bed material. Nearly all of those samplers are useful only for
sampling material finer than 16 mm (Edwards and Glysson, 1988).
Standard equipment is not available for sampling large bed
material. Indirect methods, such as the "pebble count" method
used by Wolman (1954), are commonly used to estimate the grain-
size distribution of coarse bed material. Edwards and Glysson
(1986) and "Guidelines for the collection, treatment, and analysis
of water samples, U.S. Geological Survey Western Region Field
Manual, (Written communication, M. A. Sylvester) discuss commonly
used bed material samplers.
FIELD METHODS
SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT SAMPLING
WRD Technical Memorandum No. 71.73 was issued to inform the
Division that techniques adopted by the USGS for the collection
and analysis of sediment samples are described in three Techniques
of Water-Resources Investigations reports:
Book 3, Chapter C1 - "Fluvial Sediment Concepts" by H. P. Guy
Book 3, Chapter C2 - "Field Methods for Measurement of Fluvial
Sediment" by G. Porterfield
Book 3, Chapter C1 - "Laboratory Theory and Methods for Sediment
Analysis" by H. P. Guy.
Although there have been no additional Techniques of Water
Resources chapters written to supersede any of the chapters
mentioned in WRD Technical Memorandum No. 71.73, Open-File Report
86-531 is essentially a replacement for Book 3, Chapter C2. Open-
File Report 86-531, which is presently being prepared for release
as a Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations report, should
now be used as the reference on field methods and measurement of
fluvial sediment. Field methods for collecting suspended-sediment
samples are summarized in "Guidelines for the collection,
treatment, and analysis of water samples, U.S.JGeological Survey
Western Region Field Manual, (Written communication, M. A.
Sylvester)
In addition to the references mentioned above, guidance on
collecting suspended-sediment samples can be found in several OWQ,
OSW, and WRD memorandums, which are summarized below.
USE OF THE CHURN SPLITTER FOR COLLECTING SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT
SAMPLES--
OWQ Technical Memorandum Nos. 76.17, 76.24-T, 77.01, 78.03 and
80.17 contain information on use of the churn splitter for drawing
representative subsamples from large composite samples. However,
information contained in these memorandums is somewhat vague and
confusing. For example, OWQ Technical Memorandum No. 76.17 states
that "Samples for bacterial determination or for analysis of
sediment concentration and particle size analyses should not be
composited." Memorandum 78.03 states that "sediment concentration
and particle-size subsamples may be taken directly from the churn"
when "essentially all particles are silt-size or smaller."
Because it is difficult to tell in the field whether or not
samples contain sand-sized particles, it is suggested that all
sediment samples be collected in accordance with Water Quality
Technical Memorandum No. 76.17, which states that "Samples ... for
analysis of sediment concentration and particle size analyses
should not be composited." The churn splitter, therefore, should
not be used for sediment sampling. If samples must be split, it
is best to use the cone splitter (see QWB Technical Memorandum
80.17).
BEDLOAD SAMPLING
Bedload samples can be collected wherever physical conditions
permit. OSW Technical Memorandum No. 90.08 summarizes WRD policy
on bedload. OSW Memorandum No. 90.08 also provides a background
of bedload-related research done in the WRD, supplies guidelines
on sampler selection, and summarizes methods used to collect and
reduce bedload data. A detailed description of methods used to
collect and reduce bedload data is given in Edwards and Glysson
(1986). "Guidelines for the collection, treatment, and analysis
of water samples, U.S. Geological Survey Western Region Field
Manual," (Written communication, M. A. Sylvester) provides a
field-oriented summary of methods used to collect bedload data.
GUIDELINES FOR MISCELLANEOUS FIELD METHODS
Memorandums issued since 1971 provide guidelines for several field
methods related to several different types of investigations:
QWB Technical Memorandum No. 72.10, "Sediment computations--
Conversion of suspended-sediment concentration from parts per
million to milligrams per liter"--
Contains a table for converting suspended-sediment
concentrations from parts per million to milligrams per liter.
The table attached to Memorandum 72.10 supercedes Table 1 in
Techniques of Water Resources Investigations, Book 5, Chapter
C1, p. 4.
QWB Technical Memorandum 81.16, "Report--A guide for predicting
sheet and rill erosion on forest land, USDA Technical Publication
SA-TP 11"--
Informs Division personnel that demand for the report "A guide
for predicting sheet and rill erosion on forest land," USDA
Technical Publication SA-TP 11, September, 1980, has exceeded
supply of reports at the QWB. The memorandum gives an address
for the Forest Service in Atlanta from whom additional copies
can be ordered.
WRD Technical Memorandum No. 83.79, "Collection and analysis of
samples in connection with investigations of hydrologic effects of
hazardous waste sites"--
Presents WRD's commitment to train employees in the proper use
of equipment and techniques to insure safe collection, handling,
and analysis of samples in connection with studies of hazardous
waste sites. Also, transmits a safety plan for WRD field
activities at hazardous waste sites.
OSW Technical Memorandum No. 87.07, which transmits the report
"Pilot study for collection of bridge-scour data" and 89.10, which
announces the availability of the report, "Use of surface-
geophysical methods to assess riverbed scour at bridge piers"--
This memorandum and related report provides information relative
to the study of bridge scour. Memorandum 87.07 transmitted
results of "Pilot Study for Collection of Bridge Scour Data" by
R. D. Jarrett and J. M. Boyle. The Jarrett and Boyle report
provides information on how to collect data on scour around
bridge piers. Memorandum 89.10 announced availability of "Use
of Surface-Geophysical Methods to Assess Riverbed Scour at
Bridge Piers," by S. R. Gorin and F. P. Haeni. The Gorin and
Haeni report discusses the performance and characteristics of
four geophysical methods to define existing and previous scour
holes around bridge piers.
REFERENCES
Edwards, T.K. and Glysson, G.D., 1988, Field methods for
measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File
Report 86-531, 118 p.
Wolman, M.G., 1954, A method of sampling coarse river bed
material: American Geophysical Union Transcript, V. 35, no. 6,
p.J951.
Charles W. Boning, Chief
Office of Surface Water
Attachment
WRD DISTRIBUTION: A, B, FO, PO
ATTACHMENT
Comments on "Guidelines for the Collection, Treatment, and
Analysis of Water Samples, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Region,
Field Manual."
1) Page 2--First paragraph-It should be mentioned that the OSW
sets policy for sediment data-collection activities.
2) Page 10-11--Table 1-Several corrections are needed. For
example, the DH-81 can use a 1/8-inch nozzle, the maximum depth
for the DH-81 is either 9 feet or 16Jfeet depending on the bottle
size, and the D-74 with a 1/4-inch nozzle and pint bottle has a
maximum depth of 9 feet.
3) Page 12--The DH-75 sampler was designed to be used under ice
(see QWB Technical Memorandum 77.03). This is not mentioned on
page 12.
4) Page 12--The Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project
currently only recommends use of 3/16- and 1/4-inch nozzles with
the DH-81. Filling rate problems have been identified using the
5/16-inch nozzle. The small opening of the 1/8-inch nozzle
becomes frayed reducing sampling efficiency significantly.
5) Page 13--The D-77 has the same problems with the 1/8-inch
nozzle mentioned above for the DH-81.
6) Page 13-14--It should be noted that the P-61, P-63, and P-72
samplers are to be used when the stream depth exceeds 15 feet.
7) Page 15--The second paragraph from the bottom should state that
a 1/8-inch nozzle should not be used when sand-sized particles are
in suspension because a nozzle will start to exclude particles
about one-half of its diameter. In the case of the 1/8-inch
nozzle, this would include particles about 1.5 mm in size.
8) Page 18--Table 2. The HS-85 bedload sampler is not available.
9) Page 25--It should be noted that the EDI method is only valid
if the concentration in the cross section is relatively uniform.
If the concentration is not uniform, more than nine verticals may
be needed. The EWI method may be more desirable under these
conditions. Also, the manual does not mention that samples
collected using the EDI method can be composited if the volume of
samples from each vertical are nearly the same. This, however,
will cause information on lateral distribution of concentration to
be lost. Compositing samples also eliminates the possibility of
detecting individual samples, which may not be representative.
10) Page 49--Second paragraph-statement here conflicts with
statement on page 33 about use of the churn splitter. See
statements under the heading "Use of the churn splitter for
collecting suspended-sediment samples" in the main body of this
memorandum for guidance in use of sample splitters.