Design and Methods of the California Stream Quality Assessment (CSQA), 2017
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National Water Quality Program Design and Methods of the California Stream Quality Assessment (CSQA), 2017 Open-File Report 2020–1023 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front cover: Nacimiento River, California. Inset: eDNA sampling by U.S. Geological Survey personnel in Alisal Creek, California. Photographs by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Back Cover: Top left: Map of Central California Coastal study area and sampling sites. Top right: Arroyo Seco at Elm Avenue Bridge, California. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Bottom left: Sediment sampling in Reclamation Ditch, California. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Bottom middle: Ceramic tile deployed to collect biofilms for pesticide analysis. Photograph by Barbara Mahler, U.S. Geological Survey. Bottom right: Algae and invertebrate sampling in Alisal Creek, California. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Design and Methods of the California Stream Quality Assessment (CSQA), 2017 By Jason T. May, Lisa H. Nowell, James F. Coles, Daniel T. Button, Amanda H. Bell, Sharon L. Qi, and Peter C. Van Metre National Water Quality Program Open-File Report 2020–1023 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey ii U.S. Department of the Interior DAVID BERNHARDT, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2020 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov/. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: May, J.T., Nowell, L.H., Coles, J.F., Button, D.T., Bell, A.H., Qi, S.L., and Van Metre, P.C., 2020, Design and methods of the California stream quality assessment, 2017: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1023, 88 p., https://doi.org/ 10.3133/ ofr20201023. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) iii Acknowledgment pages: Left page: Salinas River, California. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. Right page: Jason May and Daniel Calhoun sampling for fish in Nanticoke Creek, NY, as part of the Northeast Stream Quality Assessment study. Photograph by Alan Cressler, U.S. Geological Survey. iv v Acknowledgments It is with deep appreciation and affection that we acknowledge the contributions of Jason Todd May to the planning and success of the California Stream Quality Assessment study. Sadly, Jason passed away on August 22, 2019, after a year-long illness. His efforts in study-site selection, organization of sampling crews, and data collection were invaluable in making the study a success. Jason’s efforts on this study are a reflection of his dedication as a scientist at the California Water Science Center, where his broad experience was highly valued and resulted in his co-authoring more than 45 journal articles and U.S. Geological Survey reports. Jason was always willing to share his expertise with others inside and outside of the U.S. Geological Survey. His participation in the California Stream Quality Assessment and his dedication to quality science at the California Water Science Center will be missed. vi Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Background............................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3 Study-Area Description .......................................................................................................................4 Study Design ...................................................................................................................................................6 Site Selection Process .........................................................................................................................6 Sample Collection and Processing ...........................................................................................................18 Comprehensive Stressor Assessments ..........................................................................................18 Discrete Water-Quality Samples .............................................................................................22 Polar Organic Compound Integrative Samplers (POCIS) ����������������������������������������������������23 Continuous Streamflow, Stage, and Water Temperature ...................................................23 Focused Studies ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Sampling Pesticides with Small-Volume Pesticide Automated Samplers .......................25 Sampling Pesticides in Biofilms ..............................................................................................26 Sampling Suspended Sediment with Passive Samplers .....................................................26 Ecological Surveys .............................................................................................................................28 Aquatic Biota ..............................................................................................................................28 Physical Habitat .........................................................................................................................29 Streambed and Bank Sediment ...............................................................................................29 Sample Analyses..........................................................................................................................................31 Comprehensive Stressor Assessments ..........................................................................................31 Discrete Water-Quality Samples .............................................................................................31 Polar Organic Compound Integrative Samplers ...................................................................32 Continuous Streamflow, Stage, and Water Temperature ...................................................32 Focused Studies ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������33 Pesticides from the Small-Volume Pesticide Automated Samplers .................................33 Pesticide Analysis in Biofilms ..................................................................................................33 Suspended-Sediment Passive Samplers ...............................................................................33 Ecological Surveys .............................................................................................................................33 Aquatic Biota ..............................................................................................................................15 Physical Habitat .........................................................................................................................33 Streambed and Bank Sediment ...............................................................................................34 Sediment Toxicity Testing .........................................................................................................34 Quality Assurance and Quality Control ....................................................................................................35 Data-Management Procedures ................................................................................................................39 Summary........................................................................................................................................................41 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................41 Appendix 1 Description of the Sampling Timelines, Matrix, Collection, and Processing for Water, Sediment, and Ecological Samples ..........................................................................48 Appendix 2 Description of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory Schedules Used for Water, Bed Sediment, and Biofilms ....................................57 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................87 vii Figures 1. Map showing locations of the Regional Stream Quality Assessment studies across the United States .............................................................................................................3 2. Map of the California