DRBC DELAWARE RIVER BIOMONITORING PROGRAM 2006-2007 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN FINAL DRAFT: MARCH 7, 2007. DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION DRBC Project Officer: Thomas J. Fikslin Date DRBC Quality Assurance Officer: Edward D. Santoro Date DRBC Program Officer Robert L. Limbeck Date USEPA Project Officer Date i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Project Management .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Distribution List................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project/ Task Organization................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Problem Definition/ Background........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Project Task/ Description ................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data....................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Bias............................................................................................................................................ 6 1.5.2 Precision .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.3 Completeness ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.5.4 Comparability ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Special Training / Certification .......................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Documents and Records..................................................................................................................... 7 1.7.1 Standard Data Reporting Format ................................................................................................ 7 2. Measurement/ Data Acquisition................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Sampling Process Design ................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Sampling Methods ............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 DRBC Standard Operating Procedure - Macroinvertebrates........................................................ 8 2.2.2 DRBC Standard Operating Procedure – Periphyton.................................................................... 9 2.2.3 Quantitative Instream Habitat ................................................................................................... 10 2.2.4 Water Quality: Physical............................................................................................................ 11 2.2.5 Qualitative Habitat Assessment: Rapid Bioassessment Protocol ............................................... 11 2.2.6 Location Information................................................................................................................ 11 2.3 Sample Handling and Custody Requirements................................................................................... 12 2.4 Analytical Methods.......................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Quality Control ................................................................................................................................ 13 2.6 Instrument / Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance ......................................................... 14 2.7 Instrument / Equipment Calibration and Frequency.......................................................................... 14 2.8 Data Management ............................................................................................................................ 14 3. Assessment and Oversight........................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 Assessment and Response Actions ................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Reporting ......................................................................................................................................... 15 4. Data Validation and Usability.................................................................................................................. 15 4.1 Data Review, Verification, and Validation ....................................................................................... 15 4.2 Reconciliation with Data Quality Objectives .................................................................................... 16 5. References ................................................................................................................................................. 17 List of Tables Table 1. Distribution list for the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program......................................................... 1 Table 2. Roles and responsibilities of individuals associated with Delaware River Biomonitoring Program....... 3 Table 3. Standard schedule for the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program..................................................... 8 Table 4: Methods for water quality monitoring using Hydrolab Quanta™ ...................................................... 13 Table 5: Data Review and Validation Procedures ........................................................................................... 16 ii List of Figures Figure 1. Organizational Chart of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program................................................. 2 APPENDICES Appendix A: Map of sampling locations for Delaware River Biomonitoring Program Appendix B: Macroinvertebrate Sample Label Appendix C: EPA-ORD RARE Grant Study Plan 2006 iii 1. Project Management 1.1 Distribution List Table 1 is a list of all individuals associated with the Delaware River Biomonitoring program. Each of the following individuals will participate in some aspect of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program. To ensure the quality of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program, each of these listed individuals will receive a copy of the signed Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) prior to initiation of the 2006 sampling season. In the case of a revision, each of the participants will receive the revised version electronically in .pdf format. Table 1. Distribution list for the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program Individual Organization ______________ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thomas Fikslin, PhD. Delaware River Basin Commission Robert Limbeck Delaware River Basin Commission Aquatic Biologist Delaware River Basin Commission Edward Santoro Delaware River Basin Commission Christopher Dempsey Delaware River Basin Commission Elizabeth Fielder Delaware River Basin Commission Margaret Passmore U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greg Pond U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lou Reynolds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Patrick Lynch National Park Service Don Hamilton National Park Service (UPDE) Allan Ambler National Park Service (DEWA) Michael Bilger EcoAnalysts, Inc. David Velinsky ANSP Michael Depew ANSP Roger Thomas ANSP Algal Taxonomist Contract Lab 1.2 Project/ Task Organization Figure 1 is a chart describing the organization of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program. Table 2 lists the individuals that will participate in at least part of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program and the role that each of the participants will have in the program. 1 Figure 1. Organizational Chart of the Delaware River Biomonitoring Program 2 Table 2. Roles and responsibilities of individuals associated with Delaware River Biomonitoring Program Name Title Organization Role Responsibility *106 Grant Officer ********* U.S. EPA Project Officer (funding source) Branch Head, *Oversee Monitoring Programs Modeling & Project Manager *Review QAPP Thomas Fikslin, PhD. DRBC Monitoring (Monitoring) *Technical Support Branch *Contract Officer *Site Selection *Coordinate Monitoring *QAPP creation Watershed Robert Limbeck DRBC Project Officer *Supervise Personnel Scientist *Sample Collection *Criteria development *Data Analyst *Coordinate Monitoring *Site Selection Aquatic *Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy Erik Silldorff, PhD. DRBC Project Officer Biologist *Sample Collection *Data Manager *Data Analyst Aquatic Academy of *Technical Support Michael Depew Sample Collection Biologist Natural Sciences *Aid in sample collection Benthic Michael Bilger EcoAnalysts, Inc. Taxonomy Lab *Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy Taxonomist Environmental Academy of David Velinsky Chemistry Lab *Benthic Algal Chemistry Analyses Geochemist Natural Sciences Algal Contract Laboratory RFP Issued 2007 Taxonomy Lab *Algal Taxonomy Taxonomist Monitoring Edward Santoro DRBC QA/QC Officer *Ensure project quality Coordinator *QC of Invertebrate Samples Margaret Passmore Biologist U.S. EPA Taxonomist *Technical Support GIS Karen Reavy DRBC GIS Coordinator *GIS Technical Support Coordinator *Del. R. Habitat delineation Elizabeth Fielder Intern DRBC GIS and