Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the Biological and Water Quality Study of Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel 2018 Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit, and Geauga Counties Division of Surface Water May 29, 2018 Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel 2018 QAPP May 29, 2018 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the Biological and Water Quality Study of Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel, 2018 Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit, and Geauga Counties May 29, 2018 Prepared by State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Ecological Assessment Section 4675 Homer Ohio Lane Groveport, Ohio 43125 Division of Surface Water Lazarus Government Center 50 West Town Street, Suite 700 P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 Northeast District Office 2110 East Aurora Rd Twinsburg, Ohio 44087 John R. Kasich, Governor Craig W. Butler, Director State of Ohio Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 2 Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel 2018 QAPP May 29, 2018 SECTION A – PROJECT MANAGEMENT A1 - Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Biological and Water Quality Study of the Cuyahoga River Tributaries and Ship Channel, 2018. ____________________________________________ Date: ___________6/11/2018 Brian Hall, Assistant Chief ____________________________________________ Date: ___________6/11/2018 Marianne Piekutowski, Modeling and Assessment Manager ____________________________________________ Date: ___________6/11/2018 Jeff Reynolds, Ohio EPA Quality Assurance Coordinator _ ___________________ Date: __6-11-18__ Bill Zawiski, Study Team Leader 3 Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel 2018 QAPP May 29, 2018 A2 - Table of Contents SECTION A – PROJECT MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................... 3 A1 - Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Biological and Water Quality Study of the Cuyahoga River Tributaries and Ship Channel, 2018. ......................................................................................................... 3 A3 - Distribution List.................................................................................................................................. 7 A3.1 - Table 1. Ohio EPA Central Office Staff ........................................................................................ 7 A3.2 - Table 2. Ohio EPA District Office Staff ........................................................................................ 7 A4 – Project/Task Organization and Communication ............................................................................... 8 A4.1 - Table 4. Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................. 8 A5 – Problem Definition/Background ....................................................................................................... 9 A5.1 – Beneficial Use Designations ....................................................................................................... 9 A5.2 - Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) ............................................................................................ 9 A5.3 - NPDES Permits ............................................................................................................................ 9 A5.4 - Nonpoint Sources ..................................................................................................................... 10 A5.5 – Nutrients .................................................................................................................................. 10 A5.6 - Area of Concern (AOC).............................................................................................................. 10 A5.7– Cuyahoga Ship Channel ............................................................................................................ 10 A6 – Project/Task Description ................................................................................................................. 10 A6.1 Project Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 11 A6.2 – Beneficial Use Designations ..................................................................................................... 11 A6.3 - Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) .......................................................................................... 12 A6.4 - NPDES Permits .......................................................................................................................... 12 A6.5 - Nonpoint Sources ..................................................................................................................... 12 A6.6 – Nutrients .................................................................................................................................. 12 A6.7 - Area of Concern (AOC).............................................................................................................. 12 A6.8 – Cuyahoga Ship Channel ........................................................................................................... 12 A6.9 Credible Data Benchmarking ...................................................................................................... 12 A7 – Quality Objectives and Criteria ....................................................................................................... 12 A7.1 - QC Performance criteria for water chemistry .......................................................................... 12 A8 – Special Training/Certification ......................................................................................................... 13 A9 – Documents and Records ................................................................................................................. 13 4 Cuyahoga Tributaries and Ship Channel 2018 QAPP May 29, 2018 A9.1 - Document/record control ........................................................................................................ 14 A9.2 - Document storage .................................................................................................................... 14 SECTION B – DATA GENERATION AND ACQUISITION ................................................................................. 14 B1 – Sampling Process Design ................................................................................................................. 14 B1.1 Sample Location Selection .......................................................................................................... 14 B1.2 Sampling Type and Frequency .................................................................................................... 15 B2 – Sampling Methods .......................................................................................................................... 15 B2.1 - Stream Habitat Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 15 B2.2 - Biological Community Assessment ........................................................................................... 15 B2.3 – Sediment .................................................................................................................................. 16 B2.4- Surface Water ............................................................................................................................ 16 B2.5 –Nutrient and Water Quality Sonde ........................................................................................... 16 B2.6- Bacteria ...................................................................................................................................... 16 B2.7– Fish Tissue Sampling ................................................................................................................. 16 B3 – Sample Handling and Custody ........................................................................................................ 16 B4 – Analytical Methods ......................................................................................................................... 17 B5 – Quality Control (QC) ........................................................................................................................ 17 B6 – Instrument/Equipment Testing and Calibration, Inspection, and Maintenance ............................ 17 B7 – Inspection/Acceptance of Supplies and Consumables ................................................................... 17 B8 – Data Management .......................................................................................................................... 17 B8.1 – Chemistry Samples ................................................................................................................... 17 B8.2 Biological and Habitat Data Sheets ............................................................................................. 18 B8.3 Data management Summary ...................................................................................................... 18 SECTION C: ASSESSMENT AND OVERSIGHT ................................................................................................ 18 C1 – During Sampling Assessments/Analysis and Response Actions ..................................................... 18 C1.1 – Assessments ............................................................................................................................. 18 C1.2 - Response Actions .....................................................................................................................