Quality Assurance Project Plan - SAWPA – … Assurance Project Plan ... 10. Sampling Locations and...

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Quality Assurance Project Plan

For

Canyon Lake Bacteria Monitoring and Assessment Project

August 25, 2008January 2009

Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

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Group A: Project Management Approval Signatures

Grant TMDL Task Force Organization

Title Name Signature Date*

Task Force Administrator Lake Elsinore & Canyon Lake Nutrient TMDL Task Force

Mark Norton

MWH Project Manager Sarah Garber

CSUSB Laboratory Director and QA Officer Dr. James Noblet

Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

Title Name Signature Date*

TMDL Program Manager Hope Smythe

Project Manager William Rice

QA Officer Pavlova Vitale

* This is a contractual document. The signature dates indicate the earliest date when the project can start.

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A2. Table of Contents – to be updated

6. Project/Task Description.....................................................................................................................................15 7. Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data .............................................................................17 8. Special Training Needs/Certification ..................................................................................................................19 9. Documents And Records......................................................................................................................................19 Group B: Data Generation and Acquisition...........................................................................................................21 10. Sampling Process Design....................................................................................................................................21 11. Sampling Methods ..............................................................................................................................................22 12. Sample Handling and Custody ..........................................................................................................................26 14. Quality Control ...................................................................................................................................................29 15. Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance ......................................................................31 16. Instrument/Equipment Calibration and Frequency........................................................................................32 17. Inspection/Acceptance of supplies and Consumables ..............................................................................33 18. Non-Direct Measurements (Existing Data) ......................................................................................................35 19. Data Management...............................................................................................................................................36 GROUP C: Assessment and Oversight...................................................................................................................38 20. Assessments & Response Actions ......................................................................................................................38 21. Reports to Management .....................................................................................................................................40 Group D: Data Validation and Usability.................................................................................................................42 22. Data Review, Verification, and Validation Requirements ..............................................................................42 23. Verification and Validation Methods................................................................................................................44 24. Reconciliation with User Requirements............................................................................................................46 Group A Elements: Project Management ............................................................................................ 2 1. Title and Approval Sheets............................................................................................................... 2 2. Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................. 4 3. Distribution List................................................................................................................................ 6 4. Project/Task Organization ............................................................................................................. 7 5. Problem Definition/Background................................................................................................. 13 6. Project/Task Description ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 7. Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8. Special Training Needs/Certification ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 9. Documents And Records ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Group B: Data Generation and Acquisition ..................................................................................... 24 10. Sampling Process Design .............................................................................................................. 24 11. Sampling Methods ......................................................................................................................... 25 12. Sample Handling and Custody.................................................................................................... 29 13. Analytical Methods........................................................................................................................ 29 14. Quality Control............................................................................................................................... 29 15. Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance .............................................. 64 16. Instrument/Equipment Calibration and Frequency................................................................. 65 17. Inspection/Acceptance of supplies and Consumables............................................................. 29 18. Non-Direct Measurements (Existing Data) ................................................................................ 29 19. Data Management .......................................................................................................................... 29 Group C: Assessment and Oversight ................................................................................................. 70 20. Assessments & Response Actions................................................................................................ 70 21. Reports to Management .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Group D: Data Validation and Usability ........................................................................................... 74 22. Data Review, Verification, and Validation Requirements ....................................................... 74 23. Verification and Validation Methods .......................................................................................... 75 24. Reconciliation with User Requirements...................................................................................... 76 TABLES 1. Personnel Responsibilities .............................................................................................................. 9 2. Watershed-wide Monitoring Program Sample Locations........................................................ 21 3. USEP Monitoring Program Sample Locations........................................................................... 23 3a. AgSEP Monitoring Program Sample Locations......................................................................... 25 3b. BMP Effectiveness Monitoring Program Sample Locations .................................................... 27 4. Project Schedule.............................................................................................................................. 30 5. Data Quality Objectives for Field Measurements...................................................................... 32 6. Data Quality Objectives for Laboratory Measurements ........................................................... 33 7. Document and Record Retention, Archival, and Disposition Information ........................... 36 8. Watershed-wide and USEP Monitoring Program Sampling Schedule .................................. 42 8a. AgSEP Monitoring Program Sampling Schedule ...................................................................... 43 8b. BMP Effectiveness Monitoring Program Sampling Schedule.................................................. 44 8c. Lag Time between Influent and Effluent Sample Collection Based on Depth at Influent

Sample Point ................................................................................................................................... 45 9. Watershed-wide and USEP Schedule for Collection of Field Replicate and Field

Equipment Blank Water Samples ................................................................................................ 48 9a. AgSEP Schedule for Collection of Field Replicate and Field Equipment Blank Water

Samples............................................................................................................................................ 49 9b. BMP Effectiveness Schedule for Collection of Field Replicate and Field Equipment Blank

Water Samples ................................................................................................................................ 50 10. Sampling Locations and Sampling Methods.............................................................................. 51 11. Field Methods ................................................................................................................................. 60 12. Laboratory Analytical Methods ................................................................................................... 61 13. Sampling (Field) QC (Field Parameters) ..................................................................................... 62 14. Sampling (Field) QC (TSS) ............................................................................................................ 62 15. Sampling (Field) QC (Fecal Coliform, E. coli)............................................................................. 63 16. Analytical QC (TSS) ....................................................................................................................... 63 17. Analytical QC (Fecal Coliform, E. coli) ........................................................................................ 63 18. Testing, Inspection, Maintenance of Sampling Equipment and Analytical Instruments .... 64 19. Inspection/Acceptance Testing Requirements for Consumables and Supplies ................... 66 20. Summary of Project Assessments and Reviews......................................................................... 70 21. Summary of Project Reporting ..................................................................................................... 73 FIGURES 1.Bacterial Indicator Impairments in the MSAR.................................................................................. 15 2.Watershed-wide Monitoring Program............................................................................................... 20 3.Urban Source Evaluation Monitoring Program................................................................................ 22 3a Agricultural Source Evaluation Monitoring Program .............................................................. 25 3b BMP Effectiveness Monitoring Program .................................................................................... 27 3c Relationship between Transit Time and Total System Flow (Perk Filter/Up–Flo Filter).... 45

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ATTACHMENTS 1. Example MSAR Canyon Lake Bacterial Indicator CharacterizationTMDL Field Data Sheet

Form 2. Example Chain of Custody Forms 3. Flow Measurement Form APPENDICES A.Orange County Public Health Water Quality Lab Standard Operating Procedures B.Orange County Water District, Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures C.University of California, Davis, Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures D. MSAR Pathogen TMDL Workgroup Contact List

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A3. Distribution List

Title Name (Affiliation) Tel. No. QAPP No. Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Board (“Regional Board”) Contract Project Manager

William Rice (Regional Board) 951-782-4130 8839

Regional Board QA Officer Pavlova Vitale (Regional Board) 951-782-4920 8839

Grantee Task Force Project Director Mark Norton (SAWPA) 951-354-4220 8839

Grantee Task Force Project Coordinator Rick Whetsel (SAWPA) 951-354-4220 8839

MSAR Pathogen TMDL Workgroup see Appendix D 8839

Contractor Strategic Planner Tim Moore (Risk Sciences) 615-370-1655 8839

Contractor Project Manager Richard Meyerhoff (CDM)Sarah Garber (MWH) 909-579-3500626-

568-6910 8839

Contractor Laboratory Director and QA Officer Dr. James Noblet (CSUSB) 909-537-5194

Contractor QA Officer Barbara Wells (CDM) 909-579-3500 8839

Ag/ Dairy Representative Pat Boldt 951-808-8531 8839

Monitoring Contractor Manager Chris Knoche (Brown & Caldwell) 714-689-9836 8839

Monitoring Contractor QA Officer Nancy Gardiner

(Brown & Caldwell) 858-571-6742 8839

Monitoring Contractor Manager Matt Yeager (SBCFCD) 909-387-8109 8839

Monitoring Contractor QA Officer Janet Dietzman (SBCFCD) 909-387-8109 8839

OC Public Health Water Quality Laboratory Director Douglas Moore 714-834-8379 8839

OC Public Health Water Quality Laboratory QA Officer Joseph Guzman 949-219-0423 8839

Orange County Water District (OCWD) Laboratory Director Donald Phipps 714-378-3200 8839

OCWD Laboratory QA Officer Menu Leddy 714-378-3200 8839

University of California-Davis (UC Davis) Laboratory Director Dr. Stefan Wuertz 530-754-6407 8839

UC Davis Laboratory QA Officer Dr. Alexander Schriewer 530-752-1755 8839

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A4. Project/Task Organization 4.1 Involved Parties and Roles In order to carry out the goal and objectives of this study, the Middle Santa Ana River (MSAR) Bacterial Indicator TMDL Task Force will be working with various agencies and contractors to carry out the Watershed-Wide, Urban Source Evaluation Plan (USEP), Agricultural Source Evaluation Plan (AgSEP), and Best Management Practices (BMP) Effectiveness monitoring programs as described by the MSAR Water Quality Monitoring Plan. Regional Board staff members and the Lake Elsinore & Canyon Lake Nutrient TMDL Task Force are working cooperatively to characterize bacteria conditions in Canyon Lake. The following outlines the roles of each of the participating parties in the monitoring program:

SAWPA Administer MSAR TMDL Task Force activities

Administer Coordinate the accounting of project funding from Proposition 40 grant funds and funds received from Task Force members

Administer contracts established with contractors

Manage project database

MSAR Lake Elsinore & Canyon Lake TMDL Task Force

Provide oversight and guidance of Canyon Lake MSAR monitoring activities conducted to characterize bacterial conditions as part of the implementation of the MSAR Bacterial Indicator TMDL

Coordinate TMDL implementation activities with other basin planning processes within the Santa Ana River watershed

Support funding of monitoring activities on Canyon Lake conducted as part of the characterization of bacterial conditionsimplementation of the TMDL

Risk Sciences Provide strategic planning services to SAWPA the TMDL Task Force to ensure that

monitoring and reporting activities support TMDL implementation requirementscharacterization of bacterial conditions in Canyon Lake

CDMMWH

Coordinate development of the sampling plan

Coordinate with CSUSB for sample collection and analysis

Review and report results to the Regional Board and TMDL Task Force

Obtain the necessary permits (if required) to access the sampling sites and collect samples

Develop sampling protocols

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Update the monitoring plan and the QAPP, as necessary

Provide the monitoring design for the study (list of sampling sites, list of indicators, map of the study area depicting the sampling sites, etc.)

Coordinate with all parties involved in the study

Coordinate with Monitoring Contractors

Coordinate with each of the laboratories conducting analyses for data reporting and payment of analytical services

Coordinate with the laboratories for analysis of samples

Coordinate with the laboratories to obtain data from the analyses

Analyze the laboratory data results

Conduct annual Quality reviews

Compile the data and use for TMDL-related activities

Conduct field sampling activities as assigned according to MSAR Water Quality Monitoring Plan. This role includes:

•Providing sampling personnel and probe for each sampling activity according to MSAR Water Quality Monitoring Plan

•Calibrating Horiba Multiparameter probe (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity) prior to sampling activities

•Calibrating Marsh-McBirney Model 2000 flow meter, if used, prior to sampling activities

•Coordinating with each of the laboratories prior to sample collection events (request bottles, scheduling, etc.)

•Ensuring that all necessary chain-of-custody forms are completed prior to surrendering samples to the laboratory

•Transporting the samples to each of the laboratories for analysis within the required holding times

Monitoring Contractors: Brown & Caldwell (USEP Monitoring/BMP Effectiveness Monitoring), San Bernardino County Flood Control District (Watershed-Wide), and CDM (AgSEP (tentatively) and BMP Effectiveness Monitoring) California State University San Bernardino

Provide the necessary containers and chain of custody forms for the samples

Conduct field sampling activities to characterize bacteria conditions in Canyon Lakeas assigned according to MSAR Water Quality Monitoring Plan

Provide sampling personnel and probe for each sampling activity according to MSAR Water Quality Monitoring Plan

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Calibrate Horiba Hydrolab Multiparameter probe (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity) prior to sampling activities

Calibrate Marsh-McBirney Model 2000 flow meter, if used, prior to sampling activities

Coordinate with each of the laboratories prior to sample collection events (request bottles, scheduling, etc.)

Ensure that all necessary chain-of-custody forms are completed prior to surrendering samples to the laboratory

Transport the samples to each of the CSUSB laboratories for analysis within the required holding times

Conduct E.coli analyses

Operate according to laboratory quality assurance and quality control program in accordance with guidelines established by the State of California and the U.S. EPA

Provide data in electronic format to MWH

Orange County Public Health Water Quality Laboratory Provide the necessary containers, preservatives (if required), chain of custody forms for the

samples

Analyze the samples for constituents as indicated in QAPP


Provide data in electronic and hard copy format to CDM

OCWD Laboratory

Provide the necessary containers, preservatives (if required), chain of custody forms for the samples

Conduct Bacteroides analyses



UC Davis Laboratory

Provide the necessary containers, preservatives (if required), chain of custody forms for the samples

Conduct Bacteroides analyses



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Table 1. Personnel Responsibilities

Name Organizational Affiliation Title Contact Information

William Rice RWQCB Grant Regional Board Project Manager 951-782-4130

Pavlova Vitale RWQCB Regional Board QA Manager 951-782-4920

Mark Norton SAWPA Grantee Task Force Project Director 951-354-4220

Rick Whetsel SAWPA Grantee Task Force Monitoring Project Manager 951-354-4220

Tim Moore Risk Sciences Strategic Planner 615-370-1655

Sarah Garber MWH Contractor Project Manager 626-568-6910

Dr. James Noblet CSUSB Contractor Laboratory Director and QA Manager 909-537-5194

Richard Meyerhoff CDM Contractor Project Manager 303-298-1311

Barbara Wells CDM Contractor Quality Assurance Officer 909-579-3500

Thomas Lo CDM Contractor Monitoring Manager 909-579-3500

Chris Knoche Brown & Caldwell Contractor Monitoring Manager 714-689-9836

Nancy Gardiner Brown & Caldwell Contractor Monitoring QA Officer 858-571-6742

Matt Yeager SBCFCD Staff Contractor Monitoring Manager 909-387-8109

Janet Dietzman SBCFCD Staff Contractor Monitoring QA Officer 909-387-8109

Douglas Moore OC Public Health Water Quality Lab

OC Public Health Water Quality Laboratory Director 714-834-8379

Joseph Guzman OC Public Health Water Quality Lab

OC Public Health Water Quality Laboratory QA Officer 949-219-0423

Donald Phipps OCWD OCWD Laboratory Director 714-378-3200

Menu Leddy OCWD OCWD Laboratory QA Officer 714-378-3200

Dr. Stefan Wuertz UC Davis UC Davis Laboratory Director 530-754-6407

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Dr. Alexander Schriewer UC Davis UC Davis Laboratory QA

Officer 530-752-1755

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4.2 Quality Assurance Officer Role (QA Officer) The QA Officer’s role is to establish the quality assurance and quality control procedures found in this QAPP as part of the sampling, contract field analysis, and contract laboratory analysis procedures. Barbara Wells, CDM, Dr. James Noblet, CSUSB, will serve as the QA Oofficer and work with the the CDM Project Manager and QA Officers affiliated with the monitoring contractor andCSUSB Laboratory staff laboratories to ensure QAPP procedures are followed. CDM’s The Contractor Project Manager, MWH, QA Officer will be responsible to ensure sampling protocols are followed by the Monitoring Contractor staff.

Barbara Wells Dr. Noblet will also review and assess all procedures during the life of the contract against QAPP requirements and will report all findings to MWH Richard Meyerhoff, including all requests for corrective action. Reviews will be conducted quarterly: end of August 2007, November 2007, and February 2008. A QA report will accompany the final data and interpretive report that evaluates overall project compliance with the QAPP.

Barbara Wells The Task Force may stop all actions, including those conducted by any the Contractor Laboratorysubcontractor, if there are significant deviations from required practices or if there is evidence of a systematic failure.

4.3 Persons Responsible for QAPP Update and Maintenance Changes and updates to this QAPP may be made after a review of the evidence for change by CDM’s MWH’s Project Manager and Quality Assurance Officer, and with the concurrence of other project participants, especially SAWPA the TMDL Task Force and the Regional Board’s Contract Project Manager and Quality Assurance Officer. CDM MWH will be responsible for making the changes, submitting drafts for review, preparing a final copy, and submitting the final for signature.

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4.4 Organizational Chart and Responsibilities

RWQCB Project Manager

William Rice

RWQCB QA Project Manager

Pavlova Vitale

Grant ApplicantTMDL Task Force

Project Director Mark Norton, SAWPA

Grant ApplicantTMDL Task Force

Project CoordinatorMonitoring Manager

Grant Contractor Project Manager

Richard Meyerhoff, CDMSarah Garber, MWH

SAWPA Data Management

Dean UngerPeter Vitt

OCWD Laboratory D. Phipps

Grant Contractor QA Officer

Barbara Wells, CDM

Grant ContractorTMDL Task Force

Strategic Planner Tim Moore, Risk Sciences

UC Davis Laboratory S. Wuertz

SBCFCD Monitoring Manager

Matt Yeager

OC Public Health Water QualityCSUSB Lab Director

and QA Officer Douglas MooreDr James

Brown & Caldwell

Monitoring Manager

Chris Knoche

CDM Monitoring Manager

Thomas Lo

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A5. Problem Definition/Background 5.1 Problem Statement Canyon Lake is located approximately five miles upstream of Lake Elsinore and was formed in 1927 when Railroad Canyon Dam was constructed on the San Jacinto River. Its footprint encompasses an area of 383 acres, 14.9 miles of shoreline and its entire watershed includes approximately 780 square miles of southwest Riverside County. The City of Canyon Lake, a gated community, surrounds Canyon Lake and is the primary means to access it. In[s1] the past, bacterial levels in Canyon Lake have exceeded the water quality objectives for body contact recreation specified in the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan). Violation[s2] of these water quality objectives, fecal coliform xx and total coliform xx, has resulted in closing the lake to recreational uses in order to protect public health and including it in the 1998 version of the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies (303 (d) List). Currently, the Basin Plan specifies the use of fecal coliform concentrations as the primary indicator of bacterial pollution. However, EPA has recently recommended using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a more reliable measure of potential risk to swimmers and consequently, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board is in the process of updating the Basin Plan to replace fecal coliform with E. coli as the primary indicator of contamination by waterborne pathogens. Despite the past violations of water quality objectives, current and preliminary water quality monitoring data indicate that the E. coli concentrations in Canyon Lake are presently meeting EPA's recommended water quality criteria for bacteria during dry weather conditions. If additional water quality monitoring demonstrates that Canyon Lake consistently complies with the new E. coli objectives after the Basin Plan is updated, then the Regional Board may elect to remove it from the 303 (d) List. Alternatively, if the data show that the lake is in compliance with the water quality objectives during dry weather but out of compliance during the wet weather, seasonal solutions could be considered. A wet weather water quality monitoring program has been underway in Canyon Lake for several years. This program, developed in cooperation with the California Department of Public Health and the Regional Board, is managed by Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD); it focuses on collecting water quality data during and after rain storms. The laboratory results are used to determine when water contact recreation should be suspended and when warning signs should be posted around Canyon Lake.). Following significant storm events, the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (POA) posts warning signs in public access areas of the lake. When runoff from the storm event subsides, water quality sampling for E. coli is conducted by EVMWD. Sampling continues on a daily basis Monday through Friday and is discontinued after the first E. coli result of less than 235 MPN/100 ml. Determination of whether the bacteria levels warrant closure of the lake is made by the POA.

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5.2 Decisions/Outcomes The residents of the San Jacinto watershed, acting through various public and private stakeholder groups, have volunteered to expand the current wet weather monitoring program to better characterize bacteria concentrations during the dry weather conditions which predominate at Canyon Lake. Data from the new monitoring program will be used to assess compliance with existing and proposed water quality objectives, to reevaluate the appropriateness of the 303(d) listing and, if necessary, to develop and implement a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The following questions will be answered by this project:

• Does Canyon Lake meet the fecal coliform objective listed in the Basin Plan and/or EPA’s recommended E. coli criteria during the dry season and wet season?

• Does the data from this project combined with the data from the wet weather program

support removing Canyon Lake from the state’s 303 (d) List? 5.3 Regulatory Criteria Table 3-1 of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) designates beneficial uses for surface waters in the Santa Ana Region (RWQCB 1995). The beneficial use applicable to Canyon Lake and to the purpose of this study, is body contact recreation (REC-1), which is defined in the Basin Plan as follows:

“waters are used for recreational activities involving body contact with water where ingestion of water is reasonably possible. These uses may include, but are not limited to, swimming, wading, water-skiing, skin and scuba diving, surfing, whitewater activities, fishing, and use of natural hot springs” (Basin Plan, page 3-2).

Chapter 4 of the Basin Plan specifies fecal coliform as a bacterial indicator for pathogens. Fecal coliform present at concentrations above certain thresholds are believed to be an indicator of the presence of fecal pollution and harmful pathogens, thus increasing the risk of gastroenteritis in bathers exposed to the elevated levels. The Basin Plan currently specifies the following water quality objectives for fecal coliform:

REC-1 - Fecal coliform: log mean less than 200 organisms/100 mL based on five or more samples/30 day period, and not more than 10% of the samples exceed 400 organisms/100 mL for any 30-day period.

The[s3] EPA published new bacteria guidance in 1986 (EPA 1986). This guidance advised that for freshwaters, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a better bacterial indicator than fecal coliform. The reason for this change in indicator is that epidemiological studies found that the positive correlation between E. coli concentrations and the frequency of gastroenteritis was better than the correlation between fecal coliform concentrations and gastroenteritis.

A6. Project/Task Description

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6.1 Work statement and produced products. The work that will be done for this project includes collecting grab samples of the lake water column during the dry weathertwo periods of the year (winter and summer) on a weekly basis at three five locations to determine if Canyon Lake is in continuous compliance with the EPA promulgated water quality objective for E. coli and the fecal coliform objective listed in the Basin Plan. These samples will be analyzed for fecal coliform, and E. coli; the field measurements at each location will include temperature, pH, wind direction and speed, and conductivity. 6.2. Constituents to be monitored and measurement techniques. The most critical lLaboratory analyses for this project arewill be for fecal coliform and E. coli. Field measurements will include temperature, pH, conductivity. W, and wind direction, wind and speed and precipitation will be summarized for sample days from on-line meteorological data (weathercurrents.com). These field measurements are secondary to the study because the results from these are not necessary to answer the questions posed by this project. The following table summarizes the measurement techniques:

Lab Analyses

Matrix

Reporting Units

Analytical Methods

Target Reporting Limit

PATHOGENS E. Coli Fecal Coliform

water water

MPN/100 ml MPN/100 ml

SM 9221B/E mod. MUG, SM 9223B SM 9221E, SM 9222D (25-tube dilution)

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6.3 Project schedule Table 2. (Element 6) Project schedule timeline.

Date (MM/DD/YY) Activity

Anticipated Date of

Initiation

Anticipated Date of

Completion

Deliverable Deliverable Due Date

Sampling crew training

12/1/08

1/8/09

Attendance list

1/23/09

Sampling materials

acquisition

12/1/2008

1/22/09

NA

NA

Sampling begins

1/23/09

9/3/09

field notes

daily for sample dates

QA audits

3/2/09

9/3/09

memorandum

12/1/09

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Interpretive Report

findings

5/1/09

12/1/09

report

12/1/09

QA Report

3/2/09

12/1/09

inc. in findings report

12/1/09

6.4 Geographical setting Canyon Lake drains the San Jacinto River and the Salt Creek watersheds; overflows from the lake ultimately empty into Lake Elsinore via the San Jacinto River. The lake is located within the confines of the City of Canyon Lake and its beneficial uses include body contact and non body contact recreation. 6.5 Constraints Since body contact recreation occurs at the beaches (swimming) and in the deep areas (water skiing) of Canyon Lake, samples must be representative of these two different areas. Sampling at the beaches will not be a problem because they can be accessed by car but access to the deep areas will be a problem because the sampling crew does not own a boat. In order to mitigate this constraint, the City of Canyon Lake and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District will provide boats for the sampling activities. If boats are not available, then this QAPP and the monitoring plan will be amended to only include sampling the beach areas.

A7. Quality Objectives and Criteria for Measurement Data

Measurement or Analyses Type Applicable Data Quality Objective

Fecal coliform Precision, accuracy, bias, representativeness, completeness

E. coli

Precision, accuracy, bias, representativeness, completeness

Temperature Precision, accuracy, completeness pH Precision, accuracy, completeness

conductivity Precision, accuracy, completeness

Accuracy will be determined by measuring one or more selected from performance testing samples or standard solutions from sources other than those used for calibration. Accuracy criteria for bacterial testing will be based on presence/absence testing rather than numerical limits owing to the difficulty in preparing solutions of known bacterial concentration.

Precision measurements will be determined based on both field and laboratory replicates (minimum of 10 percent). The number of replicates for field measurements will be three, and for bacterial testing, the number of replicates will be five.

Completeness is the number of analyses generating useable data for each analysis divided by the number of samples collected for that analysis. Completeness for this study will be 95%.

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Method sensitivity is dealt with by the inclusion of the required SWAMP Target Reporting Limits, where such values exist. Target Reporting Limits exist for fecal coliform, and E. coli. , No Target Reporting Limits were set for the field analyses.

Table 3. (Element 7) Data quality objectives for field measurements.

Group Parameter Accuracy Precision Recovery Target Reporting

Limit

Completeness

Field Testing temperature +0.5 mg/L + 0.5 or 5%

n/a 0.2 mg/L 10095%

pH

+ 0.5 units

+ 0.5 or

5%

n/a

<5 units 10095%

conductivity + 5% + 5% n/a 2.5 uSm/cm

10095%

wind speed and direction

n/a n/a n/a n/a 100%

Table 4. (Element 7) Data quality objectives for laboratory measurements.

Group Parameter Accuracy Precision Recovery Target Reporting Limits

Completeness

Laboratory

analyses

Fecal coliform

Laboratory positive and

negative cultures –

proper positive or negative response.

Bacterial PT sample -–within the

stated acceptance

criteria.

Rlog within 3.27*mean

Rlog (reference is section 9020B of 18th, 19th,

or 20th editions of Standard Methods

n/a

2 MPN/100 ML

100%

Laboratory analyses

E. coli

Laboratory positive and

negative cultures –

proper positive or negative response.

Bacterial PT sample -–within the

Rlog within 3.27*mean

Rlog (reference is section 9020B of 18th, 19th,

or 20th editions of Standard Methods)

n/a

2 MPN/100 ML

10095%

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stated acceptance

criteria.

A8. Special Training Needs/Certification 8.1 Specialized training or certifications Specialized training is not required to carry out this project. However, a dry run and verbal and written instructions on how to collect the bacteria samples will be given to the sampling crew prior to sample collection by the QA officer of the CSUSB xxxxxLaboratory Director, Dr. James Noblet. 8.2 Training and certification documentation After the verbal and written instructions are given to the sampling crew, a list of those present during the instruction will be kept with the other documentation pertinent to this project. 8.3 Training personnel (Provide information on who will be providing training.) Dr. James Noblet, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University-San Bernardino will train students in appropriate bacteria sample collection, transport, and analysis techniques.

A9. Documents And Records Provide information on final disposition of records and documents, including location and retention schedule. Identify persons responsible for maintaining records. Describe how most current QAPP will be distributed to project staff and identify responsible personnel. Discuss back-up plans for records stored electronically. You may use the table below to present document and record retention and disposition information. Add or delete lines as needed.)

The results of all sampling and analyses will be compiled in the existing water quality database presently maintained by the Lake Elsinore San Jacinto Watershed Authority (LESJWA) and managed by the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA). Electronic copies of the data will be made available, on CD, with the annual report and at any other time a written request is received from the Regional Board. Adequate safeguards (e.g. data validation tools) will be implemented to ensure that information entered into the database accurately reflects the actual results reported by the laboratories analyzing the water quality samples. Hard copies of all laboratory reports will be archived for a

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period of at least 10 years. Thereafter, the original reports may be scanned and converted to electronic images (e.g. PDF files) for permanent storage. Adequate safeguards (e.g. password protection and access logging) will also be implemented to ensure that information in the database cannot be altered without authorization. Full backup copies of the database will be made once each month and stored in a secure location. A report summarizing and interpreting the data will be submitted to the Regional Board no more than 90 days after the laboratory reports results from the final sampling period. The report will include a statistical analysis of the data noting any relevant spatial or seasonal differences observed. The annual report will also evaluate the sampling data to assess compliance with the existing and proposed water quality objectives. In addition, the final report will include specific recommendations consistent with the results of the study. For example, if the data reveal that Canyon Lake is meeting relevant water quality objectives for pathogen indicator bacteria, then it is likely that the stakeholders will recommend the lake be removed from the 303(d) list. However, if the data show that bacteria levels in Canyon Lake are routinely exceeding water quality objectives, then the stakeholders will subsequently prepare and submit an appropriate plan to investigate and remediate the man-made source(s) of contamination.

Table 5. (Element 9) Document and record retention, archival, and disposition information.

Identify Type Needed Retention Archival Disposition

Training records

Sample Collection Records

Chain of custody

Field measurements

Field

Records

GPS coordinates

Lab results

Analytical Records

QA reports/audit findings

Data reduction

Data

Records

Data verification

Comments from Peer

Review of Interpretive Report and response to

comments

Assessment

Records

Final Interpretive

Report

Other

Calibration records

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records

GROUP B: DATA GENERATION AND ACQUISITION

B10. Sampling Process Design The sampling design for this project involves collecting grab samples of the lake water column at fixed sites. Each site will be grouped into one of two categories, the deep area and beach area. The beach area sites were selected according to the popularity of the beach. Three Four beach areas were selected as a result: Roadrunner Park, Indian Beach, and Sunset Park, and Sierra Park. The two deep area site, Mid Lake Main Body, s were was selected based on their use and open areas for water skiing and boating use.: Mid Lake Main Body, and Sunset Park. Running geometric means will be calculated from each of the two areas sampled and from each of the sites. The frequency of Ssampling will be weekly starting wfor 8 weeks in ith January to March 2009, and then weekly for 14 weeks in June to through the end of September 2009. Since time and temperature are variables that should be considered in determining when to collect the samples at each site, and the most use of the lake will have occurred late in the afternoon, the samples will be collected in the later part of the morning to late afternoon hours, making sure that the samples will not exceed the 6 hour holding time period.

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B11. Sampling Methods

All the samples collected will be grab samples. The following is a summary of the procedure that will be used during sample collection: General Rules of Sampling (Sample bottles will be prepared and provided by the laboratoryies charged with conducting bacteria analyses). • Take extreme care to avoid contaminating the sample and sample container. • Do not remove bottle covering and closure until just prior to obtaining each sample. • Do not touch the inside of the sample container. • Do not rinse the sample container. • Do not put caps on the ground while sampling. • Do not transport the samples with any other environmental samples. • Adhering to sample preservation and holding time limits is critical to the production of valid data. • Samples should be labeled, iced or refrigerated at 1 - 4 degrees C immediately after collection and during transit to the lab. • Care should be taken to ensure that sample bottles are not totally immersed in water during transit or storage. • Samples should arrive in the lab no later than 6 hours after collection. • The sampler will complete the laboratory data form noting time, date, and location of sample collection, current weather conditions (including wind direction and velocity), water temperature, clarity, wave height and any abnormal water conditions. Sampling Method (1) Carefully move to the first sampling location. Water should be approximately knee deep. While wading slowly in the water, try to avoid kicking up bottom sediment at the sampling site. (2) Open a sampling bottle and grasp it at the base with one hand and plunge the bottle mouth downward into the water to avoid introducing surface scum. (3) The sampling depth should approximately 6 to 12 inches below the surface of the water. (4) Position the mouth of the bottle into the current away from your hand. If the water body is static, an artificial current can be created by moving the bottle horizontally with the direction of the bottle pointed away from you. (5) Tip the bottle slightly upward to allow air to exit and the bottle to fill. (6) Make sure the bottle is completely filled before removing it from the water. (7) Remove the bottle from the water body and pour out a small portion to allow an air space of 2 cm for proper mixing of the sample before analyses. (8) Tightly close the cap and label the bottle. (9) Store sample in a cooler filled with ice or suitable cold packs immediately.

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Table 5. (Element 11) Sampling locations and sampling methods.

Sampling Location

Location ID Number (Name)

Matrix

Depth (units)

Analytical Parameter

# Samples (include

field duplicates)

Sampling SOP #

Sample Volume

Containers #, size, type

Preservation (chemical,

temperature, light protected)

Maximum Holding Time:

Preparation/ analysis

Beach area

CNLKB1

(Sierra Park)

liquid

Knee depth

Fecal

coliform and E. coli

93

200 ml

2 100 ml

containers/week

Sodium thiosulfate is pre-added to the containers in the laboratory (chlorine elimination). Cool to 4°C; dark.

6 hrs

CNLKB2 (Sunset Park)

liquid

Knee depth

Fecal


93

200 ml

2 100 ml containers/week


6 hrs

CNLKB3

liquid

Knee depth

Fecal


8

200 ml



6 hrs

CNLKB4

liquid

Knee depth

Fecal

83

200 ml


Sodium thiosulfate is

6 hrs

25

(Roadrunner Park)


pre-added to the containers in the laboratory (chlorine elimination). Cool to 4°C; dark.

CNLKB5

(Indian Beach)

liquid

Knee depth

E. coli

3

200 ml



6 hrs

Deep area

CNLKD1C

NLKB3 (Mid-Lake

Main Body)

liquid

>5 ft

Fecal


81

200 ml


Sodium thiosulfate is pre

6 hrs

CNLKD2

liquid

>5 ft

Fecal


8

200 ml


Sodium thiosulfate is pre

6 hrs

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B12. Sample Handling and Custody

In the field, all samples will be packed in wet ice or frozen ice packs in a cooler, so that they will be kept at approximately 4˚C. Samples will be transported to the laboratory in a cooler. All caps and lids will be checked for tightness prior to placing the samples in the cooler. Each sample bottle will be placed in a ziplock bag to prevent any cross contamination with other sample bottles. All samples will be handled, prepared, transported and stored in a manner so as to minimize bulk loss, analyte loss, contamination or biological degradation. Sample containers will be clearly labeled with an indelible marker. Where appropriate, samples may be frozen to prevent biological degradation. Water samples will be kept in Teflon™, glass, or polyethylene bottles and kept cool at a temperature of 4˚C until analyzed. Maximum holding times will be strictly adhered to at all times. The laboratory will follow sample custody procedures outlined in their QA plans. Contract laboratory QA plans are on file with the respective laboratory. All samples remaining after successful completion of analyses will be disposed of properly. It is the responsibility of the personnel of each the analytical laboratory to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed in the disposal of samples or related chemicals. Chain-of-custody procedures require that possession of samples be traceable from the time the samples are collected until completion and submittal of analytical results. A complete chain-of-custody form is to accompany the transfer of samples to the analyzing laboratory. A sample is considered under custody if:

• it is in actual possession; • it is in view after in physical possession; • it is placed in a secure area (accessible by or under the scrutiny of authorized personnel

only after in possession)

Field Log Field crews shall be required to keep a field log for each sampling event. The following items should be recorded in the field log for each sampling event:

• time of sample collection; • sample ID numbers, including etched bottle ID numbers for Teflon™ mercury sample

containers and unique IDs for any replicate or blank samples; • the results of any field measurements (temperature, D.O., pH, conductivity, turbidity) and

the time that measurements were made; • qualitative descriptions of relevant water conditions (e.g. color, flow level, clarity) or

weather (e.g. wind, rain) at the time of sample collection;

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• a description of any unusual occurrences associated with the sampling event, particularly those that may affect sample or data quality.

The field crews shall have custody of samples during field sampling. Chain of custody forms will accompany all samples during transportation to contract laboratories (see example chain of custody form, attached). All water quality samples will be transported to the analytical laboratory directly by the field crew. Laboratory Custody Log Laboratories shall maintain custody logs sufficient to track each sample submitted and to analyze or preserve each sample within specified holding times.

Table 6. (Element 12). Sample handling and custody.

Parameter Container Volume Initial Preservation Holding Time

Fecal coliform Factory-sealed, pre-sterilized, disposable Whirl-pak® bags or 125 ml sterile plastic (high density polyethylene or polypropylene) container

100 ml volume sufficient for both fecal and total coliform analyses


STAT: 6 hours at 4°C, dark; lab must be notified well in advance

E. coli

Factory-sealed, pre-sterilized,

disposable Whirl-pak® bags or 125 ml sterile

plastic (high density

polyethylene or polypropylene)

container

100 ml volume sufficient for both E. coli and Enterococcus analyses


STAT: 6 hours at 4°C, dark; lab must be notified well in advance

(Identify chain of custody procedure. Form may be attached.)

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1B13. Analytical Methods Table 7. (Element 13) Field analytical methods.

Table 118. Field Methods

Field Method

Analyte Laboratory / Organization

Project Action Limit (units, wet

or dry weight)

Target Reporting

Limit (units, wet or dry

weight)

Analytical Method/ SOP

Modified for Method yes/no

Conductivity Field monitoring 1.09 mS/cm 0 - 100 mS/cm SM**2510B No

pH Field monitoring 6.5 to 8.5 0 – 14 pH SM4500-H+B No

Temperature (water) Field monitoring

June to Oct: not > 90 °F (32°C); Rest of

Year: not > 78°F (25°C) as a result of controllable water

quality factors

0 – 50 °C SM2550B No

Project Action Limits: Applied Basin Plan Water Quality Objectives for conductivity by

converting a TDS value of 700 ppm to a conductivity value.

SM: Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th edition. Table 8. (Element 13) Laboratory analytical methods.

Table 129. Laboratory Analytical Methods

Analytical Method Achievable Laboratory Limits

Analyte Laboratory

/Organization

Project Action Limit (units, wet or dry

weight)

Target Reporting

Limit (units, wet or dry

weight) Analytical

Method/ SOP

Modified for Method

yes/no MDLs Method

E. coli CSUSB See notes below 2

CFUMPN/100mL

EPA SM9223B1603 No Not

applicable

2 CFUMPN/

100 mL Fecal

Coliform See notes below 2 CFU/100mL SM 9222D No Not applicable

2 CFU/100 mL

Project Action Limits for E. coli, Fecal Coliform, and TSS are as follows:

E. coli: 5-sample/30-day Logarithmic Mean less than 113 organisms/100 mL (not 126 MPN/100ml?), and not more than 10% of the samples exceed 212 organisms/100 mL for any 30-day period.

Fecal coliform: 5-sample/30-day Logarithmic Mean less than 180 organisms/100 mL, and not more than 10% of the samples exceed 360 organisms/100 mL for any 30-day period.

TSS: Inland surface waters shall not contain suspended or settleable solids in amounts which cause a nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses as a result of controllable water quality factors.

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B14. Quality Control

Table 9. (Element 14) Sampling (Field) QC.

Matrix: Water Sampling SOP: per Sampling Plan and Section 11 of QAPP Analytical Parameter(s): Fecal coliform, E. coli Analytical Method/SOP Reference: Fecal Coliform (SM9222D); E. coli (SM 9223BEPA 1603)

Field QC Frequency/Number per sampling event Acceptance Limits

Equipment Blanks 1/ sample event No detectable amounts or <1/5 of sample concentration

Cooler Temperature 4º C 4º C

Field Duplicate Pairs 5 percent of total number of samples collected per sample event < 25 percent

Table 10. (Element 14) Analytical QC.

Matrix: water Sampling SOP: per Sampling Plan and Section 11 of QAPP Analytical Parameter(s): Fecal coliform and E. coli Analytical Method/SOP Reference: Fecal Coliform (SM9222D); E. coli (SM 9223BEPA 1603) # Sample locations: Beach and deep areas

Laboratory QC Frequency/Number Acceptance Limits Method Blank 1/lot minimum No detectable amounts

Laboratory Duplicate 10 percent of samples or one sample per test run < 3.27R

Laboratory Control sample (Accuracy)

For each lot of medium received, each laboratory

prepared batch of medium, and each lot of purchased prepared

medium

Verify appropriate response by testing with known positive and negative control cultures for

the organism(s) under test

Field and sterility checks (laboratory blanks) no detectable amounts or less than 1/5 of sample amounts for field blanks. Frequency – accuracy at 1 per culture medium or reagent lot. Precision at 1 in 10 (10%) with at least one per batch. All quality assurance and quality control procedures found in Standard Methods (18th, 19th, or 20th editions) section 9020 and in the selected analytical method including confirmation practices.

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ELEMENT 15: Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance Will forward appropriate info from the IDEXX manual to append to the QAPP ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: Describes how personnel can assure that equipment will function properly when needed. INSTRUCTIONS:

List any equipment that should be inspected or tested before use, and what maintenance needs to be documented on a routine basis. Indicate who will be responsible for this work.

SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

No additional requirement. EXAMPLE 15 INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT TESTING, INSPECTION, AND MAINTENANCE

Field measurement equipment will be checked for operation in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. This includes battery checks, routine replacement of membranes, and cleaning of conductivity electrodes. All equipment will be inspected when first handed out and when returned from use for damage. Equipment associated with bacterial analyses is check in accordance with the specifications of Standard Methods 9020B. In particular, incubators have the temperature checked twice a day at least 4 hours apart. The temperature must be within 35+0.5 oC. Dusty Sink Laboratory maintains its equipment in accordance with its SOPs, which include those specified by the manufacturer and those specified by the method. These SOPs are attached and have been reviewed by FDCC’s Quality Assurance officer and found to be in compliance with SWAMP criteria.

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B15. Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection, and Maintenance

Table 11. (Element 15) Testing, inspection, maintenance of sampling equipment and analytical instruments.

Equipment / Instrument

Maintenance Activity, Testing

Activity or Inspection Activity

Responsible Person

Frequency

SOP Reference

pH,

temperature, conductivity

probe (s); sampling

bottles, coolers, gloves safety

equipment (boots, waders,

etc).

Calibration, and

cleaning; inspecting

Sampling crew

Each sampling day before

sample collection and directly after sample

collection.

Laboratory personnel



Boat

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District/City of Canyon Lake

Prior to sample collection

NA

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B16. Instrument/Equipment Calibration and Frequency

The laboratory will implement quality assurance and quality control programs to calibrate its equipment in accordance with its SOPs, which include those specified by the manufacturer and those specified by the method. The laboratory is required to submit a copy of their SOPs for laboratory equipment calibration to the Contract Quality Assurance OfficerProject Manager for review and approval (see Appendices to this QAPP for the SOPs of laboratories being used by this project).

A xxxx probeHydrolab will be used to make field measurements for conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature, and turbidity. It will be properly calibrated according to manufacturer specifications prior to each use.

Table 12. (Element 16) Testing, inspection, maintenance of sampling equipment and analytical instruments.

Equipment / Instrument

SOP reference Calibration Description and

Criteria

Frequency of Calibration

Responsible Person

Temperature

sensor

calibration against NIST certified thermometer at least twice a year. Use correction factor table.

Sampling crew

Conductivity

sensor

calibration at start of sample run. Use calibration correction factor table for those devices not capable of being calibrated.

Sampling crew

pH sensor

calibration at the start of the sample run.

Sampling crew

Bacteria testing

None - follow the requirements of Standard Methods (18th, 19th, or 20th editions) section 9020.

Laboratory staff

Calibration records will be kept in a journal for the instruments that will be used in this project. These records will be part of the meta data that will be stored with the other records generated by this project and will be available for review.

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17.B17. Inspection/Acceptance of Ssupplies and Consumables

The laboratory will supply all the sample containers necessary for the monitoring program, and o. Other consumable supplies such as latex gloves, plastic storage bags, and waterproof pens. The laboratory will implement quality assurance and quality control programs to calibrate their equipment in accordance with their SOPs, which include those specified by the manufacturer and those specified by the method. The Laboratory is required to submit a copy of the SOPs for laboratory equipment calibration to the project Quality Assurance OfficeContractor Project Managerr for review and approval (see Appendices to this QAPP for the SOPs of laboratories the laboratory being used by for this project).

Table 13. (Element 17) Inspection/acceptance testing requirements for consumables and supplies.

Project-Related Supplies /

Consumables

Inspection / Testing Specifications

Acceptance Criteria Frequency Responsible Individual

Sampling bottles

with labels on them

Check to see if bottles have been opened or if seals are

broken or have liquid in them

Bottles sealed and dry

with thiosulfate preservative

1 week prior to

sample collection

Sampling crew

Gloves, ziplock

baggies

Check to see if the gloves

and ziplock bags are in sealed boxes and have not been used

Brand new and boxed

1 week prior to

sample collection

Sampling crew

ice

Check to see if the ice is

partially melted

Purchased the same

day and prior to sample collection

Purchased the same day and

prior to sample collection

Sampling crew

cooler

Check to see if it has been washed and there are no

stains inside it.

Washed and dried

prior to sample collection

1 week prior to

sample collection

Sampling crew

Chain of custody forms and field

forms

Check to ensure the forms

will be accepted by the laboratory, and that the

forms have as much preprinted information as

possible

Blank forms with

sampling locations pre-printed on them

1 week prior to

sample collection

Sampling crew

pH, conductivity standards, sensors

Check to ensure the standards have not exceeded the

expiration date and that there is sufficient quantity for the calibration, make sure the

field instrument passes calibration check if not order

new sensor for the probe

Standards not exceeded the

expiration date, and there is enough

quantity for calibration if not order ahead of time, probe

passes calibration checks successfully.

One to two months before the

first sample collection and

again on the same day of sample

collection

Sampling crew

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B18. Non-Direct Measurements (Existing Data)

One of the main purposes of this project is to determine if Canyon Lake is in continuous compliance with the fecal coliform objective listed in the Basin Plan and also whether it meets the recommended criteria for E. coli during the dry season. To this end, non direct measurements are not necessary. The second main purpose is to determine whether data from this project in conjunction with the data from the wet weather monitoring program provides evidence to delist Canyon Lake form the 303 (d) List. To reach this end, the data will be analyzed separately. Therefore, non direct measurements do not apply for this project.

ELEMENT 19: Data Management ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: This element is to control the management of the data generated throughout the project. INSTRUCTIONS:

Identify the process and hardware and software equipment for data/information handling and storage throughout the life cycle of the project (i.e. from the field notes and laboratory results or from existing data sources, to the office’s data or model system.) This includes: •recording, transcribing, digitizing, and downloading •transformation and reduction (mathematical operations) •transmittal •management •storage •retrieval

Indicate how the computerized information systems will be maintained. For example, indicate what hardware and

software items are necessary, how they will be routinely tested, and upgraded when software changes occur. If any of the above information is already incorporated in an organization’s Quality Management Plan, simply

refer to that document and section. SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

Information for SWAMP data management appears in the SWAMP QMP, Section B10. Appendix J of the QMP describes the interim SWAMP Information Management System (SIMS) of the SWAMP program.

EXAMPLE 19 DATA MANAGEMENT Data will be maintained as established in section 9 above. FDCC will maintain an inventory of data and its forms and will periodically check the inventory against the records in their possession. Dusty Sink Laboratory will maintain a record of transferred records and will periodically assess their record of transferred records against those actually held by FDCC. FDCC’s database is backed up to tape on a weekly basis. Back up tapes are kept for four weeks before they are written over. Each back up session validates whether the files on tape are accurate copies of the original. FDCC also maintains an access log showing who accessed the database, when, and what was done during the session. All changes to the database are stored in a transaction database with the possibility of rollback, if necessary.

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B19. Data Management Data will be maintained as established in Section A9. The TASK FORCE will maintain an inventory of data and its forms, and will periodically check the inventory against the records in their possession. Data samples will be collected according to the procedures outlined in Section B1 Sampling Process Design. Field measurements will be recorded on standard Field Log forms (attached). Analytical samples will be transferred to the laboratory under required Chain of Custody procedures using a standard Chain of Custody form (attached).

All laboratory and field measurement data submitted to SAWPA for inclusion in the SAWDMS database will follow the guidelines and formats established by SWAMP (http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/swamp/qapp.html). Data are transmitted to SAWPA in a standard electronic format and uploaded to the database through batch set electronic means. All contract laboratories will maintain a record of transferred records and will periodically assess their record of transferred records against those actually held by the TASK FORCE. Prior to upload, QA/QC tools will check new data against existing data in the database for completeness, validity of analytical methods, validity of sample locations, validity of sample dates, and data outliers. Data not passing QA/QC tests will be returned to the originating laboratory or generator for clarification and or correction. When all data within a batch set have passed QA/QC, the data will be uploaded to the database. A unique batch number, date loaded, originating laboratory, and the person who loaded the data will be recorded in the database, so that data can be identified and removed in the future if necessary.

The TASK FORCE’s database is backed up using built-in software backup procedures. In addition, all data files will be backed up on tape on a weekly basis as part of SAWPA’s SOP for disaster recovery. Back up tapes are kept for a minimum of four weeks before they are written over. Tapes are rotated off-site for separate storage on a monthly (or more frequent) basis, in accordance with SAWPA Information Systems SOPs. Each back up session validates whether the files on tape are accurate copies of the original. The TASK FORCE also maintains an access log showing who accessed the database, when, and what was done during the session. All changes to the database are stored in a transaction database with the possibility of rollback, if necessary.

Data will be stored on a Windows 2003 Server with a 2Ghz + CPU and 2Gb RAM with a fail safe RAID 5 configuration. The server checks for operating system updates daily and downloads and installs patches and service packs as necessary. The current server is two years old, and as per SAWPA policy, will be replaced after a maximum of 4 years of service. The server is also protected with Norton Anti-Virus software which is updated daily. The database software is Microsoft SQL Server 2000 standard edition with Service Pack 4. The database administrator checks the Microsoft Website for new patches and service packs on a monthly basis and installs updates as necessary. The general policy for updating operating system and database software is to evaluate the software on a test machine after a new version has been out for approximately 1 year. The new version is then installed at the discretion of the network or database administrator.

The database will be operated with a transaction log recording all changes with ability to roll back if necessary. Full database backups will occur on a weekly basis and immediately before batch uploads. It is expected data will be loaded quarterly to twice per year.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/swamp/qapp.html

37

Data will be exported from SAW DMS into the SWAMP format using a pre-made query that will map data fields from SAW DMS to the SWAMP template. The exported data will then be sent to the SWRCB IM Coordinator for processing into the SWAMP database. The data will be retrieved for analysis and report writing by exporting from SAW DMS using pre-made queries. (Provide brief description of data management scheme from field to final use and storage.) (Cite SOP, if available, or provide description of standard record-keeping and tracking practices.) (Cite SOP, if available, or describe procedure/s for processing, compiling, analyzing, and transmitting data reliably. Identify responsible individual/s.) (Cite SOPs, if available, or describe data archival and retrieval. Also describe procedures to demonstrate acceptability of hardware and software configurations.) (Attach applicable checklists or forms if available.)

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GROUP C: ASSESSMENT AND OVERSIGHT

C20. Assessments & Response Actions The RWQCB Quality Assurance Officer, or designee, will conduct reviews of sampling procedures on an annual basis. Reviews will be observed practices against those found in this QAPP. The Quality Assurance Officer will audit the contract laboratory annually. The review will be observed method practices against contract laboratory’s SOPs and an audit of data from the contract laboratory’s quality assurance and quality control program.

If an audit discovers any discrepancy, the Quality Assurance Officer will discuss the observed discrepancy with the appropriate person responsible for the activity (see organizational chart). The discussion will begin with whether the information collected is accurate, what were the cause(s) leading to the deviation, how the deviation might impact data quality, and what corrective actions might be considered.

The Quality Assurance Officer has the power to halt all sampling and analytical work by the contract laboratory if the deviation(s) noted are considered detrimental to data quality. (Describe the project assessments planned including type of assessment, frequency and number of assessments and approximate time periods. Also identify individual(s) responsible for conducting assessments. Describe the scope of authority that the reviewer has, and who has the authority to issue a stop-work order.) (Describe how and to whom assessment information should be reported.)

(Describe process for corrective action. Include how actions are to be addressed, by whom, and how they are verified and documented.)

39

ELEMENT 21: Reports to Management ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: This element documents how management will be kept informed of project oversight and assessment activities and findings. The element will identify those responsible for writing these reports, when, and how often these reports will be written, and identify who will be notified of audit findings. Projects of short duration may only have a final report that includes assessment results, along with project results and conclusions. INSTRUCTIONS:

Identify all interim and final reports that will be written during the project including those generated by the action and response activities associated with the previous element. Include reports dictated by contract requirements as well as internal reports. Examples include: -assessment and response action reports -results of proficiency test samples -calibration reports -model evaluation reports

Additional information to provide: -Identify the frequency and distribution of these reports. -Identify the report writer and recipients, as well as any specific actions or recommendations recipients are expected to make. -Table may be used to summarize some of this information.

SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

Quarterly progress reports are minimum. Requirements for Reports To Management appear in the SWAMP QMP, Section C2.

EXAMPLE 21 REPORTS TO MANAGEMENT Interim and final reports will be issued by FDCC according to the following table. Table 6 – Report Due Dates

Report Due by Quarterly progress reports By the 30th of the month following the

quarter Quarterly progress reports By the 30th of the month following the

quarter. Complete data set and summary 4/1/06

Draft final report for review 4/1/06 Final Report 6/1/06

40

C21. Reports to Management

(Identify all interim and final reports, including project QA status reports, that will be written during the project term. Identify frequency of reporting, responsible individuals, and report recipients. Information may be provided in narrative or tabular form below.) A report summarizing and interpreting the data will be submitted to the Regional Board (and others on the distribution list) no more than 90 days after the laboratory reports results from the final sampling period to the Contractor Project Manager. The report will include a statistical analysis of the data noting any relevant spatial or seasonal differences observed. The annual report will also evaluate the sampling data to assess compliance with the existing and proposed water quality objectives.

Table 14. (Element 21) QA management reports.

Type of Report

Frequency (daily, weekly,

monthly, quarterly,

annually, etc.)

Projected Delivery Dates(s)

Person(s)

Responsible for Report

Preparation

Report Recipients

41

Group D: Data Validation and Usability ELEMENT 22: Data Review, Verification, and Validation ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: This information describes the final critical checks that will be done on the information obtained to decide whether they satisfy the quality criteria listed above in Element 7 above, and whether that information can be used. The level of detail and frequency for performing data review, verification, and validation activities will depend on the complexity of the project, and the importance of the decision to be made based on it. Data review is the in-house examination to ensure that the data have been recorded, transmitted, and processed correctly. That includes, for example, checking for data entry, transcription, calculation, reduction, and transformation errors. It may also mean ensuring that there is a complete list of sample information available, such as sample matrixes, blanks, duplicates, shipping dates, preservatives, holding times, etc., and ensuring that there are no programming errors. Data verification is the process for evaluating the completeness, correctness, and conformance/compliance of a specific data set against the method, procedural, or contractual specifications. Data validation is an analyte- and sample– specific process that extends the evaluation of data beyond method, procedure, or contractual compliance to determine the quality of a specific data set relative to the end use. Data verification is generally done first, internally by those generating the data or by an organization external to that group. Data validation is generally performed on the verified data later in the process and by someone independent or external to the data generator and the data user. These processes may occur both during and at the end of the project. INSTRUCTIONS:

Describe the criteria for deciding to accept, reject, or qualify project data in an objective and consistent manner. Include any subsequent activities and criteria that will review data a second time for data that fails to pass the first review. Procedures are to be discussed in the next element.

SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

To qualify for incorporation into the SWAMP database, all data must meet applicable SWAMP Data Acceptability criteria as defined in Element 7 and applicable SWAMP requirements as defined in Elements 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17. Data must also be submitted in SWAMP compatible format.

EXAMPLE 22 DATA REVIEW, VERIFICATION, AND VALIDATION Data generated by project activities will be reviewed against the data quality objectives cited in Element 7 and the quality assurance/quality control practices cited in Elements 14, 15, 16, and 17. Data will be separated into three categories: data meeting all data quality objectives, data meeting failing precision or recovery criteria, and data failing to meet accuracy criteria. Data meeting all data quality objectives, but with failures of quality assurance/quality control practices will be set aside until the impact of the failure on data quality is determined. Once determined, the data will be moved into either the first category or the last category. Data falling in the first category is considered usable by the project. Data falling in the last category is considered not usable. Data falling in the second category will have all aspects assessed. If sufficient evidence is found supporting data quality for use in this project, the data will be moved to the first category, but will be flagged with a “J” as per EPA specifications.

42

GROUP D: DATA VALIDATION AND USABILITY

D22. Data Review, Verification, and Validation Requirements Data generated by each project’s activities will be reviewed against the data quality objectives cited in Section A7 and the quality assurance/quality control practices cited in Sections B5, B6, B7 and B8. Data will be separated into three categories: data meeting all data quality objectives, data meeting failing precision or recovery criteria, and data failing to meet accuracy criteria. Data meeting all data quality objectives, but with failures of quality assurance/quality control practices will be set aside until the impact of the failure on data quality is determined. Once determined, the data will be moved into either the first or last category.

Data falling in the first category are considered usable by the project. Data falling in the last category are considered not usable. Data falling in the second category will have all aspects assessed. If sufficient evidence is found supporting data quality for use in this project, the data will be moved to the first category, but will be flagged with a “J” as per EPA specifications. (Describe the criteria for deciding to accept, reject, or qualify project data in an objective and consistent manner. If applicable, include any subsequent activities and criteria that will review data a second time for data that fails to pass the first review. Procedures are to be discussed in the next element.)

43

ELEMENT 23: Verification and Validation Methods ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: This element identifies the methods or processes for verifying and then validating project information. The methods to be used or processes to be followed can be identified as SOPs, if available, or described in the text. INSTRUCTIONS:

Describe how the project data will be verified and validated. The data may be reviewed to verify how it was: -recorded or formatted -transformed -reduced -analyzed -qualified

Describe the process to show how errors will be handled and this information given to the data users. Attach any necessary forms and checklists to the QAPP.

Identify the individuals to be involved in these efforts. Describe how any issues will be resolved and identify who has the authority for resolving them. Describe how results will be conveyed to data users. Attach copies of the SOPs, checklists, forms, and calculations to be used in an appendix to your QAPP. Additional guidance: “Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Data Validation, EPA QA/G-8,

November 2002, www.epa.gov/quality/vandv.html. SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

No additional requirement. Information for data verification and validation appear in the SWAMP QMP, Section D2.

EXAMPLE 23 VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION METHODS All data records will be checked visually and recorded as checked by initials and dates. FDCC’s QA Officer will do all reviews and FDCC’s Project Manager will perform a check of 10% of the reports. Dusty Sink Laboratory’s QA Officer will perform checks of all of its records and Dusty Sink’s Laboratory Director will recheck 10%. All checks by Dusty Sink will be reviewed by FDCC. Issues will be noted. Reconciliation and correction will be done by a committee composed of FDCC’s QA Officer, Field Supervisor, Analyst, and Project Manager; and Dusty Sink Laboratory’s QA Officer and Laboratory Director. Any corrections require a unanimous agreement that the correction is appropriate

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D23. Verification and Validation Methods (Provide a description of how the project data will be verified and validated. Describe the process to show how errors will be handled and this information given to the data users. Reference and attach any necessary forms and checklists to the QAPP. Identify the individuals to be involved in these efforts. ) All data records will be checked visually and recorded as checked by initials and dates. The contract laboratory’s Quality Assurance Officer will perform checks of all of its records. Issues will be noted. Reconciliation and correction will be done by a committee composed of the Field Supervisor, Analyst, and contract laboratory’s Quality Assurance Officer. Any corrections require a unanimous agreement that the correction is appropriate.

(Describe how any issues will be resolved and identify who has the authority for resolving them. Describe how results will be conveyed to data users. ) (Attach copies of the applicable SOPs, checklists, forms, and calculations to be used in an appendix to your QAPP.)

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ELEMENT 24: Reconciliation with User Requirements ELEMENT DESCRIPTION: Describes how validated data will be evaluated to see if it answers the original questions asked. This is the final assessment of the data quality and the culmination of the entire QA process for the project. INSTRUCTIONS:

Describe how the project results will be evaluated to determine whether the project’s objectives have been satisfied. Provide an outline of methods proposed to analyze the data so as to determine possible anomalies or departures from assumptions made when the project was planned. Describe what statistical and scientific analyses will be made. Statistical analyses may include tests for outliers, trends, and dispersion. Describe how data will be presented, such as tables or charts, to illustrate trends, relationships, and anomalies. Describe how limitations in data use will be reported to the decision-makers. This element assumes that the data has already met all data quality objectives and other quality issues. The outcome here is whether the data does or does not support the original hypothesis or whether the data does not have the power to make the determination.

EPA guidance for Data Quality Assessment (DQA) Process to evaluate how well the validated data can support their intended use can be used. The DQA process is a five-step process described in “Guidance for Data Quality Assessment: Practical Methods for Data Analysis, EPA QA/G-9 (July 2000) and available on the web at www.epa.gov/quality/dqa.html. This document is specifically written for non-statisticians and provides many graphical and statistical tools for data assessment.

If a judgmental sampling design was selected in the systematic planning process (see element 10 above), analysis and inference becomes limited to simple descriptions of the data with no extrapolation to more general cases.

SWAMP REQUIREMENT:

No additional requirement. Information for Requirements for Reconciliation with User Requirements appear in the SWAMP QMP, Section

D3. The Grant Recipients will need to make a decision as to whether the data collected provides the information they needed. While the Grant Recipient will have a specific use for the data collected, the data is to be shared statewide for many different possible uses subject to different Data Quality Objectives. Reconciliation will thus be end-user dependent. Whether the data collected has low enough detection limits to ascertain the achievement of various beneficial uses can be aided by a review of a document formulated by RWQCB-5 and available on the web at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb5/available_documents/wq_goals/index.html.

EXAMPLE 24 RECONCILIATION WITH USER REQUIREMENTS The project needs sufficient numbers of data points, as represented by the completeness data quality objective in order to do trend analyses, define the bacterial hot spots within Mal de Mer, and determine the impact from Mardi Gras mine. A failure to achieve the numbers of data points cited could mean an inability to provide these assessments

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D24. Reconciliation with User Requirements (Describe how the project results will be evaluated to determine whether the project’s objectives have been satisfied. This element assumes that the data has already met all data quality objectives and other quality issues. The outcome here is whether the data does or does not support the original hypothesis or whether the data does not have the power to make the determination. Describe proposed methods -statistical or scientific- to analyze the data so as to determine possible anomalies or departures from assumptions made when the project was planned. Statistical analyses may include tests for outliers, trends, and dispersion.) The water quality objective for E. coli is specified as the geometric mean of at least 5-samples collected in a 30-day period. The prescribed monitoring program is adequate to calculate four rolling geometric means for each location in the first sampling period and 10 rolling geometric means for each location in the second sampling period. Therefore, at the conclusion of the one year study period, the stakeholders will be able to report a total of 60 different geometric means for Canyon Lake. EPA guidance strongly recommends that geometric means, rather than single sample results, be used to assess compliance with water quality standards. And, state guidance specifies a minimum of 28 separate geometric means are needed to determine the lake's proper status on California's 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies.

(Describe how limitations in data use will be reported to the data users.)

You have completed your project QAPP. Please check that you have: Appended all relevant forms, SOPs, etc. Completed the checklist and included it as an attachment. Updated the Table of Contents (to update: use F9) Updated List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Appendices Deleted all guidance and example text boxes. Deleted this text box.

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