United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas NV 89114
Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-86/010 July 1986
Project Summary
National Surface Water Survey:
Eastern Lake Survey
Phase I—Synoptic Chemistry
Field Operations Report
Franklin A. Morris, David V. Peck, Michael B. Bonoff, and Kevin J. Cabbie
The National Surface Water Survey is
a three-phase program designed to
address increasing concern over
potential acidification of U.S. surface
waters by atmospheric deposition.
Phase I of the Eastern Lake Survey
(ELS-I) was conducted during autumn
1984 as a synoptic chemical survey to
characterize lakes located in regions of
the eastern U.S. believed to be
susceptible to the effects of acidic
deposition. This document describes
planning activities and summarizes
field operations of the Eastern Lake
Survey—Phase I.
Prior to Phase I field operations,
preliminary experiments and pilot field
studies were conducted to test field
sampling methodology and assumptions,
laboratory procedure and methodology,
and logistical constraints. Eight locations
in the eastern U.S. were selected as field
station sites for the ELS-I. Lake water
samples and in situ chemical and
physical data from 1798 lakes were
collected using helicopters. Field
sampling methodologies are described
in the final report. Water samples were
returned to mobile laboratories located
at the field stations. Certain analyses
were performed at the mobile
laboratories, and the samples were split
into aliquots and preserved for later
analyses at contract analytical
laboratories.
In general, field sampling and field
laboratory activities proceeded
smoothly. Pertinent results, observations,
and recommendations for improvement
regarding field operations are included.
These recommendations and observations
may be valuable to planners of similar
projects.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Office of Acid Deposition,
Environmental Monitoring and Quality
Assurance. Washington. DC. to
announce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).
Introduction
The National Surface Water Survey
(NSWS) is a three-phase program
designed and implemented by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
as part of the National Acid Precipitation
Assessment Program (NAPAP) to address
the increasing concern over potential
acidification of U.S. surface waters by
atmospheric deposition Phase I of the
Eastern Lake Survey (ELS-I) was
conducted during the fall of 1984 as a
synoptic chemical survey to characterize
lakes, at one point in time, located in
regions of the Eastern United States
believed to be susceptible to the effects of
acid deposition. The EPA's Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory—Las
Vegas, Nevada (EMSL-LV) was charged
with overseeing and supervising the field
operations for the ELS-I. Logistical and
personnel support for ELS-I was provided
by Lockheed Engineering and Management
Services Company, Inc. (Lockheed-EMSCO).
The final report describes the planning
activities and summarizes field
operations of the ELS-I.
-------
The research plan for the ELS-I, drafted
in October 1983, was reviewed by more
than 100 scientists and other potential
data users. A meeting of 50 scientists and
policy-makers was held in December
1983 to review and modify the research
plan. The revised research plan and its
statistical design was subjected to further
peer review before field operations
began. Sampling and analytical
methodologies, the quality assurance
plan, and the logistics plan were
developed for the ELS-I based on the
revised research plan.
Preliminary Activities
Helicopters were chosen as the ideal
tool to sample a large number of lakes
over a broad geographic area in a short
period of time. Because only one sample
was to be taken from each lake, the most
suitable time to sample was a period
when the lakes would be mixed and the
samples would be most representative of
the chemistry of the entire lake. These
mixing periods occur during the spring
and again during the fall through early
winter.
Two pilot studies were conducted
during the winter and spring of 1984 to
assess the proposed research and field
operations plans of the ELS-I. The pilot
studies provided an opportunity to
establish the expected range of
concentrations of the chemical vanbles,
and to test the proposed analytical
methods. The pilot studies also allowed
evaluation of other aspects of the
research plan: lake selection, proposed
sampling protocols, quality assurance
program, and data management. The
winter survey demonstrated that sam-
pling lakes through the ice was not
an effective procedure, due to the
difficulty of finding lakes covered by
snow, sampling under hazardous
conditions, and the increased time
needed to collect samples at low
temperatures. The spring pilot study was
more successful, leading to the decision
that sampling during the fall turnover
period only would achieve the objectives
of ELS-I.
During the pilot studies, several other
assumptions related to field sampling
were experimentally tested. One major
concern was that the helicopter's
exhaust fumes, might contaminate the
samples. Samples were taken from a lake
using a boat, then from a helicopter. No
significant differences were found
between the means of 22 chemical
parameters (n=7) from the boat and
helicopter samples, and it was concluded
that the helicopter had no effect on the
quality of the water samples collected.
Preparation for field operations
included procurement of all the
necessary equipment, training of the field
and laboratory personnel, base site
selection, and laboratory transportation
and set up. All Lockheed-EMSCO
personnel were trained in Las Vegas for
aspects of either field or laboratory
operations, including safety. Field
samplers provided by EPA regional
offices and state agencies were trained at
several field stations Eight field stations
were selected in the eastern U.S where
the mobile laboratories were
located: Bangor, ME; Lake Placid, NY;
Lexington, MA; Mt. Pocono, PA; Duluth,
MN; Rhinelander, Wl; Asheville, NC; and
Lakeland, FL Remote base sites were
also established at some field stations as
a base for helicopter operations,
generally for sampling lakes outside a
150 mile radius from the field station
Field Station Operations
Fifteen people staffed each field
station, including management
personnel, helicopter pilots and
mechanics, and laboratory and field
crews. All personnel reported to the base
coordinator, who was responsible for the
overall operation of the field station Each
station had a communications room
where the field sampling activities could
be closely monitored for safety and
coordination. A communications center
in Las Vegas was used to track the
number and type of lakes sampled,
compile helicopter flight hours and
weather forecasts, coordinate and track
quality assurance (QA) and analytical
samples, and ship supplies to the field
stations
Field Sampling Operations
Strict QA measures were followed to
maintain consistency in field sampling
protocols, and to ensure that field data
and water samples would yield results of
a high and known quality Hydrolab
4041* water quality analyzer units were
calibrated every morning and checked
before and after sampling with solutions
of known pH and conductivity. Each field
team collected a field blank sample every
day to provide estimates of analytical
detectibility and check for contamination
in their sampling procedure. Duplicate
samples were also collected daily for
'Mention of trade names does not constitute en-
dorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
each field station to estimate the overall
precision of ELS-I methodologies.
When a lake was approached from the
air, the lake identity was verified from
maps and from the LORAN-C guidance
system in each helicopter, and then the
lake was photographed. If the lake was
accessible, the helicopter would land,
and the pilot would locate the deepest
point in the lake by use of a depth finder.
Secchi disk transparency was determined
using a Secchi disk. Temperature (for
determination of the stratification status
of the lake), pH, and conductivity were
measured in situ with the Hydrolab unit.
Water samples were collected from 1.5m
with a 6.2 L Van Dorn bottle. Two 60-ml
syringes were rinsed and filled with water
from the Van Dorn bottle. pH and dis-
solved inorganic carbon (DIG) were de-
termined using these samples at the field
lab. A 4-LCubitainer was rinsed and filled
with water from the Van Dorn. All field
data was recorded on standardized forms.
The data forms, syringes, and water
samples were delivered to the field labo-
ratory within 8 hours of collection.
Field Laboratory Operations
Field laboratory crews processed and
preserved samples as soon as possible
after collection, and conducted certain
analyses Every trailer contained a
laminar flow hood used as a contaminat-
ion-free work area, a high-quality water
purification unit, freezer and refrigerator
space, instrumentation to perform
measurements of DIG, pH, turbidity, and
true color. Each laboratory was staffed by
five persons each with clearly defined
responsibilities, lab coordinator, lab
supervisor, and three analysts.
The samples were organized into a
batch for processing as they were
received from field sampling crews. Audil
samples of known composition were alsc
added to the routine, duplicate, and blank
samples from the field for quality
assurance All the information from eacr
batch, including the results of the
chemical analyses performed on site
were recorded onto a standardized batch
form. Seven aliquots from each samplf
were prepared and preserved for mor<
detailed chemical analyses. Preparatior
involved filtration (0.45 /jm membrani
filters) of or pouring aliquots of sample
into amber polyethylene bottles. Ar
aluminum extraction procedure using 8
hydroxyquinolme and methyl isobuty
ketone was carried out to prepare oni
aliquot. The preserved aliquots wen
shipped the next day for delivery to one o
four contract analytical laboratone
-------
within 24 hours. Additional aliquots were
also prepared and sent to the
Environmental Research Laboratory in
Corvallis, OR for elemental analyses
Some field laboratories prepared aliquots
that were shipped to laboratories in
Norway and Canada. Data forms were
sent daily to Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, where the data base was
managed and to quality assurance
personnel in Las Vegas. A shipping form
for each container of samples sent was
also sent daily to the NSWS sample
management office
Summary of Field Operations
Of the 1876 lakes initially selected for
sampling during ELS-I, 1763 were visited
and 1612 were actually sampled. Some
of the selected lakes were not visited due
to time constrictions coupled with bad
weather. Visited lakes were not sampled
if they were ice-covered, had a
conductance over 1,500^8 cm"1, had
flowing water, or if landing conditions
were hazardous. Only 5 percent of the
lakes sampled were themally stratified
when they were sampled. An additional
199 lakes were selected as "special
interest" lakes on recommendation from
various federal and state agencies.
Samples were collected from 186 special
interest lakes.
Field laboratories delivered 2,399
samples to the contract analytical
laboratories, at an average daily
processing rate of 20 samples per field
laboratory per day.
Field operations for the ELS-I were
conducted such that the project was
completed on schedule A sufficient
number of lake samples were collected
and analyzed to satisfy the objectives of
the research plan. To assist others
planning operations similar to ELS-I, a
summary of pertinent cost information,
observations, and recommendations are
provided in the final report. Similarly, the
final report contains a section on
recommendations and observations to
improve the field operations of future
NSWS activities or other similar surveys.
This report is submitted in partial
fulfillment of contracts 68-03-3050 and
68-03-3249 by Lockheed Engineering
and Management Services Company,
Inc., under the sponsorship of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
-------
Franklin A. Morris, David V. Peck, Michael B. Bonoff, and Kevin J. Cabbie are with
Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co., Inc., Las Vegas, NV
89109.
Robert E. Crowe is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "National Surface Water Survey: Eastern Lake
Survey, Phase I—Synoptic Chemistry—Field Operations Report,"(Order No. PB
86-196 680/AS; Cost: $ 11.95, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, NV 89114
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
w .;„ t..
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S4-86/010
0000329 PS
CHICAGO
------- |