United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-B-12-008
2013-2014
National Rivers and Streams Assessment
Site Evaluation Guidelines
DRAFT
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2013-2014 National Rivers & Streams Assessment Site Evaluation Guidelines
Version 1.0, November 2012 Page 2 of 14
NOTICE
The intention of the National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014 is to provide a comprehensive
"State of Flowing Waters" assessment for rivers and streams across the United States. The complete
documentation of overall project management, design, methods, quality assurance, and standards is
contained in four companion documents, including:
National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014: Quality Assurance Project Plan (EPA-841-B-12-007)
National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014: Site Evaluation Guidelines (EPA-841-B-12-008)
National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014: Field Operations Manual (EPA-841-B-12-009)
National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014: Laboratory Operations Manual (EPA-841-B-12-010)
This document (Site Evaluation Guidelines [SEG]) contains an overview of the processes involved in
locating a sampling site, evaluating the site, and selecting appropriate alternate sites when necessary,
and is based on the guidelines developed and followed in the Western Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (Peck et al. 2003) and the National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009.
Methods described in this document are to be used specifically in work relating to the NRSA 2013-2014.
Mention of trade names or commercial products in this document does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use. More detail of the project overview and of specific methods for field sampling,
sample handling, and sample processing can be found in the appropriate companion document.
The suggested citation for this document is:
USEPA. 2012. National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014: Site Evaluation Guidelines. EPA-841-
B-12-008. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
LIST OF FIGURES 3
1.0 INTRODUCTION 4
2.0 SURVEY DESIGN 5
1.1 TARGET POPULATION 5
1.2 SAMPLE FRAME 5
1.3 SURVEY DESIGN 5
1.4 RESAMPLE SITES 6
3.0 LOCATING THE INDEX SITE ON MAPS 6
4.0 OBTAINING PERMISSION TO ACCESS CANDIDATE SITE 6
5.0 SITE VERIFICATION 8
1.5 SITE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES 8
1.6 SAMPLEABLE CATEGORIES 8
1.7 NON-SAMPLEABLE CATEGORIES 9
1.7.1 Non-Sampleable (permanent condition; stream becomes non-target) 9
1.7.2 Non-Sampleable (temporary condition; stream can be revisited) 9
1.8 No ACCESS TO SITE CATEGORIES 9
1.9 BLACKWATER SITES 10
1.10 TIDALSITES 10
1.11 RUN-OF-THE-RIVER RESEVOIRS 10
6.0 SELECTING ALTERNATE SITES 10
1.12 SITE SAMPLING CATEGORIES 10
7.0 LITERATURE CITED 11
8.0 ATTACHMENT A: EXAMPLE OF LANDOWNER PERMISSION SLIP 12
9.0 ATTACHMENT B: EXAMPLE ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE FORM 13
LIST OF FIGURES |
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FIGURE 1. SITE EVALUATION PROCESS 4 H
FIGURE 2. EXAMPLE PERMISSION COVER LETTER 7 u
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Site Evaluation Guidelines
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This document is provided to clarify all of the steps involved in the process of locating and evaluating a
sampling site for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) 2013-2014. There are 5 steps
involved in this process (Figure 1):
• Locate the index site ("x-site") on a topographic map and verify that the x-site is aligned with an
actual channel segment
• Obtain permission to access the site
• Verify that the site is sampleable
• Sample the site OR replace with an alternate site
Stepl
Step 2
Locate index site
("X -site") on map
Conduct desktop recon-
verify that X -site is aligned
with an actual stream segment
StepS
Step 4
Does X -site
appear sampleable
and accessible?
Obtain permission
to access site
Step 5
Figure 1. Site Evaluation Process
Field crews must assemble a dossier containing important locational and access information for each
site they are scheduled to visit. The dossier must contain the appropriate maps, contact information,
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copies of permission letters (if applicable), and access instructions. If the field crew is not a state agency,
he/she must interact with the state to verify site locations. Before a site visit, each field team should
confirm access to the waterbody if possible. The landowner(s) listed in the dossier should be contacted
to confirm permission to sample and to identify any revisions to the information in the dossier.
2.0 SURVEY DESIGN
1.1 Target Population
The target populations consists of all streams and rivers within the 48 contiguous states that have
flowing water during the study index period excluding portions of tidal rivers up to head of salt. The
study index period extends from April/May to September and is generally characterized by low flow
conditions. The target population includes the Great Rivers. Run-of-the-river ponds and pools are
included while reservoirs are excluded. A complete definition of the target population is given in the
field operations manual.
1.2 SAMPLE FRAME
The sample frame was derived from the medium National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), in particular
NHD-Plus. Attributes from NHD-Plus and additional attributes added to the sample frame that are used
in the survey design are:
• MajorRiver: rivers identified as major rivers or additional rivers in the book: Rivers of North
America.
• Strahler order
• Strahler category where categories are RiversMajor (5th and higher), RiversOther (5th and
higher), LargeStreams (3rd,4th order), and SmallStreams (1st, 2nd order).
• BorderRiver: rivers and streams that occur on state and country boundaries. Each reach is
identified by two-state postal codes such as MO:ILforthe portion of the Mississippi river that
forms the boundary between Missouri and Illinois. A border river/stream is assigned to one of
the two states for the survey design.
• Ecological Reporting Region: Nine aggegrated Omernik ecoregions that are used for reporting.
• Omernik and North American ecoregions Levels I, II, III and IV.
1.3 SURVEY DESIGN
The survey design consists of two major components (NRSA14 design and NRSA09 design) in order to
address the dual objectives of (1) estimating current status and (2) estimating change in status for all
flowing waters.
• NRSA09 Design: The NRSA09 survey design is a subsample of the NRSA 2008-9 sites that were
target and sampled in the NRSA 2008-9. The major objective for this design is change
estimation, although all sites sampled in 2013-14 will be used when change is estimated. The
expected sample sizes were based on the nine ecological reporting regions and two Strahler
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order categories of Rivers (5th and greater) and Streams (1st through 4th).
• NRSA14 Design: The NRSA14 survey design is a new survey design that will select new sites. The
expected sample sizes were based on the nine ecological reporting regions and four categories
of RiversMajor (5th and greater), RiversOther (5th and greater), LargeStreams (Strahler order
3rd, 4th), and SmallStreams (Strahler order 1st, 2nd).
1.4 RESAMPLE SITES
The overall survey design included having 10% of the sites be visited twice in 2013/14. This was
accomplished by allocating 4 sites (2 Rivers and 2 Streams sites) to each of the 48 states for revisits (192
sites total). All of these revisit sites were assigned to the NRSA09 design. More over the sites selected to
be revisited were also the same sites that were visited twice in 2008/09. This results in 192 sites that
were visited twice in 2008/09 and will be visited twice in 2013/14.
3.0 LOCATING THE INDEX SITE ON MAPS
Stream sampling points were chosen from the "blue line" stream network represented on 1:100,000
scale USGS maps, following a systematic random site selection process developed for NRSA 2013/14 .
Each point is referred to as the "index site" or "X-site." The "X-site" is the mid-point of the segment to
be sampled. The latitude/longitude of the X-site was listed on a regional sampling site spreadsheet that
was distributed electronically to the field crews and EPA Regional Coordinators. Digital maps were
distributed to each field crew with site locations marked. The maps include the X-site location(s), at
scales appropriate for 1) locating the site more generally in a region of the state, and 2) isolating the
most efficient approach (es) to the site. There are three maps distributed by EPA to the field crews. One
shows the topographic map, one the aerial image, and the third shows the road map in relation to the X-
site. The sites are identified as base or oversample in the "panel" column of the spreadsheet. The base,
or primary, sites are those of interest for this project. The alternate "oversample" sites are only
considered if the primary sites are rejected.
The line work for US EPA's National Hydrologic Database -Plus (NHD-Plus) is based on l:100,000-scale
Digital Line Graphs and, therefore, will not match exactly with the l:24,000-scale maps. Use the NHD-
Plus line work to locate important features such as confluences or bends in the channel to assist in
placing the X-site accordingly on the l:24,000-scale (or 7.5") map. All NHD-Plus lines are shown even
though many are not channel traces. Line segments for lakes, inundated areas, wetlands and, ^
occasionally, even map boundaries are shown as NHD-Plus line work. EPA Region, USGS Cataloging Unit <
number, state, county and UTM zone are also included. All information, including the longitude/latitude, ^
refers to the location of the X-point. O
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If you have any questions about the site maps or how to use them please contact Ellen Tarquinio (202- ^
566-2267, tarquinio.ellen@epa.gov). ><
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4.0 OBTAINING PERMISSION TO ACCESS CANDIDATE SITE
Each field crew is responsible for obtaining permission for their sampling team to access their sampling
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sites. Obtaining permission prior to the sampling day is often important to minimize loss of time on the
part of the field team. Contact with the landowner can be done either through an "in-person" recon visit
or through mailing out landowner permission request letters, similar to the attached cover letter signed
by the Regional Monitoring Coordinator (Figure 2) with a permission slip (Attachment A: Example of
Landowner Permission Slip) for the landowner to return. This is an example that can be used and made
specific to your program or organization. In either case, a signed permission slip is important to use as
documentation on the day of sampling. Some teams will choose to deal with access issues on the day of
the sampling event. This method is usually adequate if a "desk-top reconnaissance" shows that the area
around the site includes enough public land to gain access to the waterway. If the site is in an area that
is largely privately owned land, waiting until the day of sampling could pose unnecessary delays and
access issues that should have been resolved prior to the scheduled sampling day.
Landowner information can be obtained from the county tax assessor office. Tax assessor maps will
display landowner boundaries, addresses and, oftentimes, phone numbers. This information enables the
team to contact landowners before the sampling day, and identifies which landowner owns which
portions of the stream or river banks. The provision of county maps for the field crews will help clarify
access to the targeted sampling reach.
(Date)
Dear Landowner:
The US Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with State agencies, is conducting an
environmental assessment of rivers and streams across the United States. A computer was used to
randomly select these streams. A total of approximately 1,800 sampling sites in rivers and streams were
selected for sampling in 2013 and 2014. Water quality chemistry, aquatic life, and habitat will be
evaluated at each site. The findings of the study are not will not be used for enforcement or regulatory
purposes.
We are contacting you prior to the site visit to obtain permission (form enclosed) to access the
sampling site. We have enclosed a copy of a topographic map(s) with the site(s) identified by an "X" at
the specific point on the stream to be sampled. We realize that working on your property is a privilege
and we will respect your rights and wishes at all times.
Please return the completed Access Permission Form in the enclosed envelope by (date). If you
have any questions concerning this request, please contact me (phone number). We are looking
forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
(Name)
Regional Monitoring Coordinator
Figure 2. Example Permission Cover Letter
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5.0 SITE VERIFICATION
While traveling from a base location to a site, record a detailed description of the route taken on the
Verification Form (front). This information will allow others to find the site again if it is selected for a
repeat visit in the future. Upon reaching the X-site for a stream or river channel, confirm its location and
that the team is at the correct location. Record the information on the Verification Form (front).
Complete a Verification Form for each site visited (regardless of whether it is sampled), following the
procedures described below.
1.5 SITE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES
1. Find the site location in the field corresponding to the X-site coordinates and the "X" marked on
the map (X-site) prepared for each site. Record the routes taken and other directions on the
Verification Form so that others can visit the same location in the future.
2. Use a GPS receiver to confirm the latitude and longitude of the X-site with the coordinates for
the site. Make sure the GPS unit is set to reference the NAD 83 geospatial data set. Record these
on the Verification Form.
3. Use all available means to ensure that you are at the correct location as marked on the map
including: 1:24,000 USGS map, topographic landmarks, county road maps, local contacts, etc.
4. Scan the channel upstream and downstream from the X-site, determine whether the site is
sampleable using the guidelines provided below, and mark the appropriate box on the
Verification Form.
5. Do not sample non-target or "Non-sampleable" or "No Access" sites. Place an "X" in the "NO"
box for "Did you sample this site?" and check the appropriate box in the "Non-Sampleable" or
"No Access" section of the Verification Form; provide detailed explanation in comments section.
1.6 Sampleable Categories
• Wadeable- There is continuous water flow and >50% of the sample reach is wadeable.
• Bootable - Boat is required for sampling >50% of sample reach.
• Portia I Samp led by Wading - >50% of reach sampled by wadeable protocols.
• Partial Sampled by Boat ->50% of reach sampled by nonwadeable protocols.
• Wadeable or Bootable Interrupted - The flow of water is not continual, but there is water in the
sample reach (e.g., isolated pools); >50% of the reach has water present.
• Altered Channel - There is a stream at the location marked with the X-site on the map, but the
stream channel does not appear the way it is drawn on the map. An example of this is a channel
rerouting following a flood event that cut off a loop of the stream. Establish a new X-site at the
same relative position in the altered channel. (Make careful notes and sketches of the changes
on the Verification Form.)
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1.7 Non-Sampleable Categories
1.7.1 Non-Sampleable (permanent condition; stream becomes non-target)
• Dry Channel - A discernible stream channel is present but there is no water anywhere within a
150-m reach centered on the X-site. If determined at the time of the sampling visit, record as
"Dry-Visited"; if site was determined to be dry (or otherwise non-perennial) from another
source and/or field verified before the actual sampling visit, record as "Dry-Not visited."
• Wetland- (No definable stream channel) there is standing water present, but no definable
stream channel. In cases of wetlands surrounding a recognizable stream channel, define the site
as sampleable but restrict sampling to the stream channel.
• Map Error- No evidence that a water body or stream channel was ever present at the
coordinates provided for the X-site.
• Impounded stream - The stream is submerged under a lake or pond due to man-made or
natural (e.g., beaver dam) impoundments. If the impounded stream, however, is still wadeable,
record the stream as "Altered" and sample.
• Ot/ier-The site is non-target for reasons other than those above. Examples include
underground pipelines or a non-target canal. A sampling site must meet both of the following
criteria to be classified as a non-target canal:
o The channel is constructed where no natural channel has ever existed.
o The sole purpose/usage of the reach is to transfer water. There are no other uses of the
waterbody by humans (e.g., fishing, swimming, boating).
1.7.2 Non-Sampleable (temporary condition; stream can be revisited)
• Ot/ier-The site could not be sampled on that particular day, but is still a target site. Examples
might include a recent precipitation event that has caused unrepresentative conditions.
1.8 No Access to Site Categories
• Access Permission Denied - You are denied access to the site by the landowners.
• Permanently Inaccessible - Site is unlikely to be sampled by anyone due to physical barriers that
prevent access to the site (e.g., cliffs).
• Temporarily Inaccessible - Site cannot be reached at the present time due to barriers that may
not be present at some future date (e.g. forest fire, high water, road temporarily closed, unsafe
weather conditions).
The primary distinction between "Sampleable" and "Non-Sampleable" rivers or streams is based on
the presence of a defined channel and water content. If the site is non-sampleable or inaccessible, the
site visit is completed, and no further sampling activities are conducted. The site must then be o
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1.9 BLACKWATER SITES
For the NRSA 2013/14, we are looking to evaluate how many target sites are considered "blackwater"
sites by the field sampling crews and local experts. If the site you are sampling is a blackwater site,
please mark that on the field Verification form (front) and sample the site. This is for data analysis
purposes only and should not be a factor in site evaluation.
1.10 TIDAL SITES
The NRSA design includes sites that are above the head of salt. This means that tidal sites are included
in the NRSA target population that are above the head of salt. Consult the NOAA head of salt maps for
reconnaissance information about these sites in relation to the head of salt. Mark if sites are tidally
influenced on the Site Verification Form.
However, sites are considered non-target if they are below the head of salt. In addition to looking at
the NOAA maps, crews must evaluated tidal sites salinity levels in the field. Sites that are tidal and
exceed the salinity threshold of >.5ppt are considered non-target and should not be sampled. They
should be replaced following the over-sample procedures.
1.11 RUN-OF-THE-RIVER RESERVOIRS
Large streams and rivers with run-of-the-river reservoirs on them are considered target for the NRSA
2013/14. The determination if a site with a dam is a run of the river or a reservoir is based on the
residency time of the water. Sites with less than 7 days residence time are considered target for the
NRSA. Sites with greater than 7 days residence time are considered NON-TARGET for the NRSA.
6.0 SELECTING ALTERNATE SITES
The sampling site lists for the NRSA 2013/14 are organized by state and replacement is done within the
state. Each spreadsheet contains a list of all primary (panel=base) and alternate (panel=oversample)
sites in the State. The sites are listed on the spreadsheet in the order in which they were randomly
selected. All primary (base) sites must be evaluated for potential sampling and must be sampled
unless they are determined to be non-sampleable or not accessible. If a primary site is rejected
because it is non-sampleable or not accessible, then it will be replaced by an alternate (oversample) site
within the same State within the same category.
1.12 Site Sampling Categories
There are six sampling categories for the NRSA 2013/14. They are listed in Table 8.1.
Table 8.1. Site Sampling Categories t
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NRSA 14 Rivers Major <
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Site Evaluation Guidelines
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NRSA14 Large Streams
NRSA14 Small Streams
If a primary site is deemed Non-target during the reconnaissance process or in the field, a site from the
oversample site must replace it. The replacement must be done within the State and within the site
categories. For example, if a site is dropped in AR, it must be replaced by a site in AR within the same
category. If it was a 1st through 4th order stream from the NRSA09 Streams Category, it must be replaced
by a 1st through 4th order stream from the NRSA09 Streams category. The replacement site must be the
next site in site ID order that is in the same category. Oversample sites MUST be replaced in order. If
a site is dropped it must be replaced by the next oversample site in that category. Table 8.2 lists the site
categories with their replacement codes.
Table 8.2. Site Replacement
Replacement Category Base Sites Replace by Oversample Sites
NRSA09 Rivers
NRSA09 Streams
Base_09River & Base09River_RVT
Base_09Stream & Base09Stream_RVT
NRSA14 Rivers Major 1 Base_NewRiversMajor
NRSA14 Rivers Other
NRSA14 Large Streams
NRSA14 Small Streams
Base_NewRiversOther
Base_NewLargeStreams
Base_NewSmallStreams
Over_09 River
Over_09Stream
Over_NewRiversMajor
Over_NewRiversOther
Over_NewLargeStreams
Over_NewSmallStreams
Site Evaluation Point of Contact: Ellen Tarquinio (202-566-2267)
7.0 LITERATURE CITED
Peck, D.V., J.M. Lazorchak, and D.J. Klemm (editors). Unpublished draft.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program -Surface Waters: Western Pilot Study Field
Operations Manual for Wadeable Streams. EPA/XXX/X-XX/XXXX. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA. 2004. Wadeable Streams Assessment: Site Evaluations Guidelines.
EPA841-B-04-006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C.
U.S. EPA. 2008. National Rivers and Streams Assessment: Site Evaluations Guidelines.
EPA841-B-07-006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C. Attachment 1
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8.0 ATTACHMENT A: EXAMPLE OF LANDOWNER PERMISSION SLIP
I grant permission to the biological field crew from (state agency. Cooperator. or contractor) to access
the stream sampling site located on my property as part of the EPA's National Rivers and Streams
Assessment project.
Do grant permission
Do grant permission but with the following restrictions:
Do not grant permission
Landowner Name (Please print):
Landowner Signature:
Date:
Phone Number:
Address:
*lf the operator is different than the landowner, please list the name and phone number below so that
we may contact the operator before the site visit.
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Site Evaluation Guidelines
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9.0 ATTACHMENT B: EXAMPLE ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE FORM
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Example Spreadsheet for State (6 tabs, one for each panel)
Site Evaluation Guidelines
Page 14 of 14
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