United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA-841-B-20-001
National Coastal Condition Assessment
2020
Site Evaluation Guidelines
May 11, 2020
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National Coastal Condition Assessment 2020
Site Evaluation Guidelines
April 9, 2020
Page ii
NOTICE
The National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) 2020 Site Evaluation Guidelines (SEG) and
related documents are based on the previous Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program's (EMAP) National Coastal Assessment (NCA) conducted in 1999 - 2006 as well as the
National Coastal Condition Assessments conducted in 2010 and 2015.
The goal of the National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) is to provide a comprehensive
assessment of the condition of the Nation's coastal waters. Specifically, the NCCA assesses all
estuarine waters of the United States from the head-of-salt to confluence with ocean, and the
nearshore waters of the Great Lakes. Details of the project and specific methods for field
sampling, sample handling, and sample processing can be found in one of the following
documents:
National Coastal Condition Assessment: Quality Assurance Project Plan (EPA 841-F-19-003)
National Coastal Condition Assessment: Field Operations Manual (EPA 841-F-19-005)
National Coastal Condition Assessment: Laboratory Operations Manual (EPA 841 -F-19-
004)
National Coastal Condition Assessment: Site Evaluation Guidelines (EPA 841-B-20-001)
This Site Evaluation Guidelines (SEG) document contains an overview of the process involved
in locating a sampling site, evaluating the site, and selecting appropriate alternate sites when
necessary. All Project Cooperators must follow these guidelines in selecting sites for the
NCCA.
The suggested citation for this document is:
USEPA. 2020. National Coastal Condition Assessment: Site Evaluation Guidelines. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. EPA-841-B-20-001.
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Version history
Version
Date
Changes Made
1.0
April 9, 2020
n/a
1.1
May 11, 2020
Clarified definition of "estuarine" in Section 2.
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Table of Contents
NOTICE II
TABLE OF CONTENTS IV
LIST OF TABLES VI
LIST OF FIGURES VI
ABBREVIATIONS VII
ROLES AND CONTACT INFORMATION VII
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 DEFINING THE TARGET POPULATION 2
3 NCCA 2020 DESIGN, PANELS AND STRATA 5
3.1 Estuarine Design, Strata and Panels 5
3.1.1 Estuarine Design 5
3.1.2 Stratification 6
3.1.3 Panels and Number of Visits 7
3.2 Great Lakes Nearshore Design, Strata and Panels 8
3.2.1 Design 8
3.2.2 Stratification 8
3.2.3 Panels and Number of Visits 9
4 INTERPRETING THE SITE EVALUATION SPREADSHEET AND DESKTOP EVALUATION 11
4.1 Site Evaluation Spreadsheets 11
4.1.1 Estuarine Site Evaluation Spreadsheets 11
4.1.2 Great Lakes Site Evaluation Spreadsheets 11
4.2 EPA-Supplied Location and Design Information 12
4.2.1 Stratum (or Great Lakes State) Tabs 12
4.2.2 Meanings of Different Row Colors 13
4.3 Documentation and Desktop Evaluation 14
4.3.1 Desktop Evaluation Documentation Sections 14
4.3.2 Conducting the Desktop Evaluation 15
4.4 SAMPLEABLE VS NON-SAMPLEABLE SITES 19
5 SITE REPLACEMENT 20
5.1 Example in Replacing Dropped Sites 21
5.1.1 Replacing a dropped "Base20_10RVT2" Site 21
5.1.2 Replacing A Base20_20rvt2 Site 22
5.1.3 Replacing a base20_10rvt site 23
5.1.4 Replacing a Base 20_20Site 24
6 OBTAINING LANDOWNER PERMISSION (WHEN APPLICABLE) 25
7 FINAL SITE VERIFICATION AT THE LOCATION 27
8 SUBMISSION OF SITE EVALUATION/VERIFICATION FORMS 30
8.1 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet 30
8.2 Site Verification Forms (App form for each site visited with the intentto sample) 31
9 REFERENCES 32
APPENDIX A: ESTUARINE SPECIAL STUDY DESIGN DESCRIPTIONS 33
American Samoa reef flat survey 33
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana islands Reef Flat Survey 34
Guam Reef Flat Survey 34
Pensacola- Perdido Bay Estuary program 35
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Long Island Sound Study Bay Enhancement 36
APPENDIX B: GREAT LAKE SPECIAL STUDY DESIGN DESCRIPTIONS 38
Green Bay Enhancement 38
Lake Michigan Islands Enhancement 38
National Parks Service Design 39
Lake Erie Intensification 40
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List of Tables
Table 3.1 Number of Estuarine sites by stratum, state and state-designated Region (if applicable)State Name 6
Table 3.2 Estuarine Panels and Visits 7
Table 3.3 Great Lakes states probabilistic sites per stratum 9
Table 3.4 Great Lake Panels and Visits 9
List of Figures
Figure 2.1 Examples of estuarine systems (lighter blue area) and nearshore or offshore marine waters (dark blue
area, not in frame). All waters within the enclosed light blue area are defined as estuarine, regardless of depth or
salinity 3
Figure 2.2 Hypothetical Great Lakes Nearshore target population. Area within the 5 km buffer and 30 m or less in
depth (light blue) is in frame and target. Any areas outside of the 5 km buffer are not in the frame regardless of
depth. Areas deeper than 30 m (dark blue) are not target, regardless of whether they are in the frame. Coastal
embayments or other features with connections to open water less than 500 m wide (olive green) are not target. .4
Figure 4.1 Example EPA- Supplied Design Info included in Site Evaluation Spreadsheets for Estuaries (A) and Great
Lakes (B) 13
Figure 4.2 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet: Fields to be completed by evaluator or field crew: Evaluator's contact
information (top); Desktop and On-Site Evaluation information (bottom) 15
Figure 4.3 Flowchart of site evaluation process 17
Figure 4.4 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet: Questions and Dropdown Answers 18
Figure 5.1 Hierarchy of replacing a dropped site 21
Figure 5.2 Example site replacement of Base20_10VT2 site with an Base20_10RVT site available 22
Figure 5.3 Site replacement procedure for a Base20_20RVT2 site. The replacement site will be visited twice and
that site will be replaced by an Over20_20 site within the same stratum 23
Figure 5.4 Replacement of a Base20_10RVT site in the absence of Over20_10RVT sites 24
Figure 5.5 Site replacement of a Base20_20 site with first available, unused Over20_20 site 24
Figure 6.1 Landowner Letter and Permission Form 26
Figure 7.1 Equipment for In-Field Verification 27
Figure 7.2 Site Verification Form 30
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Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Definition
GPS
Global Positioning System
GRTS
Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified survey design was used to select the X-sites for
the 2020 NCCA.
km
kilometers
m
meters
mi
miles
NARS
National Aquatic Resource Surveys
NCCA
National Coastal Condition Assessment
ORD
Office of Research and Development
OST
Office of Science and Technology
OWOW
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
psu (ppt)
practical salinity units or parts per thousand
QA
Quality Assurance
SCECAP
South Carolina Estuary and Coastal Assessment Program
SEG
Site Evaluation Guidelines
X-site
Location, identified by GPS coordinates, for a site selected for field sampling.
WRAPD
Watershed Restoration and Protection Division
Roles and Contact Information
Field crews should contact the NCCA Project Leader or the appropriate Regional Coordinator
with any questions about site selection.
Contact Information
Hugh Sullivan
NCCA Project Leader
Sullivan.hugh@epa.gov
202-564-1763
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Danielle Grunzke
NCCA Project QA Coordinator
grunzke.danielle@epa.gov
202-566-2876
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Cynthia Johnson
OWOW Quality Assurance
Officer
johnson.cynthiaN@epa.gov
202-566-1679
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Bernice Smith
WRAPD Quality Assurance
Coordinator
smith.bernicel@epa.gov
202- 566-1244
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Steven G. Paulsen
EPA ORD Technical Advisor
paulsen.steve@epa.gov
541-754-4428
U.S EPA, Office of Research and
Development
Western Ecology Division
Corvallis, OR
Sarah Lehmann
NARS Team Leader
lehmann.sarah@epa.gov
202-566-1379
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Brian Hasty
NCCA Logistics Coordinator
hasty.brian@epa.gov
202-566-2236
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Washington, DC
Michelle Gover
NARS Information Management
Coordinator
Gover.michelle@epa.gov
541-754-4793
U.S. EPA Office of Research and
Development
Western Ecology Division
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Contact Information
Corvallis, OR
Chris Turner
Contractor Field Logistics
Coordinator
cturner@glec.com
715-829-3737
Great Lakes Environmental Center
739 Flastings Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Leanne Stahl
OST Fish Tissue Coordinator
stahl.leanne@epa.gov
202-566-0404
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Science and Technology
Washington, DC
John Healey
OST Fish Tissue QA Coordinator
healey.john@epa.gov
202-566-0176
U.S. EPA Office of Water
Office of Science and Technology
Washington, DC
David Bolgrien
Great Lakes Embayment
Enhancement Coordinator
bolgrien.david@epa.gov
218-529-5216
U.S. EPA, ORD
Mid-Continent Ecology Division
Duluth, MN
Regional Monitoring Coordinators
FElary Snook, Region 1
snook.hilary@epa.gov
617-918-8670
U.S. EPA - Region I
North Chelmsford, MA
Emily Nering Region 2
nering.emily@epa.gov
732-321-6700
USEPA - Region II
Edison, NJ
Bill Richardson, Region 3
richardson.william@epa.gov
215-814-5675
U.S. EPA - Region III
Philadelphia, PA
Chris McArthur, Region 4
mcarthur.christopher@epa.gov
404-562-9265
U.S.EPA - Region IV
Atlanta, GA
Mari Nord, Region 5
nord.mari@epa.gov
312-353-3017
U.S. EPA - Region V
Chicago, IL
Rob Cook, Region 6
cook.robert@epa.gov
214-665-7141
U.S. EPA - Region VI
Dallas, TX
Matt Bolt, Region 9
bolt.matthew@epa.p-ov
415-972-3452
U.S.EPA - Region IX
San Francisco, CA
Lil Flerger, Region 10
herger.lilian@epa.gov
206-553-1685
U.S. EPA - Region X,
Seattle, WA
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1 Introduction
The objective of the National Coastal Condition Assessment 2020 (NCCA) is to monitor and
assess all estuarine and Great Lakes nearshore waters of the contiguous 48 States. In 2020,
American Samoa, Guam and the Central and Northern Mariana Island territories will also use
NCCA protocols in monitoring their coastal waters.
Major steps in site evaluation:
Review the Target Population Definition (Section 2) and Survey Design (Section 3).
Interpret the Site Evaluation Spreadsheet (Section 4).
Conduct Desktop Reconnaissance to:
o Locate and verify that the selected site, or X-site, is part of the Target
Population;
o Determine whether it meets the definition of sampleable (Section 5)
Seek permission to sample, if necessary (Section 6).
Conduct Final Site Verification at the Location (Section 7).
(If necessary) Drop and replace sites according to guidelines in this document.
Submission of Site Evaluation/Verification Forms (Section 8).
EPA developed a site evaluation spreadsheet for each state to use in evaluating the sites and
planning its sampling activities (Section 4). The spreadsheet includes location information for
each site and asks the evaluator to record whether the site meets the target definition
(Section 2); determine its sampleability, (Section 5); and whether landowner permission is
necessary (Section 6). The site evaluation spreadsheet must be completed and submitted to
the contract field logistics coordinator prior to field season. During the field season,
revisions must be submitted to the field logistics contractor when sites are dropped and
replaced during the onsite verification process.
Field crews must assemble an official site packet containing important locational and access
information for each site they are scheduled to visit (Section 8). The packet must contain the
appropriate maps, contact information, copies of permission letters (if applicable), and
access instructions.
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2 Defining the Target Population
This section describes the target populations for the estuarine and the Great Lakes nearshore
regions for the 2020 NCCA. Estuarine special studies and intensifications such as the Pacific
Territories, Long Island Sound intensification and the Pensacola-Perdido Estuary Program
intensification will be addressed in Appendix A. Great Lakes intensifications and
enhancements, including the Lake Erie enhancement study, and intensifications in Green Bay,
National Parks and Great Lakes Island sites will be addressed in Appendix B.
Each statistically selected sampling location is referred to as the "X-site" and defines where
sampling activities are targeted. Before collecting water, sediment, and other samples at any
site, it is imperative that the field crew correctly assess whether the site is part of the target
population.
The target population for the NCCA components are defined as follows:
1. Estuarine: The target population for the estuarine resources consists of all estuarine
waters of the conterminous United States from the head-of-salt to confluence with the
ocean, including inland waterways, tidal rivers and creeks, lagoons, fjords, bays, and
major embayments. Head-of-salt is generally defined as 0.5 parts per thousand (ppt).
For the purposes of NCCA, the head-of-salt represents the landward or upstream
boundary. The seaward boundary extends out to where an imaginary straight-line
intersecting two land features would fully enclose a body of coastal water (see Figure
2.1 for examples). All waters within the enclosed intracoastal waterway area with
salinities greater than or equal to 0.5 ppt are defined as estuarine, regardless of
depth.
2. Great Lakes Nearshore: The target population is waters within a fringing, shallow
nearshore band that is heavily used by humans and most vulnerable to human
activities within adjacent coastal watersheds. More specifically, the target population
is limited to waters along the shoreline buffer within 5 kilometers (km) from shore or
up to 30 meters (m) in depth, whichever is reached first. The nearshore uniquely
"coastal" land-water interface zone includes: open and semi-enclosed bays and
embayments with greater than a 200 m wide connection to open water, and the more
open waters adjacent to shorelines. It does not include the connecting channels of the
Great Lakes (i.e., between the Lakes and the St. Lawrence River outlet). Figure 2.2
demonstrates where target sites may be located within a hypothetical Great Lakes
nearshore region. See Appendix B for a discussion of the Lake Erie enhancement study,
the Green Bay Intensification, and the National Parks and Islands intensification.
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Target vs Non-Target Areas in Estuarine Sampling Frame.
Figure 2. T Examples of estuarine systems (lighter blue area) and nearshore or offshore marine waters (dark blue area, not
in frame). All waters within the enclosed light blue intracoastal waterway area are defined as estuarine and therefore
considered in frame regardless of depth or salinity.
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Target vs Non-Target Areas in Great Lakes Sampling Frame.
Figure 2.2 Hypothetical Great Lakes Nearshore target population. Area within the 5 km buffer and 30 m or less in
depth (light blue) is in frame and target. Any areas outside of the 5 km buffer are not in the frame regardless of
depth. Areas deeper than 30 m (dark blue) are not target, regardless of whether they are in the frame. Coastal
embayments or other features with connections to open water less than 200 m wide (olive green) are not target.
The Lake Erie Special Study, Green Bay, and the National Park Service/Great Lakes Island intensification frames
are detailed in Appendix B.
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3 NCCA 2020 DESIGN, PANELS AND STRATA
EPA classified sites by strata and panels before statistically selecting the sites using a
Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) survey design for an area resource.
Section 3.1 describes the stratification and panels used to classify estuan'ne sites before
selection. Section 3.2 presents the same information for the Great Lakes nearshore sites.
Site IDs have been assigned to each site in the following format: PREFIX_STATE-ID where:
PREFIX indicates the study design:
o NCA20 - Marine probabilistic sites
o NGL20 - Great Lakes nearshore probabilistic sites
o GBA20 - Green Bay Enhancement
o NPA20 - Great Lakes National Park sites
o ISA20 - Great Lakes Island sites
o LEA20 - Lake Erie Enhancement sites
o PPBEP- Pensacola- Perdido Bay Estuary sites
STATE/TERRITORY is the two-letter abbreviation for the state or territory in which the
site occurs
ID is a five-digit number specific to the site. Note that these number repeat in each
state and are not unique to any one site. When referring to a site, the entire site ID
including the prefix and state identifier is essential.
Probabilistic sites are divided by state and by panel whereas intensifications may have special
design dictated in the design descriptions in Appendices A and B. Panel identifiers contain
the following information:
BASE or OVERSAMPLE DESIGNATION and SURVEY YEAR
o Base20 - NCCA 2020 Base site
o 0ver20 - NCCA 2020 Oversample (replacement) site
PANEL YEAR
o 10RVT - Resample sites sampled in a previous year (E.g. Base20_10RVT)
o 20RVT - New sites that will be a revisit site in 2020 (E.g. Base20_20RVT2)
o 20 - New sites not previously sampled (E.g. Base20_20)
REVISIST STATUS
o The number 2 following RVT indicates the site is a Revisit site and is to be
sampled twice in the same season (E.g. Base20_10RVT2)
With some exceptions, oversample replacement sites must be selected from the same panel-
year and stratum as the original site (See Section 5).
3.1 Estuarine Design, Strata and Panels
3.1.1 Estuarine Design
A total of 725 NCCA 2020 estuarine sites will be sampled in 2020; of those, 42 sites will be
sampled twice (revisit sites). The sites were drawn using a stratified probability survey design
that is constructed from two independent designs.
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The first design consists of sites sampled in 2010 and again in 2015 (resample sites)
(Base20_10). It also includes 2010 sampled sites that were evaluated in 2015 but
could not be sampled due to safety, too shallow or other reasons. A total of 300 sites
(264 to be sampled once in 2020 and 36 sites to be sampled twice in 2020) are planned
to be sampled from this design.
The second design selects new sites (Base20_20 and consists of 425 sites planned to be
sampled (419 to be sampled once in 2020 and 6 to be sampled twice in 2020). A
Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) survey design for an area resource
was used for the second design.
3.1.2 STRATIFICATION
For the estuarine design, all coastal states but Massachusetts, South Carolina, Texas, and
Florida, are stratified first by the state and then by large or small estuaries within the state.
(See Table 3.1).
Massachusetts and Texas designs are stratified by state-designated regions and then by
large or small estuaries within each region.
South Carolina combines 10 revisit sites from previous NCCA surveys with 11 tidal
creek sites and 10 open water estuarine sites from the South Carolina Estuarine and
Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP, a state-level yearly probabilistic monitoring
program).
Florida is first stratified into Southeast and Gulf Coast regions, and then further
stratified by large or small estuary within those regions.
Table 3.1 Number
Large Estuary
Small Estuary
Total Number of
Total Number
of Estuarine sites
Strata Number
Strata Number
Sites per State
of Sampling
by stratum, state
of Sites
of Sites
Events per
and state-
State
designated Region
(if
applicable)State
Name
Alabama
8
9
17
19
California
25
26
51
53
Connecticut
7
8
15
17
Delaware
7
8
15
17
Florida Southeast
11
6
84
86
Coast
Florida Gulf Coast
31
36
Georgia*
0
15
15
17
Louisiana
39
39
78
80
Massachusetts
0
7
7
50
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Region 1*
Massachusetts
0
9
9
Region 2*
Massachusetts
0
5
5
Region 3*
Massachusetts
7
2
9
Region 4
Massachusetts
7
2
9
Region 5
Massachusetts
8
1
9
Region 6
Maryland
14
15
19
21
Maine
18
18
36
38
Mississippi
9
8
17
18
North Carolina
20
22
42
44
New Hampshire*
0
15
15
16
New Jersey
11
12
23
25
New York
13
14
27
29
Oregon
7
17
24
26
Rhode Island
6
9
15
17
South Carolina
31
XX
40
42
NCCA Revisit **
South Carolina
9
XX
SCECAP **
Texas Lower
10
10
20
62
Texas Middle
10
10
20
Texas Upper
10
10
20
Virginia
15
14
29
31
Washington
27
27
54
56
*States or state-defined regions that do not have any large estuaries; no large estuary strata
sites could be selected.
** South Carolina's design is not defined as large/small estuaries due to their individual, state
enhanced design.
3.1.3 Panels and Number of Visits
Table 3.2 Estuarine Panels and Visits
Panel-year
Number of Visits in
Name
2020
Base20 10RVT2
2
Base20 10RVT
1
Base20 20
1
Base20 20RVT2
2
Base20_20_MA
1
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Base20 20 SC
1
Base20 20 TX
1
0ver20 10RVT
TBD
0ver20_20
TBD
For each estuarine stratum, EPA selected base sites
and oversample sites within different panel-years. Base sites are evaluated first, and
replaced, as necessary, from the oversample sites. The panel-year names provide information
about the number and type of visits (See Table 3.2).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Base20_10RVT2: Sites from NCCA 2010 and 2015 that will be sampled twice in 2020.
Base20_10RVT: Sites from NCCA 2010 that will be sampled once in 2020.
Base20_20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020.
Base20_20RVT2: New sites that will be sampled twice in 2020.
Base20_20_MA: Massachusetts state level design intensification panel
Base20_20_DEHC: South Carolina state level design intensification panel. These sites
are in addition to the combined Base20_20_NCCA_DHEC sites which will be used for
both the probabilistic design and South Carolina's intensification.
Base20_20_TX: Texas state level design intensification panel
Over20_10RVT: Sites from NCCA 2010 that are oversample sites that will only be used
if any Base20_10_RVT or Base20_10RVT2 sites cannot be sampled in 2020.
0ver20_20: New sites that are oversample sites that will only be used if any
Base20_20RVT2 or Base20_20 site cannot be sampled in 2020, or if all Over20_10RVT
sites are expended in a stratum.
In addition to serving as replacement sites for any dropped base sites (See Section 5 for
replacement site selection information), oversample sites can also be used to supplement the
NCCA site draw for potential state-wide or other geographic assessments or enhancements.
Please contact the NCCA Lead for help with designing any enhancements using oversample
panel-year sites.
3.2 Great Lakes Nearshore Design, Strata and Panels
3.2.1 Design
The Great Lakes nearshore survey design consists of two independent designs.
The first design contains resamples sites sampled during NCCA 2015 Great Lakes
assessment, which were also sampled in 2010.
The second design selects new sites using the same survey design used for NCCA 2015.
Both designs use a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) survey design for
an area resource.
3.2.2 STRATIFICATION
EPA stratified the Great Lakes Nearshore component by state within each of the Great Lakes.
Table 3.3 lists the strata for each state in the Great Lakes assessment.
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Table 3.3 Great Lakes states probabilistic sites per stratum.
Great Lakes Nearshore Strata and Number of Sites
Total
Number
of Great
Lake
Sites per
State
State Name
Lake_Erie
_NearShor
e _USA
Lake_Huron
_NearShore
_USA
Lake_Michiga
n_NearShore
_USA
Lake_Ontario
_NearShore
_USA
Lake_Sup
erior_Nea
rShore
_USA
Illinois
1
1
Indiana
2
2
Michigan
6
45
28
31
110
Minnesota
8
8
New York
11
45
56
Ohio
26
26
Pennsylvania
2
2
Wisconsin
14
6
20
3.2.3 Panels and Number of Visits
For each Great Lakes stratum, EPA selected base sites and oversample sites within different
panel-years. Base sites are evaluated first, and replaced, as necessary, from the oversample
sites. For the base sites, the panel-year names provide information about the number and
type of visits. For Great Lakes sites, all oversample sites are from the 2020 panel-year.
Table 3.4 Great Lake Panels and Visits
Panel-year
Name
Number
of Visits
in 2020
Base20_10RVT2
2
Base20_10RVT
1
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Base20_20
1
0ver20_20
TBD
1. Base20_10RVT2: Sites from NCCA 2010 that will be re-sampled twice in 2020.
2. Base20_10RVT: Sites from NCCA 2010 that will be re-sampled once in 2020.
3. Base20_20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020.
4. 0ver20_20: New sites that are used to replace, Base20_10RVT2, Base20_10RVT, or
Base20_20 sites that cannot be sampled.
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4 Interpreting the Site Evaluation Spreadsheet
and Desktop Evaluation
This section describes the Site Evaluation Spreadsheet that each state received from EPA. The
spreadsheet provides the base sites and oversample sites drawn for the strata within each
state. It is important that states and field crews understand each portion of the spreadsheet
and how to use it when evaluating NCCA 2020 sample locations.
The Site Evaluation Spreadsheets are available on the NARS SharePoint site and can be
emailed to crews by EPA if needed (contact the Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator). The
NCCA 2020 Site Evaluation page of the NARS SharePoint site can be accessed at:
https://usepa.sharepoint.com/sites/OW Community/nars/NCCA/Forms/Allltems.aspx?id=%2F
sites%2FOW%5FCommunitv%2Fnars%2FNCCA%2FNCCA%202020%2FSite%2QEvaluation
4.1 Site Evaluation Spreadsheets
Although they are similar, there are slight differences between the estuarine and Great Lakes
Site Evaluation Spreadsheets. Section 4.1 explains the parts of the site evaluation
spreadsheets and their similarities and differences.
4.1.1 Estuarine Site Evaluation Spreadsheets
In general, estuarine site evaluation spreadsheets look very similar from one state to another.
They all contain a "Metadata Electronic Reconn" tab and one or more "Stratum" tabs named
for the strata within the state. Most states will have two tabs, one for the "Small" estuary
stratum within the state and another for the "Large" estuary stratum within the state.
Estuarine state exceptions to this are:
Massachusetts and Texas designs are stratified by state-designated regions and then by
large or small estuaries within each region.
South Carolina combines 10 resample sites from previous NCCA surveys with 11 tidal
creek sites and 10 open water estuarine sites from the South Carolina Estuarine and
Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP),
Florida is first stratified into Southeast and Gulf Coast NCCA regions, and then further
stratified by large or small estuary within those regions.
4.1.2 Great Lakes Site Evaluation Spreadsheets
Similar to the estuarine site evaluation spreadsheets, the Great Lakes site evaluation
spreadsheets are also broken down into state pages. Each State spreadsheets contain one
individual tab that contains the site information for each Great Lake sampled (different lakes
are separated by a brown row as a reminder to not select oversample sites from outside of
the current Great Lake).
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4.2 EPA-Supplied Location and Design Information
Note that there is slightly different location information for estuarine and Great Lakes sites.
However, both contain Panel and Stratum columns, which are used in selecting oversample
sites.
4.2.1 STRATUM (OR GREAT LAKES STATE) TABS
The "Stratum" (or Great Lakes State) tabs each have two main parts:
EPA-Supplied LOCATION and DESIGN INFORMATION has column headings that are
highlighted in yellow (Figure 4.1). This part of the spreadsheet provides information
about the site. This part of the spreadsheet is locked and cannot be edited.
o Each spreadsheet has rows of base sites (blue rows) and oversample sites
(white rows). The number of base sites and oversample sites differ for each
state.
o The count of "Total Target Sites", on the upper left of the site evaluation
spreadsheet represents the total number of base sites per state. Please note,
base sites labeled with the suffix "RVT2" will need to be sampled twice. The
second visit of a revisit site is not included in the "Total Target Sites" number.
o The left-hand side of the spreadsheet provides the following information about
each site:
ฆ 2020 Site ID: Identification code for the site which NCCA2020 will use
to track sites and samples
ฆ Site ID from NCCA 2015: Identification code for the site if it was
sampled in 2015. For example, the 2015 site ID can be used to review
site assessment records from the previous survey. Note that this field
will be blank for many sites.
ฆ State.
ฆ Site Name (Estuary SES only) or Great Lake Name (Great Lakes SES
only). If the site name is incorrect, please correct it in the comments
field in the right-hand part of the spreadsheet (described in Section 4.3
below).
ฆ NCA Region (Estuary SES only. National Coastal Assessment regional
designation used for earlier coastal surveys.
ฆ Province (Estuary SES only).
ฆ Longitude. Decimal degrees (NAD 1983).
ฆ Latitude. Decimal degrees (NAD 1983).
ฆ Base!Oversample panel. See Section 3.1.3 and Section 3.2.3 for
descriptions of panels used in estuarine and Great Lakes nearshore
draws, respectively.
ฆ Stratum. See Section 3.1.2 and Section 3.2.2 for descriptions of
estuarine and Great Lakes nearshore strata, respectively.
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Page | 13
A. Example of EPA-Supplied Information for Estuarine Site Evaluation Spreadsheet
Total sampled sites =84
EPA-Supplied LOCATION and DESIGN INFORMATION
LOCATION INFORMATION
DESIGN INFORMATION
(Consider both columns in
selecting replacements)
These three colum
ns are not included in
e Evaluation
2020 Site ID
Site ID from
NCCA 2015
State
Spreadsheets.
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Stratum
Site Name
NCA
Region
Province
Yellow Rows Separate Different Panel/Stratum Combinations
NCA20 FL-10002
NCCA15-1178
FL
Newfound Harbor
East Co
ast
Carolinian Province
-80.679483409107400
28.345180821732600
Base20 10RVT2
FL Small
NCA20 FL-10027
NCCA 15-1187
FL
Nassau Sound
East Coast
Carolinian Province
-81.434823049625300
30.508
59056522300
Base20 10RVT
FL Small
NCA20 FL-10028
NCCA15-1193
FL
Nassau River System
East Coast
Carolinian Province
-81.494255233072700
30.549
Blue Rows are Base Sites
NCA20 FL-10036
NCCA 15-1649
FL
Miami River
East Coast
West Indian Provinc
-80.226641302072800
25.786
NCA20 FL-10090
NCCA 15-1197
FL
Matanzas River
East Coast
Carolinian Province
-81.272407691035500
29.778835791558200
Over20 10RVT
FL Small
NCA20 FL-10078
FL
Card Sound
East Coast
West Indian Provinc
-80.314878553140000
25.303742297515600
Base20 20
FL Small
NCA20 FL-10080
FL
Pablo Creek
East Coast
Carolinian Province
-81.442480729496
NCA20 FL-10119
FL
Little Card Sound
East Coast
West Indian Provinc
-80.379338697001
White Rows are Oversample Sites
B. Example of EPA-Supplied Information for Great Lakes Site Evaluation Spreadsheet
Please note: Brown lines indicate a different Great Lake. You may not select oversample sites from another Great Lake.
"otal sampled sites= 110
EPA-Supplied LOCATION and DESIGN INFORMATION
LOCATION INFORMATION
DESIGN INFORMATION
(Consider both columns in selecting
replacements)
This column is
not included in
the estuary site
evaluation
spreadsheets.
020 Site ID
Site ID from
NCCA 2015
State
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Great Lake
Stratum
Yellow Rows Separate Different Panel/Stratum Combinations
GL20 MI-10001
GLNS15-1156
Ml
Lake Erie
41.855487890060700
-83.371810820083600
Base20 10RVT2
Lake Erie NearShore USA
GL20 MI-10002
GLNS15-1164
Ml
Lake Erie
41.978389100062200
-83.226068260084700
Base20 10RVT
Lake Erie NearShore USA
GL20 MI-10003
GLNS15-1169
Ml
Lake Erie
41.775408080059800
-83.424598030083200
Base20 10RVT
Lake Erie NearShore USA
GL20 MI-10004
Ml
Lake Erie
41.928531497986600
-83.25099355593700d
GL20 MI-10005
Ml
Lake Erie
41.920233120730500
-83.297046952814700
Blue kows are base bites
Figure 4.1 Example EPA- Supplied Design Info included in Site Evaluation Spreadsheets for Estuaries (A) and Great
Lakes (B).
The following two sections describe each part of the spreadsheet.
4.2.2 Meanings of Different Row Colors
Sites from different panel-year/stratum combinations are separated by a row shaded
in yellow.
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Page | 14
The blue rows identify the base sites for each stratum.
Immediately below the blue rows are unshaded (white) rows identifying replacements,
or oversample sites, for each stratum.
Estuarine states in which samples are drawn from different state-designated regions
(e.g., Massachusetts), or Great Lakes states with sites in more than one lake (e.g.,
Michigan) have brown rows that separate the lakes or regions. It is important that
replacement sites be drawn from oversample sites in the same state-designated
region or Great Lake as the dropped sites. Don't cross brown rows to select
oversample sites.
4.3 Documentation and Desktop Evaluation
4.3.1 Desktop Evaluation Documentation Sections
The right-hand side of the site evaluation spreadsheet (see Figure 4.2) provides space for
evaluators or field crews to complete the desktop and in-field assessments described in
Section 5. The following information is collected in the right-hand side of the spreadsheet:
a. Contact Information. Provide the name, phone number, and email address of the
person most knowledgeable about the desktop review and in-field reconnaissance.
b. Desktop and On-Site Evaluations: Use the dropdown menus to respond to each of the
following questions. For EPA's survey weight calculations, it is important that all
questions have answers for all evaluated sites.
As crews work through the site evaluation process described in Section 4, any site
which receives the following answers:
Yes responses for all three questions (including N/A for required landowner
permission): Must be sampled.
No for any question, the site would not be sampled (see example categories in
Figure 4.4).
Maybe for any question: Must have an on-site evaluation or subsequent planned
sampling visit.
c. Comments (required only if dropping a site, otherwise optional): Use the space to
provide any information that might be useful for EPA's review such as:
a. Reasons for dropping a site;
b. comments about target determination;
c. other additional information related to the three questions;
d. corrections to a site name.
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Page | 15
Contact Information
Name
Phone Number
Email
DESKTOP and ON-SITE EVALUATIONS
{Complete for Dewgn Sites ปnd An* Necessary Replacements)
Figure 4.2 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet: Fields to be completed by evaluator or field crew: Evaluator's contact
information (top); Desktop and On-Site Evaluation information (bottom).
4.3.2 Conducting the Desktop Evaluation
The objective of the desktop evaluation is to
eliminate sites that are clearly not part of the
target population or cannot be sampled. By
using data that are easily obtainable and
verifiable, the desktop evaluation locates the
site and determines if the selected site is, or
likely will be, in the target population and
sampleable during the 2020 field sampling
season. If information obtained during the
desktop evaluation is not conclusive, then a
field visit is required.
4.3.2.1 Steps in Desktop Evalua tion
Before starting the desktop evaluation, the field crew should obtain as much information as
possible for each site.
Figure 4.3 summarizes the steps to locate and evaluate the eligibility and sampleability of
selected field sites. The desktop process consists of the following steps:
1. Study the Site Evaluation Spreadsheet described in Section 1.1.
2. Gather information about the site. A number of sources of information are available,
including aerial images, topographic maps, state, county, or tribal coastal data, the
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), personal and local knowledge, literature and
scientific reports, land ownership records, and the internet.
In order to achieve the most robust results
possible with the probabilistic sampling
design, every effort must be made to sample
the base sites that were generated. Some
sites may be accessed easily while others
may require more lengthy or time-consuming
trips. It is very important to not reject a site
based on inconvenience, inaccessibility or in
an attempt to sample a specific location of
interest.
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Page | 16
3. Locate the X-site. Use the most recent aerial imagery that can be obtained. Using this
imagery and any supplemental sources of information, determine if the X-site is within
37 m of a coastal estuary or the Great Lakes nearshore.
4. Determine if X-site is within the target population. If the site appears to be outside
of an estuarine area (for marine sites); or for Great Lakes sites, greater than 5 km
from shore, greater than 30 m in depth, or in an embayment with a connection to
open water that is less than 200 m in width, drop the site and replace it with an
alternative site. Notify the Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator (Contact Information
is provided on page vii.) or submit an updated version of the site evaluation
spreadsheet. Select a replacement site following the protocol described in Section 5.
5. Determine if a site is safe to access and sample.
1. Review maps, other collected information, or enlist the assistance of someone
with personal knowledge of the location of the X-site to determine if it is
physically accessible by field crews and safe to sample.
2. Using definitions in Section 4.3 determine if the site meets various
sampleable/non-sampleable characteristics that are to be used in completing
the site evaluation spreadsheet.
6. Examine nearby area. Review maps and other sources of information to determine if
a sampleable site exists within a radius of 37 m around the X-site. If a sampleable site
does not exist within this radius, then follow the procedures for selecting an alternate
site in the Section 5.
7. Document findings in the Site Evaluation Spreadsheet. If the maps and other sources
of information indicate conclusively that the site is not accessible, (if the site is in a
shipping channel, for example):
1. note the reason(s) why it is not accessible and
2. note whether the X-site is part of the target population (from Step 4 above).
Information provided in this spreadsheet is critical to the statistical analyses of data
from the survey. Complete the spreadsheet (see Figure 4.4 Site Evaluation
Spreadsheet: Questions and Dropdown Answers) to provide EPA with as much
information as possible in its data analysis. Three aspects are especially important and
must be completed for all evaluated sites. (See Section 4.3 for drop-down choices).
Provide the findings of whether the site:
a. Meets the target population definition. Even if the site isn't safe to be
sampled, provide your best assessment for whether the site is in the target
population.
b. Is accessible and safe to sample. If the site will require extreme resources
and/or considerable time to sample, contact the NCCA Project Leader for
approval before dropping the site (see contact information on page vii).
Consider only physical accessibility here, and not permission for access or
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Page | 17
sampling (i.e. answer this question with the assumption that permission would
be granted).
c. Has landowner approved access to the site (if necessary) (see Section 6).
If appropriate, EPA will remove sites from the sample frame for future NCCAs.
Figure 4.3 Flowchart of site evaluation process
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Page | 18
Question 1: Does the site meet the requirements of a target site?
1. Yes, Target
2. Maybe, requires on-site evaluation
3. Maybe, tide too low (return at appropriate time in tidal cycle)
4. Maybe, mudflat at certain times (return at appropriate time in tidal cycle)
5. Unable to access site, but clearly is target (e.g., in shipping channel)
6. Unable to access site, but probably target (e.g., site map indicates target)
7. Unable to access site, and unable to determine if target
8. No, Dry
9. No, Mudflat (permanent)
10. No, Wetland
11. No, Estuarine site is outside the imaginary line connecting two land features at the seaward
boundary
12. No, Marine site has salinity <.5 PPT (freshwater is out of scope except within Great Lakes) *
13. No, Map Error (X-site is clearly not target, for example: parking lot)
14. No, Great Lakes Site is deeper than 30 m.
15. No, Great Lakes Site is greater than 5 km from shore.
16. No, Great Lakes Site is in a connecting channel or river.
17. No, Other (explain in comments)
Question 2: Is the site accessible and safe to sample?
Note that responses to the second question reference whether the site would be sampleable if
landowner permission is granted.
1. Yes, Sampleable
2. Maybe, temporarily inaccessible (try again later)
3. Maybe, Unable to access site; available sources are insufficient to determine if target
4. No, Equipment related unsampleable (e.g., less than 1 meter in depth).
5. No, permanently inaccessible (unable/unsafe to reach site)
6. No, EPA concurred that site could be dropped because access would require extreme efforts
Question 3: Has landowner granted permission to access the site?
1. N/A. Public access available.
2. Yes. Landowner granted permission
3. No. Landowner denied permission
Question 4: Is this an oversample site?
1. Yes. (Be sure to note which site it is replacing in the next column.)
2. No.
* If an unusual weather event causes measured salinity to be below 0.5 ppt at a site where historical salinity
values are greater than or equal to 0.5 ppt, and the site is otherwise within the estuarine target population,
sample the site or make plans to revisit the site and sample under representative conditions. Document the
severe weather event in the comments for that site. If in doubt, contact the NCCA Field Logistics Coordinator.
Figure 4.4 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet: Questions and Dropdown Answers
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Page | 19
4.4 SAMPLEABLE VS NON-SAMPLEABLE SITES
After you confirm the location of the X-site, evaluate area surrounding the X-site and classify
the site as target (sampleable), target (temporary non-sampleable), no access or non-target
(not sampleable). These definitions below describe the choices from the dropdown menu
listed in Figure 4.4.
Non-Sampleable Temporary Category
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. The site should be revisited.
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., major shipping lane).
Temporarily Inaccessible-Site cannot be reached at the present time due to barriers
that may not be present at some future date (e.g. high water, extreme weather
event) but are expected to exist throughout the index period.
Equipment-related inaccessibility: site <1m deep - The site could not be sampled
because it is less than 1 meter deep and the draft of the boat did not allow access. No
suitable depth could be found within 37 m from the X-site. This site is still part of the
target population and if the crew can sample a site that is less than 1 meter deep,
they should do so.
Equipment-related inaccessibility: site >1 m deep - The site was deeper than 1 meter
but could not be sampled due to the draft on the boat being used. No suitable depth
could be found within 37 m from the X-site. Before dropping this target site, every
attempt should be made to bring a boat of suitable draft for the location.
Non-Target (Non-Sampleable) Categories
Dry s/ฃe--There is no coastal water anywhere within a 37-m radius centered on the X-
site. Please denote in the comments if the site was dry at time of sampling visit or if
site was determined to be dry from another source and/or field visit prior to actual
sampling visit.
Mudflat - There is no standing water, but site is clearly a permanent mudflat. If site is
likely to be covered with water at other times during the index period, the site should
be sampled on another day.
Wetland- There is standing water present, but site is in a wetland.
Not estuarinesite is outside of the imaginary straight-line intersecting two land
features that would fully enclose a body of water.
Estuarine, salinity <0.5 ppt freshwater is out of scope except with the Great Lakes.
Map Error - No evidence that the X-site represents coastal waters (x-site is inland,
significantly up-stream in a stream/river, etc.)
Great Lakes, not nearshore (i.e., beyond 5 km from shore), or in non-target
embayment with connection to open water of < 200 m in width.
Great Lakes, too deep (i.e., water depth at site is greater than 30 m.)
Other - The site is non-target for reasons other than those above. Please describe in
detail and verify with your NCCA Project Lead before replacing a site based on this
category (see contact information on page vii).
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Page | 20
5 Site Replacement
EPA requires that crews replace sites following a specific protocol to maintain the statistical
integrity of the NCCA survey design. Oversamples sites may only be selected as described.
Direct questions about site replacement to the NCCA Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator
and/or the NCCA Lead.
Select replacement sites by following EPA's protocol. Site Evaluation Spreadsheets organize
base (primary panel-year) and oversample (replacement panel-year) sites by state and
stratum. The sites are listed on the spreadsheet in the order in which they were randomly
selected. Each site was assigned a Site ID reflecting that numerical order. All primary (base)
sites must be evaluated for sampling and should be sampled unless they are determined to be
Site Replacement - Key Points
to Remember:
- If a site is evaluated and it is
determined that it cannot be
sampled, then it is to be replaced by
the next available oversample site
in order on the list within the 1)
panel-year; and 2) stratum defined
as large or small estuaries or Great
Lake.
- If you drop a revisit
(Base20_10RVT2) site, it should be
replaced according to the hierarchy
described in the flowchart in Figure
5.1.
If the panel of the dropped site is Base20_10RVT2, then its replacement,
which will be a base site, takes on the RVT2 assignment. That is, the site must
be visited twice in 2020. This replacement base site must then be replaced
using the oversample site list as there is no net loss of total target sites. Follow
the flowchart in Figure 5.1 to see how to replace sites and refer to Section
5.1 for detailed examples.
non-target, non-sampleable, or non-accessible. If a primary site
is rejected because it is non-sampleable or not accessible, then
it will be replaced by the next alternate (oversample) site
within the same panel-year and stratum1.
IMPORTANT: Sites are organized to be evaluated in
SitelD order and when necessary, may only be replaced
by oversample sites within same Panel-year and Stratum
or Great Lake (i.e., the stratum) from the site evaluation
spreadsheet. Two important rules to follow in the
replacements:
If a site is evaluated and it is determined that it
cannot be sampled, then it is to be replaced by
the next oversample site in order on the list
within the same Panel-year and Stratum.
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Page | 21
NOTE: all replacements must occur within the same state arid stratum
(estuary size or Great Lake) as the original base site.
If no additional oversample sites are available in the same state and
stratum, contact Brian Hasty or Chris Turner
*When replacing a Revisit (RVT2) site with a Base Site, Re-designate the
appropriate Base site as a Revisit site AND replacethe dropped Base site with
an appropriate oversample site
Figure 5.1 Hierarchy of replacing a dropped site.
Prepare the official site packet. The field crew should keep information and data sources
used in the desktop evaluation as part of the official site packet for each site. For each site
deemed sampleable or inconclusive, the site packet also should include forms, any necessary
research permits (if applicable), and site access instructions. The packet also should include
the appropriate maps, aerial images, contact information, and copies of landowner
permission for access.
5.1 Example in Replacing Dropped Sites
5.1.1 Replacing a dropped "Base20_10RVT2" Site
For example, if a Base20_10RVT2 site is determined non-sampleable, then the desktop audit
should evaluate the first listed site ID in Base20_10RVT in the same Stratum. In no instances
are there any Over20_10RVT2 replacement sites. Figure 5.2 showcases this process with the
base site, NCA20_CA-10002. This site should be replaced by NCA20_CA-10010 which is the first
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Page | 22
available base site of the Base20_10RVT panel within the small estuary stratum (CA_Small). In
this case, NCA20_CA-10010 is re-designated as the revisit site and will now be sampled twice
in 2020. As there is no net loss of base sites, NCA20_CA-10010 must also be replaced by the
first available Over20_10RVT site, NCA20_CA-10052. This site will be sampled once. If all
Over20_10RVT sites have been evaluated, the next available 0ver20_20 site is selected in its
stead. Note, site evaluation spreadsheets may look different as some columns have been
hidden for ease of view.
LOCATION INFORMATION
DESIGN INFORMATION
(Consider both columns in
selecting replacements)
2020 Site ID
Site ID from
NCCA 2015
State
Site Name
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Stratum
If a Revisit fBase20 10RV2V site is drooofid
. i>lease reauien tf
le Revisit stall
js to the next available E
ase20 10RVT
site AND reDlace t
he droooed site v
/ith the next avaitat
N GA20_CA-10002
NC1015-1110
CA
Santa Clara River
34.2344
-119.26441 Base20_10RVT2
CA^Small
in ine eveni inai mere are no avauaoie uveraj iukv i sues to replace aroppea uasezu xunv i sues
me next avanaoie sue in ine uverzu zv hsi snouia i>e seieciea.
NCA20_CA-10010
NC1015-12SQ
CA
To males Bey
38 2934
-1230243
Base20_10RVT
CA_Sma 11
NUWU_IA- lOUll
CA
smitn rtver icaj
oase^u_iOHVi
11
NCA2O_CA-10O12
NC1015-227Q
CA
Big Lagoon
41.1932
-124.1123
Base20_lORVT
CA_Small
NCA20_CA-10013
NCCA15-1089
CA
Mission_Bav
32 7622
-117.2405
Bose20_10RVT
CA_Smซll
N CA20_CA-10052
NCCA15-1095
CA
Morro_8ay
3S.3240| -120.8516 |Over20_10RVT
CA_Sma 1 f
NCA20 CA-10053
NCCA15-1096
CA
San_Diego_Bay
32.5644
-117.1387
Over20 10RVT
CA^Small*
NCA20.CA-10041
CA
Morro Bay
35.3302
*120.8450
Base20_20
CA_Small
NCA20 CA-10Q42
CA
TomaJes Bay
38.1417
-122.8926
Base20 20
CA_Small
NCA20_CA-10043
CA
Eel River
40 6394
-124,3115
8ase20_20
CA_Small
NCA20_CA-10044
CA
San D'Cgo Bay
32-6253
-117.1316
Base20_20
CA_5mall
NCA20 CA-10045
CA
San Francisco Bay
37.4612
-122.0779
Base20 20
CA_Sma 11
NCA20_CA-10046
CA
Areata Bay
40 8361
-124 0852
8ase20_20
CA_Smซll
NCA20_CA-10047
CA
Garcia River
38.9529
-123.7301
Base20_20
CA_5mall
NCA20 CA-10048
CA
inner Oakland Harbor
38.0252
-122.1465
Base20 20
CA Small
NCA20_CA-10049
CA
Los Angeles Harbor
33 7171
-118.2305
8ase20_2Q
CA_Smซll
N CA20_CA- 10O50
CA
Big Lagoon
41.1718
*124.1122
Base20_2O
CA_5mall
NCA20 CA-10051
CA
Los Angeles Harbor
33.7729
-118.2193
Base20 20
CA Small
NCA20_CA-10080
CA
Morro Bay
35 3513
-120.8495
Over20_20
CA_Smฎ 11
NCA20_CA-10081
CA
San Francisco Bay
37.4962
-122 1235
Over20_20
CA_Small
Figure 5.2 Example site replacement of Base20_10VT2 site with a Base20_10RVT site available.
5.1.2 Replacing A Base20_20rvt2 Site
In some states, there are Base20_20RVT2 sites in lieu of Base20_10RVT2 revisit sites. They do
not have the same replacement procedure. Should a Base20_20RVT2 site need to be
replaced, the first available Base20_20 site within the same stratum will be used. This site
will be sampled twice. The used Base20_20 site will then be replaced with the first available
0ver20_20 site within the same stratum so as to not change the total number of base sites.
Figure 5.3 showcases the site replacement procedure for NCA20_DE-10005 which selects
NCA20_DE-10009 as the replacement site and is sampled twice. This site is then replaced with
the NCA20_DE-10031 0ver20_20 site. Note, site evaluation spreadsheets may look different
as some columns have been hidden for ease of view.
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Page | 23
2020 Site ID
Site ID from
NCCA 2015
State
Site Name
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Stratum
If a Revisit (Base20 10R>
J2\ site is drooped
please reassi
?n the Revisit status to tf
e next avail
able Base20 10RVT site AND rec
lace the droDDed si
NCA20 DE-10005
DE
Indian Rive^a^^
38.6204
-75.0994
Base20 20RVT2
DE Small
NCA20_DE-10009
DE
Indian River Bay
38.6061
-75.0700
Base20 20
DE Small
NCA20_DE- IODIC
DE
Little Assawornan Bay
38.4790
75.1092
8ase20_20
DE.Small
NCA20 DE-10011
DE
Blackbird Creek
39.4056
-75.5994
Base20 20
DE Small
NCA20_DE-10012
DE
Indian River Bay
38.5975
-75.1336
Base20_20
DE.Small
NCA20_DE-10013
DE
Rehobeth Bay
38.6844
-75.0758
Base20_20
DE Small
NCA20_DE-10Q14
DE
Rehobeth Bay
38.6952
-75.1541
Base20J20
DE.Small
NCA20 DE-10015
DE
Leipsic River
39.2443
-75.4546
Base20 20
DE.Small
NCA20_DE-10G31
DE
Delev/a re Bay
39.3133
-75.4778
Over20_20
DE Small
NCA20.DE-10032
DE
Little Assawoman Bay
38.4721
-75.0722
Over2020
DE.Small
NCA20_DE-10033
DE
Indian River Bay
38.5957
-75.0944
Over20_20
DE.Small
NCA20_DE-10034
DE
Rehobeth Bay
38.6298
-75.0877
Over2Q_20
DE.Small
NCA20_DE-10035
DE
Indian River Bay
38.5876
-75.1081
Over20_20
DE.Small
Figure 5.3 Site replacement procedure for a Base20_20RVT2 site. The replacement site will be visited twice and
that site will be replaced by an 0ver20_20 site within the same stratum.
5.1.3 Replacing a base20_10rvt site
In general, Base20_10RVT sites will be replaced by the first available Over20_10RVT site.
However, in some scenarios, there may not be any Over20_10RVT sites available in the draw.
Figure 5.4 showcases how to replace a Base20_10RVT site when there is no Over20_10RVT
site available. The Base20_10RVT site, NCA20_AL-10003, is replaced by the first available
0ver20_20 site, NCA20_AL-10018, within that stratum, AL_Large. This site will be sampled
once. Note, site evaluation spreadsheets may look different as some columns have been
hidden for ease of view.
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2020 Site ID
Site ID from
IMCCA 2015
State
Site Name
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Stratum
If a Revisit (Base2Q_10RV2) site is dropped, please reassign the Revisit status to the next available Ba:
e20_10RVT site AND replace the dropped site with the next available oversample ((
NCA20 AL-10001
NCCA15-1420
AL
Mobile Bay
30.3893
-88,00071 Base20 10RVT2
AL Large
In the event that there are no available Over20 1QRVT sites to replace dropped Base20 10RVT sites, t
le next available site in the Over20 20 list should be selected.
YCA20 AL-1O0O3
NCCA15-1421
AL
Mobife_Bay
30.3293
-87.9758
Base20 10RVT
AL_Large
NCA20 AL-10004
NCCA15-1423
AL
Mobile Bay
30.6492
-87.9489
Base2G 10RVT
AL Large
NCA20 Al-10005
NCCA15-1424
AL
Mobile Bay
30.3933
-87.9022
Base20 10RVT
AL large
NCA20 AL-10006
NCCA15-1425
AL
Mobile Bay
30.283-8
-88.0270
Base20 10RVT
AL Large
NCA20 AL-1000S
AL
Mississippi Sound
30.2580
-88.3536
Base20 20
AL Large
NCA20 AL-10009
AL
Mississippi Sound
30.2818
88.1578
Base20 20
AL Large
AL
30.573-6
yCA20 AL-10018
AL
30.5475
-87.9080
NCA20 AL-10019
AL
Mobile Bay
30.5171
ฆ88.0543
Qver20 20
AL_Large
NCA20 AL-10020
AL
Mobile Bay
30.2896
-87.8596
Over20 20
AL Large
NCA20 AL-10021
AL
Mobile Bay
30.2419
-88.0481
Over20 20
AL_large
NCA20 AL-10022
AL
Mobile Bay
30.4338
-88.0385
Qver20 20
AL Large
NCA20 AL-10023
AL
Mobile Bay
30.3716
-87,8908
Over20 20
AL_Large
Figure 5.4 Replacement of a Base20_10RVT site in the absence of Over20_10RVT sites.
5.1,4 Replacing a Base 20_20 Site
Base20_20 sites should be replaced with the first available 0ver20_20 site from the same
stratum. For example, as shown in Figure 5.5, if Base20_20 site, NCA20_RI-10009, cannot be
sampled, the first available unused Qver20_20 site within the RI_Small stratum, NCA20_RI-
10032, should be sampled once. Note, site evaluation spreadsheets may look different as
some columns have been hidden for ease of view.
2020 Site ID
Site ID from
NCCA 2015
State
Site Name
Latitude
Longitude
Base/
Oversample
Panel
Stratum
If a Revisit (Base20_10RV2) site is dropped, please reassign the Revisit status to the next available Base20_10RVT site AND replace the dropped site with the next avail-
NCA20_Rl-10G02 |NCCA15-1589 |Rl |provtdence_Rivซr | 41.7503| -71.3652 |&ase2Q_l0RVT2 |Ri_Small
If a Revisit (Base20 10RV2) site is dropped, please reassign the Revisit status to the next available Base20 10RVT site AND replace the dropped site with the next avail*
NCA20_Ri-10007
MCCA15-1591
Rl
Sakonnct_RiveT
41 6133
-71.2161
&ose20_10RVT
RI_Smol 1
NCA20_R 1-10016
NCCA15-1592
Rl
Mt_Hope_Boy
41 7044
-71.2286
Over20_10RVT
RI_Smoll
In the event that there are no available Over20 10RVT sites to replace dropped Base20 10RVT sites
the next available site in the Over?0 20 list should be selected.
|NCA20_R 1-10009
Rl
Point Judith Pond
41 3781
-71,5371
Bese20_20
RI_Small
NCA20_Rt-10010
Rl
Greenwich Boy
41 6845
-71.4373
Bose20_2Q
RI_Small
NCA20_Rl-10011
Rl
Sakonnet River
41 6156
*71.2365
Bose20_20
Rl_Small
NCA20_RI-10012
Rl
Sakonnet River
41 4858
-71.2348
Base20_20
Rl_Small
NCA20_RI-10013
Rl
Providence River
41.7432
ฆ71.3561
Base20_20
Rl^Small
NCA20JU-10014
Rl
Mt. Hope Bay
41.6818
71.2257
Base2G_2G
Rl_Small
NCA20JU-10015
Rl
Sakonnet River
41.5399
-71.2058
Base20_20
Rl^Srnall
hCA20Rl-10032
Rl
Point Judith Pond
41.3S4S
-71.5045
0ver20_20
Rl Small
NCA20 Rl-10033
Rl
Sakonnet River
41.5529
-71.2217
Over20_2O
Rl^Small
NCA20 RI-10034
Rl
Sakonnet River
41.4672
-71.2060
Over20 20
Rl Smail
NCA20_Rt-10035
Rl
Providence River
41.7487
-71.3685
Over20_20
Rl Small
Figure 5.5 Site replacement of a Base20_20 site with first available, unused 0ver20_20 site.
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6 Obtaining Landowner Permission (when
APPLICABLE)
It is important to obtain landowner permission prior to sampling, when necessary. NCCA sites
are generally accessible by boat from the open waterway. To access the waterway, the field
crew should first determine if a public dock will provide suitable access for the boat. If a
private dock is more convenient, then the field crew must obtain landowner permission
before using the dock. In addition, field crews must comply with any special conditions and
requirements for accessing and sampling on state, tribal or federal lands/waters.
Each field crew is responsible for obtaining permission to access their sampling sites.
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 field crew to contact landowners before the sampling day, and
identifies which landowner owns which portions of the shoreline. The provision of county
maps for the field crews will help clarify access to the targeted sampling site.
EPA recommends that each field crew obtain permission prior to the sampling day to minimize
loss of time during field sampling. The field crew can contact the landowner either through
an in-person reconnaissance visit or through mailing permission request letters to the
landowner, such as a letter signed by the Regional Monitoring Coordinator with a permission
slip for the landowner to return. Crews should also consider requesting landowner permission
for oversample sites in case of dropped base sites. Figure 6.1 provides a sample letter and
permission form that your program or organization can modify as appropriate. In either case,
a signed permission slip, such as the one shown in Figure 6.1 can be used as documentation
on the day of sampling.
Field crews should work with appropriate state, tribal and federal agencies to determine any
permits or special conditions that apply to the access points and the coastal waters. As
needed, EPA will assist field crews in coordinating efforts with tribes and other federal
agencies. Field crews should work with the appropriate state agencies to determine any
permits or special conditions that apply to state lands.
Some crews 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.
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Page | 26
(Date)
Dear Landowner:
The US Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with State agencies, is conducting
an environmental assessment of coastal waters (estuaries and Great Lakes) across the United
States. Approximately 725 coastal sites and 225 Great Lakes sites were statistically selected for
sampling in 2020. Water quality chemistry, aquatic life, and habitat will be evaluated at each site.
The findings of the survey 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 map(s) with the site(s) identified by an "X" at the
specific point 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)
I grant permission to the biological field crew from (state agency, Cooperator, or contractor) to
access the coastal target site located on my property as part of the EPA's National Coastal
Condition Assessment.
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.
Figure 6.1 Landowner Letter and Permission Form
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Page | 27
7 Final Site Verification at the Location
The final step is to visit the site, usually as part of reconnaissance or the actual field sampling
visit. Complete the Site Verification information on the NCCA App for each site visited with
the intent to sample (regardless of whether it is sampled), following the procedures described
below.
1. Record directions. While traveling
from a base location to a site, the field
crew provides a detailed description of
the route taken on the Site Verification
Form (Figure 7.2) in the NCCA App.
The directions will allow others to find
the site again if it is selected for a
repeat visit in the future.
2. Confirm location. Upon reaching
the target site, confirm that the field
crew is located at the same latitude
and longitude identified in spreadsheet
for the X-site. Sampling site
verification is based on map coordinates and locational data from the GPS.
a. Navigate to the X-site. Navigate the sampling vessel as close as possible to the
target X-site using GPS (you must be no more than 0.02 nautical miles (nm) or
37 meters from the target X-site). Compare the target X-site coordinates with
the GPS coordinates displayed at the sampling site.
b. Record, in the Site Verification Form, the actual coordinates of the vessel
after anchorage, not the initial intended coordinates, on the Verification Form
in the App. Make sure the GPS unit is set to reference the NAD83 geospatial
data set and for decimal degrees (not degrees, minutes, seconds). This new
location is where sampling will begin and is called the Y-location.
c. Record the type of satellite fix (<3 or >4) for QA purposes in the Site
Verification Form in the App.
3. Assess sampleability as described in Section 2 and Section 5. In addition, verify that
the water is deep enough so that samples can be collected from the boat, otherwise,
the site is non-sampleable. Questions about wading to sample shallow water should be
directed to the Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator.
4. Assess relocations if the X-site itself is not sampleable. Every attempt should be made
to relocate to a sampleable area within a 37 m radius of the intended location. In
searching for a suitable relocation site, the field crew leader should choose a specific
compass heading (e.g., north, south, east, west) and slowly motor the vessel in that
direction for approximately 15-20 m. Assess the potential relocated site as described
in Section 4. Should the relocated site fail to meet the operational definition
sampleable, then this process may be continued using the same heading out to the 37
Equipment:
Sampling permit and landowner access (if
required)
Field Operations Manual and/or laminated quick
reference guide
Site dossier, including access information, site
spreadsheet with map coordinates, street and/or
topographic maps with "X-site" marked
NCCA Fact Sheets
GPS unit (preferably one capable of recording
waypoints) with manual, reference card, extra
battery pack
Figure 7.1 Equipment for In-Field Verification
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Page | 28
m mark or using a new heading until an acceptable sampling location is found. If after
a sufficient amount of effort is expended and no suitable site is found, then the
determination may be made that the site is non-sampleable.
5. Mark the appropriate bubble on the Site Verification Form (Figure 7.2). Do not sample
non-target or "Non-sampleable" or "No Access" sites. Fill in the "NO" bubble for "Did you
sample this site?" and fill in the appropriate bubble in the "Non-Sampleable-
Permanent" or "Non-Sampleable-Temporary" section of the Verification Form in the
App; provide detailed explanation in comments section. In the site evaluation
spreadsheet of base and oversample sites (Figure 4.4), provide comments in the last
column.
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Page | 29
NCA20_FL-10006, Visit 1
Version 2.5
NCCA 2020 VERIFICATION
This form has fc>een thoroughly reviewed and is ready for sut>rnassi>on
Site name J
Crew
Date collected
Did you sample this site? (^) YES NO
Station Depth (m):
Arrival Time: f
Depart Time:
VERIFICATION INFORMATION
Site verified by (mark all that apply):
~ <*ป~ intact ~ ~ ST
Other ver. type:
LOCATION INFORMATION
Design Latitude 29.0425244429887
Design Longitude: -80.9040424548516
Measured coordinates ol Y-location (Decimal Degrees - NAD S3):
Measured Latitude Measured Longitude Number of satellites
4 or more Q 3 or less
V-Location is within 37m of X-Site? ( ]
ADDITIONAL SITE CHARACTERISTICS
Select habitat type:
ฉ
Select bottom type:
Debris present? Yes ([^) No
ฉ
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Page | 30
SAV present? Q Yes Q No
Macroalgae present? Q Yes Q No
COMMENTS/DESCRIPTIONS
General comments
Directions to site
| | Crew scanned or submitted a site sketch
Online
Figure 7.2 Site Verification Form
8 Submission of Site Evaluation/Verification Forms
The final step is to provide EPA with the necessary documentation. For all base sites and all
oversample sites evaluated and/or selected as replacements (sampled and non-sampleable),
the field crew must provide the two documents identified below, The information is critical
for the statistical evaluations for the final report.
8.1 Site Evaluation Spreadsheet
For information collected prior to the start of the 2020 sampling index period, please upload
your Site Evaluation Spreadsheet to the EPA SharePoint site under NCCA 2020/Site
Evaluation/Crew Submitted Site Evaluation Spreadsheets. The SharePoint site can be accessed
at:
https://usepa.sharepoint.com/sites/OW Community/nars/ layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages
/Home.aspx
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Page | 31
If you need access to the SharePoint site, please send an email to Brian Hasty
(hasty.brian@epa.gov), Kendra Forde (forde.kendra@epa.gov) and cc: Hugh Sullivan
(sullivan.hugh@epa.gov). If you are having trouble with the SharePoint site, you may email
interim and final spreadsheets to the Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator and your Regional
Coordinator (see page vii for contact information). After the start of the field season, please
email any updates to the spreadsheet every two weeks. Reminders will be sent out from
the Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator as needed. This process will help to ensure that all
appropriate base and replacement sites are sampled.
At the conclusion of sampling, final completed site evaluation spreadsheets must be
submitted to EPA via the SharePoint as described above (or by email if necessary) no later
than October 31, 2020. Crews should strive to submit the final completed site evaluation
within 2 weeks of sampling the last site. The Contractor Field Logistics Coordinator will
contact each crew to verify information and ensure that all required information is
completed.
8.2 Site Verification Forms (App form for each site visited with the
INTENT TO SAMPLE)
Site verification forms will be completed with the use of the EPA provided iPads when the site
has been sampled (or not sampled). Submitting the site verification form will create a
database record for that sampling event. If a site is not sampled, fill in the appropriate fields
for why the site wasn't sampled. If a site is sampled, fill out all information on the
verification form.
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Page | 32
9 References
Olsen, Tony. 2019. "American Samoa Reef Flat 2020 Survey Design" Internal Working
Document created on September 26, 2019.
Olsen, Tony. 2019. "CNMI Reef Flat 2020 Survey Design" Internal Working Document created
on September 26, 2019.
Olsen, Tony. 2019. "Guam Reef Flat 2020 Survey Design" Internal Working Document created
on September 26, 2019.
Olsen, Tony. 2019. "National Coastal Condition Assessment 2020 Coastal Estuarine Survey
Design." Internal Working Document created on February 26, 2020.
Olsen, Tony. 2020. "NARS Great Lakes Assessment 2020 Survey Design" Internal Working
Document revised on February 12, 2020.
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APPENDIX A: ESTUARINE SPECIAL STUDY DESIGN
DESCRIPTIONS
American Samoa reef flat survey
Target Population: The target population is all reef flats in coastal waters of
American Samoa.
Sample Frame: American Samoa reef flat sample frame was obtained from NOAA
coastal habitat GIS layer.
Survey Design: The survey design incorporates sites sampled from the prior study in
2010 and new sites selected in 2020. Both designs use the same stratification and
multi-density categories. For 2020 50% (25 sites) of the sites are from 2010 to be
resampled in 2020 and 50% (25 sites) are new sites.
Stratification: Stratification by Tutuilla island.
Multi-density Categories: Multi-density categories based on polygon sizes of reef
flats
Panels: The combined designs for American Samoa have the following panels:
1. Basel 0: Sites from 2010 reef flat study that will be re-sampled once in 2020
2. Base20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020
3. OverlO: Sites from 2010 that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Basel 0 sites cannot be sampled in 2020
4. Over20: New sites that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Base20 site cannot be sampled in 2020.
Sample Size: The expected sample size is 50 sites for Tutuilla with over sample sites
available to replace 2010 or 2020 sites. Note that 25 sites are from 2010 and 25 sites
are new sites.
Site Use: When a "base" site cannot be sampled for any reason; the site must be
replaced using the following rules:
1. Basel 0: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the OverlO list. Note that the 25 Basel0 sites
includes four sites that could not be sampled in 2010. They should be
evaluated again to determine if they can be sampled in 2020.
2. Base20: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the Over20 list within the same stratum.
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Page | 34
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana islands Reef Flat Survey
Target Population: The target population is all reef flats in coastal waters of
Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI).
Sample Frame: CNMI reef flat sample frame was obtained from NOAA coastal habitat
GIS layer.
Survey Design: The survey design incorporates sites sampled from the prior study in
2010 and new sites selected in 2020. Both designs use the same stratification and
multi-density categories. For 2020 50% (25 sites) of the sites are from 2010 to be
resampled in 2020 and 50% (25 sites) are new sites.
Stratification: Stratification by Saipan, Tinian and Rota islands.
Multi-density Categories: Multi-density categories based on polygon sizes of reef
flats.
Panels: The combined designs for CNMI have the following panels:
1. Basel 0: Sites from 2010 reef flat study that will be re-sampled once in 2020
2. Base20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020
3. OverlO: Sites from 2010 that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Basel 0 sites cannot be sampled in 2020
4. Over20: New sites that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Base20 site cannot be sampled in 2020.
Sample Size: The expected sample size is 50 sites total. The over sample is 100% of
base sample for use if sites must be replaced.
Site Use: When a "base" site cannot be sampled for any reason; the site must be
replaced using the following rules:
1. Basel 0: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the OverlO list. Note that the 25 Basel0 sites
includes four sites that could not be sampled in 2010. They should be
evaluated again to determine if they can be sampled in 2020.
2. Base20: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the Over20 list within the same stratum.
Guam Reef Flat Survey
Target Population: The target population is defined as all reef flats in coastal waters
of Guam.
Sample Frame: The sample frame is an integrated GIS layer that includes reef flats,
estuaries, near shore and off shore regions of Guam. Only the portion associated with
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Page | 35
reef flats was used for the survey design. See documentation for NCCA 2010 Guam
reef flat design for process of constructing the GIS layer.
Survey Design: The survey design incorporates sites sampled from the prior study in
2010 and new sites selected in 2020. Both designs use the same stratification and
multi-density categories. For 2020 50% (25 sites) of the sites are from 2010 to be
resampled in 2020 and 50% (25 sites) are new sites.
Stratification: Stratification by Achang, Pati, Piti, Tumon reserve regions and Other
regions.
Multi-density Categories: None. Equal probability within strata.
Panels: The combined designs for Guam have the following panels:
1. Basel0: Sites from 2010 reef flat study that will be re-sampled once in 2020
2. Base20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020
3. OverlO: Sites from 2010 that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Basel 0 sites cannot be sampled in 2020
4. Over20: New sites that are over sample sites that will only be used if any
Base20 site cannot be sampled in 2020.
Sample Size: The total expected sample size is 50 sites within all reef flats. Each
reserve region will have 4 total sites and other region stratum will have 34 sites. In
each case 50% of sites are from 2010 and 50% are new sites.
Site Use: When a "base" site cannot be sampled for any reason, the site must be
replaced using the following rules:
1. Basel 0: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the OverlO list. Note that the 25 Basel0 sites
includes four sites that could not be sampled in 2010. They should be
evaluated again to determine if they can be sampled in 2020.
2. Base20: When a site in this category cannot be sampled it should be replaced
by the next available site in the Over20 list within the same stratum.
Pensacola- Perdido Bay Estuary program
Target Population: The marine coastal waters are defined as those from the head-of-
salt (i.e., the landward extent of saltwater incursions) to the confluence with the
open ocean. This unique coastal land-water interface zone includes inland waterways,
river mouths, open and semi-enclosed estuaries, bays, embayments, and the more
open shallow waters within the Pensacola-Perdido bays in Alabama and Mississippi.
Sample Frame: In practice the sample frame defines the target population as it is
the only way to determine the specific waters included in the target population. The
sample frame was derived from prior National Coastal Assessment sample frame
developed by ORD Gulf Breeze Ecology Division. The prior GED sample frame was
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Page | 36
enhanced as part of the National Coastal Monitoring Network design by including
information from NOAA's Coastal Assessment Framework, boundaries of National
Estuary Programs and identification of major coastal systems.
Survey Design: The sites are selected using a spatially-balanced survey design with
not stratification or unequal probability of selection.
Panels: The design has the following panels:
1. Base20: Sites to be sampled in 2020
2. Base21: Sites to be sampled in 2021
3. Base22: Sites to be sampled in 2022
4. Base23: Sites to be sampled in 2023
5. Base24: Sites to be sampled in 2023
6. OverSamp: Sites that are over sample sites that will only be used if any of the
base site cannot be sampled.
Sample Size: The total expected sample size is 50 sites for entire five-year period.
The expected margin of error (or precision) of estimates as a function of sample size
is shown in the figure below when interest is in estimating a proportion. For example,
may be interested in knowing what proportion of the estuarine area has a chemical
contaminant in the sediment that exceeds a specific value/criteria. The precision
depends on the true proportion of the area that exceeds the value. For a sample size
of 30, if the true proportion is 0.25, then the precision (margin of error) is expected
to be approximately 15% when use 90% confidence level. For a sample size of 10, the
precision is approximately 25%. If sample 10 sites per year, then after five years, the
precision would be approximately 10%. Note that estimating proportions typically
requires a larger sample size than when estimating the average sediment
contamination for the estuarine area - unless the variability for sediment
contamination is large. Without information on the expected variability of a
contaminant or other indicator of interest, it is not possible to provide information on
the precision as a function of sample size.
Site Use: When a "base" site cannot be sampled for any reason, the site must be
replaced using the first available OverSamp site in sitelD order.
Long Island Sound Study Bay Enhancement
Target Population: The marine coastal waters are defined as those from the head-of-salt
(i.e., the landward extent of saltwater incursions) to the confluence with the open ocean.
This unique coastal land-water interface zone includes inland waterways, river mouths, open
and semi-enclosed estuaries, bays, embayments, and the more open shallow waters within
the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) National Estuary Program region.
Sample Frame: In practice the sample frame defines the target population as it is the only
way to determine the specific waters included in the target population. The sample frame
was derived from prior National Coastal Assessment sample frame developed by ORD Gulf
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Page | 37
Breeze Ecology Division. The prior GED sample frame was enhanced as part of the National
Coastal Monitoring Network design by including information from NOAA's Coastal Assessment
Framework, boundaries of National Estuary Programs and identification of major coastal
systems.
The staff at LISS provided a shapefile, "CT_NY_Embayments_for_intensification_02212020" of
the bays to be included in the special study for bays. The shapefile included the embayment
delineations that were created by Vaudrey minus the mouths of large rivers (the Connecticut,
the Thames, the Housatonic, and the East River). This shapefile and the LISS portion of the
NCCA 2020 sample frame were combined to create a single shapefile for LISS. An attribute
was added to designate polygons that were NCCA_Bays, NCCA_Only or Bays_Only. Ignoring
minor differences in polygon lines, the three categories identify bays (NCCA_Bays and
Bays_Only) and "open water" (NCCA_Only). Note that LISS added a few bays that were not
included in NCCA.
Survey Design: The NCCA 2020 survey design is a stratified probability design that is
constructed from two independent designs. The first design consists of sites sampled in 2010
and again to 2015. The second design selects new sites. For LISS the first design consists of
eight sites. The second design selects new sites using a spatially balanced survey design with
four strata: CT_Bays, CT_NonBays, NY_Bays and NY_NonBays.
Panels: The combined designs for LISS have the following panels:
1. Base20_10_RVT2: Sites from NCCA 2010 and 2015 that will be re-sampled twice in 2020.
2. Base20_10RVT: Sites from NCCA 2010 that will be re-sampled once in 2020.
3. Base20_20RVT2: New sites that will be sampled twice in 2020.
4. Base20_20: New sites that will be sampled once in 2020.
5. 0ver20_20: New sites that are over sample sites that will only be used if any Base20_20
site cannot be sampled in 2020.
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Appendix b: Great Lake Special study design
DESCRIPTIONS
Green Bay Enhancement
Target population: Nearshore and offshore waters of Green Bay in Lake Michigan.
Near shore zone is defined as region from shoreline to 30m depth constrained to a
maximum of 5 km from shoreline. Offshore waters are all remaining water within
Green Bay.
Sample Frame: The sample frame was developed by the ORD Mid-Continent Ecology
Division by Jonathon Launspach under the direction of David Bolgrien. It added
polygons for Green Bay nearshore and offshore regions to the existing National Great
Lakes Assessment sample frame.
Survey Design: The survey design incorporates existing NGLA 2020 sites in Green Bay
which total eight (8) sites plus approximately five (5) over sample sites. The NLGA
2020 design was supplemented with a new design for Green Bay that includes 17
additional nearshore sites (for a total of 25 sites) and 25 offshore sites.
Stratification: Stratification is by nearshore and offshore regions of Green Bay for the
new design. The NLGA 2020 nearshore design stratifies by Great Lake.
Multi-density categories: The NLGA 2020 nearshore design uses unequal probability
categories by state within each Great Lake. The new design does not use unequal
probability categories within strata.
Panels: The combined designs have a panel
Expected sample size: The combined designs have 25 sites in nearshore and offshore
regions. Over sample sites for offshore region are provided in new design and for
nearshore in NGLA 2020 design.
Site Use: When a "base" site cannot be sampled for any reason, the site must be
replaced using an over sample site.
Lake Michigan Islands Enhancement
Target Population: Nearshore waters around Islands of Lake Michigan. Near shore
zone is defined as region from shoreline to 30m depth constrained to a maximum of 5
km from shoreline.
Sample Frame: The sample frame was developed by the ORD Mid-Continent Ecology
Division by Jonathon Launspach under the direction of David Bolgrien. The original
sample frame was developed by Jack Kelly (retired from the Midcontinent Ecology
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Division in 2015) using National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
bathymetric data. This sample frame was updated by Jonathon Launspach (General
Dynamics Information Technology contractor) in 2019 under the direction of David
Bolgrien at the Office of Research and Development (now GLTED Great Lakes
Toxicology and Ecology Division) Mid Continent Ecology Division. The update utilizes a
combined Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Framework (GLAHF) and NOAA shoreline to
improve on the original sample frame but remains comparable to the 2010 and 2015
sample frame. The improvements include having a higher resolution shoreline to more
accurately estimate the 5 km distance from shore and finer interpolated NOAA data
from GLAHF to determine the 30m depth contours, reducing the likelihood of dropped
sites. Due to the higher resolution of the shoreline where a coastal feature whose
connection to the nearshore of the Great Lakes was less than 200 meters was removed
from the frame.
Survey Design: The Island design includes 12 sites and (10) over sample sites. No
stratification and equal probability.
Site Selection: This design includes 12 Base sites and 10 over sample sites. Note that
the NLGA Near Shore design includes five (5) sites within the Lake Michigan study
region. Also, Sleeping Bear National Parks islands are included in the Island study and
not the National Park study.
National Parks Service Design
Target Population: Nearshore waters of Sleeping Bear and Indiana Dunes parks in
Lake Michigan. Near shore zone is defined as region from shoreline to 30m depth
constrained to a maximum of 5 km from shoreline.
Sample Frame: The sample frame was developed by the ORD Mid-Continent Ecology
Division by Jonathon Launspach under the direction of David Bolgrien. The original
sample frame was developed by Jack Kelly (retired from the Midcontinent Ecology
Division in 2015) using National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
bathymetric data. This sample frame was updated by Jonathon Launspach (General
Dynamics Information Technology contractor) in 2019 under the direction of David
Bolgrien at the Office of Research and Development (now GLTED Great Lakes
Toxicology and Ecology Division) Mid Continent Ecology Division. The update utilizes a
combined Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Framework (GLAHF) and NOAA shoreline to
improve on the original sample frame but remains comparable to the 2010 and 2015
sample frame. The improvements include having a higher resolution shoreline to more
accurately estimate the 5 km distance from shore and finer interpolated NOAA data
from GLAHF to determine the 30m depth contours, reducing the likelihood of dropped
sites. Due to the higher resolution of the shoreline where a coastal feature whose
connection to the nearshore of the Great Lakes was less than 200 meters was removed
from the frame.
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The sample frame for this study are the polygons for the nearshore areas of Sleeping
Bear and Indiana Dunes parks explicitly identified in the existing base frame.
Survey Design: The National Park study design includes 12 sites and (10) over sample
sites. No stratification and equal probability.
Site Selection Summary: This design includes 38 Base sites and 20 over sample sites.
Note that the NLGA Near Shore design includes three (3) sites within the National Park
study region. Also, Sleeping Bear National Parks islands are included in the Island
study and not the National Park study.
Sample Frame: The sample frame was developed by the ORD Mid-Continent Ecology
Division by Jonathon Launspach under the direction of David Bolgrien. The original
sample frame was developed by Jack Kelly (retired from the Midcontinent Ecology
Division in 2015) using National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
bathymetric data. This sample frame was updated by Jonathon Launspach (General
Dynamics Information Technology contractor) in 2019 under the direction of David
Bolgrien at the Office of Research and Development (now GLTED Great Lakes
Toxicology and Ecology Division) Mid Continent Ecology Division. The update utilizes a
combined Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Framework (GLAHF) and NOAA shoreline to
improve on the original sample frame but remains comparable to the 2010 and 2015
sample frame. The improvements include having a higher resolution shoreline to more
accurately estimate the 5 km distance from shore and finer interpolated NOAA data
from GLAHF to determine the 30m depth contours, reducing the likelihood of dropped
sites. Due to the higher resolution of the shoreline where a coastal feature whose
connection to the nearshore of the Great Lakes was less than 200 meters was removed
from the frame.
Lake Erie Intensification
Target Population: The Lake Erie Basin study includes the nearshore waters of Lake
Erie within the United States. Nearshore zone is defined as region from shoreline to
30m depth constrained to a maximum of 5 km from shoreline.
Design Description: On July 11, 2019, a Lake Erie design for 90 sites with 30 in each
basin (east, central, west) was added. Existing design has 45 base sites in Lake Erie
with 13 in East, 21 in Central and 11 in West basins. So new design requires 17 in
East, 9 in Central and 19 in West basins. Design is stratified by basin and equal
probability within basin. In addition, design has 5 over sample sites within each
basin. Note that survey design weights reflect the two separate designs. Final
weights for Lake Erie basin design will have to combine information from the two
designs and will use the weight categories from the Near Shore design combined with
the basin weight categories. That will be needed to ensure have equal probability of
selection of sites within the combined weight categories.
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Note that the Lake Erie enhancement sites will not collect all the NGLA indicators.
Only those sites that are included in NGLA nearshore design will collect all NGLA
indicators.
Site Summary: PANEL_USE has Lake Erie panels Erie20_20 which are the base sites for
the 45 additional sites and Erie_OverSamp if any site in Erie20_20 panel must be
replaced within that stratum.
Design was completed so that sitelDs for the original survey design do not change.
Sample Frame: The sample frame was developed by the ORD Mid-Continent Ecology
Division by Jonathon Launspach under the direction of David Bolgrien. The original
sample frame was developed by Jack Kelly (retired from the Midcontinent Ecology
Division in 2015) using National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
bathymetric data. This sample frame was updated by Jonathon Launspach (General
Dynamics Information Technology contractor) in 2019 under the direction of David
Bolgrien at the Office of Research and Development (now GLTED Great Lakes
Toxicology and Ecology Division) Mid Continent Ecology Division. The update utilizes a
combined Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Framework (GLAHF) and NOAA shoreline to
improve on the original sample frame but remains comparable to the 2010 and 2015
sample frame. The improvements include having a higher resolution shoreline to more
accurately estimate the 5 km distance from shore and finer interpolated NOAA data
from GLAHF to determine the 30m depth contours, reducing the likelihood of dropped
sites. Due to the higher resolution of the shoreline where a coastal feature whose
connection to the nearshore of the Great Lakes was less than 200 meters was removed
from the frame.
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