NYSDEC: NYSDEC Invert 2014:  Invertebrate Sampling Method, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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Official Method Name
 Standard Operating Procedure: Biological Monitoring of Surface Waters in New York State
Current Revision
2014
Media
 Surface Water  (Waterbody type - Wadeable stream)
Instrumentation
 Invertebrate Net (w/ handle)
Method Subcategory
 Population/Community
Method Source
  NYSDEC
Citation
 NYSDEC, 2014, Standard Operating Procedure: Biological Monitoring of Surface Waters in New York State, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, SOP 208-14, Stream Biomonitoring, Rev. 3.0, Date: 04/18/2014, 171 p.
Brief Method Summary
 The biological monitoring program for the State of New York, was initiated in May, 1972 as mandated by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500). The main objective of the program is to evaluate the relative biological health of the State's surface waters through the collection and analysis of macroinvertebrate communities.

Benthic macroinvertebrates are the primary community used by the DOW Stream Biomonitoring Unit for the assessment of water quality. The Stream Biomonitoring Unit divides its biological assessment sampling into three major categories: 1) trend monitoring, 2) site assessments and 3) waterbody assessments.
Scope and Application
 1.1 This standard operating procedure (SOP) covers the biological monitoring program for the NYSDEC, Division of Water (DOW) and applies to all biological monitoring data conducted in support of the following DOW programs and reporting:
  1. Rotating Intergrated Basin Studies (RIBS) water quality assessments.
  2. Water Body Inventory and Priority Waterbody List (WI/PWL) documentation of water quality.
  3. 40 CFR 303(d) listing of impaired waters.
  4. 40 CFR 305(b) reporting of water quality assessments.
  5. State Permit Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit writing, compliance and enforcement determinations, setting permit limitations protective of aquatic life use support.
  6. Trend Monitoring Reports which are planned at 10 year intervals.
  7. Department personnel working on non point source discharges
  8. Tissue analysis results for contaiminant trackdown used by the Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources or the Division of Environmental Remediation.
1.2 This SOP covers the planning, collection, assessment and reporting of biological monitoring data conducted by the DOW Stream Biomonitoring Unit.
1.3 This SOP is to be followed unless project objectives or physical conditions make it inappropriate. In such a case, the exact procedures followed, or deviations from the SOP must be documented. A log of changes will be maintained by the Stream Biomonitoring Unit for possible incorporation into future updates to this SOP.
1.4 All applicable guidelines set forth by the NYSDEC, DOW, 2011 Health and Safety Program are to be followerd by DOW staff when using this SOP.
1.5 All applicable NYSDEC, DOW SOPs are to be adhered to.
Applicable Concentration Range
Interferences
Quality Control Requirements
Sample Handling
Maximum Holding Time
Relative Cost
Sample Preparation Methods
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