Sampling

This sampling section is divided into four subsections. The first subsection is a general overview of sampling plan development. The second subsection identifies documents that address sediment sampling and the measurement of contaminant flux at the sediment surface water interface. The third subsection identifies documents on biota sampling techniques. The last subsection identifies documents that discuss sediment pore water sampling methods.

Sampling Plan Development

EPA requires that a sediment sampling plan contain a quality assurance project plan that is developed through a systematic planning process. The proper development and execution of the plan ensures that the samples collected are representative of the media sampled and of a known quality. Guidance documents on how to develop sampling plans are available on the EPA quality webpage.

VSP is an EPA-approved software tool that supports the development of a defensible sampling plan based on statistical sampling theory and the statistical analysis of sample results to support confident decision making. VSP couples site, building, and sample location visualization capabilities with optimal sampling design and statistical analysis strategies.

Also available for use in sampling design is the Decision Error Feasibility Trials software (DEFT). DEFT is a program that allows users to evaluate the financial feasibility of incorporating selected data quality objective (DQO) constraints into a statistical sampling design before developing a final plan. The program assists with the 7-step DQO process, which is used to develop statistical sampling design plans. DQO constraints are determined in steps 1 through 6 and all the DQO outputs are incorporated into a sampling design during step 7. Before implementing step 7, it is efficient and cost effective to ensure that all DQO constraints are appropriate and feasible. The user can test the proposed constraints on several simple sampling designs (e.g., simple random sampling, composite sampling, stratified sampling). DEFT allows users to enter, verify, and adjust DQO outputs. More information can be found on the EPA quality webpage (under QA/G-4D).

Sediment Sampling for Physical/Chemical Properties

Cost and Performance Report: Quantifying In Situ Metal Contaminant Mobility in Marine Sediments
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, CU9712, 37 pp, 2000

This report describes a benthic flux sampling device.

A Guide to the Proper Selection and Use of Federally Approved Sediment and Water-Quality Samplers
Davis, B.E.
USGS, Open File Report 2005-1087, 26 pp, 2005

This report provides a general understanding of sediment sampling equipment and technology, guidance for the selection of appropriate equipment, and an introduction to new FISP-approved sampling equipment. It primarily addresses suspended and bedload sediment samplers and surface water samplers.

High Resolution In-Situ Monitoring of Hyporheic Zone Biogeochemistry
Environment Agency, UK, Science Report SC030155/SR3, 51 pp, 2005

Improved Methods for Correlating Turbidity and Suspended Solids for Monitoring
USACE, ERDC TN-DOER-E8, 12 pp, 2000

Methods for Collection, Storage and Manipulation of Sediments for Chemical and Toxicological Analyses: Technical Manual
USEPA, Office of Water, EPA-823-B-01-002, 208 pp, 2001

Proceedings of the Federal Interagency Sediment Monitoring Instrument and Analysis Research Workshop, September 9-11, 2003, Flagstaff, Arizona
Gray, J., ed.
USGS Circular 1276, 50 pp, 2005

This document discusses data needs, uncertainty, and new technologies related to suspended-sediment measurement, bedload-transport measurement, and bed-material and bed-topography measurement. It also covers the management of sediment-flux computations and estimates from new technologies on sediment data.

Quantifying In Situ Metal Contaminant Mobility in Marine Sediments
Hampton, T.W. and D.B. Chadwick
SPAWAR Systems Center, Technical Report 1826, 142 pp, 2000

This report contains a complete description of the equipment, processes, and methods used to demonstrate and validate the Benthic Flux Sampling Device for quantifying in situ metal contaminant mobility in marine sediments. Test and demonstration results, an analysis and interpretation of the results, and performance and cost information are also included in the report.

Sediment Sampling Guide and Methodologies (second edition)
State of Ohio, Environmental Protection Agency, 35 pp, 2001

Sampling for Contaminants in Sediments and Sediment Pore Water
Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) Web Site

This Web page provides short descriptions and pictures of sediment and pore water sampling equipment and a list of references.

Using Passive Polyethylene Samplers to Evaluate Chemical Activities Controlling Fluxes and Bioaccumulation of Organic Contaminants in Bed Sediments
Gschwend, P.M.
SERDP, Project ER-1496, 45 pp, 2010

This project demonstrated the efficacy of using polyethylene (PE) strips to assess the availability of C-13-labeled forms of PAHs and PCBs in sediment beds in moving to other locations (e.g., overlying waters). This movement is relevant to receptors (e.g., shellfish and fish) and to microorganisms that might facilitate degradation. The method involves insertion of PE strips, pre-loaded with internal standards, across the bed-water interface at sites of concern, leaving the PE to absorb the HOC, and then retrieving the samplers and measuring HOC accumulated in the PE by solvent extraction and GCMS.

Biota Sampling

Concepts and Approaches for the Bioassessment of Non-Wadeable Streams and Rivers
Flotemersch, J.E., J.B. Stribling, and M.J. Paul.
USEPA, EPA 600-R-06-127, 245 pp, 2006

The document assists users who are establishing or refining bioassessment protocols. It includes specific methods related to field sampling; laboratory sample processing; taxonomy; data entry, management, and analysis; and final assessment and reporting.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Surface Waters: Field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Non-Wadeable Rivers and Streams
Lazorchak, J.M., B.H. Hill, D.K. Averill, D.V. Peck, and D.J. Klemm (eds).
USEPA, 204 pp, 2000

This document describes procedures for collecting data, samples, and information about biotic assemblages, environmental measures, or attributes of indicators of non-wadeable stream ecosystem conditions.

Great River Ecosystems Field Operations Manual
Angradi, T.R. (ed.)
USEPA, Office of Research and Development, EPA/620/R-06/002, 227 pp, 2006

This manual describes procedures for collecting samples and field measurements for biotic assemblages and abiotic characteristics of the Great Rivers of the Central Basin of the United States: the Missouri, Upper Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers.

National Coastal Assessment: Field Operations Manual
USEPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, EPA 620/R-01/003, 72 pp, 2001

This manual covers benthic sampling in estuarine systems.

Revised Protocols for Sampling Algal, Invertebrate, and Fish Communities as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Moulton II, S.R., J.G. Kennen, R.M. Goldstein, and J.A. Hambrook
USGS, Open-File Report 02-150, 87 pp. 2002

This report revises and unifies into a single document the algal, invertebrate, and fish community sampling protocols used in the National Water-Quality Assessment Program.

Pore Water Sampling

Evaluation of Pore-Water Samplers at a Drainage Ditch, Installation Restoration Site 4, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, 2005-06
Vroblesky, D.A. and C.C. Casey
USGS, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5154, 16 pp, 2007

The report compares the results of pore-water samples taken with two different variations of six newly developed pore-water samplers (as well as three standard water-filled passive diffusion samplers) that were installed at a drainage ditch.

Field Tests of Nylon-Screen Diffusion Samplers and Pushpoint Samplers for Detection of Metals in Sediment Pore Water, Ashland and Clinton, Massachusetts, 2003
Zimmerman, M.J., D.A. Vroblesky, K.W. Campo, A.J. Massey, and W. Scheible
USGS. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5155, 56 pp, 2005

Guidance on the Use of Passive-Vapor-Diffusion Samplers to Detect Volatile Organic Compounds in Ground-Water-Discharge Areas, and Example Applications in New England
Church, P.E., D.A. Vroblesky, F.P. Lyford, and R.E. Willey
USGS, Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4186, 90 pp, 2002

Pore Water Sampling
Lewis, R.
USEPA, Region 4, Standard Operating Procedure SESDPROC 513-R0, 16 pp, 2007

This SOP is for a push point sampler.

Pushpoint Sampling for Defining Spatial and Temporal Variations in Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment Pore Water near the Ground-Water/Surface-Water Interface
Zimmerman, M.J., A.J. Massey, and K.W. Campo
USGS, Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5036, 75 pp, 2005

Sampling for Contaminants in Sediments and Sediment Pore Water
Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) Web Site

This site provides short descriptions and pictures of sediment and pore water sampling equipment and a list of references.

http://www.clu-in.net/contaminantfocus/default.focus/sec/sediments/cat/site_characterization/
Last updated on Friday, May 18, 2012
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