Quality Assurance Program Plan - Home Page | California ...

1 May 2 0 17 Fin al Quality Assurance Program plan Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 2 o f 14 0 Publication Availability This publication is available on the State Water Resources Control Board, Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Website. Contacts Melissa Morris Senior Environmental Scientist, Unit Chief SWAMP Information Management and Quality Assurance Center (SWAMP IQ) Office of Information Management and Analysis State Water Resources Control Board 1001 I Street, Floor 19. Office 65A. Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916)-341-5868 Lori Webber Senior Environmental Scientist, Unit Chief SWAMP Unit Office of Information Management and Analysis State Water Resources Control Board 1001 I Street, Floor 19. Office 65C. Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916)-341-5556 Approvals An approval signature page will be maintained by the SWAMP QA Officer and will be made available upon request.

2 List of Acronyms A list of acronyms used in this plan can be located in Appendix A. Distribution List SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 3 o f 14 0 The distribution list can be located in Appendix B. SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 4 o f 14 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Con t en ts 4 Pr ef ac e 10 Pr o gr am M an agem en t 11 Pr in cip al Dat a Use r s & De cisio n Make r s 11 Pr o gr am Ro le s an d Re sp o n sib ilit ie s 11 Pr o gr am Ad m in istr at io n 12 Program Man agemen t 13 Program Coordinator 13 Contracts and Budgets Staff 13 Statewide Project Oversight 14 Project Management and Coordination 14 Statewide Monitoring Projects 14 Re gio n al Mo n it o r in g Pro je ct s 15 Quality Assurance and Information Management 17 Q u alit y Assu ran ce O ve rsigh t 17 Quality Assurance and Information Management 17 SW AMP Qu alit y Assu r an ce O ffice r 17 SWAMP Database Manager 18 Sp e cialize d Dat a-Type Managers 18 Project Data Liaison 19 Fie ld , Lab o r ato r y.

3 An d Te ch n ical Se r vice s 19 Re gio n al Fie ld an d /o r Lab o r ato r y Su p p o r t Se r vice s 20 Partnership Field and/or Laboratory Support Services 20 Califo r n ia De p ar t m e n t o f Fish an d W ild life 20 CDFW Aquatic Bioassessment Lab 20 CDFW Mar in e Po llu t io n St u d ie s Lab 20 Un ive r sit y o f Califo rn ia, Davis 21 Aquatic Health Program Laboratory 21 Granite Canyon 21 Califo r n ia St at e Un ive rsit y 21 CSU, San Marcos ( California Primary Algae Lab) 21 CSU, Long Beach Research Foundation 21 Science and Research Institutes (SFEI) 22 San Fran cisco Estuary In stitute 22 Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) 22 Co m m e r cial Lab o r at o r ie s 22 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 5 o f 14 0 Bend Genetics, LLC. 22 EcoAnalysts, Inc. 22 Pr im ary Ch em istry Lab - TBD (To Be De te rm in e d ) 22 Mo o re Tw in in g Asso ciat e s, In c. 23 Ce l An alyt ical, In c.

4 23 Re gio n 9 Ch e m istr y Lab - TBD (To Be Determined) 23 Program Documentation 24 Missio n plan n in g Do cu m e n t s 25 SW AMP Strategy 25 SWAMP Assessmen t Framework 26 SW AMP Tim e lin e 26 SWAMP Work plan 26 Q u alit y Assu ran ce plan n in g Do cu m e n ts 26 St at e w id e Mo n it o r in g Pr o je ct plan n in g (Sp e cific Re q u ir e m e n t s) 27 Re gio n al Mo n it o r in g Pro je ct plan n in g (Sp e cific Requirements) 27 O t h e r plan n in g Do cu m e n t at io n (All Pr o je cts) 28 Bu d g e t Pla n 28 SWAMP Standard Contract Language 28 Project Kickoff Preparation Materials 29 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 29 Standardized forms 30 Field Sh e e t s 30 Chain of Custody 30 Co m m u n icat io n plan 30 Report Documents 31 Annual Water Quality Status Report 31 SWAMP Statewide Project Reports 31 SWAMP Newsletter 31 SWAMP Technical Memos and Fact Sheets 31 State Water Board Annual Qualit y Assu r an ce Re p o r t an d W o r k plan 32 Corrective and Preventive Action Reports 32 Program Description 33 Monitoring Projects 34 Statewide Monitoring Projects 34 Statewide Bioassessment Program 36 Peren n ial Streams Assessmen t 36 Reference Condition Management 36 Forest Service Management Indicator Species Monitoring Program37 US EPA Nat io n al Aq u at ic Re so u r ce Su r ve ys 37 St at e w id e St re am Po llu t io n Tr e n d s Mo n it o r in g Pr o gram 37 Statewide Bioaccumulation Program 37 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 6 o f 14 0 Lakes and Reservoirs 38 Rivers and Streams 38 Co astal W at e rs 38 W ild life St u

5 D y 38 St at e w id e Fre sh w ate r Har m fu l Algal Blo o m Pr o gr am 40 St at e w id e Cit ize n Mo n it o r in g Pro gram (Clean Water Team) 40 Re gio n al Mo n it o r in g Pro je ct s 41 Coordination and Workgroups 43 Califo r n ia W at e r Qu alit y Mo n it o r in g Co u n cil 43 Healthy Watersheds Partnership 44 Bio accu m u lat io n O ve r sigh t Gro u p (BO G) 44 Inland Beaches Workgroup 44 Califo r n ia Cyan o b act e r ia an d H ar m fu l Algal Blo o m Ne tw o r k (CCH AB) 44 SW AMP Ro u n d t ab le 45 SWAMP Coordin ators Group 45 Statewide Project Workgroups 46 SW AMP BO G Scie n t ific Re vie w Co m m it t e e 46 SW AMP SPo T Scie n t ific Re vie w Co m m it t e e 46 Cyanobacteria Laboratory Network 46 Other SWAMP Project Workgroups 47 Pr o gr am Qu alit y O b je ct ive s 48 Intended Data Uses 48 In ve st igat io n 49 Am b ie n t 50 Pu b lic H e alt h 52 Fish Co n su m p t io n Ad viso r ie s 53 H arm fu l Algal Blo o m Ad viso r ie s 53 Sw im m in g Ad viso r ie s/Be ach Clo su r e s 54 Re gu lat io n 54 Califo r n ia s W at e r Qu alit y Co n tr o l Syst e m 55 Assessment Threshold Selection 56 Data Quality Indicators 56 Pr e cisio n 57 Accuracy (Bias)

6 58 Se n sit ivit y an d Re so lu t io n 59 Representativeness 59 Co m p ar ab ilit y 59 Completeness 60 Sp e cial Tr ain in g/Ce r t ificat io n 60 Fie ld Cr e w s 60 Tr ain in g 60 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 7 o f 14 0 Fie ld Act ivit ie s Perm it s & Pe r m issio n s 61 Laboratories 61 Lab o r at o r y Ce r t ificat io n Re q u ir e m e n ts 61 Project Managers 62 SWAMP Members 62 SW AMP IQ 62 SWAMP Con tract Man agers 63 Documents and Records 63 Dat a Generation and Acquisition 64 Sampling Design 64 Sampling Design Program Policy 64 Deferral of Sampling Design Description 64 Sampling Methods 65 Sampling Method Program Policy 65 Deferral of Sampling Method Information 65 Sampling Method QA Program -Defin ed Requ iremen ts 65 SWAMP Bioassessment Required Sampling Protocols: 66 M acr o i n ver t eb r at es an d A l gae 66 California Rapid Assessment Method 66 Sample Handling and Custody 66 Sample Handling and Custody Program Policy 66 Deferr al o f Sam p l e H an d l i n g an d Cu st o d y In f o r m at i o n 67 Sample Handling and Custody QA Program -Defin ed Requ ir emen t s 67 Sam p l e Co n t ai n er s 67 Holding Time 67 Sample Custody 68 Analytical Methods 68 Analytical Methods Policy 68 Deferral of Information on Analytical Methods 68 QA Program -Defin ed An alyt ical M et h od Requ ir emen t s 69 Standard Methodology 69 Performance-Based Methods 70 Requ ir ed SW AM P-Developed Taxonomy Laboratory Methods 71 Investigation Methods 71 Quality Control and Performance Criteria 72 Program Policy 72 SWAMP Programmatic MQOs 72 W at er 73 Sedimen t 73 Ti ssu e 73 Toxicity 74 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 8 o f 14 0 Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins 74 Taxonomy 74 Measurement Quality

7 Objectives Framework 74 Q u alit y Co n tr o l De fin it io n s an d Re quirements 78 Fie ld an d Lab o r at o r y Co rr e ct ive Act io n 79 Fie ld Co rr e ct ive Act io n 79 Laboratory Corrective Action 79 Fie ld Q u alit y Co n tr o l 79 Lab o r at o r y Qu alit y Co n t r o l (Ch e m ist r y) 83 Lab o r at o r y Qu alit y Co n t r o l (Bio lo gy) 89 Lab o r at o r y Qu alit y Co n t r o l (To xicit y) 91 Laboratory Quality Control (Taxonomy) 92 Instrument/Equipment Testing, Inspection and Maintenance 10 0 Pr o gr am m at ic Po licie s 10 0 Fie ld Eq u ip m e n t 10 0 Laboratory Equipment 10 0 Inspection/Acceptance of Supplies and Consumables 10 0 Pr o gr am m at ic Po licie s 10 0 Non-Dire ct Data 10 1 Water Quality Data 10 1 Other Data Types 10 1 Data Management 10 2 Fie ld Dat a 10 4 Laboratory Data 10 4 Dat a Su b m issio n 10 5 SW AMP Data W ith in CEDEN 10 5 Asse ssm e n t Act ivit ie s an d Pr o gram plan n in g 105 Asse ssm e n t o f Pro gr am Act ivit ie s 10 5 Pre-Kic k-Off Project Readiness Review 10 5 Fie ld Act ivit ie s O ve r sigh t 10 6 Lab o r at o r y Act ivit ie s Ove r sigh t 10 6 Pr o gr am m at ic Re vie w 10 6 Re p o r t s to Management 10 7 An n u al W o r k plan s 10 7 US EPA F106 Funds 10 7 Deputy Management Committee (DMC)

8 10 7 US EPA Q u alit y Assu r an c e Re p o r t 10 8 Dat a Ver i f i cat io n , Val i d at i o n , Co m p l et en ess & A ssessm en t 10 8 Purpose and Background 10 8 Dat a Ver i f i cat i o n 10 8 Dat a Val i d at i o n 10 9 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 9 o f 14 0 Data Completeness Review 10 9 Data Quality Assessment 10 9 Approaches to Verificat io n , Valid at io n , & Asse ssm e n t 10 9 Approaches to Data Verification 10 9 Pr im ar y Dat a Ve r ificat io n 10 9 Fie ld Dat a 110 Laboratory Data 110 Se co n d ar y Dat a Ve r ificat io n 111 Approaches to Data Validation 112 Co re Pr o gr am m at ic Valid at io n 112 Pr o je ct Sp e cific Valid at io n 113 St at e w id e Bio accu m u lat io n Pro gr am Valid at io n 113 Approaches to Data Completeness Review 114 Approach es to Data Quality Assessmen t 114 Reco n ciliation with Data Quality Objectives 115 Purpose/Background 115 Reconciling Current MQOs and Data with Program Objectives - A Proposal 115 SWAMP Comparability 117 Planning 118 Documentation 118 Implemen t at ion 119 Review 119 Rep o r t i n g 119 SWAMP Comparability & Certification Review 12 0 Communication and Resources 12 0 Appendix A: List of Acronyms 12 1 Appendix B: Distribution List 12 4 A p p en d i x C: Co n t r act Lan gu age f o r Dat a M an agem en t an d Qu al i t y A ssu r an ce 12 9 Appendix D.

9 Statewide Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Project plan Template 12 9 Appendix E: Regional Project Write-ups Guidance Document 130 Appendix F: Program Timeline 132 A p p en d i x G: Pr o j ect Ki ck o f f SOP an d Pr ep ar at i o n M at er i al s 133 Appen dix H : Corr ect ive & Pr even t at ive Act ion Templat e 134 Appendix I: MQO Framework Template 135 Appendix J: Program Management Tool (Information and Instructions) 138 Appendix K: Citation List 139 SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 10 o f 14 0 PREFA CE This Quality Assurance Program plan ( Program plan ) establishes the requirements for collecting data as part of the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). The purpose of the Program plan is to establish Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality control (QC) standards and procedures to be applied to SWAMP projects in order to produce data that are scientifically valid and defensible, and of known and documented Quality .

10 The format and elements of this Program plan are in accordance with United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidance, including US EPA Region 9 Guidance for Quality Assurance Program Plans (US EPA R9 , March 2012) and US EPA Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (US EPA 841-B-03-0003, March 2003). The content of this Program plan is in conformance with the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Quality Management plan (February 2017) and fulfills the US EPA requirement for programs receiving Federal grant monies for water Quality monitoring under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). SW A M P Q u al i t y A ssu r an c e Pr o gr am Pl an | 20 17 Fin al Dr aft Page 11 o f 14 0 PRO GRA M MA NA GEM ENT PRINCIPAL DATA USERS & DECISION MA K ERS Data collected under the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) are used to guide environmental, resource management, regulatory and public health decisions. The data are also used to investigate and assess water Quality and stream health, and promote scientific advancement and understanding of California s surface waters.