NEW ENGLAND COASTAL BASINS NAWQA PROGRAM: LIAISON COMMITTEE

NEW ENGLAND COASTAL BASINS LIAISON COMMITTEE

Proposed surface-water monitoring activities
for the New England Coastal Basins NAWQA Study - April, 1998

Activity	Purpose of study	Where and When Would this Occur	Specifics of Activity	Collaborative Opportunities
Basic-Fixed Site Monitoring - Integrator Sites	Integrator sites are designed to measure the downstream quality of major rivers in the study unit (what’s leaving the study unit?). Nutrients, VOCs, pesticides, and trace elements.	Three-four integrator sites are proposed (see list of potential sites on back); the Kennebec, Merrimack, and Blackstone Rivers are currently being proposed (these correspond to former USGS NASQAN sites); a fourth site may be added. Water sampling will start fall 1998 and continue for 2 years.	- Nutrients, suspended sediments, dissolved ions to be collected about 18 times yearly. Continuous flows and temperature monitored. - One site (most likely Merrimack River) will also have pesticides collected for 1 year (intensive integrator). - Bed sediments and fish tissues will be collected at all sites, likely in 1999.	Incorporate Kennebec site in on-going ambient/compliance integration study with Maine DEP Incorporate data into Gulf of Maine/coastal water nutrient loading studies by Univ. of New Hamsphire and others. Perform point/nonpoint source assessments of observed loads.
Basic-Fixed Site Monitoring - Indicator Sites	Indicator sites are designed to measure the influences of particular land uses on water quality.	Four-five indicator are proposed. These sites will focus on the effects of urbanizarion on water quality and aquatic biota. Sites will be selected with different percentages of new and old urban. We are proposing that all sites be in the Northeastern Coastal Zone Ecoregion and that the drainage basins be from 20-50 mi2. Site would cover a gradient of urbanization (see list of potential sites on back). One reference forested site would also be selected. Water sampling will start fall, 1998 and continue for 2 years.	- Nutrients, suspended sediments, dissolved ions to be collected about 18 times yearly.Continuous flows and temperature monitored. - Two sites would be intensive, meaning that pesticides and VOCs would also be collected. - One site would be located next to the flow-path study. - Bed sediments and fish tissues will be collected at all sites September 1998. - Ecological assessments (habitat, fish and macroinvertebrate communities) will start in 1999.	Pursuing collaborative opportunities.
Synoptic Studies	Focused, short-term studies to assess specific issues not addressed by the fixed site monitoring.	Current ideas include: 1. Sample bed sediments and fish tissues at impoundments along a river’s length. In 2000/01. 2. Additional sites to assess urbanization gradient to supplement indicator sites. In 2000/01 3. Compare chemistry of streams that drain gradients of timber harvesting in the northern portions of study unit. Focus on nutrients and pesticides. In 2000/01	These are concepts at this time and will need to be better defined in the next year.	Collaborative work will heavily influence what and where synoptic studies will be done.