Florida Statewide Surface Water Monitoring Services

Client: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Location: Statewide, Florida

Summary:

Cardno ENTRIX, Inc. assembled and managed a team to monitor surface water quality at approximately 350 streams, rivers, canals, and lakes throughout Florida as part of a one-year study for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). This logistically demanding study was undertaken to determine the variation in nutrient and dissolved oxygen concentrations in different types of water bodies throughout the state. Data resulting from this study will be used to develop and refine state surface water quality standards.

The Cardno ENTRIX Team visited each station quarterly from March 2005 through February 2006. Monitoring during each quarter included four-day deployments of multiparameter data recorder units at each station, collection of physical measurements and vertical profiles of metered parameters during sonde deployment and retrieval, and collection of water samples for laboratory analysis of nutrients, total organic carbon, chlorophyll a, and color upon sonde retrieval. During the 2nd and 4th quarters, biological and habitat assessments were conducted during the deployment periods that included benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton sampling at stream and rivers sites and phytoplankton collection at lake sites. A sediment sample was collected at each station during data recorder retrieval during the 3rd quarter and analyzed for sediment percent organic matter.

Cardno ENTRIX oversaw virtually all management, data compilation, and quality assurance/quality control activities associated with this extremely complex project. Strict protocols were implemented and followed by the Cardno ENTRIX Team to assure the FDEP of high-quality data. All data collection, field work, and laboratory activities were conducted according to FDEP Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures and by trained, experienced staff who had passed FDEP audits.