Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2018/2019

Procedures are from the NRSA Field Operations Manual
1. In situ
Measure in situ DO, pH, water temperature, and conductivity using a calibrated multi-parameter water quality meter (or sonde). Take the measurements mid-channel at the X-site. Take the readings at 0.5 m depth. Measure the site depth accurately before taking the measurements. If the depth at the x-site is less than 1 meter, take the measurements at mid-depth. 

2. Water Chemistry
The water chemistry samples will be analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total ammonium(NH4), nitrate (NO3), basic anions, cations, total suspended solids (TSS),turbidity, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and total organic carbon (TOC). Using a 3 L Nalgene beaker, collect a grab sample into one 4L cube container (for water chemistry)and one 2L amber Nalgene bottle (for chlorophyll a from the X site at the midpoint of the stream. After collection, store all samples on ice in a closed cooler. Filter the chlorophyll-a sample, the filters must be kept frozen until ready to ship.

3. Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Collect benthic macroinvertebrate composite sample using a D-frame net with 500 micron mesh openings. Individual samples will be collected from 11 transects equally distributed along the reach. Composite sample and preserve in 95% ethanol.

4. Periphyton
Collect periphyton from the 11 cross transects established withing the sample reach.

5. Physical Habitat
Field measurements for physical habitat are made at two scales of resolution along the mid-channel length of the reach, and the results are later aggregated and expressed for the entire reach. The protocol defines the length of each sampling reach proportional to stream channel wetted width and then systematically places measurements to statistically represent the entire reach. Measurements will consist of: Thalweg profile and large woody debris tally, Channel cross section and riparian cross section, channel constraint and torrent evidence, bank slope, canopy cover, instream fish cover, algea, aquatic macrophytes, human influence and stream discharge.

6. Fecal Indicator
A fecal indicator sample at the last transect (Transect K) after all other sampling is completed. Filters will be frozen within six hours of collection. A pre-sterilized, 250 ml bottle will be used to collect the sample approximately 1 m off the bank at about 0.3 meter (12 inches) below the water.

7. Fish Assemblage
The fish sampling method is designed to provide a representative sample of the fish community, collecting all but the rarest fish taxa inhabiting the site. It is intended to accurately represent species richness, species guilds, relative abundance, size and presence of anomalies. Fish will be collected using a backpack electrofisher and placed into an aerated container then sorted by species, recorded and returned to the stream. Any voucher specimens will be collected by photograph only.

Tags: aphn, appalachian-highlands-network, ecological-framework-water-water-quality-water-chemistry, great-smoky-mountains-national-park, grsm, origin-external, ser, southeast-region, studyid-grsm-02050
Organization: Department of the Interior