DOI: 10.25976/k85m-pv46
title: WRTBWA Quality and Quantity

description: Winter River – Tracadie Bay Watershed Association is a community based charitable organization established in 2008 that works to protect and enhance the health and aesthetic qualities of the Winter River - Tracadie Bay watershed, which is the main source of municipal water for the City of Charlottetown. Water quality and quantity data is collected to help us prioritize restoration projects, monitor effects of previous projects, and monitor long term trends due to wider scale activities such as water extraction for Charlottetown or local farming operations. Our projects are funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Prince Edward Island, City of Charlottetown, private foundations and individual donors. Our work is carried out by summer students, recent graduates, skilled supervisors and dedicated volunteers.
description: •	A YSI Pro Plus with quatro cable and probes for polarographic dissolved oxygen, temperature/conductivity, nitrate, and pH was used. 
o	Nitrate probes are replaced annually, while DO sensors are replaced as needed throughout the year.
o	The unit is calibrated every 2-3 weeks when in regular use using prepared solutions purchased from Hach Canada.
o	DO results are calibrated daily.
o	Data is collected during all routine water flow measurements (to determine temporal variability of parameters), and during directed water sampling blitzes during spring or fall to determine geographic variation in water quality.
•	Temperature data comes from Hobo Pendant Temperature Data loggers (UA-001) and from Hobo Water Level Loggers (U20-001). 
o	Before deploying loggers, they are placed in a water bath together with another measuring device and all measures are compared.
o	Loggers are deployed in spring and retrieved in fall for a full field season of data.
•	Nitrate data as measured by the YSI is verified by collecting grab samples at locations measured as having high nitrates and submitting samples to the PEI Analytical lab. 
o	Sample collection bottles are single use bottles provided by the lab.
o	Nitrate levels are of concern for local residents with private wells, and all residents of Charlottetown supplied by municipal wells. Nitrate levels also lead to anoxic events in the estuary and other problems aquatic.
•	Flow data comes from Hobo Water Level Loggers (U20-001)
o	Loggers are deployed in spring and retrieved in fall for a full field season of data.
o	Weekly discharge data is calculated for each depth logger location, and was used to create a rating curve to apply to the depth logger readings.
o	Our protocol is taken from “Freshwater Stream Hydrology Monitoring Protocol: PEI NP EI Monitoring and Reporting Program” written by Rick Hawkins from Parks Canada.
o	As a quality control, two of our monitoring sites are located adjacent to stream gauging stations operated by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Data is obtained from ECCC for these sites and compared with our own measurements at these locations.
•	DO data comes from HOBO Optical Dissolved Oxygen Loggers. 
o	Sensor caps are replaced each spring before deployment.
o	Loggers are calibrated against the YSI Pro Plus.
•	Data from all Hobo loggers is downloaded using the Onset HOBOWare software and base station.
•	Total suspended sediment data is collected by grab samples using sample collection bottles provided by the lab. 
o	Samples are analyzed by the PEI Analytical lab. 
o	Samples are generally collected after heavy rain events to quantify soil runoff in various locations.