ACCRETION QA/QC Protocols Dona Weifenbach, LDNR/CRD LFO

1. ACCRETION QA/QC ProtocolsDona Weifenbach, LDNR/CRD LFO • Plot Layout • Data Recording • Data Entry • Reporting • Deliverables

2. 32 20 08 33 09 21 31 19 07 10 34 22 11 30 18 06 23 35 29 05 12 17 24 36 04 28 16 27 15 03 Marsh Mat Recorder 14 26 02 25 13 01 Continuous Recorder Well (If necessary) Soil Porewater Wells • Accretion Plot layout - Marshmat • - 3 - ½ m by ½ m plots established at construction • - sampled at 6 and 12 mos • Use lowest plot number at each boardwalk section with 2 stations placed left, and 1 right of the boardwalk

3. RSET w /elevation 24 27 30 34 23 26 29 33 22 25 28 32 21 10 11 12 31 09 04 05 16 17 06 15 03 18 14 02 07 19 08 13 01 20 Boardwalk Accretion Plot layout - RSET - 3 - ½ m by ½ m plots established at construction - sampled at 6 and 12 mos - Use lowest plot number at each boardwalk section with 2 stations placed left, and 1 right of the boardwalk

4. PVC plot marker Y5 Y4 Y3 Y2 Y1 X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 • Accretion plot grid • 50 cm x 50 cm • When establishing plot, lay grid down for feldspar application • Mark 2 corners with PVC allowing the grid to fit over the poles • Photograph the plots from above • Obtain GPS coordinates for one of the corner poles in each plot

5. Field Data Sheet • Take 2 cores at each plot, locating the x and y coordinates using a random number table • Make sure the coordinates were not used previously • 4 measurements are recorded, positioned 90o from each other • Notes must describe the condition of the core • A value of “0” indicates no accretion above a visible feldspar layer • - No value, or a blank cell indicates missing feldspar and must be explained in the notes

6. Data Retrieval Data is output from Excel spreadsheet is the format below.

7. QA/QC Checklist • Trip details including: • - Data collection personnel and agency • - Purpose • - Weather • - Sites sampled • - Type of sampling • Explanation of problems • QAQC details including: • Data entry and QAQC personnel and agency • History of accuracy of data entry, data correction and entry into SONRIS

8. QA/QC Process • Phase I – generated by the field biologist who collected the data • Photocopies of the original data sheets are made • An excel spreadsheet, naming convention, Station_Accretion_date.xls, is generated for data entry and all field data is entered. • A field trip report is generated and a QAQC checklist is attached • Phase II – QAQC officer • QAQC officer receives packet • Checks field trip report for contents, clarity and grammatical errors • Compares data sheet with corresponding Excel file and documents errors – ensure that there are 4 measurements for a each site, 2 sites per station, 3 stations. • Initial and date and notify Phase I biologist of errors for correction

9. Deliverables • QA/QC Packet: • Original Data Sheets • QA/QC Data Report • Field Trip Report • Personnel, purpose, weather, sites sampled that day, type of sampling, explanation of problems encountered in the field, biological and other site alterations • QA/QC Checklist • All electronic files