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 Water Quality Monitoring
ON
Dividing Creek, Prentice Creek
and
Jarvis Creek

Project Manager: Richard Hinch (804) 435-7484

Quality Assurance Officer: Skip Kramb (804) 435-0697

If you are interested in becoming a member of this environmental group please contact either Richard or Skip for further details.

For information on how to view the results of the groups monitoring activities on the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Environmental Quality Database in Richmond, Virginia contact Skip Kramb
at cepkjr@nnwifi.com.

CITIZEN VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITORING GROUP

Organizational Meeting

Minutes

The meeting was held on Saturday, February 20th at 09:00AM at the Lancaster Community Library.

In attendance were James Beckley, Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Environmental Quality, Quality Assurance Coordinator;  Richard Hinch, DCA Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring  Project Manager; Skip Kramb, Quality Analyst and Team #3 Leader; Monitoring Team #1, George McMahon, Team Leader, Ran Marshall, Monitor; Team #2 Richard Hinch, Team Leader; Nancy Flynn, Team #4 Leader. Also in Attendance were Barry Anderson, Bill Burton, John and Helen Kelley, Paul Rockerfeller and a new member of the group Bill Whitney.

James Beckley, VA-DEQ gave an overview of how the Commonwealth Fiscal situation has impacted the Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program, what the data collected by the DCA Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Group  is being used for, who is using the data and why it is important to continue the monitoring program. James also pointed out that the DCA Program is one of the premier programs being conducted on the Chesapeake Bay and is comparable to VA-DEQ actually putting their own monitoring personnel out in the field. Our DCA Monitors are currently fully certified Level III Water Quality Monitors, the same level as VA-DEQ Monitoring Personnel and are utilizing Level III Monitoring Procedures and Equipment.

In addition to James Beckley's discussion the following items were discussed.

Two new Oakton pHTestr 30 pH probes will be added to our monitoring equipment inventory. This will provide each of our four teams with their own pH meter this year. As last year we will continue to share our 2 Oakton DO 300 Dissolved Oxygen Meters between the four teams.

There will be a slight realignment of the Sampling sites this year. We will continue to monitor all but a couple of our main stream locations continuing to concentrate on the database we have established from the previous two years. It is thought that rather than monitoring the overall mainstream water quality we might better concentrate more on the possible sources of pollutants in the coves off of the main streams.

It was decided that the monitoring frequency of one monitoring trip per month was sufficient for the level of monitoring required by the VA-DEQ who normally monitor quarterly.

A short review of monitoring procedures was held and it was decided that a refresher training session would be helpfull. This would be held in conjunction with James Beckley's visit on March 20th to re-certify our monitoring equipment. This would also facilitate James certifying our new monitoring members at Commonwealth of Virginia Standards.

A discussing on the need for additional monitors and administrative members. John and Helen Kelley, Bill Whitney and Barry Anderson all emphasized their desire to become active monitors and assist in the monitoring program.

Also discussed was whether DCA should begin a monitoring program in the Bluff Point PUD Area of Indian Creek. It was decided that existing members of the Dividing Creek Association who are residents on Indian Creek and have shown a past interest in water monitoring should be contacted and encouraged to develop an Indian Creek Water Quality Monitoring Group with any assistance our group might be able to provide. Richard Hinch and Skip Kramb will follow up on this and report back to the DCA Group.

In conclusion James Beckley pointed out the need to continue extensive E. coli Bacteria monitoring at periodic problem areas on all three of the DCA creeks we monitor.

The meeting closed at 11:00AM with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 20th at  09:00. Location of the meeting is yet to be determined.

*************

  What We Do As A
Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Group

We are an all volunteer group of Association Members composed of four teams. Each Team Member is Certified as a Commonwealth of Virginia Water Monitor by the  Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA-DEQ). O ur four teams sample the quality of our waters monthly from April 1st through December 31st at 24 individual locations on Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks. The testing by our teams is performed under a VA-DEQ Grant Contract and the scrutiny of (VA-DEQ).
Water samples are drawn and the clarity (turbidity), pH, dissolved oxygen and E. coli bacteria content is determined and recorded. The climatological attributes of the sample location (air and water temperature, visual data such as water color and odors, rainfall in the last 24 hours, tidal conditions at the time of sampling, as well as any debris noted in the water) are recorded as well. All of these parameters are monitored and recorded within strict parameters set forth by the VA-DEQ, US Environmental Protection Agency and various other Commonwealth and Federal Agencies.

The data collected by our group and other citizen volunteer groups, Virginia Commonwealth Agency Groups and like groups from surrounding States is then entered on the VA-DEQ Non-Agency Database in Richmond. This data is used by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Agencies of other States, the US Government and various other agencies, universities and colleges in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to aid in the determination as to what actions are needed to correct the many problems with the Chesapeake Bay.

FY2009 Annual Report

DIVIDING CREEK ASSOCIATION

 Citizen Volunteer

WATER QUALITY MONITORING GROUP

FY 2009 END OF YEAR REPORT
(as submitted to VA-DEQ on 01/10/2010)

Monitoring Trip Summary (See the Attached EXCEL Spreadsheet for Sites Monitored)

 Site Monitoring Period: April 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009.
Total Number of sites monitored: 31.
Number of sites monitored on a reoccurring monthly basis:  24.
Total number of individual site reports: 217.
See the listing of Monitored Sites in the Attachment above (Dec.09.2009 REV A.xls) 

Teams Monitoring:  4 Teams consisting of  2 members/team minimum.
Monitoring Time per monthly trip including equipment calibration checks: 5 hours,
      10 Man Hours/trip.
Laboratory Time processing E. coli Samples per monitoring cycle: 6 Man Hours.
Administration time per monthly cycle: 20 Man Hours.
Man Hours expended per monitoring cycle: 36 Man Hours.
Man Hours expended by DCA WQM Members for FY 2009: 324 Man Hours.
Number of Failed Monitoring Trips due to Equipment Failures or Inclement Weather:
     2 trips due to Failed Equipment, 1 trip due to Weather.
Sites not reported due to the above Equipment Failures or Inclement
     Weather:  Equipment Failure 16, Inclement Weather 5.

 Training

Training and work sessions have been ongoing throughout the year. Three formal
sessions were conducted in  with VA DEQ’s James Beckley providing instruction,
advice and refresher information on proper Water Quality Monitoring Procedures.
Formal Training Sessions with James Beckley were held on the following dates:
   February 28, Training and Certification on the DO 300 and pHTstr 30
   Digital Meters. Meters were checked and certified by James.
      A total of  14 DCA Members were in attendance and certified.
      A review of  required Water Quality Monitoring procedures
          was also conducted at this session.
   March 14, A makeup Training, Certification and Procedures session for
       Members unable to attend the February 28^th session.
       Team Leaders also attended this session in which James Beckley
           recertified the DO 300 and pHTstr 30 monitoring instruments.
          All 4 Team Leaders and 6 DCA Members attended this session.
   April 4, A Team Leader session with James Beckley to discuss some
       inconsistency problems noted in the calibration of the DO 300 Meters
       and DO deviation problems over several hours between the two
       instruments. It was determined the QA Officer should investigate this
       issue further with the Manufacturers engineering staff on this issue.
Of primary importance in these training sessions was the time James Beckley spent
   working individually with each member instructing them in the proper methods of using,
   caring for and calibrating our newly acquired DO 300 and pHTstr 30 Digital Meters.
James also provided the group with a step by step set if instructions for the Calibration of
   the DO 300 and pHTstr 30 instruments. The calibration instruction procedures that James
   provided have proven most helpful to our monitoring teams.
The calibration procedures provided by James became the basis for our current DCA,
   Water Quality Monitoring, Manual of DO 300 and pHTstr 30 Standard Operating
   Procedures (SOP). written by the DCA Water Quality Monitoring QA Officer.
   A copy of this SOP is included as an attachment above (Current Oakton DO 300 Calibration SOP,
   Current Oakton pH30 Calibration SOP).

In addition to formal Classes the DCA, Water Quality Monitoring, QA Officer has
   conducted 3 procedural verification meetings and has provided formal and informal
   meetings and assistance to the monitoring teams with problems they have encountered
   throughout the year.

 Monitoring Problems/Activities encountered

 1.) The QA Officer also determined shortly after the April 4 training session with James
         Beckley that the Probes on the DO 300 Instruments were defective ( see the 4 DO Probe
           Image Attachments  DO 300 Probe Anode on Probe of new DO 300 Meters, DO 300 Probes that came on
           new Meters, New DO 300 Replacement Probe, New DO 300 Replacement Probe(2) ).
        These probes were replaced at no charge by the manufacturer and the probe stability
         problems we had been experiencing were significantly reduced.

 2.) Dissolved Oxygen Data on 6/17/2009, Team 1’s, DO 300 s/n 476281 was flagged
         bad by the QA Officer for the End of Day Check being out of VA DEQ Specifications.
         No re-monitoring was done by Team 1 and the June Dissolved Oxygen Data was lost.

 3.) On the June 29^th Monitoring Trip Team 3 affected rescue involving an small overturned
         sailboat in the vicinity of Sampling Station ST 15-3 at the mouth of Jarvis Creek. Both
         sailboat and sailor were being carried out of Jarvis Creek into the main body of the
         Chesapeake Bay by a strong tide and 10 to 15 kt SW Winds. Team 3 was able to tow
         the boat and sailor back to their home dock back inside the North Cove of Jarvis Creek.

4.) Dissolved Oxygen Data on 6/24 Team 3’s D300 s/n 476280 was flagged bad by the
         QA Officer for the End of Day  Check being out of VA DEQ Specifications. A
         second successful DO Monitoring by Team 3 was made on 6/29/2009.  

5.) Team 2 Had two problems on their 10/01 monitoring trip.
     A.) The Digital Instrument Calibration Sheets, Field Monitoring Data Sheets and
           Monitoring Manual were blown overboard while returning from the last
           sampling of the day. The recalled data turned in to the QA Officer was
           determined to be unsupported and was rejected.
     B.) The E. coli samples turned into the Sampling Processor was determined to be
           unreadable after the 36 hour incubation interval and was flagged as bad.
          Team 3 included re-monitoring on the Team 1 sampling sites as part of their
          10/07 monitoring trip. The new Team 3 samples of the Team 1 sampling
          area were all within the parameters set forth by VA DEQ. No data was lost
          for the month of October

 Observed Water Conditions Of Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks

Overall these Estuary Areas of the Chesapeake Bay are low to completely free of Bacterial
Pollutants on the main portion of the creeks. Several areas appear to have a real possibility
of potentially serious problems. The only pollutants discussed here are of a bacterial nature
since this is the only pollution monitored for.

 Dividing Creek

The Upper End of Dividing Creek appears to be free of any pollution. The Headwaters
(marshy swamp) shows a slight amount of Bacterial Pollution but only after an extended
period of heavy rains ( over 3 inches per day, May, June and November).
The Middle and Lower Body of the Main Stream is clean and free of pollution. The
Coves along these areas show definite signs of pollution, especially during times of heavy
rains( May and November).

 Prentice Creek

The upper end and coves in this area of Prentice Creek show signs of medium to severe
pollution. This pollution was observed after the heavy rains of May and November. Adding
to the November pollution issue is an extremely large Canada Goose population.
The lower end of Prentice Creek shows low pollution levels except during period of heavy
rain. One Station in particular ST 15-7A exhibited a noticeable rise in pollution during the
exceptionally heavy November rains. The Photo Images in the above Attachments show
E. coli samples taken at the head area of Prentice Creek in March of 2009.

 Jarvis Creek  

The Main Body of Jarvis Creek shows only Mild to low amounts of pollution even after
heavy rain.
The extreme North, South and Kent Cove show mild to heavy pollution. As on the other
Creeks in the area this pollution appears to be related to the amount of heavy rainfall.
 In summary, the amount of observed E. coli varies in all areas in direct proportion to
rainfall and water temperature. Heavy rainfall and higher temperature were observed to
have a direct effect on the E. coli population. These same conditions were observed to
have a decided effect on both the Dissolved Oxygen Levels and Algae present in the
water. In the Spring and Fall the Turbidity on the waters in all three creeks is down to
the point that in most cases the creek bottom is visible. As soon as the water temperature
stabilizes over 25 C the Turbidity increases, the DO decreases and the E .coli increases.

2009 Water Quality Monitoring Budget

DATE             DESCRIPTION                INCOME       EXPENSE

1/15/2009             USPS Certified Postage to VA DEQ                                             $      9.70                1/20/2009             VA DEQ 2009 Grant                                     $1500.00
2/26/2009             Micrology Labs 12 ea CPK 1  ColiScan
                               EasyGel + Kits                                                                                 310.60
3/01/2009             Anonymous Gift toward 2ea  pHTstr 30
                              pH Probes                                                        200.00
3/09/2009             Purchase 2ea Oakton DO 300 Meters                                               1131.90
3/09/2009             Purchase 2ea Oakton pHTstr 30 Probes                                            230.00
3/12/2009              Micrology Labs 3ea Black Light
                               EasyGel + Readers                                                                             40.00
3/14/2009             Dividing Creek Association                                 30.44
3/17/2009             HACH Company pHTstr Cal. Buffer                                                     31.25
5/14/2009             HACH Company pHTstr Cal. Buffer                                                     44.63

7/28/2009             Micrology Labs 12ea CPK 1 ColiScan
                              EasyGel + Kits                                                                                   310.60
8/01/2009             Dividing Creek Association                                     44.63
8/20/2009             Purchase 2ea Oakton WD-35640-80
                              DO 300 Membrane Caps                                                                     58.00
8/20/2009             USPS Certified Postage to VA DEQ                                                     7.68
9/11/2009             Dividing Creek Association                                   388.55
11/04/2009           Purchase 2ea Oakton WD-35640-80
                                DO 300 Membrane Caps                                                                   58.00
12/31/2009           Vessel Operating Expenses, 3 Teams
                             To perform 26 water access  samplings
                              Fuel only(5 gal avg./trip @ $3.50/Gal)                                             455.00
Total Reimbursements vs Expenses                                                 $2363.53              $2687.36  

History
of the
Dividing Creek Association
Citizen Volunteer Water Quality
 Monitoring
Program

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER

IS THIS WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER

WHY NOT ASK

WE CAN TELL YOU

 In June 2006 five members of the Dividing Creek Association Rea Hinch, Ran Marshall, Mike Egerer, Pat Hammick and Skip Kramb decided to investigate the quality of our local waters.

  DIVIDING CREEK

The initial five members canvassed association members in an attempt to determine if any additional members might be interested in the quality of the waters of Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks.

         PRENTICE CREEK

As a result of this query it was found that 22 association members were indeed interested in our water quality. In July 2006 the Dividing Creek Association, Water Quality Monitoring Group came into being.

    JARVIS CREEK/KENT COVE

WATER QUALITY MONITORING ACTIVITIES
2006

With the help of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), the initial group of five members begin monitoring our local creeks by participating in the World Water Day Project using four LaMotte, World Water Monitoring Day Test Kits, provided by VA DEQ to determine the quality of our waters.

                                             2006
              THE WORLD WATER MONITORING DAY KIT
                          Our First Water Monitoring Tools

Four of the members participated in the WWMD Activities by taking water samples from a total of 29 locations on Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks. Tests for Dissolved Oxygen, pH (acidity), Turbidity (Water Clarity) and Water Temperature on the three creeks were taken a total of four times over the 30 day program period of September 18, 2006 through October 18, 2006. The fifth member of our initial group, Pat Hammick processed our sampling results  and entered them on the World Water Monitoring Data Base. This data base has been used by a multitude of environmental organizations in assessing and comparing water quality around the world. The sampling results were forwarded to VADEQ as well for analysis and evaluation. With the experience gained taking these samples and the positive results of these initial tests the association hoped to advise and help additional monitors do further testing in 2007.

Prentice Creek
Water Monitoring
October 2006

                                                   Skip Kramb     Ran Marshall  

WATER QUALITY MONITORING ACTIVITIES
2007

The year 2007 was primarily a planning year. While some actual monitoring
 was accomplished with what was left of the old WWMD Kits, the principal
 focus was putting together a grant request for a $1000.00 VA DEQ Mini Grant. The the intended use of the proposed grant was to purchase the required monitoring equipment to enable the 22 member group to monitor the area waters in compliance with the Department of Environmental Quality's
Standards. Association members Helen and John Kelley prepared the grant request which was submitted and about to be approved when the 2007 state budgetary problems were announced. The budget shortfalls in effect cancelled all VA DEQ Mini Grants requests for fiscal year 2008. With no mini-grant money and no monitoring tools or supplies the 2008 monitoring plans were all but terminated. All monitoring activities were put on hold and the group planned to sit out any monitoring activities for Fiscal Year 2008.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING ACTIVITIES
2008

In late January, 2008 the association received word from VA DEQ and The Alliance for Chesapeake Bay that some surplus test kits and chemicals might be available.

Thanks to the generosity of VA DEQ and the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay the Dividing Creek Association's Water Quality Monitoring Group now has four complete testing kits valued at approximately $400.00 each. With these four kits we have been able to established four teams of two to four members each. In addition to the kits we have been provided with the monitoring chemicals and materials to hopefully enable us to monitor at least until mid July, 2008. You mat observe the Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers out on the waters of Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks twice a month beginning April 14th.

2008
VA DEQ AND THE ALLIANCE FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY
PROVIDED
DIVIDING CREEK ASSOCIATION'S
WATER QUALITY MONITORING KIT

VA DEQ AND ALLIANCE FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY
TRAINING

On March 28, 2008 VA DEQ Liaison Director James Beckley, and Alliance for Chesapeake Bay Program Coordinator Laurel Woodworth, with help from Fay Andrashko from the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District conducted our first training session.

James Beckley,
VA DEQ
    &
Fay Andrashko
Northern Neck Soil & Water
Conservation Dist,
Education Coordinator

pH Sample Reading
    Training

                                                                         Nan                    John          Lloyd              Ben
                                                Flynn                Kelley        Smith         Burton

Thirteen association members are now trained and qualified to take and process water samples for E.coli bacteria (coli form), pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity (Water Clarity), Salinity and Temperature. Thanks to the generosity of VA DEQ and the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay the Dividing Creek Association's Water Quality Monitoring Group now has the testing equipment to monitor for Fiscal Year 2008. In addition we were provided the monitoring chemicals and materials to hopefully be able to monitor until mid July.

  James Beckley
  VA DEQ
      &
  Laurel Woodworth
  Alliance for Chesapeake
        Bay

Dissolved Oxygen Sample
  Processing Training

James Beckley, VA DEQ
Laurel Woodworth,
Alliance for Chesapeake Bay

Calibrating the Refractometer
(Measures Water Salinity)

On April 9, 2008 the Dividing Creek Association, Water Quality Monitoring Group conducted their first formal organizational meeting. Four Teams of five monitors each were created and team leaders were selected. Each team was assigned a monitoring area with specific monitoring sites assigned. The sites will be monitored every two weeks throughout the monitoring season and only on the outgoing tide.

Monitoring was begun the week of April 14, 2008 and hopefully will be able to continue on a twice monthly schedule until the end of the monitoring season in early December. The sample results of the association's monitoring are being inputted to the VA DEQ Data Base for study by VA DEQ, EPA and other agencies to evaluate the quality of our waters and make recommendations on what can be done to correct any problem areas that might be found.  
 

 
         COLIFORM SAMPLE
THREE BLUE GREEN DOTS ARE E. COLI COLIFORM

   SAMPLE TAKEN IN THE MAIN STREAM OF
     PRENTICE CREEK AT WOLFGANG COVE    

These  forms of bacterial contamination in sufficient quantities would indicate a probable health problem in your creek water. In this case these e.coli colonies are likely caused by wildlife (ducks, geese, heron, osprey, deer, raccoon, muskrat and pets) in the area.

     COMMON COLIFORM SAMPLE
                 NOTE
    FOUR SMALL WHITE NON E.COLI
               COLONIES

                                                                       ACTUAL SAMPLE
                                                                          TAKEN AT
                                                                       SAMPLE POINT
                                                                          ST 15-6
                                                                  JUST OFF KENT POINT
                                                                  AT THE ENTRANCE TO
                                                                      PRENTICE CREEK
 

In our first monitoring test at 14 locations on our creeks no serious problems of any kind were noted. Overall the three creeks we monitor Dividing, Prentice and Jarvis Creeks appear to be relatively clean. We are having an interesting year as we compare the cooler early spring waters with the hot mid-summer conditions and now as the water cools. We have seen the E.coli cont increase as the water warmed and now with the water cooling the E. coli has shown a marked decrease. Likewise the Dissolved Oxygen content decreased as the water warmed and the Water Temperature increased raising the Algae Count and Turbidity. It was observed that the decreased Blue Crab population directly followed the decrease in the Dissolved Oxygen Count of our waters. The fish population also followed this phenomenon but to a lesser degree. With the water now cooling we have observed the E. coli Count decrease, the Dissolved Oxygen Count increase and the Turbidity decrease as the suspended algae in the water dies off.

Our monitoring efforts were made quite interesting due to Hurricane Hanna, several unnamed coastal storms and finally exceptional tidal extremes.    

If you see one of our monitoring teams on the water and are interested in what they are doing you are invited to stop by and observe.

We will continue to monitor thru Mid December weather permitting. We plan to resume or monitoring activities in Early April.

With the completion of the 2008 Water Monitoring Season we have established a Baseline that will be available for use by Water Monitoring Groups, (US EPA, VA DEQ, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Alliance for Chesapeake Bay, DCA Water Quality Monitoring Group) on these waters for years to come.

Our monitoring plans for 2009 include the upgrading of our monitoring procedures from the Chemical/Visual Comparison Methods of determining water quality to new more accurate Digital Monitoring Meters. These meters will speed up our monitoring times, enable us to monitor more areas, give us more accurate data, and in the long run reduce our monitoring costs.

 If you are interested in what is in your water or your neighbors water and wish to do some monitoring yourself as part of one of our teams please call either of the Water Quality Monitoring Chairmen.

 Rea Hinch Project Manager at 804-435-7484

or

Skip Kramb Quality Analyst at 804-435-0697. 
 

To view our Dividing Creek Association, Water Quality Monitoring Group data for 2008 and 2009 it is located on the Official Virginia Departnent of Environmental Quality Web Site. To view the DCA Data follow the instructions below.