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Last Modified:  11/25/2009
Standard Operating Procedures for Surface Water

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals are important tools for achieving quality assurance practices in the Division of Water (DOW).  SOPs describe specific methods and procedures used in all aspects of environmental planning and monitoring projects.

Most SOPs utilized in DOW activities are developed internally. These procedures were written to meet state obligations and requirements for monitoring and analyzing data.

Picture of seining fish.
Fish Seining Salt Lick Creek in Marion County

The use of these SOPs by outside organizations and agencies should be coordinated with a DOW scientist to ensure that the correct application of these protocols and templates is performed.

The DOW is in the process of revising most of its SOPs for environmental monitoring programs. The most current SOPs are listed in the table below, with links provided to the documents. SOPs that are not linked are currently in progress and should be available soon.

If a procedure is not listed in the current table, it is possible that it was covered in a prior document and can be located in the historic SOP section beneath the table.

Contact the specific project specialist or Lisa Hicks (the quality assurance officer) for help in identifying the most current document for the procedure you will use.

Current SOPs

The following table and list of index calculation documents provide the most current SOPs used in biological, physical, chemical and habitat monitoring and assessment.

Document ID Title Effective Date Description
DOWSOP03001 Sample Control and Management 07/09/09 Document, track and control all types of samples
DOWSOP03002 TMDL Pathogen SOP 03/27/09 Development procedure for pathogen TMDLs
DOWSOP03003 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Collection Methods in Wadeable Streams SOP 04/09/09 Sampling and collection of macroinvertebrates in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03004 TMDL Planning SOP 04/02/09 Planning procedures for TMDL monitoring projects
DOWSOP03005 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Processing and Identification SOP 05/07/09 Processing and identification of macroinvertebrates
DOWSOP03006 Sediment Monitoring In progress Monitoring for sediments
DOWSOP03007 Laboratory Procedures for Fish Processing and Identification SOP 05/07/09 Processing and identification of fish
DOWSOP03008 Collection Methods for Fish in Wadeable Streams SOP 05/07/09 Sampling and collection methods of fish in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03009 Diatom taxonomic identification and enumeration  03/01/09 Identification and enumeration of diatoms
DOWSOP03010 Preparation and Processing Algae Samples for Diatom Identification  03/01/09 Processing of diatom samples
DOWSOP03011 Collection Methods for Benthic Algae in Wadeable Waters 03/01/09 Sampling and collection procedures for benthic algae in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03012 Field Assessments of Benthic Algae Condition in Wadeable Waters 03/01/09 Assessment of habitat for benthic algae in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03014 In-situ Water Quality Measurements and Meter Calibration 01/01/09 Process of calibration and use of in-situ water quality meters
DOWSOP03015 Sampling Surface Water Quality in Lotic Systems 04/13/09 Sampling surface waters in streams
unassigned Sampling Lake and Reservoir Systems In progress Sampling lake systems
unassigned Bacteriological Sampling In progress Sampling for pathogens

The Kentucky Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Index (MBI) -- This document is used to make macroinvertebrate assessments statewide. The four MBI templates listed below are multi-metric indices that use macroinvetebrates as bioindicators for stream health. Each template includes a description of how to use the metric.

·       MBI Template - Genus Species 300 Pick Method

·       MBI Template - Family Riffle Only 200 Pick Method

·       MBI Template - Genus Species Riffle Only 300 Pick Method

·       MBI Template - Genus Species Full Pick Method

 

The Kentucky Index of Biotic Integrity (KIBI) -- This document outlines a multi-metric index that uses fish as the bioindicator for assessing stream health. The KIBI provides a numerical value and corresponding narrative classification for headwater and wadeable streams. An Excel KIBI template has been developed to simplify the calculation process. An overview of the KIBI document and template is also available in Microsoft Word format.

 

Historic SOPs

If a procedure or method is not found in the current section of SOPs, then the use of the historic SOPs listed below may be necessary. Check with your project scientist for use of appropriate documents.

2008 Methods for Assessing Biological Integrity of Surface Waters in Kentucky -- This SOP is a version from 2008 of all biological monitoring methods. This file includes the main document and the appendices.

2002 Methods for Assessing Biological Integrity of Surface Waters in Kentucky -- This SOP is a version from 2002 for all biological monitoring and should only be used in reference for past projects.

A Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Index (MBI) for Headwater Streams of the Eastern Coalfield Region, Kentucky -- This document delineates the methods DOW uses to assess streams for macroinvertebrates in the Eastern Kentucky coalfield region.

Kentucky Ambient/Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Standard Operating Procedure Manual -- This manual describes how water samples are collected, preserved and delivered to a laboratory for analysis, and should generally only be used for reference purposes.

For More Information Contact:
Lisa Hicks
Division of Water
200 Fair Oaks Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-3410, ext. 4946
Fax: 502-564-9636
E-mail: lisa.hicks@ky.gov

 

For Additional Information

Additional information on quality assurance policies, methods and procedures may be found on the Quality Assurance Web page.

Contact the project manager for individual questions on SOPs or contact Lisa Hicks at lisa.hicks@ky.gov for general questions on the quality assurance program for the Division of Water.

DEP Division of Water
200 Fair Oaks Lane
Fourth Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-3410
Fax: 502-564-0111
E-mail: water@ky.gov