General sampling protocol
Samplings for nutrients and water quality are conducted two or three times over the growing season: Spring - pre growing season and typically characterized by seasonal high river discharge (spring freshet) and Fall - post growing season and generally lower discharge, and if 3 times, Summer - period of high productivity. Grab samples and sonde measurements are taken at 3 stations along a 6 Km transect from the mouth of the Rowley River estuary to its head: lower, mid, and upper estuary. Stations sampled may vary depending on the tide stage during sampling.
Conductivity (and salinity) and temperature are measured using appropriate probes on a water quality sonde (YSI 6600 Water Quality Data System). Water quality sondes are backed up by field thermometers and refractometers.
Water samples for nutrients are collected in acid-washed, 1-liter polycarbonate bottles. Samples are transported to the field lab and filtered within three hours of collection through GF/F filters. Filtered samples are immediately preserved for later analysis of dissolved materials, and filters are preserved for later analysis of particulates.
Contact Nat Weston (nathaniel.weston@villanova.edu) for more details on sampling.
Data Qualifiers
NA: Not available
NS: No sample
E: Estimated
TBA: To be analyzed
BD: Below detection
S: Suspect, use with caution