Monitoring Programs
The CMC monitoring network supports three types of monitoring programs: Tidal Water Quality Monitoring, Non-Tidal Water Quality Monitoring, and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring. Although the Tier assessments occur at the parameter level, each monitoring program is sub-divided into general achievable Tier categories.
Most water quality monitoring programs fall within Tiers 1 and 2, and often have a mix of parameters in each tier. Only Tidal Water Quality Monitoring groups are currently eligible for Tier 3.
Most benthic monitoring programs follow Tier 1 methods and a few groups follow Tier 2 methods.
Tier 1 and 2 Non-Tidal Water Quality Monitoring
Tier 1 and Tier 2 non-tidal water quality monitoring groups collect discrete surface samples using in-situ sensors or probes, monitoring kits, or lab grab samples that utilize methods and QA procedures equivalent to the CMC approved Non-Tidal Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
Tier 1 and 2 Tidal Water Quality Monitoring
Tier 1 and Tier 2 tidal water quality monitoring groups collect discrete surface samples or depth profiles using in-situ sensors or probes, monitoring kits, or lab grab samples that utilize methods and QA procedures equivalent to the CMC approved Tidal Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
Tier 3 Tidal Water Quality Monitoring
Tier 3 tidal water quality monitoring groups collecting discrete depth profiles using in-situ sensors or probes, or lab grab samples. Tier 3 groups must demonstrate that they meet the sampling and analytical requirements of the CBP Methods and Quality Assurance procedures, which must be documented in an individual Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
Tier 1 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
Tier 1 benthic macroinvertebrate programs collect and analyze samples streamside to Order level. All Tier 1 groups in the upper watershed follow ALLARM’s sampling protocol and all Tier 1 groups in the lower watershed follow IWLA’s VA SOS sampling protocol.
Tier 2 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
Tier 2 benthic macroinvertebrate programs collect samples and send them to a certified taxonomist to identify the organisms to family level. The CMC developed a new protocol to support a special study project that will contribute to filling data gaps within the watershed and promote the ongoing assessment of Chesapeake Bay stream health.