Streams and Rivers - Fondriest Environmental
Contents
1. ing data Furthermore the guidelines suggest creating a management plan that describes the specific actions to be taken based on the results of the monitoring The most rapid and efficient management responses are achiev able with real time data COMMON CONCERNS A wide array of hydrological phenomena can mani fest in streams and rivers each as complex as the last and in many cases are intertwined with one another Natural resource managers responsible for waterway upkeep may need to keep a close eye on some or all of these phenomena while specific monitoring proj ects may only aim to observe a particular effect of one Even if your application only calls for monitoring of one parameter or process understanding how that process affects others and fits into the overall health of the river will improve your ability to analyze data and respond appropriately STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING Contamination from any foreign source can spell trouble for streams and rivers but sources that unbalance nutrient levels in the water often have especially far reaching effects Common sources of nutrient pollution include agricultural operations sewage and industrial waste A 2009 U S EPA survey found that 40 percent of streams and rivers in the U S suffer from excessive levels of phosphorous while 27 percent have high levels of nitrogen Excess nutrient loads can damage water quality in a number of ways many of which ar2. are reasonably constant over the physical area occupied by the beams The sensor should be located in a straight section of channel away from curves that can cause variations in the flow distribution Avoid man made control flow structures upstream or downstream of site that may change flow profiles erratically as this will make rating development difficult Make sure data logging and telemetry equipment will be installed sufficiently above the high water mark to prevent it from being flooded or otherwise damaged by high water Install the sensors based on lowest expected stage Also consider whether ice will form in winter months If so try to keep sensors installed below the freeze line Consider sediment issues and try a vertical stilling well whenever possible Sensor mounting pipes should be securely attached to the stream or river bank with a bottom pin so that the sensor is always re deployed at the same location Any potentially exposed sensors cables near the ground should be run through conduit to the data logger box to protect from animals CELLULAR TELEMETRY COVERAGE MONITORING SITE LOCATION STRAIGHT SECTION SECURE ATTACHMENTS NO MAN MADE CONTROL STRUCTURES PROTECTIVE CONDUIT FONDRIEST COM 11 DATA MANAGEMENT A major part of any monitoring project is collect ing and accessing the data While it is possible to simply record measurements onsite the ability to log send and view mo
3. of a Quality Assur ance Plan QAP that provides a detailed outline of maintenance calibration and QA QC requirements IN ITORING se Vi gt SJ La Regardless of the water quality instrument s deployed periodic mainte nance and calibration is essential Instrument maintenance includes clean ing the instruments especially if a sensor is not self wiping and replacing any deteriorating O rings to prevent water ingress Maintenance intervals are largely dependent on site conditions and other variables such as the potential for biofouling Common calibration and maintenance intervals are on a bi weekly or monthly basis Prior to calibration it is important to thoroughly rinse the calibration cup with water and then rinse with a small amount of the calibration standard for the sensor being calibrated Two to three rinses are recommended Discard the rinse standard then refill the calibration cup with fresh calibration stan dard Fill the cup with adequate calibration standard to fully submerge the sensor Volumes will vary just make certain that the sensor is submerged Be careful to avoid cross contamination with other standards For greater details regarding sensor calibration the manufacturer s user manual should be referenced In case of sensor failure or damage it is useful to have spare sensors or sondes on hand These can be field swapped during calibration or routine maintenance checks Having spare equipment av
4. to send out automated alarm notifications when param eters exceed pre defined limits Once an allowable range has been set the data are entered into the online database If levels exceed or fall below these recommended ranges the datacenter will immediately issue an alert text and or email to the appropriate project manager or interested party With the availability of real time data and the datacenter s auto alert system project managers can be notified immediately when interesting or action oriented events may exist This can be nutrient pollution algal blooms tur bidity eutrophication etc The online datacenter can also transmit this alert back to the data logger in order to respond to the exceeded temperature conductivity pH or any other range Automated responses may include taking more frequent readings high or low temperature periods then resuming regular log intervals when levels return to normal Friday October 3 wadatalive nexsens com WQData LIVE Alert Wate evel Water level has exceeded 15 It i telemetry monitoring stations do not need to be in close proximity nor is a FONDRIEST COM 13 QUALITY ASSURANCE To maintain accuracy and keep equipment function ing within specifications best practice recommends cleaning and calibrating the instruments at regular intervals It is also recommended to cross check sensor accuracy against a separate instrument Proj ects may even require the use
5. varied as the water uses listed above but your application will likely fall into one of two broad categories research or practical Research applications include systems designed to study one or more aspects of stream and river hydrology or water quality whether to educate or provide a better under standing of human impact animal use habitat quality etc Practical applica tions include systems designed to monitor impact from your own project or perhaps the project of a client This could entail monitoring turbidity during a dredging project discharge and flow rates at a fish hatchery or nutrient loads near an agricultural operation among others Regardless of the nature of your application you should aim to develop a monitoring strategy that provides rapid feedback allowing involved parties if necessary to responds to potential issues before they grow into larger problems Before starting any project consider any regulations that may be established by regional and federal agencies as well as your own clients or stakeholders The U S Army Corp of Engineers has established a com prehensive set of guidelines to assist in dredging projects but the portion of these guidelines dealing with monitoring are applicable to any project The USACE recommends drafting a comprehensive monitoring plan that includes equipment and techniques to use protocols for sampling where to place sampling devices and details about how to interpret the monitor
6. DRIEST COM 17 PURCHASE OR RENT When managing a large or long term river or stream monitoring project purchasing several profil ing systems is often the most economical option However for short term monitoring projects on a tight budget it may not be practical to purchase the necessary monitoring equipment In these situ ations it is much more prudent to rent real time monitoring systems With several lease duration and extension options available the flexibility of renting monitoring systems may still be cost effective for the larger countermeasure applications as well River and stream monitoring equipment can be rented instrument by instrument or as an entire system calibrated and ready to deploy on arrival Rental equipment can include multi parameter sondes integrated data logging systems and web based datacenter access Real time telemetry via radio to shore cellular and satellite can also be incorporated large rental pool also means that most monitoring equipment can be shipped same day for quick deployment and emergency situa tions Just as with Fondriest purchases rental projects have access to a knowledgeable support staff who will provide personalized service before during and after the project Fondriest Environmental Inc 2091 Exchange Court Fairborn OH 45324 tel 888 426 2151 fax 937 426 1125 customercareQfondriest com STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING ABOUT FONDRIEST Company
7. Located in the Lower Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley region Fondriest Environmental is a leading distributor and integrator of equipment for natural resource professionals and outdoor enthusiasts Our team of spe cialists can help customers understand the products they are buying and make the correct decisions out in the field We seek to understand project needs devise a comprehensive solution provide the equipment and know how to implement it and then offer long term project support for whatever needs arise Capabilities We work closely with NexSens Technology a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of real time environmental measurement systems A variety of sensor platform and telemetry options are available to fit the unique needs of each project We can provide complete integrated solutions and support projects from conception to completion An extensive fleet of rental equipment is also available for short term project needs Certifications Fondriest Environmental is a Certified Repair Center for YSI NexSens amp Fish Sens offering quick turnaround affordable labor rates and personalized service Our knowledgeable technicians are available for phone email and onsite support when the need arises Publications We cover many customer projects in our Environmental Monitor magazine which is updated daily online and printed quarterly We also produce Lake Scientist an interactive online resource providing r
8. ORING SS GW FZ 4 p QD WA 1X kg XZ A WY Wh v D IAT N Telemetry Telemetry provides access to data in real time The wireless communication can be lt Z Z NZ WA W radio to shore cellular or satellite based S 2 ZN N ZA AS ASK SRS Live Data Instant access to project data is available 24 7 through a cloud based data center Monitoring data can be viewed in real time or as a graph to identify trends Real time automated alerts can be sent via text or email when specified parameters exceed predefined limits Deployment Pipe PVC or metal deployment pipes are installed to protect the sondes and sensors in the water The pipes are perforated near the sensors to allow adequate water flow for a representative measurement In addition to shielding the sensors from debris the pipes help secure the equipment in a fixed position for quality data and offer easy removal for calibration Multi Parameter Sonde Integrated Data Logging System An integrated data logging system is a real time monitoring station that houses the data logger telemetry module and power charging supply Since it is generally cost prohibitive to run AC power to the monitoring location integrated solar panels are used to continuously charge the 12VDC battery for auton
9. REAM AND RIVER MONITORING USGS standards insist that river stage should be measured to an accuracy of 0 01 inches This level of accuracy can be attained by any of the methods previously described using floats in a stilling well pressure transducers or with radar The USGS mandates different measurement intervals based on the purpose of the stream gage For instance ALERT Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time stream gages used for flood warnings only transmit data when water levels reach a certain depth or change drastically within a particular interval Partial record stream gages only operate during particular flow regimes indicating high flow peak flow or low flow for example Standard USGS stream gages must operate at least 355 days per year and transmit data via telemetry at 1 to 4 hour intervals A stream or river monitoring project can also require the observation and measurement of water quality In these situations a multi parameter water quality sonde is recommended Multi parameter sondes differ from brand to brand and model to model but they are unified by a few common traits As would be expected multi parameter sondes usually feature an array of ports for attaching conductiv ity temperature depth pH dissolved oxygen turbidity and level sensors and probes Ideally these sensors should be replaceable in the field for off the cuff maintenance and system modifications Some sondes will feature built in senso
10. STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING AND ESTABLISHING HYDROLOGICAL AND WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN STREAMS AND RIVERS FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL WHAT S INSIDE 01 Stream and River Management 02 Common Concerns 04 Streamflow Measurements 06 A Real Time Solution 08 Typical River Monitoring System 10 Monitoring Location 12 Data Management 14 Quality Assurance 16 Recommended Equipment 18 Purchase or Rent 19 About Fondriest Environmental 20 System Configuration Tool WHY MONITORING MATTERS Without water no life could exist and many essential and nonessential human activities wouldn t be possible without the use of healthy watersheds These same activities can impact watersheds in ways both large and small Watersheds often span political and cultural bound aries while neighbors separated by city state or national borders may not live under the same legal and cultural guidelines as one another both could be citizens of the same watershed By this measure ensuring the health of a watershed or the lakes streams and rivers within s as mucha responsibility to your fellow human as it is to your local state or federal regulating agency For this same reason water quality regulations are increasingly focused on the watershed level rather than established by political boundaries Streams and rivers offer an above ground glimpse at the health and hydrology of a watershed and function as a vita
11. a stilling well installed in the river bank or attached to a stationary structure such as a pier or bridge support An underwater intake allows water into the stilling well at the same elevation of the river s surface A float or a sensor whether pressure optical or acoustic then measures the stage inside the well An electronic recording device or data logger records stage measurements at regular intervals in the case of the USGS usually every 15 minutes A telemetry system may also be present in a stilling well allowing data to be transmitted remotely to a host computer in real time It may not always be cost effective or space efficient to install a stilling well where stream gaging is necessary In these cases stage can be measured with a vented pressure transducer installed within a PVC or metal pipe along the stream bank In locations where a bridge or overhead structure is avail able for instrument mounting a non contact radar or ultrasonic water level sensor can also be used Stage must always be measured relative to a constant reference elevation or datum Depending on the duration of your project it may be necessary to routinely survey the elevation of your stream gage structure and its datum to ensure that elevations have not shifted due to settling or natural erosion SUBSECTIONS In addition to stage discharge must also be established before streamflow information can be computed Discharge is the volume of wate
12. ailable will reduce down time due to unforeseen sensor failure which could cause critical and costly interruptions to long term datasets In addition to keeping equipment calibrated it s important to periodi cally verify that the sensors are providing accurate data The best way to achieve this is by checking water quality values in the same area using a separate portable monitoring system This is also known as spot sam pling In many cases the same water quality instruments deployed in the stream or river can be outfitted with a cable and handheld display for spot sam pling For example if a YSI EXO2 water quality sonde is deployed then a separate EXO2 sonde with cable and handheld display can be used for performance verification It is important to use the similar and consistent sensors when verifying data as values tend to have variability across dif ferent sensing instruments The sonde or sensor can be lowered into the water to a depth that matches the in place sensors While it is at that depth a water quality measurement can be taken The data from this portable system can then be compared to the in place monitoring system and checked for discrepancies Another way to verify sensor performance is to pull the water quality instrument and check the sensor values in known standards prior to recalibration This is sometimes referred to as a post calibration check By checking the measured values against a known standard it is
13. ase Although it often makes sense to purchase systems outright many short term projects make it cost prohibitive Fondriest Environmental offers real time monitoring systems with weekly and monthly rental rates to accommodate these operations An application specialist can make recommendations on what choice is most cost effective 1 3 Months _ 3 6 Months 6 12 Months gt 1Year Please Specify FONDRIEST COM 21 FONDRIEST NV N ENVIRONMENTAL Fondriest Environmental Inc 2091 Exchange Court Fairborn OH 45324 OG 888 426 2151 937 426 1125 O customercare fondriest com MIX Paper from responsible sources ae FSC C007943 when your PRSRT STD research US POSTAGE demands AID quality data DAYton ok PERMIT 860 TAKE YOUR PROJECT TO THE NEXT LEVEL CONTACT A FONDRIEST APPLICATION SPECIALIST 888 426 2151
14. clarity Turbidity can be influenced by a number of factors present in water bodies including the presence of mud silt algae or chemicals in the water Industrial activities such as mining logging and perhaps most commonly dredging often contribute to turbidity levels in streams and rivers Turbidity is a closely related to streamflow and should be measured near stream gage sites when possible Turbidity often varies with the seasons as ice and snow drastically affect flow and the presence of sediment that can cloud the water Rivers covered in ice during the winter usually exhibit very low turbidity but will develop high levels of turbidity following spring snowmelt as mud and dirt are washed into the water The growth of algae and other organisms in the summer can also cause a boost in turbidity The significance of turbidity in a waterway depends on the season the morphology of the channel and the ecosystem within Highly turbid waters prevent the passage of light necessary for plant growth which can also diminish the survivability of other organisms that rely on plants for food Algae related turbidity is often associated with eutrophication and hypoxia Very high turbidity can actually cause fish and other organisms to suffocate impact their ability to catch prey and even bury fish eggs on the streambed Particles responsible for turbidity may carry bacteria or other contaminants that can harm water quality Regular turbidity m
15. e interconnected High nutrient content can promote plant and algae overgrowth reducing dissolved oxygen content in the water and stressing fish and invertebrates Under the right conditions nutrient pollution can lead to eutrophication Algae and algal blooms should not be regarded as inherently harmful to water quality in a waterway In fact algae are an important part of stream and river ecosystems Algae oxygenate water convert inorganic matter into organic matter and act as the base of the waterway s food chain Slow moving rivers are far more susceptible to algae blooms than those with high streamflow In these rivers blooms may occur in regular intervals usually every summer when temperature sunshine and low wind speeds provide ideal conditions for growth Nutrient loads are the primary determinant of algae growth in rivers and therefore it is vital to monitor nutrient levels especially phosphorus and nitrates in rivers that exhibit an overabundance or lack of algae Water temperature turbidity and competition from other plants and animals can also influence the growth of algae High levels of algae can contribute to eutrophication turbidity and hypoxia in rivers Because many algal blooms form on the surface of a river most monitoring can be done by sight alone though aerial observation may be useful for particularly large rivers 4 ed Y GRAVEL SAND SILT CLAY ALGAE Turbidity is a measurement of water
16. ed in a rugged NEMA 4X enclosure constructed of heavy duty fiberglass The built in 8 5 amp hour sealed lead acid battery provides 12 volt power to the system and the battery is continuously charged using solar power Polymer coated circuit boards sealed connectors corrosion resistant stainless steel hardware and built in lightning protection ensure reliable performance in the harshest conditions All sensors are cabled through Sealcon gland fittings to ensure protection from the elements NexSens iChart Software is a Windows based program for interfacing to an iSIC data logger or network of data loggers The iChart Setup Device Wizard includes built in drivers and a step by step interface for setting up and con figuring remote monitoring sensors and systems When connected the user can quickly configure sample amp log intervals upload data or troubleshoot communications Welcome Luke C Log Quo PROJECTS ADMIN ACCOUNT HELP woData t heter n ti EO Li Awer Part rf MeO BONITA SPRINGS WQData LIVE is a web based project management service that allows users 24 7 instant access to data collected from NexSens remote environmen tal data logging amp telemetry systems More than just an online database WQData LIVE offers the ability to generate automated reports configure alarms to notify project personnel when data values exceed threshold limits create FieldBooks to store calibration forms notes and med
17. ers including AT amp T Verizon and Sprint For remote applications where radio and cellular telemetry are not feasible satellite telemetry can be used The Iridium communications network main tains a dynamic cross linked constellation of Low Earth Orbiting LEO sat ellites providing coverage all over the world This means that data loggers with an Iridium satellite modem can transmit data in real time from any where on Earth As with cellular networks the data are sent to a central gateway which then transfers the data over the Internet to any project computer or cell phone Real Time Online Datacenter The easiest way to share and view river and stream monitoring data is through a web based datacenter An online datacenter offers 24 7 instant access to project data via any web browser Water pressure and other data can be exported into the datacenter directly from the data logger or through the project software This project management service can be password protected or public and allows users access to the collected data in real time In addition to any profile specific information the online interface can provide dynamic area maps overlaid with weather information recent and historical data time series graphs and statistical summaries Visitors can interact with the project maps and view real time monitoring data or trends over time But these cloud based datacenters are more than just a pretty face Many can be programmed
18. esearch articles and news on lake ecology Informational pages on environmental parameters and applications are available in the Measurement Sciences section of our website And FishSens Magazine available online provides anglers boaters and fisheries professionals with the latest fish science news Commitment A commitment to integrity and longstanding customer relations are the standard rather than the exception at Fondriest Environmental We support professionals educators and researchers who continuously work to monitor and protect our global resources by providing them with the products and services needed to face today s environmental challenges Our team of solu tion driven experts has years of field experience and a keen eye for finding the best equipment for each application Contact Information To reach an application specialist please call 888 426 2151 or email customercare fondriest com 20 T D Z U zM ij m Z lt J O Z K4 m gt FF SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TOOL Fondriest application specialists will assist with tailoring system configuration and equip ment choices on a site by site basis to ensure reliability and proper data management The questionnaire below can help you get started Once completed this form can be faxed to 937 426 1125 or if completed digitally emailed to customercare fondriest com Contact Information Name Organization Telephone Email S
19. ia and much more Projects are password protected with the ability to configure a public portal or presentation view to share data with the general public Project Administrators have the ability to edit project descriptions and informa tion while users given Collaborator access are limited to data viewing and form entry The Google Maps view shows all project sites on a map with zoom scroll and drag capability Mousing over a site on the map displays the most recent data values and clicking on the site navigates to a display showing the last reading or tabular data that can be downloaded to Excel and sent via email or FTP FieldBooks can be created to store notes recorded during field visits including forms to store calibration data which can be submitted from the WQData LIVE mobile app This eliminates the need for conventional field books while keeping critical project information in a single easy to access location Site photos can even be placed onto FieldBook pages or uploaded into the project s Media page The WQData LIVE report feature allows data to be shown both graphically and in a tabular format Report templates can be saved so that specific information can quickly be referenced Project alarms send email or text messages to project staff for immediate notification of critical conditions With this unique set of features WQData LIVE provides everything needed to effectively manage an environmental monitoring application FON
20. icular project they may be shared with other types of water bodies and in many cases will be covered in other guides provided by Fondriest Envi ronmental For this reason this application guide will focus primarily on establishing streamflow through stage discharge measurement STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING Streamflow is a measurement of the amount of water flowing through a stream or river over a fixed period of time Streamflow cannot be measured directly say by plunging an instrument into a river Instead it must be cal culated in a process known as stream gaging The USGS has been doing this since 1889 when it established its first stream gage on the Rio Grande River in New Mexico to determine how much water was available for irrigation as the nation expanded westward Today the USGS operates more than 7 000 stream gages across the U S which provides streamflow information used widely for flood prediction water management engineering and research among other uses The USGS splits stream gaging into a three step process measuring stream stage measuring discharge and determining the stage discharge relation ANTENNA DATA RECORDER INTAKE PIPES The first step in calculating streamflow involves measuring stage which is the height of the water surface at a particular point in a stream or river Stage is sometimes known as gage height and can be measured several ways Among the most common of these approaches uses
21. ite Conditions Describe the site conditions in a paragraph or two Please include details regarding levels of wind waves and boat traffic experienced in the area STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING Site Location The location of a monitoring system can affect what equipment platform best suits the conditions Please select in what type of water body the system will reside Stream River Other Please Specify Measurement Parameters C Water Level Water Velocity C Temperature Conductivity Dissolved Oxygen pH ORP Turbidity Nitrate Phosphate Other Please Specify Cable Length With stream or river systems the cable lengths used for a deployment depends on the distance from the monitoring instrument s to the shore mounted data logger Between 5 and 25 ft Between 25 and 50 ft Between 50 and 100 ft _ gt 100ft Please Specify Telemetry License free spread spectrum radio telemetry allows communication with a shore side NexSens radio base station as far as five miles line of sight from the monitoring site Cellular telemetry allows greater geographic flexibility and is able to transmit from almost anywhere in the U S but it includes the cost of a cellular data plan Satellite telemetry can be used nearly anywhere in the world but it tends to have the highest data cost compared with cellular telemetry Cellular Radio Satellite None Project Length Rental vs Purch
22. itoring rivers and streams in real time Common telemetry options are cellular and radio though satellite telemetry can be used in more remote locations The decid ing factor when determining the most cost effective telemetry option should be the local site conditions and proximity to a project computer All three of these options permit real time updates for temperature profiles Radio telemetry is recommended when all equipment is in close proximity If equipped with a license free spread spectrum radio a data logger can com municate with a shore side or dam mounted radio base station This range may vary depending on the logger and base station used Spread spectrum radio technology may allow a range as far as five miles line of sight or a few hundred feet non line of sight The radio base station serves as a central hub for any compatible data logger in range with the ability to send the collected data to a project computer Cellular telemetry offers more geographic flexibility than radio though it does require a cellular data plan This small additional cost permits data transmissions from anywhere that receives a cellular signal With cellular base station required If multiple monitoring stations are required each data logger can send information individually to a central database All the data can then be accessed wirelessly from any computer via the Internet Data loggers may be equipped with cellular modems from different provid
23. l resource for human activity as well as habitat for a host of non human animals and plants In the U S alone there are over 3 5 million miles of streams and rivers flowing through many different landscapes Despite this widespread reliance on waterways the U S Environmental Protection Agency has found that over half of streams and rivers in the U S are in poor biological condition If a stream or river may be impacted by your project it is vital to establish a proper monitoring system to ensure that the waterway s hydrology and water quality are affected as little as possible and so that any impact can be mitigated if it is detected STREAM AND RIVER MANAGEMENT Definition amp Approaches Much like arteries and veins in a body streams and rivers pump invaluable lifeblood that is fresh water throughout a landscape In the U S man agement of these vessels and indeed all water bodies focuses on maintain ing and expanding existing supplies of freshwater to keep up with growing demand This demand is fueled by various uses categorized broadly by the U S Geological Survey as commercial domestic industrial irrigation live stock mining public supply and thermoelectric power While not all of these uses may draw directly from a stream or river the water required for each will have almost certainly passed through a flowing waterway at some point Monitoring systems may be established in streams and rivers for reasons as
24. nitoring data in real time is far more efficient Data Logger As the name implies a data logger is an instrument that stores data In environmental monitoring applications data loggers can be used not only to collect data from sensors and sondes but to control sampling rates and transmit data to a central location in real time While some water monitoring instruments have the ability to log their own data a separate dedicated data logger can gather all data from any and all attached sensors ensuring that no data are lost If telemetry wireless communication is available the logger can remotely control sensor sam pling rates and transmit collected data to a central project computer Data loggers with telemetry technology can provide real time hydrological profile data and remote access via a cellular modem radio transmission or satellite modem When housed in a data buoy a data logger is charged by the buoy s solar power system If a solar panel system or external battery is not available the logger can be self powered using alkaline batteries Data loggers can be con figured with a number of sensor ports for connection to industry standard digital and analog interfaces including RS 485 SDI 12 or 0 2 5 VDC A data logger can also support water quality sensors and sondes weather stations and other instruments to complement the hydrological profile data Telemetry Telemetry or wireless communication is a useful tool for mon
25. omous operation Multi parameter sondes offer a versatile platform for deploying several sensors at a common site These sondes can also act as an interface between sensors and a data logger or power source ae Submersible Pressure Transducer A submersible pressure transducer measures the combined pressure exerted on it by the atmosphere and the head of water above it A vent tube in the cable automatically corrects for atmospheric pressure influences FONDRIEST COM 9 MONITORING LOCATION The monitoring objectives will determine the approxi mate location of the stream or river station Site specific characteristics must also be considered to ensure a SUC cessful project Physical constraints of a site the time required to reach the location legal and physical access to a site and safety issues must be considered when making site selections PAS h ERMONITORING tae ian AM ANGA F w a SA 5 SP ir L F 7 A el n E 3 ET NG GEN Dy PS oe ie x gt a r _ N r s er Av Lade Dyr The monitoring location should be relatively accessible for carry ing in equipment to perform periodic calibration and maintenance If using telemetry determine whether there is sufficient cellular coverage to get a signal from the site If not satellite telemetry will likely be required The installation site should be selected so that flow conditions
26. onitoring can help detect early erosion When overgrown blooms of algae die and decompose the increased loads of organic matter and the organisms responsible for decomposition consume available oxygen in the water causing hypoxic dead zones to form These dead zones reduce the liveable space in a river and can increase competition and kill off other organisms such as fish The process is natural in most water bodies but anthropogenic activity such as agricultural fertil ization can speed it up While eutrophication is mostly a function of nutrient loads temperature can have a major impact on the phenomenon Higher temperature can increase biomass production therefore contributing to the overall rate of oxygen depletion Streams and rivers are less vulnerable to eutrophication than standing waters such as lakes and ponds because turbulence and streamflow prevents stratification from occurring but they are by no means immune from the phenomenon FONDRIEST COM 3 STREAMFLOW MEASUREMENTS While streams and rivers may be monitored for many qualities and parameters that they share with lakes ponds and basins they possess one quality that sets them apart from other freshwater bodies movement Streamflow is a keystone parameter that impacts many other aspects of a river s hydrology and water quality Although these other aspects may be just as vital to a river s health or just as applicable to your part
27. pos sible to observe and document the amount of sensor drift that occurred since the last calibration The difference in value can be compared to pre determined criteria if the difference is outside the criteria then the measurement data may need to be qualified f tiled wate Dis FONDRIEST COM 15 16 RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT While there are plenty of hydrological monitoring instruments on the market some stand out about the rest Fondriest Environmental has selected these products as the best in their field for their quality reliability and value Together they provide an advanced and powerful real time monitoring system for any stream or river The PT 500 Sub mersible Pressure Transducer from APG is durable enough to measure depth in the dirtiest most tur bulent waters YSI s EXO2 Multi Parameter Water Quality Sonde provides six sensor ports making it the perfect foundation for water quality monitor ing in any setting The NexSens 3100 MAST Wireless Telemetry System features a mast mounted data logging system with cellular modem telemetry and solar charging to keep your data up to date while you re away from the field Additionally the WQData LIVE web datacenter allows 24 7 remote access to collected data from any computer or mobile device while incorporating instant alarm notifications and trend tracking STREAM AND RIVER MONITORING The YSI EXO represents the next generation of water q
28. r moving down a waterway per unit of time It is most commonly expressed in cubic feet per seconds or gallons per day To calculate discharge multiply the area of water in a channel cross section by the average velocity of water in that cross section In short discharge area X velocity The simplest way to measure discharge is to divide the channel cross section into vertical rectangular subsections Once the area width X depth of each of these subsections is established and multiplied by velocity to determine subsection discharge the results can be added together to calculate total discharge Subsection width is best measure with a cable or steel measuring tape while depth can be measured by a wading rod in shallower channels and suspended sounding weights in deeper waters Velocity on the other hand should be measured with a current meter Many current meters rely on a wheel formed of several cups revolving around an axis Each revolution gen erates an electronic signal that is counted and timed by the meter which translates to water velocity A faster but more expensive method to measure velocity involves the use of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler ADCP which can be mounted in a small watercraft The ADCP sends a pulse of sound into the water and measures changes in the pulse s frequency as it returns to the instrument The ADCP speeds discharge calculations by measuring velocity and depth at the same time Width is also meas
29. rs leaving more sensor ports free for additional measure ments Most sondes contain an internal battery and memory so they can be deployed for long periods without regular attendance Data logger and external power connectivity allow for even longer deployments especially when data is accessible in real time via wireless telemetry FONDRIEST COM 7 TYPICAL RIVER MONITORING SYSTEM There are many hydrological and water quality param eters that can be measured in a stream or river but the needs of one monitoring project can differ widely from another The number of monitoring sites their locations and the instruments used at each will vary from project to project but a common solution is based around at least one stream gage site and related instruments To be effective measurement data should be pro vided in real time The easiest and most efficient way to do this is with a stream gage station installed on a riverbank or standing structure such as a pier or bridge support A stream gage built around a stilling well can contain other instruments such as multi parameter sondes equipped with an array of sensors as well as data loggers and telemetry systems With multiple telemetry options to choose from continu ous real time data are available from any computer This ensures that the project runs smoothly and any control measures can be implemented immediately if parameter limits are exceeded STREAM AND RIVER MONIT
30. tion below the minimum expected water level and a cable containing the sensor signals and vent tube is connected to a data logger mounted above flood stage The PT 500 measures the combined pressure exerted on it by the atmosphere and the head of water above it A vent tube in the cable automatically corrects for changes in barometric pressure and measured values are mathematically compensated for all linearity and temperature errors With 0 1 Full Scale accuracy the PT 500 provides high performance and accuracy over a wide range of operating conditions The housing is constructed with laser welded 316L stainless steel The sensor features a plug and play interface to NexSens iSIC data loggers via RS 485 Modbus digital output Data collection options include direct connect landline phone cellular radio Ethernet WI FI and satellite telem etry NEXSENS technology The iSIC MAST system includes the data logger and solar panel pre mounted to a 2 diameter pole to create a truly plug and play data collec tion and sensor interface platform The system integrates a NexSens iSIC data logger and 20 watt solar power kit all in a compact pre configured package Simply thread the system to any 2 NPT male pipe thread connect the solar panel amp battery wire the sensors and setup a project using iChart software it s that simple The iSIC data logger arrives ready for long term deployment All electron ics are hous
31. uality instru ments from YSI The advanced sonde platform offers a wide range of capabilities to those dedicated to monitoring natural aquatic environments such as oceans estuaries rivers lakes and ground water With a highly efficient power management platform robust construction and chemistry free anti fouling system EXO allows accurate data collection for up to 90 days between service intervals The EXO2 sonde includes six sensor ports and a central anti fouling wiper option Sensor parameters include temperature conductivity depth dissolved oxygen pH ORP total algae phy cocyanin and chlorophyll turbidity and fluorescent dissolved organic matter fDOM The sonde can also output 4 calculated parameters including salinity specific conductance total dis solved solids TDS and total suspended solids TSS All EXO sensors are digital sensors with on board signal pro cessing and memory Built in sensor diagnostic and calibration data allows users to calibrate multiple sensors in one sonde and distribute to various other sondes in the field Wet mateable connectors allow for swaps in wet conditions while active port monitoring automati cally detects each sensor and verifies operation The APG PT 500 submersible pressure transducer is ideally suited for measuring water level in weirs flumes small to large streams ponds lakes irrigation channels and groundwater wells The sensor is installed in a fixed loca
32. ured as the boat mounted ADCP is navigated across the channel Though somewhat more limited in capabil ity rod mounted Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters allow similar functions to be performed while wading through shallow streams 10 UT STAGE ft 1 10 40 100 1 000 DISCHARGE ft s Stage discharge relation or rating is a dynamic variable that is deter mined by comparing stage at a stream gage to discharge at the same point Accurate stage discharge relations can only be developed by measuring discharge across many ranges of stage Furthermore channels should be continually surveyed for changes caused by erosion sediment deposition vegetation growth and ice formation When discharge has been established across enough stages stage dis charge relation can be visualized in the form of a graph When this rela tion is properly maintained through periodic updates it can provide useful streamflow information for a given stream or river FONDRIEST COM 5 6 A REAL TIME SOLUTION The specifics of your stream or river monitoring system will depend largely on the requirements of your project as well as site conditions at the waterway While every stream or river monitoring system may not require a full stream gage installation with stilling well and associated instruments it may be helpful to consider what such a system should entail as deter mined by the country s preeminent river monitoring agency the USGS ST
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