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Standard Operating Procedures

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.

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 biologist or Lisa Hicks (the quality assurance officer) for assistance in identifying the most current document to use.

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Current SOPs

The following two tables 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	07/09/2009	Document, track and control all types of samples
DOWSOP03002	TMDL Pathogen SOP	03/27/2009	Development procedure for pathogen TMDLs
DOWSOP03003	Benthic Macroinvertebrates Collection Methods in Wadeable Streams SOP	05/01/2011	Sampling and collection of macroinvertebrates in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03004	TMDL Planning SOP	04/02/2009	Planning procedures for TMDL monitoring projects
DOWSOP03005	Benthic Macroinvertebrates Processing and Identification SOP	05/07/2009	Processing and identification of macroinvertebrates
DOWSOP03006	Sediment Monitoring	in progress	Monitoring for sediments
DOWSOP03007	Laboratory Procedures for Fish Processing and Identification SOP	05/07/2009	Processing and identification of fish
DOWSOP03008	Collection Methods for Fish in Wadeable Streams	01/01/2010	Sampling and collection methods of fish in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03009	Diatom taxonomic identification and enumeration	03/01/2009	Identification and enumeration of diatoms
DOWSOP03010	Preparation and Processing Algae Samples for Diatom Identification	03/01/2009	Processing of diatom samples
DOWSOP03011	Collection Methods for Benthic Algae in Wadeable Waters	03/01/2009	Sampling and collection procedures for benthic algae in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03012	Field Assessments of Benthic Algae Condition in Wadeable Waters	03/01/2009	Assessment of habitat for benthic algae in wadeable streams
DOWSOP03014	In-situ Water Quality Measurements and Meter Calibration	01/01/2009	Process of calibration and use of in-situ water quality meters
DOWSOP03015	Sampling Surface Water Quality in Lotic Systems	01/10/2011	Sampling surface waters in streams
DOWSOP03017	Bacteriological Sampling (see DOWSOP03015)	in progress	Sampling for pathogens
DOWSOP03019	Measuring Stream Discharge	05/01/2010	Procedure for measuring stream discharge
DOWSOP03024	Methods for Assessing Habitat in Wadeable Waters	05/11/2011	Evaluating habitat conditions in wadeable waters in support of water quality assessments.
DOWSOP03025	Enzyme Substrate Test for the Detection of Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli	05/01/2011	Laboratory procedures for the analysis of total coliforms and E coli bacteria.
DOWSOP09014	Groundwater Sample Handling and Documentation	03/02/2011	Procedures for handling and documenting using groundwater Chain-of-Custody
DOWSOP09015	Groundwater Sampling Procedures	03/02/2011	Procedures for safe sampling of groundwater
unassigned	Sampling Lake and Reservoir Systems	in progress	Sampling lake systems

Index Calculation Documents

	Document	Description
	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. A KIBI template has been developed to simplify the calculation process. An overview of the KIBI document and template is also available.

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.

	Document
	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.
	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.
	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.

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Division of Water Standard Operating Procedures

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Index Calculation Documents

Division of Water

Standard Operating Procedures