Timing, frequency of sampling affect accuracy of water-quality monitoring
Authors
Kenneth W. TateRandy A. Dahlgren
Michael J. Singer
Barbara Allen-Diaz
Edward R. Atwill
Authors Affiliations
K.W. Tate is Rangeland Water Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; R.A. Dahlgren is Professors, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis; M.J. Singer is Professors, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis; B. Allen-Diaz is Associate Professor of Range Ecology, Environmental Science and Policy Management, UC Berkeley; E.R. Atwill is Environmental Health Specialist, UC School of Veterinary Medicine, VMTRC, Tulare.Publication Information
Hilgardia 53(6):44-48. DOI:10.3733/ca.v053n06p44. November 1999.
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Abstract
Monitoring water quality is a major issue on California's rangeland watersheds, and there is limited published data to guide these efforts. We used stream-flow and water-quality data from experimental rangeland watersheds to demonstrate the temporal variability of water quality at the storm, season and annual time scales. The timing and frequency of water sampling from the storm to the annual time scale play an extremely significant role in water-quality monitoring. Our studies conducted in Northern California suggest that a minimum sampling strategy should include sampling before, during and after storms. Samples must be collected over a period of several years to account for variability among years.
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