Publication Summary

This is the Marine Sediment Quality Implementation Plan for the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program.

The Ambient Monitoring Section of the Department of Ecology was assigned to implement the marine sediment quality task of the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP, MMC, 1988.) To this end, sediments will be examined using the triad approach. This approach consists of (1) benthic macroinvertebrate community analysis, (2) analysis of sediment for contamination by organic compounds and metals, and (3) a measure of sediment toxicity to experimental organisms (bioassays).

Sediment monitoring is one task of the Puget Sound Comprehensive Monitoring Program. Integration of data from all tasks in the program (sediments, water, fish, etc.) will enable the resource agencies to form a complete picture of the environmental health of the Sound. For example, the station locations selected for the sediment program will also be sampled for fin fish by the Department of Fisheries. An effort will be made to correlate sediment and Fisheries data. The stations may also be adjacent to Department of Natural Resources nearshore habitat monitoring stations or Department of Social and Health Services intertidal shellfish stations. The sediment monitoring task, as the first to be implemented, is the prototype for the programs to follow.

The purpose of this implementation plan is to provide a single interpretative document that will inform the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority (PSWQA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the other state implementing agencies of the courses of action to be taken by Ecology in conducting the sediment monitoring task. The document serves as an expanded QAPP describing in detail the field sampling, laboratory procedures, analytical methods, quality assurance/control measures and data management needs of the sediment program. Finally, it will serve as the reference document for Ecology personnel when sediment monitoring is carried out by this agency.

This implementation plan describes, in detail, the considerations and needs of the study as we see it. A clear understanding of the scope of the task is a prerequisite to either overseeing contracted work or carrying out such a program internally.

Based on the information in this plan, it is anticipated that Ecology will develop a request for proposal (RFP) and hire a consultant for the first year of the task. The major focus during the first year will be to train Ecology personnel who will assume full responsibility the second year.