Virginia Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program: Benthic Components Virginia Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program: Benthic Components Identification Information: Citation: Citation Information: Originator: Daniel Dauer Originator: Old Dominion University Publication Date: 20210122 Title: Virginia Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program: Benthic Components Edition: Unknown Geospatial Data Presentation Form: database Publication Information: Publication Place: Annapolis Maryland, USA Publisher: US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office Larger Work Citation: Citation Information: Originator: Jacqueline Johnson Publication Date: 19981231 Title: Chesapeake Bay Program Tidal Benthic Monitoring Database Edition: Version 3.0 Geospatial Data Presentation Form: database Publication Information: Publication Place: Annapolis, MD Publisher: US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Other Citation Details: None Online Linkage: www.chesapeakebay.net Online Linkage: http://data.chesapeakebay.net/?DB=CBP_BENDB Online Linkage: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/data/downloads/baywide_benthic_database Description: Abstract: The purpose of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program is to quantitatively characterize the estuarine macro benthic communities on a regional basis. Sedentary benthic organisms represent optimal indicator species because they are unable to leave or avoid stressed habitats. The relatively long life span of many macro benthic species enables an evaluation of previous water quality conditions. The community is composed of species that vary from being extremely tolerant to extremely sensitive to changes in water quality. Comparisons of the relative proportions of these different types of species allows an evaluation of the amount of environmental stress. The long-term goal of this study is to relate spatial and temporal trends of the benthic biota to changes in water quality within the Chesapeake Bay. Three regions of the lower Bay were identified to sample the major salinity-sedimentary regions of the estuarine gradient with-in the tributaries (Rappahannock, York, Elizabeth and James Rivers) and the mainstem of the lower Bay. Macro benthic communities at the stations for each of these regions had lower abundances, fewer species, and a shallower-dwelling fauna than communities in regions with similar salinity-sedimentary characteristics. Stress from hypoxic or anoxic events may result in such shallow-dwelling, low diversity, low abundance communities. Purpose: The state of Virginia, in cooperation with the US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, has monitored benthic species abundance's in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay mainstem and tributaries since March 1985. The program is designed to give comprehensive spatial and temporal information on benthic biota. The sampling parameters include water quality measurements, benthic fauna identification, benthic fauna biomass determination, and sediment analysis. Sample collection is performed on a quarterly basis independent from the Virginia Plankton and Water Quality monitoring programs. Supplemental Information: STATION NAMES AND DESCRIPTIONS Please be aware that the sampling design of this survey has changed over time to accommodate changes in the overall objectives for this program. The site selection criteria for some sampling stations has changed but, the actual method of sample analysis has not changed significantly. Please read the station names and descriptions section carefully before trying to use this data. * The fixed site element of the program consisted samples collected from twenty-six fixed sites from March 1985 through the present. Sampling was conducted quarterly from 1985-1995, after which sampling was conducted twice annually. Not all sites have been collected since project inception or are still being collected. During each sampling event three samples were taken at each site. A sampling site were defined by geography (within a 1 km radius from a fixed location) and by specific depth and substrata criteria. Samples were collected randomly within the 1 KM radius. Stations have been moved from the Chesapeake Bay Program Water Quality station locations or created to better represent the dominant sediment, depth and salinity conditions of a region or to allow the larger sampling vessel required for benthic work on to the station. *CB5.4* -Main Channel,Mid-Bay, above mouth of Rappahannock River, South Bound Channel CB5.5 -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, above mouth of Rappahannock River, South Bound Channel CB6.1 -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, parallel to mouth of Rappahannock, South Bound Channel CB6.3 -Main Channel. Mid-Bay, mid-way between York and Rappahannock River, south Bound Channel CB6.4 -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, parallel to mouth of York River, South Bound channel CB7.1S -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, parallel to mouth of Rappahannock, North Bound channel CB7.2 -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, between Rappahannock and York River *CB7.3E* -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, Between York and James River *CB8.1* -Main Channel, Mid-Bay, parallel to mouth of James River *LE3.2* -Rappahannock River, Long Point , upstream of Buoy #R8 *LE3.4* -Rappahannock River, Orchard Point #LE3.4B# -Rappahannock River, NEW 1994 *LE4.1* -York River, VIMS Slack Water Station #N44 LE4.3 -York River, Between AMOCO and Sarah Creeks #LE4.3B# -York River, off of VIMS in Deep channel *LE5.2* -James River, off of Buoy C12-13 *LE5.4* James River, Buoy 9 RET3.1 -Rappahannock River, North of Buoy #R10 *RET4.3* -York River, VIMS Slack Water Station #C57 *RET5.2* -James River, Swann's Point #RET5.2A# -James River, Swann's Point SBE2 -Elizabeth River, South Branch, *SBE5* -Elizabeth River, South Branch, off of VEPCO *TF3.3* -Rappahannock River, Buoy #N40 *TF4.2* -York River tributary, Pamunkey River at White House *TF5.5* - James River, Red Buoy 10 Note Following: *Name*- denotes station location has been moved slightly from regular Chesapeake Bay Water Quality monitoring station location. #Name#- denotes station created for Benthic Monitoring Program *The Probability-based sampling component was added in 1996 in coordination with the random strata sampling program in Maryland waters. Twenty-five stations each year are randomly selected in each of five strata, the Elizabeth, the James River, the York River, the Rappahannock River and the mainstem of Chesapeake Bay. In each stratum five additional sites were randomly selected as potential replacement sites for any station rejected in the field due to an inability to sample the site (e.g. an oyster reef, or intertidal site). Random stations were sampled between July 15, 1996 and present. Time Period of Content: Currentness Reference: Ground condition Time Period Information: Range of Dates/Times: Beginning Date: 19850101 Ending Date: 20200930 Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance and Update Frequency: Annually Spatial Domain: Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinate: -77.2936 East Bounding Coordinate: -75.9222 North Bounding Coordinate: 37.9947 South Bounding Coordinate: 36.7697 Keywords: Theme: Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None Theme Keyword: Benthos Theme Keyword: Water Theme Keyword: Watersheds Theme Keyword: Water Quality Place: Place Keyword Thesaurus: None Place Keyword: Chesapeake Bay Place Keyword: Elizabeth River Place Keyword: James River Place Keyword: Virginia Place Keyword: York River Place Keyword: Rappahannock River Stratum: Stratum Keyword Thesaurus: None Stratum Keyword: bottom Stratum Keyword: sediment Temporal: Temporal Keyword Thesaurus: None Temporal Keyword: quarterly Temporal Keyword: annual Temporal Keyword: summer Theme: Theme Keyword Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme Keyword: biota Theme Keyword: environment Theme: Theme Keyword Thesaurus: EPA GIS Keyword Thesaurus Theme Keyword: Biology Theme Keyword: Ecology Theme Keyword: Ecosystem Theme Keyword: Environment Theme Keyword: Indicator Theme Keyword: Marine Theme Keyword: Monitoring Theme Keyword: Quality Theme Keyword: Surface Water Theme Keyword: Water Theme: Theme Keyword Thesaurus: User Theme Keyword: Benthos Theme Keyword: Macro Invertebrates Theme Keyword: Sediment Theme Keyword: Water Quality Access Constraints: None Use Constraints: Data Set Credit Required Data Set Credit: Data originators Native Data Set Environment: Unknown Cross Reference: Citation Information: Originator: Jacqueline Johnson Publication Date: 19981231 Title: Chesapeake Bay Program Tidal Benthic Monitoring Database Edition: Version 3.0 Geospatial Data Presentation Form: database Publication Information: Publication Place: Annapolis, MD Publisher: US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Other Citation Details: None Online Linkage: www.chesapeakebay.net Cross Reference: Citation Information: Originator: Jacqueline Johnson Publication Date: 20120601 Publication Time: Unknown Title: 2012 Users' Guide to Chesapeake Bay Program Biological Data Edition: Version 5 Publication Information: Publication Place: Annapolis, MD Publisher: USEPA CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM OFFICE Other Citation Details: Unknown Online Linkage: ftp.chesapeakebay.net/pub/living_resources/guide2012.pdf Security Information: Security Classification System: FIPS Pub 199 Security Classification: No Confidentiality Security Handling Description: Standard Technical Controls Point of Contact: Contact Information: Contact Person Primary: Contact Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Program Contact Person: Peter Tango Contact Position: Monitoring Coordinator Contact Address: Address Type: mailing and physical address Address: 410 Severn Ave, Suite 109 City: Annapolis State or Province: MD Postal Code: 21403 Contact Voice Telephone: 410-267-9875 Contact Facsimile Telephone: 410-267-5777 Contact Electronic Mail Address: Ptango@chesapeakebay.net Contact Instructions: http://www.chesapeakebay.net Data Quality Information: Attribute Value Accuracy Information: Attribute Accuracy Report: Water column salinity, temperature and depth is recorded prior to benthic sampling. using a YSI CTD. Each station was sampled one with either a spade-type box-coring, a Young Modified Box Core or a Double Petite Ponar Grab. Any sample, which appeared disturbed, was discarded. At each station once each date, an 8-dram sub-sample of surface sediment was taken from each grab for analysis prior to sieving for organisms. Samples are transferred in to a 0.5 mm sieve bucket. The bottom of the bucket is immersed in a 30-gallon trash can filled with water and shaken and swirled to suspend large material allowing silt and fine sand to pass through the sieve. The residual material is washed into the pre-labeled cloth sample bags. Samples are relaxed for 15 minutes in an Isopropyl alcohol solution. Samples are then fixed in a 10 % buffered ambient water-formalin solution. A 1% solution of rose Bengal stain is premixed into the formalin solution. All sample sediment grab samples for benthic community analyses are washed into pre-labeled cloth bags. Each bag label consists of a code that identifies the sample as collected (1) from one of the tributaries or main bay, (2) the collection site with in the tributary or mainstem and (3) the replicate number. All samples from a particular tributary or mainstem are placed in to a 5 gallon bucket prelabeled with a tributary or mainstem code. After each sampling station is completed the bucket is sealed. After all stations of each tributary or the mainstem are sampled the bucket is sealed and stored below deck until off loaded at the end of the cruise. Achieved samples are handled as above except that all archived samples are placed into a separate 5 gallon bucket that is prelabeled to record the date of the cruise. Cruise dates are not indicated on the pre-labeled bags for buckets for the non-achieved replicates. All replicates from one cruise are completely analyzed prior to the next cruise and the prelabeled bags are reused. Sediment samples for particle size and total volatile solids analysis are placed into a prelabeled plastic bags that use the same labels as above. New pre- labeled bags are used for each cruise. All sediment samples are analyzed prior the next cruise. The chief scientist is responsible for ensuring that all samples are placed into the proper pre-labeled bags, into the proper prelabeled sealed buckets and securely stored on shipboard. On return of the vessel to the dock the chief scientist is responsible for the loading of all samples onto the trucks, the transportation of the samples to the lab, and storage of samples upon arrival at the lab. Water quality measurements of bottom salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen are collected prior to sediment sample collection. The chief scientist is responsible for ensuring that all sample information is recorded correctly on to field data sheets. On return of the vessel to the dock the chief scientist is responsible for the loading of all samples and field log onto the trucks the transportation of the samples to the lab and storage of samples upon arrival at the lab. Logical Consistency Report: Not Applicable Completeness Report: At each station, three replicate box core samples were collected and processed individually. At least 5% of all samples identified by each technician are reworked by the Benthic Ecology Lab manager for quality control of taxonomic identification, enumeration, and biomass estimation. If error exceeds 5%, as second sample is QC'd; if the second QC fails, all samples previously sorted by that technician are resorted. A discrepancy of less than 0.1% in ash free weight calculations is considered acceptable. The personnel sorting and identifying each sample are recorded on lab data sheets. Positional Accuracy: Horizontal Positional Accuracy: Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report: Fixed Station positions in data set are approximations of actual positions in the field. Station latitudes and longitudes are input into a Loran-C/GPS receiver and sampling begins when boat reaches preprogrammed coordinates. Loran-C is accurate to +/- 1500 ft. Random station positions are the actual GPS coordinates for each sampling event. Loran-C and NAD27 coordinates were used to establish sampling position from 1985-1996; from 1996 to present GPS and NAD83 coordinates were used. All positions reported in the database have been converted to NAD83. coordinates. Vertical Positional Accuracy: Vertical Positional Accuracy Report: Benthic grabs are taken at the sediment surface. Total station depth is determined by a ship depth meter only bottom samples are taken for water quality parameters. Lineage: Process Step: Process Date: 20250513 Process Description: Metadata revised Spatial Data Organization Information: Indirect Spatial Reference: Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries in the state of Virginia Direct Spatial Reference Method: Point Point and Vector Object Information: SDTS Terms Description: SDTS Point and Vector Object Type: Area point SDTS Terms Description: SDTS Point and Vector Object Type: Entity point Spatial Reference Information: Vertical Coordinate System Definition: Altitude System Definition: Altitude Datum Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988 Altitude Resolution: .1 Altitude Units: meters Altitude Encoding Method: Attribute Values Depth System Definition: Depth Datum Name: Chart datum; datum for sounding reduction Depth Resolution: .1 Depth Distance Units: meters Depth Encoding Method: Attribute Values Horizontal Coordinate System Definition: Geographic: Latitude Resolution: 0.000001 Longitude Resolution: 0.000001 Geographic Coordinate Units: Decimal degrees Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1983 Ellipsoid Name: Geodetic Reference System 1980 Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000 Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257222 Distribution Information: Distribution Liability: I, the data requestor, agree to acknowledge the Chesapeake Bay Program and any other agencies and institutions as specified by the Chesapeake Bay Program Office as data providers. I agree to credit the data originators in any publications, reports or presentations generated from this data. I also accept that, although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Chesapeake Bay Program, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the data documentation file associated with these data. The Chesapeake Bay Program shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. Standard Order Process: Digital Form: Digital Transfer Information: Format Name: ASCII Digital Transfer Option: Online Option: Computer Contact Information: Network Address: Network Resource Name: www.chesapeakebay.net Offline Option: Offline Media: CD-ROM Recording Capacity: Recording Density: 650 Recording Density Units: megabyte Recording Format: ISO 9660 Compatibility Information: None Fees: None Ordering Instructions: All requests for data on media must be made in writing to the LR Data manager Turnaround: 5 Working Days Custom Order Process: All request for data on media must be made in writing. Technical Prerequisites: None Available Time Period: Time Period Information: Range of Dates/Times: Beginning Date: 19850101 Ending Date: Present Resource Description: Downloadable Data Distributor: Contact Information: Contact Person Primary: Contact Organization: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin USEPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office Contact Person: Emily Young Contact Position: Water Quality Data Manager Contact Address: Address Type: mailing and physical address Address: 410 Severn Ave, Suite 109 City: Annapolis State or Province: MD Postal Code: 21403 Contact Voice Telephone: 410-267-5785 Contact Electronic Mail Address: eyoung@chesapeakebay.net Contact Instructions: http://www.chesapeakebay.net Metadata Reference Information: Metadata Date: 20120629 Metadata Standard Name: NBII Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata Metadata Standard Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 Metadata Access Constraints: None Metadata Use Constraints: None Metadata Security Information: Metadata Security Classification System: None Metadata Security Classification: Unclassified Metadata Security Handling Description: None Metadata Future Review Date: 20160629 Metadata Contact: Contact Information: Contact Person Primary: Contact Organization: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin USEPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office Contact Person: Emily Young Contact Position: Water Quality Data Manager Contact Address: Address Type: mailing and physical address Address: 410 Severn Ave, Suite 109 City: Annapolis State or Province: MD Postal Code: 21403 Contact Voice Telephone: 410-267-5785 Contact Electronic Mail Address: eyoung@chesapeakebay.net Contact Instructions: http://www.chesapeakebay.net