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FRESHWATER POTOMAC LONG-TERM BENTHIC MONITORING PROGRAM
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Description:
The Maryland Department of the Environments Freshwater Potomac Long-Term Benthic Monitoring Program provides seasonal information on abundance and composition for the benthic fauna of the freshwater portion of the Potomac River for use in recommendations to State agencies according to Maryland water quality regulations. Stations were sampled monthly for benthic macroinvertebrates from May through December. Thirteen stations have been sampled since 1986 and 12 have been sampled since 1983. Six stations are located in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province and seven are located in the Piedmont Plateau province. Sampling is conducted 5 to 40 meters offshore. Field measurements temperature, depth, velocity, turbidity, pH, and conductivity are collected. Water samples are collected with each benthic sample. Three replicate benthic samples are collected using a dome sampler over cobble substrate. Two samples are processed and one sample is archived. Identifications are made to order, family, genus, or species, depending upon the organism.