The Standards and Assessment Section
wishes to introduce a listserv that will
enable them to provide information in a
more efficient manner.
Quality of Science eNewsletter

FDEP is providing sampling training through the University of Florida TREEO Center.  Please register at TREEO.

Please use the Quality of Science eNewsletter service to make sure we have your email address. We will be sending email throughout the year in regards to training opportunities and other topics. Email will only be sent to people who have registered. General training information will still be placed on this page, but notices for new opportunities and information will be sent out by email. This will prevent you from being required to come to this page just to see if any new information is available.

Biological Training

The Bureau of Laboratories has developed a training program for the Stream Condition Index (SCI).  This program was designed for agency and corporate trainers to implement into new and existing biological sampling programs.  Below are essential background documents required to successfully implement this program.

• SCI Training Program - Overview of the training process (pdf, 16 KB).
• Sampling and Use of the Stream Condition Index for Assessing Flowing Waters: A Primer (pdf, 1.0 MB)
• SCI Training Presentation (ppt, 9.3 MB)
• Checklists
  • SCI (pdf, 80 kb)
  • Habitat Assessment (doc, 260 kb)
• SCI and BioRecon Testing Registry - Searchable query for individuals who have completed a sampling audit to support either SCI or BioRecon sampling events.

• Sampling and Use of the Lake Vegetation Index (LVI) for Assessing Lake Plant Communities in Florida: A Primer
• 2009 LVI Team Proficiency Testing Results

Lake Vegetation Index Testing
Following DEP SOP FA4330, conduct LVI sampling at one of the lakes below between June 21 and July 21, 2010, and send results to Nia Wellendorf by July 30, 2010. All lakes have public ramps and sampling maps are provided below.

• Compass Lake, Jackson County
• Santa Fe Lake, Alachua County
• Lake Letta, Highlands County

Habitat Assessment Testing

Analysts performing Habitat Assessments are required to pass 3 out of 5 benchmark tests every two years. Below are links to overviews of benchmark sites available for testing throughout the state, consisting of directions to and photos of the sites, as well as instructions for completing the tests. Analysts should not test at the same sites twice, but new analysts can test at 2008 sites.

2010 Sites (5 per region)

• Panhandle
  • Site Directions and Maps
• Central
  • Site Directions and Maps
• South
  • Site Directions and Maps

2008 Sites (5 per District)

• NWD
• NED
• CD
• SWD
• SED
• SD

Important Documents:

• 2008 Habitat Assessment Form FD 9000-5
• Physical/Chemical Characterization Field Sheet FD 9000-3
• Stream/River Habitat Sketch Sheet FD 9000-4.pdf or FD 9000-4.doc
• Guidelines for Hydrological Disturbance Scoring (PDF)

Information for QA officers:

• Explanations of Habitat Assessment benchmark site consensus scores (password required).
• QA officers are responsible for disseminating consensus score information only to analysts whose scores have been submitted.

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