IMPACT OF RIVER TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS ON CONTAMINANT SAMPLING ERROR AND DESIGN

Within monitoring programs, loading errors are generally associated with the inadequate delineation of the temporal variance of discharge and of the parameter(s) of interest. Often little consideration is given to the impact of additional transport characteristics on contaminant sampling error and design. Detalied examination of five transport characteristics at a single river cross-section emphasizes the importance of understanding the complete transport/loading regime of a sampling station, defining the required end products of the monitoring program, and defining the accuracy required to meet specific program needs before implementing or evaluating a monitoring program. River transport characteristics examined are (a) contaminant transport modes, (b) short-term temporal and seasonal variability, (c) the relationship between dissolved and particulate contaminant concentrations and discharge, (d) toad distribution with sediment particle size, and (e) spatial variability in a cross-section.