Preliminary Evaluation of In-House ANP Lake Monitoring Chemical Analysis September 2005

Seger, Emily

Introduction: The Purpose of this report is to evaluate the quality of ANP-analyzed data, and the value of continuing chemical analysis at the ANP lab. Two objectives are addressed: 1. Evaluation of New ANP quality control procedures. Original laboratory procedures for ANP chemistry are described in Gawley (1996). In 2004, additions were made to the ANP lab's quality control (QC) procedures. These updated procedures, which follow EPA guidelines used by the UMO labs, are detailed and analyzed below in this document. 2. Evaluate interlab comparisons in 2002 to 2004 data, to determine the effectiveness of continued chemical analysis at ANP. Determine whether ANP lab data are essential and of sufficient quality to meet ANP program objectives. After addressing the objectives, we have determined that continuing ANP chemical analysis for the core set of lakes monitored is not effective in meeting program objectives, nor is it a good use of Park resources and personnel.' Discussion: However, there are several lakes in the park that are not part of the core monitoring schedule and thus, have not been analyzed at the UMO lab. The only recent chemistry data from these lakes originated at the ANP lab, and they are sampled one to three times a year. Consequently, it may be beneficial to continue ANP chemical analysis on these lakes. Time and resources would need to be utilized in order to revamp color and ANC methods to produce a better quality of data.' /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Long Pond/Witch Hole Pond/ Eagle Lake/Bubble Pond/Bear Brook Pond/Jordan Pnd/Upper Hadlock/Lower Breakneck/