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NH Dept. of Environmental Services (DES) rates each Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) water testing team to determine if the group follows the State's strict sampling procedures and techniques. Accurate water samples are critical to the DES's program to monitor water quality trends. Pawtuckaway's water sampling team was rated "Excellent" on both procedures and techniques in the DES's 2005 Audit.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our outstanding water sampling volunteers: Scott and Jack Hodgson, Joyce and Chris Rowe, Jim Kelly, Willard Urban, Therese Thompson, Bud Bonser, Tony Scianna, Dan Hajjar, Dwight and Ellie Crow!
From the DES Annual Assessment Audit:
"During the annual visit to your lake, the biologist conducted a “Sampling
Procedures Assessment Audit” for your monitoring group. Specifically,
the biologist observed the performance of your monitoring group while
sampling and filled out an assessment audit sheet to document the
ability of the volunteer monitors to follow the proper field sampling
procedures (as outlined in the VLAP Monitor’s Field Manual). This
assessment is used to identify any aspects of sample collection in which
volunteer monitors fail to follow proper procedures, and also provides an
opportunity for the biologist to retrain the volunteer monitors as
necessary. This will ultimately ensure that the samples that the
volunteer monitors collect are truly representative of actual lake and
tributary conditions.
Overall, your monitoring group did an excellent job collecting samples
on the annual biologist visit this season! Specifically, the members of
your monitoring group followed the proper field sampling procedures and
there was no need for the biologist to provide additional training. Keep
up the good work!
Each time your monitoring group dropped off samples at the laboratory
this summer, the laboratory staff completed a sample receipt checklist to
assess and document if the volunteer monitors followed proper sampling
techniques when collecting the samples. The purpose of the sample
receipt checklist is to minimize, and hopefully eliminate, future reoccurrences
of improper sampling techniques.
Overall, the sample receipt checklist showed that your monitoring group
did an excellent job when collecting samples and submitting them to the
laboratory this season! Specifically, the members of your monitoring
group followed the proper field sampling procedures and there was no
need for the laboratory staff to contact your group with questions, and no
samples were rejected for analysis."
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