Quality assurance and effective quality control procedures are necessary for adequate biological monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. It is through routine quantitative and qualitative sampling of specific environmental parameters that we are able to determine the quality and validity of our measurements. Our goal, along with the mission of the L. A. Logan Biological Field Station at Lake Columbia (Columbia Co., AR), is to monitor important parameters regarding the quality of our water resources and recreational areas.
Water samples from Lake Columbia, AR were taken every week and analyzed for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and chloride ions, total phosphorus, total solids, bacteria (E.coli, total coliform, and fecal coliform), alkalinity, turbidity, conductivity, and ammonia. Water temperature was also measured and recorded during sampling.The results were averaged monthly and submitted to the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and they were posted on Southern Arkansas University's (SAU's) website.
Different analytical probes and simple analytical methods were used to quantitate analytes.The samples were taken weekly and then averaged to report average monthly data. Water monitoring started in 2014 and will continue indefinitely.