Government of Manitoba Long Term Water Quality Monitoring Program

Samples are collected at each of the sites from the center channel, or from the shore where the center channel is not possible. Samples are collected from the center channel using a weighted bridge sampler lowered to approximately 0.5 meter depth below the surface. Shoreline samples are collected using a pole sampler to reach as close to the center channel as possible, to a depth of 0.5 meters. Prior sample collection, sampling equipment is rinsed three times using water from that site. Samples are then transferred to sterile sample bottles provided by the analytical laboratory and preserved as per method protocol. Samples are sent to the analytical laboratory for analysis within recommended hold times. QA/QC samples are collected quarterly and submitted as trip and field blanks with routine samples to the analytical laboratory. Manitoba recommends that total phosphorus (TP) and particulate phosphorus (PP) values, for the period between April 1, 2001 – March 31, 2009, be adjusted as per McCullough 2015. Raw, unadjusted TP values are reported here. It is recommended that these reported TP values be multiplied by a factor of 0.89. A detailed review of the rationale for this adjustment can be found in McCullough 2015. Please contact data provider for access to this report.