Integrated Approach Monitoring Strategy

The Integrated Approach Monitoring Strategy (Integrated Approach) is a streamlined technique that builds on existing information. This increases efficiency in study design and execution and decreases laboratory and data analyses costs. Readily available and pre-existing contamination data are used to identify watersheds, target species, and target analytes to include in a monitoring program. The Integrated Approach may need only one sampling event mobilization to collect all samples from the waterbody.

On this page:

Objective of this approach
When should this approach be used?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages with this approach?
Discussion
Sampling Design Elements

Objective of this approach

Identify frequently fished sites for which there is insufficient fish contamination data to calculate advisory values. Determine advisory data needs for primary contaminants, species, size, and distribution within the water body to be obtained in one field mobilization.

When should this approach be used?

The Integrated Approach is best applied where there is institutional knowledge of the waterbody (or comparable/proximal waterbody), contaminant sources, contaminant occurrence, and fish populations.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages with this approach?

Advantages	Disadvantages
May only need one mobilization to collect all samples More efficient when resources are limited Cost effective Ability to assess more waters with limited funding Fewer organizational considerations Leverage existing contamination data	More planning required, less redundancy built into sampling program (compared to multi-phase approach) Previous data may have resulted in either under-assessed or unevenly assessed waterbody Previous data may be outdated and no longer representative of current conditions

Discussion

Fish consumption advisory program staff generally have knowledge of state, Tribal and local waters, contaminant sources, contaminant occurrence, and fish populations in comparable/proximal waterbodies. Fish data may originate from on-the-bank surveys of fishers and from sampling to support programs, such as programs to list impaired waters under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Thus, there may be already existing data information available for developing fish consumption advisories.

Contaminant data sources include:

National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) - These are collaborative programs between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, states, and Tribes designed to assess the quality of the nation's coastal waters, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, and wetlands using a statistical survey design. The NARS provide critical, groundbreaking, and nationally-consistent data on the nation's waters. States can obtain existing fish tissue data for specific waterbodies from these previously linked resources.
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program - The TRI Program tracks the industrial management of toxic chemicals that may cause harm to human health and the environment.
Water Quality Portal (WQP) - The WQP is the premiere source of discrete water-quality data in the United States integrating public available water-quality data from the United States Geological Survey, the EPA and over 400 state, federal, Tribal, and local agencies.
Great Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Program - This water quality monitoring program is designed to measure the quality of Great Lakes open waters and track changes in water quality through time.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Dashboard contains provisional real-time water data collected at USGS observation stations in context with weather-related data from other public sources. Water quality parameters include temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients, organics, and inorganics.

Contaminants to Monitor in Fish and Shellfish Advisory Programs has recommendations on contaminants that fish advisory programs should consider monitoring in fish and shellfish.

While on site, monitoring staff need to assure that sufficient fish samples (both species and size ranges classes) have been collected for the tissue mass requirements of the desired contaminant analysis. Otherwise, the advantages of the integrated approach will not be realized.

Sampling Design Elements

Sampling Sites

Sample target species at sites in each harvest area that either have a relatively higher probability of contamination or where frequent fishing has been observed.

Target Species and Size Classes

Collect enough fish to establish advisory values for the primary contaminant for 2-3 size classes, when combined with any data available from previous sampling.

Inventory existing sample data and collect additional samples for:

Size class assessment
Confirmation of geographical extent
Species tissue contaminant levels

Select target species that are:

Commonly consumed
Known to bioaccumulate high concentrations of contaminants (e.g. old/large individuals, especially predators)
Distributed over a wide geographic area

Recommended types of target species:

Inland fresh waters and Great Lakes – at least two fish species (including one bottom-feeder) and one mollusk if appropriate for the waterbody
Marine/estuarine – at least two fish species (including one bottom-feeder and one pelagic species), one mollusk, and one crustacean if appropriate for the waterbody

Target Contaminants

Analyze the target analytes which previous studies found to exceed human health fish tissue levels and are found to be prevalent in the waterbody and/or region. Contaminants to Monitor in Fish and Shellfish Advisory Programs lists the EPA's recommendations on contaminants that fish advisory programs should consider monitoring in fish and shellfish.

Sampling Times and Frequency

Sample during legal harvest season when target species are most available to consumers. Ideally, sampling time should not include the spawning period for target species unless the target species can be legally harvested during this period. Sampling frequency depends on program resources, but it is recommended that sampling be conducted at a frequency that is representative of the species class and size that consumers have access to over a typical fishing/shellfish harvesting season. Determine the need for additional sampling based on deficiencies in the samples collected.

Individual, Composite, and Other Sample Types Fish or Shellfish

Program staff may opt for individual or composite fish or shellfish samples. The program staff also determines which portion of the fish to be analyzed - the fillet, whole fish, or fish plug (appropriate for mercury only). Although the skin-on fillet-based sample is the general recommendation for fish consumption advisory sampling, additional information can be obtained by analyzing other sample types. Sample type should reflect dietary and fish preparation methods of the target audience of concern.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) measures ensure the precision and accuracy of the data collected. QA refers to the broader plan for ensuring quality in all aspects of a program and QC measures are the steps taken to determine the validity of specific sampling and analytical procedures. The Quality Assurance Project Plan describes in comprehensive detail the necessary QA/QC requirements and other technical activities that must be implemented to ensure that the results of the environmental information operations performed will satisfy the stated performance and acceptance criteria.

Sample Analysis

Use consistent analytical methods throughout the fish monitoring program for repeatability and comparability across the jurisdiction. Consider analytical method sensitivity and ensure that the sample processing lab is using appropriate mean detection limits. Also consider method sensitivity when coordinating field logistics. Ideally, a jurisdiction would use only one laboratory per analyte class because inter-laboratory variability will complicate interpretation if multiple laboratories are used.