LOCATION: For your sampling location, you will need to predetermine to what extent (laterally) you will make your observations. For beach samples, make observations 50 yards on each side of the sampling point in a 3 yard wide swath. Walk out 25 yards on each side; additional yardage is done by vision only. A good length of channel is 20 yards. Make observations (i.e., trash) up to top of eroded bank (~10 year storm height) or top of channel. Please note approximate width of channel that you are observing under estimated flow.

WEATHER: Wet weather is defined as the condition where precipitation occurred in the area that drains to your sampling location within the last 48 hours. Wind direction input of N, NE, E, etc. or 0, 45, 90 degrees, etc. respectively.

FLOW: You are looking at the flow in the immediate location of your sample. It is especially important to know whether it is a freshwater, mixed (pooled or estuary) or marine sample. 'Wave wash" is where the channel is is predominately fresh or storm water but gets occasionally sprayed by or splashed with ocean waves. For channels or creeks that you sample right at the ocean interface, there has been tidal interaction in the last tide cycle if the channel is open to the ocean and is at a low enough elevation for the tide to have intruded (look to see if the sand has been carved). Estimate the rate of flow by counting the number of seconds it takes a floating object to travel 20 feet down the channel. Or for a pipe drain, count the number of seconds it takes to fill a sampling bucket.

MEASURED PARAMETERS: Be sure to include units (i.e., degrees C or degrees F for thermometer). Field equipment must be recalibrated on the day of the sampling. Date of reagents should be noted under comments.

PROPERTIES:

Turbidity:

Color:

Odors:

Oil:

Foam or floating scum:

Tar balls:

TRASH:
Density: Trash density scale is defined as follows. Include all trash observed in creek or channel, along banks (up to top of bank), hanging in vegetation, or along beach. For channels and creeks, make observation for 20 yards. For beaches, make observations within 50 yards (each side) of surf sampling point in 3 yard wide swath. Include "floatable" trash such as styrofoam, plastics, etc. observed to be floating on surface of water.

1. none -- you see no manmade trash or debris
   
2. light -- 5 or less pieces of trash per reporting area
   
3. moderate -- 6 to 10 pieces of trash per reporting area
   
4. high -- 11 to 25 pieces of trash per reporting area
   
5. somewhat dense -- 26 to 50 pieces of trash per reporting area
   
6. dense -- greater than 50 pieces of trash per reporting area
   
   

NATURAL DEBRIS:
Dead or entangled animals includes all animals (birds, dogs, fish, reptiles, etc.) You may wish to note the type of animals found under the comment section at the bottom of the sheet. Include all animals found within your trash observation area. Natural debris includes wood, kelp, marine organic waste, etc.