Entering Data (archive)

A yellow asterisk (*) indicates there is an error with the field entered. Required fields are highlighted in red below. These fields must be complete before data can be submitted. Required fields are highlighted in red and must be completed before data can be submitted. Remember to review all the information entered for accuracy before submitting your datasheet

A TST staff member will review any data submitted before final submittal to the online database. Please make sure to keep all of your paper data sheets; TST will contact you if there are questions regarding any data entered online.

Record air and water temperatures in degrees Celsius.

Site Name

To locate the site that you are entering data for, scroll through the alphabetical site name list and click on the corresponding site name.

Sample Date

The date will automatically populate if you click on the calendar and select the date.

Sample Time

Time must be entered in military time (HH:MM). E.g. 8:35 AM would be 08:35; 1:45 PM would be 13:45.

Monitors

When logged in, you are automatically associated with the monitoring event and do not need to include your name here. If more than one certified monitor took part in monitoring, add their complete name here. Separate additional participating certified monitors with a comma and space.

Sample Depth

Must be entered in meters. If the site is dry, enter zero.

Total Depth

Must be entered in meters. If the site is dry, enter zero.

Meter Calibration Log

Scroll to yes or no to answer this question. If you use a pH or conductivity meter, enter calibration values. These fields do not allow text. If you have a comment or a problem calibrating, note this in the comments section.

Reagents Expired

This is a very important field to answer. Select Yes or No and list any expired supplies or any other supply needs.

Dissolved Oxygen

The average dissolved oxygen (DO) is not calculated automatically. You must enter two values from different fixed sample bottles that are within 0.5mg/L of each other, as well as the average of the values. If the first two values are not within 0.5mg/L, enter the third titration run from the first of the previously fixed samples. If the range between the two fixed sample bottles was still more than 0.5mg/L, enter the fourth titration run on the remaining fixed sample bottle. If the results from the two fixed sample bottles are within 0.5mg/L average all values that are within 0.5mg/L. If the four readings from the two sample bottles are still greater than 0.5mg/L apart, do not average the results. Average to no more than two places past the decimal by rounding if necessary. Review the TST monitoring manual for more detail.

pH

After entering the value, select if you used a comparator or meter to obtain the results.

Transparency Tube and Secchi Disk

Enter in meters. Don’t forget to enter =, Less Than <, or Greater Than >.

Nitrate Nitrogen

This is only collected by TST citizen scientists with advanced training; skip this section if you do not collect information on Nitrate Nitrogen. Select = or Less Than (<). Remember that this test’s detect limits are not sensitive enough to report =0; instead if there is no color change record the result as Less Than 1 (<1).

Flow

This is only collected by TST citizen scientists with advanced training; skip this section if you do not collect information on flow. Enter the value for CFS. Enter how value was determined (gauge site data or on site assessment) in the comments section.

Field Observations

You can simply enter the number for each field and then tab to advance to the next field.

• Flow Severity - Enter as dry or no flow if the water is nonexistent or too stagnant to monitor. Leave blank if site is on a lake or reservoir.
• Algae Cover - Be sure to assess both surface and substrate algae for the combined percent algae cover. Include additional information in the comments section if needed.

Present Weather

Considered cloudy if more than 10% of the sky is cloudy.

Days Since Last Significant Rainfall

Click here to view historical rainfall levels throughout the basin. Only enter numerical values such as: 3, 0, 2. Additional information such as 7+ or >10, will not be accepted. If it was raining while sampling, enter 0 for days since last significant rainfall, and record present weather as rain. Visit http://hydromet.lcra.org/ to view historical rainfall levels throughout the basin. If you are not sure, please estimate the number of days and explain in the comments section.

Inches of Rainfall

Please visit the LCRA’s Hydromet rainfall database for rainfall information.

Comments

Add any comments from your data sheet here. Enter additional observations for water surface here as well.

Minutes Sampling and Traveling

Make sure to record the number of minutes and not hours.

Miles Traveled

Total roundtrip miles. If you traveled less than one mile round up, and enter 1 mile. The system will not accept a value less than one.

Number of Participants

Include certified and noncertified participants.

E.coli

This is only collected by TST citizen scientists with advanced training; skip this section if you do not collect information on e.coli. Enter all the information as you would normally on the datasheet. If the value is TNTC, (too numerous to count), enter a value of 4000 and enter TNTC reference in the comments section. Average and round the result to the nearest whole number to remove decimals.

Photographs

Two photographs may also be uploaded for each data sheet. Please rename the photograph SiteID_Date_Photo#.jpg. The photo must be 640px by 480px or smaller.

Required Fields

Nine fields are required to be completed before the data can be submitted.

They are:

• Site Name
• Sample Date
• Sample Time
• Sample Depth
• Total Depth
• Are reagents expired?
• Days since Last Significant Rainfall
• Minutes Sampling and Traveling
• Mile Traveled
• Number of Participants

FAQ