Invasive Carp eDNA Program Process for Making Program Changes and QAPP Modifications

The Invasive Carp (IC) eDNA Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) is a controlled document that is reviewed annually by IC eDNA Monitoring Program staff. Program staff consists of Midwest and Northeast Regions Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices (FWCO), Project Leaders (PL), Whitney Genetics Lab (WGL), and Regional Offices (RO). This document outlines the process for addressing IC eDNA Monitoring Program QAPP changes.

Each year when revisions to the QAPP are proposed through the eDNA QAPP Revisions Microsoft Form (eDNA QAPP Revisions), there are situations when proposed changes are more than grammatical in nature. These changes should be addressed with an appropriate level of review and subsequent decision-making processes. This document outlines the processes that should be followed if IC eDNA Monitoring Program staff are suggesting a higher-level change (further described below). These higher-level changes will need an experimental research project proposal (described below). An experimental research project would be any major change to a Program process or scientific method (sample collection, processing or analysis) that would potentially affect results.