System-wide Monitoring Program

Water Quality Indicators Measured by Reserves

To understand changes in water quality, each reserve uses automated dataloggers to monitor physical and chemical variables. Each reserve collects data at a minimum of four stations, at 15-minute intervals.

Dataloggers are automated instruments used to record water quality indicators at 15 minute intervals. Reserve staff collect the data about every two weeks.

Data are collected on:

Water Temperature

Water Depth

Salinity

pH

Dissolved Oxygen

Turbidity (cloudiness or clarity)

These parameters are important indicators of habitat quality for numerous estuarine species and to determine health criteria and human uses.


Monitoring data for each reserve are available from the Centralized Data Management Office.

Information on the equipment used to monitor water quality at reserves can be found at www.ysi.com.

For more information, contact Whitley Saumweber.