Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Canaveral National Seashore: 2010 Data Summary
Gregory MB, Wright C, Thompson E, Dingle J. 2011. Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Canaveral National Seashore: 2010 Data Summary. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2011/162. National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2007 the National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Coast Network (SECN) began collecting water quality data in the estuarine waters of Canaveral National Seashore as part the NPS Vital Signs monitoring program. The scope of the monitoring program includes Mosquito Lagoon and is comprised of continuous water-quality monitoring conducted by the SECN at one site that is augmented with monthly data collected at an additional five stations by St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). This data summary report is focused on 2010 data. High levels of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were the most common cause of poor water-quality ratings. Dissolved oxygen concentrations measured by monthly sampling ranged from good to fair although lower concentrations were observed during the summer, especially when nighttime temperatures were warmest and oxygen-consuming decomposition processes outpace oxygen producing photosynthetic processes. Water clarity conditions ranged from poor to fair with the majority of poor conditions recorded between February and April at the two most southern stations. The majority of turbidity readings made at the continuous recording station were less than 20 nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs) except for brief periods between May and June where extremely high turbidity readings (> 100 NTUs) may have been a result of construction activities related to replacement of the dock. Salinity ranged from 29 to 40 parts per thousand (ppt) with the higher values occurring later in the year. pH values ranged between 7.7 and 8.4 units throughout the year with the most acidic conditions occurring episodically throughout the summer months.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gregory, M.; Wright, Christina; Thompson, Emma; Dingle, Julie
- Date of Issue
- 2011-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- CANA , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- Canaveral National Seashore, chlorophyll a, Estuarine, Marine Water Quality Monitoring, Nutrients, Water Clarity, Water Quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry