Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores, 2010
Gregory MB and Smith KA. 2011. Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores, 2010. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2011/179. National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. Fort Collins, Colorado
In July 2010, the Southeast Coast Network and the University of Georgia conducted an assessment of water- and sediment-quality at Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores as a part of the NPS Vital Signs Monitoring Program. Monitoring was conducted following methods developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a part of the National Coastal Assessment Program and included laboratory analysis for chlorophyll a, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and phosphorus concentrations and field measurements of water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. Estimates of water-clarity were made using secchi depth measurements and were adjusted for naturally occurrring water-clarity conditions. Overall water-quality at the park ranged from fair to poor with the majority of sites found to be in fair condition (83%); only one site rated as poor. Nitrogen levels were at concentrations considered fair at 77 %of sites although poor conditions were noted at the remaining sites. Phosphorus concentrations were generally fair to good. Only a single site located just north of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse rated poor due to elevated phosphorus levels. Chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen levels were good throughout the parks; only 13% of sites rated in the fair range for chlorophyll a and only 3% rated as fair for dissolved oxygen. Overall sediment conditions were considered good at all sites sampled, showing only trace amounts of metals and little or no organic contamination.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gregory, M.; Smith, Katy
- Date of Issue
- 2011-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science
- Units
- CAHA , CALO , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- chlorophyll a, Contaminants, Marine Water Quality Monitoring, Metals, Nitrogen, organic, Pesticides, Phosphorus, Sediment, Water Quality