Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2010 data summary
Dingle J, Gregory MB, Wright C, Thompson E. 2012. Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2010 data summary. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2012/323. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2007, the National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Coast Network (SECN) Inventory and Monitoring Program began a partnership with the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (NCNERR) to collect water-quality data in the estuarine waters near Cape Lookout National Seashore (CALO). Two continuous monitoring stations were operational during 2010 at the Shackleford Banks Dock and the Middle Marsh area. Stations collected pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, conductivity, turbidity and water level data. Additional water quality measurements were made by NCNERR staff and include monthly measurements of water clarity conditions, total dissolved phosphorus, total dissolved nitrogen, and chlorophyll a levels. Monthly sampling at both stations monitored at Cape Lookout indicated overall good to fair water quality conditions. Nutrient levels indicated fair levels of both dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. A single dissolved phosphorus value was elevated and rated as poor at CALO 2 in September 2010. All other discreet water quality measurements including those for water clarity, chlorophyll a, and dissolved oxygen were with within ranges considered good by criteria set for coastal waters by the USEPA. Continuous data indicated similar trends at both sites with respect to measured water quality parameters. Annual median tidal range at both sites was 1.4 feet with the smallest tidal amplitude occurring between May and August.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Dingle, Julie; Gregory, M.; Wright, Christina; Thompson, Emma
- Date of Issue
- 2012-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CALO , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- assessment criteria, chlorophyll a, Depth, dissolved nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen, dissolved phosphorus, Fixed Station, Marine Water Quality Monitoring, Nutrients, pH, Temperature, Turbidity, Water Quality, YSI sonde