Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2011 data summary.
Wright W , Gregory MB, Rinehart A. 2012. Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2011 data summary.. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2012/388. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2190425
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 2011 at the Shackleford Banks Dock and the Middle Marsh area. Information provided by this monitoring program is designed to help managers understanding trends and variability related to waterquality conditions in and around park waters. This report presents data from January through December, 2011. Mean monthly salinity values were higher at CALO 01 throughout the year. This site also exhibited a slightly wider range throughout the year ranging from 31.6 to 37. 0 ppt, whereas salinities at CALO 02 ranged from 29.7 to 33.7 ppt. Seasonal variation between the sites was similar with highest monthly mean salinity levels observed during the summer months and lower levels in the winter. Mean monthly dissolved oxygen levels were similar between sites ranging from 9.9 to 6.6. mg/L at CALO 01 and from 10.2 to 6.4 mg/L at CALO 02. The season lows at each site occurred during the summer months; however, values below 5.0 mg/L were common at CALO 02 occurring between March and September. Mean daily DO levels were also near 5.0 mg/L June through August. pH values were similar between sites with values ranging from 7.7 to 8.6 at CALO 02 and from 7.9 to 8.7 at CALO 01. The seasonal pattern of pH variation was also similar between sites with the highest values occurring in the cooler winter months and the lowest values in the summer. Mean monthly turbidity values were similar at the two sites ranging from less than 3 NTUs in January, May and June to 7.8 NTUs at CALO 01 and from less than 3 NTUs in November to 43.8 NTUs in September at CALO 02. Total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus levels were generally fair during the first half of the year. Phosphorus levels were slightly elevated on a single date at the CALO 02 station during March.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Wright, Wendy; Gregory, M.; Rinehart, Aaron
- Date of Issue
- 2012-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2190425
- Units
- CALO , IMD , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- Cape Lookout National Seashore, chlorophyll a, Depth, Dissolved Oxygen, Marine Water Quality Monitoring, pH, Salinity, Southeast Coast Network, specific conductance, Temperature, total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus, Turbidity, Water Quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry