Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cumberland Island National Seashore: 2011 data summary
Wright W , Gregory MB, Rinehart A. 2012. Fixed-station water quality monitoring at Cumberland Island National Seashore: 2011 data summary. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2012/390. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2190432
In 2006, the National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Coast Network (SECN) Inventory and Monitoring Program began collecting water-quality data in the estuarine waters near Cumberland Island National Seashore (CUIS) as part the NPS Vital Signs monitoring program. The CUIS station collected pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, conductivity, turbidity and waterlevel data. Additional water-quality measurements were made by SECN staff and include monthly measurements of water clarity conditions, nutrients (total dissolved phosphorus [TDP] and total dissolved nitrogen [TDN]), and chlorophyll a levels. Information provided by this monitoring program is designed to help managers understand trends and variability related to water-quality conditions in and around park waters. This report includes data from January through December, 2011. High levels of TDP were the most common cause of poor water-quality ratings across all sites during the winter and spring based on monthly water quality samples. TDN levels were all within the range considered fair whereas chlorophyll levels rated as good to fair during this same period. Dissolved oxygen concentrations measured during monthly sampling were good to fair. Dissolved oxygen readings made at the continuous recording station ranged from 2.4 in September to 9.6 mg/L in January. Mean monthly dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from 4.5 in August to 8.8 mg/L in January. Mean daily dissolved oxygen levels commonly fell below 5 mg/L in the vicinity of this site between April and November. Water clarity conditions were good to fair on all monthly sampling dates during 2011. Turbidity readings made at the continuous recording station ranged from near 0 NTUs in the winter and mid-summer months to 687 NTUs during June. Mean monthly turbidity levels ranged from 5.3 NTUs in January to 39.1 NTUs in September. The highest daily mean turbidity levels tended to occur in spring and late fall. Salinity readings ranged from 30.5 parts per thousand (ppt) in March to 38.2 ppt in June. Mean monthly readings ranged from 31.1 ppt for the month of April to 36.3 ppt during June. The highest salinity levels were measured during the summer whereas the lowest levels were measured in early spring. pH values ranged between 7.0 and 8.4 throughout the year with the lowest pH conditions occurring episodically throughout the summer months. Mean monthly pH values fluctuated from 7.3 in September to 8.1 in January.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Wright, Wendy; Gregory, M.; Rinehart, Aaron
- Date of Issue
- 2012-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2190432
- Units
- CUIS , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- chlorophyll a, Cumberland Island National Seashore, 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