Assessment of Estuarine Water Quality at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2025 Data Summary—Version 1.01
Starkey EN . 2026. Assessment of Estuarine Water Quality at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Lookout National Seashore: 2025 Data Summary—Version 1.01. Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/461. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2318934
In July 2025, the Southeast Coast Network assessed water quality at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Lookout National Seashore as part of the National Park Service Vital Signs Monitoring Program. Monitoring was conducted at 30 sites following methods developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the National Coastal Assessment Program (EPA 2014). Laboratory analysis measured chlorophyll a and total and dissolved concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. Field measurements included water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. Water clarity, which requires a Secchi depth measurement, was calculated when possible. All measured parameters were rated as good, fair, or poor based on thresholds set by the EPA (2012). The purpose of this document is to report the most recently collected data from the seashores as part of an ongoing long-term water-quality monitoring program. This report was designed to provide water-quality monitoring data to managers as a concise summary in the context of applicable federal standards developed by the EPA. Previous synoptic assessments of water-quality conditions at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores were conducted in July 2010, 2015, and 2021 as part of the NPS Inventory and Monitoring program’s efforts. This document supersedes the previously released version of the report. Version 1.01 replaces the original due to non functional links to supplemental materials in the initial release.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Starkey, Eric
- Date of Issue
- 2026-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2318934
- Units
- CAHA , CALO , NRSS