System-wide Monitoring Program

The System-wide Monitoring Program measures change in estuarine water quality to track the health of our nation's coastal areas.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System-wide Monitoring Program tracks short-term variability and long-term changes in estuarine waters to understand how human activities and natural events can change ecosystems. It provides valuable long-term data on water quality and weather at frequent time intervals.

Coastal managers use this monitoring data to make informed decisions on local and regional issues, such as “no-discharge” zones for boats and measuring the success of restoration projects.

The reserve system currently measures physical and chemical water quality indicators, nutrients and the impacts of weather on estuaries.

As the program expands, plans include adding a biological monitoring component and tracking changes in land use through remote sensing.

National Estuarine Research Reserve System 10th Anniversary Report on the System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) Data Applications: 1995-2005 (PDF)

The National Estuarine Research Reserve's System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP):
A Scientific Framework and Plan for Detection of Short-term Variability and Long-term Change in Estuaries and Coastal Habitats of the United States (2002; Revised August 2007) (PDF)

For more information contact Whitley Saumweber.