The EPA undertakes regular monitoring and assessment of the status and trends of the nation's ecological resources. Monitoring is conducted through surveys, sampling and other direct measurements, as well as models. EPA strives to gather both small and large scale data in a holistic approach that studies the interrelation of all media and the transport of pollutants from region to region. The data gathered through monitoring is used to determine the overall health of the nation's environment, to gauge the effects of pollution releases and to help set new environmental guidelines and standards.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Ecological Research Program
  Provides information on research conducted by the Ecological Research Program to identify, quantify and assess the goods and services of ecoysystems.
• Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP)
  Data, metadata, data set descriptions and documents from EPA`s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
• Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality: Biological Assessment
  Biological assessments are evaluations of the condition of waterbodies using surveys and other direct measurements of resident biological organisms.

Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquaculture, Coral Reefs, Estuaries, Freshwater Ecosystems, Lakes, Marine Ecosystems, Oceans, Shellfish Protection

Ecological Monitoring
Ecological Assessment, Environmental Indicators

Ecological Restoration

Landscape Ecology

Mines
Abandoned Mine

Soils
Erosion, Leaching

Species
Endangered Species, Exotic Species

Terrestrial Ecosystems
Coasts, Forests, Urban Ecosystems, Watersheds, Wetlands