SWMP currently has three major components that focus on: (1) abiotic indicators of water quality and weather;  (2) biological monitoring; and (3) watershed, habitat, and land use mapping. Abiotic parameters include nutrients, temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and in some cases, contaminants. Biological monitoring includes measures of biodiversity, habitat, and population characteristics. Watershed and land use classifications provide information on types of land use by humans and changes in land cover associated with each reserve.

All estuaries are different, each having its own normal ranges of abiotic and biotic factors at different times of the day and year. As parameters fluctuate, estuaries, and the organisms that live in them, respond differently. Scientists monitor estuaries to learn how they change and how different estuaries and estuarine organisms respond to fluctuating conditions. Scientists also monitor estuaries to find hidden clues about the health of an estuary.

Learn More...

• How has SWMP helped so far? 
• How is the SWMP data collected? 
• Water Quality Parameters Information Sheet 
• The History of SWMP describes the origin of the program
• Frequently Asked Questions about SWMP