Science & Data: Facts, Research, Estuarine Data, NERRS Living Classrooms and Living Laboratories, Animations, Maps

	Monitoring our Nation's Estuaries

What is the NERRS System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)?

The health of every reserve is continuously monitored by the NERRS System-wide Monitoring Program or SWMP (pronounced “swamp”). SWMP measures changes in estuarine waters to record how human activities and natural events affect coastal habitats. Scientific instruments that are located at over 100 reserve data stations (4 stations are at each reserve) collect information in different estuaries across the country. Each monitoring station collects data on a variety of factors.

Monitoring estuaries allows scientists to observe trends and changes in the ecosystem and to track the health of the estuary and the plants and animals that live there. Monitoring is collecting and analyzing data to observe and follow the condition of the estuaries. Over time, the data could show changing conditions in an estuary and can give clues to the causes of such changes.

Learn More...

What parameters does SWMP measure?
How has SWMP helped so far?
How is the SWMP data collected?
Check our Frequently Asked Questions About SWMP
Monitoring Tutorial: View an animated interpretation of the NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program. These series of animations and visualizations will make it fun and easier for you to understand why scientist monitor estuaries and what parameters they use to measure water quality and weather patterns in an estuary. (Requires Flash Player)

Last Updated on: 10-05-2010