System Wide Monitoring Program

With over 25 sites that reflect the diverse coastal biogeographic regions of the Nation, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System is ideally suited for a long-term trend-monitoring program to address estuarine management issues. The System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) was created to identify and track short-term variability and long-term changes in representative estuarine ecosystems and coastal watersheds.

SWMP is a phased monitoring approach that focuses on three different ecosystem characteristics:

Abiotic Factors, including atmospheric, water quality (nutrients, contaminants, etc.) and physical parameters (salinity, tidal range, groundwater, freshwater inflow, bathymetry, etc.)
Biological Monitoring, including biodiversity habitat and population characteristics
Watershed and Land Use Classifications, including historic changes in spatial coverage and assessments of consumptive and non-consumptive uses

The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - MD is working with government agencies in the Bay region to integrate their SWMP into the bay-wide water quality monitoring effort to assess shallow water habitats. This integrated effort will provide managers with information to help characterize water and habitat conditions and identify specific problem areas throughout the Bay's tidal waters. Data collected through this effort is available at www.eyesonthebay.net usually within one week of collection.

Additional information on the program can be found at these web sites:
http://nerrs.noaa.gov/Monitoring
http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu
http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/pdf/nerrswmp96-98.pdf

More Information

Calendar of EventsView all

Kayak Cruising on the Creek10/02/2020 @ 10:00 am-12:30 pmNudge around the endless nooks and crannies of Otter Point Creek and the upper Bush River with an adults only group. Choose one trip or all three to track the changes on the water through the fall season of migration and leaf color.
Day's Cove - Kayak Exploration10/03/2020 @ 9:30 am-12:30 pmExplore the waters of the Gunpowder Falls while searching for eagles above, beavers below, and the changing foliage all around! This is an approximately 4 mile round trip paddle; recommended for experienced kayakers. *Meet at Mariner Point Park
Spooky Batty Fun10/03/2020 @ 2:30 pm-4:00 pmAre bats spooky or cool? Decide for yourself. Discover fun facts, play a bat communication game, and make a batty craft for Halloween.
Nature Playgroup 110/05/2020 @ 9:30 am-10:30 amLittle ones and their parents play and learn in the natural world. Stories, songs, simple crafts and discovery outings will highlight each day’s theme. Topics: Foxes, Leaves, Squirrels, and Spiders
Nature Playgroup 210/05/2020 @ 11:00 am-12:00 pmLittle ones and their parents play and learn in the natural world. Stories, songs, simple crafts and discovery outings will highlight each day’s theme. Topics: Foxes, Leaves, Squirrels, and Spiders