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

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Kids-n-Canoes07/11/2020 @ 2:00 pm-4:00 pmBring your wee little water lovers out for their first time paddle. Paddling safety and basic stroke instruction is covered before venturing out further to explore the watery world of Otter Point Creek.
Kooky, Crazy Cormorants - Kayak07/18/2020 @ 10:30 am-1:00 pmThe Bush River is teeming with Double Crested Cormorants. Scan the water, driftwood, docks, and sky for our diving, fishing friends. Binoculars provided.
iNaturalist Trek07/18/2020 @ 11:00 am-12:00 pmTap into your inner naturalist! Use the iNaturalist app while searching Leight Park for interesting plants and animals and help us collect biodiversity data. Learn how you can utilize this program on other outdoor adventures.
Critter Dinner Time07/18/2020 @ 2:30 pm-3:30 pmWatch our turtles, amphibians and snakes eat while learning about these fascinating creatures.
Invasinators07/19/2020 @ 9:00 am-11:00 amBecome part of a volunteer team of invasive plant removers and native plant restorers. Learn why non-native invasive plants are a threat to our ecosystem, how to identify problem plants, and removal and restoration strategies. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and work gloves for field work in the Reserve each meeting date, weather permitting.