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

Halloween Hike and Campfire10/19/2019 @ 6:00 pm-9:30 pmSpend a spooky evening at the park hiking through the woods to discover the creatures of Halloween. Meet these real "scary" critters up close and listen to their tales spun by Halloween characters. After the hike, enjoy roasted marshmallows down by our cozy campfire. Pre-register for 1/2 hour time slots to begin hike. Allow 1 hour for hike and campfire. Payment at door - Only $7/person!!
Pumpkin Chunkin' Hike10/20/2019 @ 10:00 am-11:30 amHead out on the Discovery Trail to examine the jack-o-lanterns left from the Halloween Hike. Look closely to see what critters have taken up residence. Then, let the biodegradable pumpkin chunkin' begin!
Meet a Critter10/20/2019 @ 12:30 pm-1:30 pmCheck out one of our live critters up close while discovering what makes that animal special.
Nature Playgroup10/21/2019 @ 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: spiders, migration, leaves, bats, deer, seeds Mondays, September 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4
Nature Tots10/21/2019 @ 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: spiders, migration, leaves, bats, deer, seeds Mondays, September 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4