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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DIY Snow Globes12/15/2018 @ 11:00 am-12:00 pmShake up the winter season with a homemade snow globe! Start with a dash of winter figurines, add a spoonful of snowflakes, mix together with liquid, and shake!
Holiday Wreath Making Workshop12/15/2018 @ 2:00 pm-4:00 pmCraft a festive wreath to deck your halls! We provide refreshments, fresh greens, 12”wreath frames, and know how. You bring creativity!
Quartz Crystal Jewelry12/16/2018 @ 1:00 pm-2:00 pmDesign and create a bracelet, necklace or earrings with quartz crystals. Perfect for holiday gift giving, or keep it for yourself! All supplies provided.
Tails and Tots12/16/2018 @ 3:00 pm-4:00 pmStory time with a natural twist. Come listen to some stories, learn new songs, and move like the animals.
Plankton Monitoring Studies12/19/2018 @ 10:00 am-12:00 pmOur plankton citizen science project is a great opportunity for science-minded individuals to contribute to monitoring and research at the Center. Help is needed with collection, identification, and analysis of plankton samples. Interested individuals should contact the Center for introductory training.