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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (EMAP): COASTAL ASSESSMENT
Impact/Purpose:
The goal of this research is to develop, validate and integrate approaches and methods necessary to assess the ecological condition of estuarine and coastal waters of the U.S., regardless of scale, watershed activities, and anthropogenic effects. Assessment of the condition of coastal waters is necessary in order to determine the extent of any impact from these stressors. The results of this research support directly the State of the Environment Report. Transfer of the technology to the States fosters better understanding of the existing conditions in the estuaries of the U.S. and permits a rigorous, and statistically defensible, estimate of that condition for the Nation's 305 (b) report.
Description:
The estuaries and coastal waters of the U.S. represent a complex set of ecosystems along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. These ecosystems are affected by effluents and nutrients entering the coastal waters, as well as global stressors and anthropogenic activities. This research will create an integrated comprehensive coastal monitoring program across the coastal states to assess estuarine conditions. Agency staff develops the appropriate monitoring designs and statistical approaches to assess conditions at the State level, while State governments are responsible for obtaining monitoring data in their respective States. Transfer of technology to the States fosters better understanding of the existing conditions in the estuaries of the US and permits a rigorous, and statistically defensible estimate of that condition for the Nation's 305 (b) report. Indicator development focuses on developing a single or series of indicators that define the ecological condition of a site based on measured and derived parameters. This definition will result in a distribution of values across all available sites that can be subdivided into good or acceptable condition, marginal condition and poor condition. Indicator testing and evaluation will ascertain the applicability of approaches and indicators in selected geographic locations to determine their efficacy for further region-wide and/or natural application.