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SELECTING, DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF ESTUARINE CONDITION: THE NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT EXPERIENCE
Citation:
Summers, J K. SELECTING, DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF ESTUARINE CONDITION: THE NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT EXPERIENCE. Presented at Estuarine Research Federation, Seattle, WA, Sep. 14-18, 2003.
Description:
The purpose of the National Coastal Assessment (NCA) is to estimate the status and trends of the condition of the nation's coastal resources on a state, regional and national basis. From 1999-2003, 100% of the nation's estuarine waters (at over 4500 locations) were representatively sampled focusing on indicators and indices describing the benthic community, fish community, water quality, sediment and tissue contamination, sediment toxicity, and SAV extent/condition. These measurements have developed over a decade and represent core developmental and research indicators. The next report card on coastal condition will be based on surveys completed in 2000-2001 using a newer, more inclusive suite of indicators. Changes in these attributes from the early 1990s to the early 2000s will be examined and specific comparisons of differences among the indicators used and developed will be made. A discussion of the utility and benefits of the indicator research to the further development of monitoring surveys is provided in terms of planning, required evaluations of resource condition (305b), listing of impaired waters (303d), development of action plans (TMDLs) and permitting.