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Assateague Island National Seashoresalt marsh
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Assateague Island National Seashore
Water Quality
 
Ocean City, Maryland, lying directly north of the island, is a large, extensively developed resort area accommodating millions of visitors during the summer months. 19 kb

(COE Photo)

Ocean City Inlet

A variety of factors influence water quality in the ocean and bays surrounding Assateague Island. Perhaps most significantly, the adjacent mainland is undergoing rapid population growth, resulting in a variety of stresses to local aquatic environments. Ocean City, Maryland, lying directly north of the island, is a large, extensively developed resort area accommodating millions of visitors during the summer months. Maryland's eastern shore contains extensive farmlands, and certain agricultural practices areas can produce run-off containing nitrates, phosphorous, or other environmentally harmful substances. Other land and water uses, such as shoreline stabilization, construction activities and channel dredging both in the immediate area and within the watershed, also impact the natural environment through habitat modification and loss of water clarity through increased sedimentation.
 
The National Park Service, as well as other local environmental agencies and organizations, monitor water quality throughout the area on a routine basis. 23 kb

NPS Photo

In response to these threats, the National Park Service, as well as other local environmental agencies and organizations, monitor water quality throughout the area on a routine basis. Using these and other data, a State of the Bays report was recently released providing a "snapshot" of conditions in the Maryland coastal bay system. The results indicate a wide range of problems in the system, and that considerable effort will be needed to maintain and, in some cases, restore water quality and aquatic resources to healthy conditions.

Park research provides managers with the information that they need to protect the park's resources. 5 kb
Park research
Learn more about scientific research and projects at Assateague.
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Sea pork are orange, blob-like critters related to sea squirts. 5 kb  

Did You Know?
Animal, vegetable or mineral? These orange, blob-like critters are a colony of animals related to sea squirts. Their name, sea pork is thought to be derived from their close appearance to salt pork. When they are babies they have a notochord just like human embryos!

Last Updated: August 27, 2006 at 15:24 EST