Last updated: August 21, 2024
Article
Assessment of Estuarine Water Quality at Fort Matanzas National Monument: 2022 Data Summary
By Eric N. Starkey, SECN Aquatic Ecologist
Summary and Key Findings
In July 2022 the Southeast Coast Network assessed water-quality in the vicinity of Fort Matanzas National Monument as part of the National Park Service Vital Signs Monitoring Program. Monitoring was conducted following methods developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the National Coastal Assessment Program (EPA 2014). Laboratory analysis measured chlorophyll a and total and dissolved concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous. Field measurements included water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. Water clarity, which requires a Secchi depth measurement, was calculated when possible. All measured parameters were rated as good, fair, or poor based on thresholds set by the EPA (2012).
- Water clarity was rated good at four sites (13%), fair at fifteen sites (50%) and poor at eleven sites (37%).
- Chlorophyll a concentrations were rated good at thirteen sites (43%) and fair at seventeen sites (57%).
- Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations were good at 28 sites (93%) and fair at two sites (7%).
- Dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentrations were good at one site (3%) and fair at twenty-six sites (87%) and poor at three sites (10%).
- Dissolved oxygen concentrations (bottom) were rated good at fifteen sites (50%) and fair at fifteen sites (50%).
- A water-quality condition summary index was calculated for each site sampled at Fort Matanzas National Monument based on the categorical assessments of chlorophyll a, DIN and DIP concentrations, dissolved oxygen, and water clarity. This summary index indicated good water-quality conditions at three sites (10%), fair water quality conditions at twenty-four sites (80%) and poor water-quality conditions at three sites (10%).
- See supplemental materials to compare the distribution of good, fair, and poor ratings for each parameter across the period of record.
- Based on the EPA summary water-quality index rating, overall water-quality conditions near Fort Matanzas National Monument during 2022 sampling were fair.
- The EPA summary water-quality index rating is consistent with findings 2012–2017.
Introduction
Overview
Due to the importance of water resources to park management from ecological, regulatory, and visitor experience perspectives, estuarine water and sediment quality in and around parks were selected to be monitored by the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Division’s Southeast Coast Network (SECN; DeVivo et al. 2008). Since 2005, the SECN has employed a multiscale approach to assess estuarine resources in seven park units located in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Data collected as part of this effort are intended help resource managers: (1) better understand ecological processes and impacts caused by development, (2) make informed management decisions, and (3) form/maintain strategic partnerships to monitor and improve water quality conditions in and around park units. In addition, given the diverse and dynamic nature of estuaries, this monitoring is intended to capture the spatial and temporal variability of these systems.
Monitoring at permanent fixed stations using continuous data loggers and discrete samples allow for evaluation of temporal patterns in core water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, temperature, and turbidity), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and chlorophyll a. While fixed-station monitoring provides fine resolution data to determine diel, monthly, and seasonal fluctuations in water quality, it lacks spatial extent. To fill this gap, spatial variability of water and sediment quality is determined with park-wide assessments every five years. These assessments include discrete sampling of nutrients, water quality parameters, and evaluation of sediment contaminates following methods developed by the Environmental Protection Agency- National Coastal Assessment Program. This monitoring approach leads to an understanding of the spatiotemporal status and variability of estuarine water quality and yields information useful to park management.
The SECN’s monitoring approach is extensively documented in the Protocol for Monitoring Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality in Selected Southeast Coast Network Parks: Protocol Narrative (Gregory et al. 2013; Starkey et al. 2023) and associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Version 1.0 of the protocol (Gregory et al. 2013) was implemented between 2007 and 2018. Version 2.0 of the protocol (Starkey et al. 2023) was implemented 2019 to present and was updated to be aligned with new technology and techniques documented in revised Standard Operating Procedures. Monitoring objectives remain consistent across both versions of the protocol.
Monitoring Objectives
The Southeast Coast Network identified an overall goal of monitoring the status and trends in water and sediment quality in estuaries surrounding SECN parks. To achieve this goal, data are collected and analyzed to meet four specific monitoring objectives. These objectives remain consistent across both versions of the protocol (Gregory et al. 2013; Starkey et al. 2023) and are listed below:
- Determine diel and seasonal water-quality patterns for five core parameters (dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, and turbidity) at selected coastal areas near SECN parks using fixed-station continuous data loggers.
- Determine monthly and seasonal patterns in nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and chlorophyll a at selected coastal areas near SECN parks by collecting discrete water samples.
- Determine status and spatial variability of water and nutrient conditions in estuarine waters every five years near SECN parks.
- Determine status and spatial variability of benthic sediment quality (organic contaminants, carbon, and metal levels) every 10 years in estuarine waters near SECN parks.
This report summarizes water-quality monitoring data collected during a parkwide assessment to address objective 3 at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Data were gathered from July 18–July 21, 2022. The purpose of this document is to report the most recently collected data from the monument as part of an ongoing long-term water-quality monitoring program. This report was designed to provide water-quality monitoring data to managers as a concise summary in the context of applicable federal standards developed by the EPA. Previous synoptic assessments of water-quality conditions at Fort Matanzas National Monument were conducted in July 2012, and August 2017 as part of I&M monitoring efforts (Wright et al. 2013; Wright et al. 2019).
Study Area
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument (FOMA) is located 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) south of St. Augustine on the northeast Atlantic coast of Florida. Fort Matanzas encompasses a total of 298 acres (120.6 hectares) divided between the southern tip of Anastasia Island (108 acres or 43.7 hectares) and the northern end of Rattlesnake Island (190 acres or 76.9 hectares) by the Matanzas River Inlet (Figure 1). The visitors center is on a barrier island separated from the Florida mainland by the Matanzas River and the Intracoastal Waterway and consists of stabilized beach dunes rising as much as 25 feet (7.6 meters) above sea level. The main habitats in this portion of the park include beaches along both the Matanzas River and the Atlantic shore, stabilized sand dunes supporting maritime forest, secondary dunes further inland, and salt marsh.
The main attraction of Fort Matanzas National Monument is the eighteenth-century coquina limestone fort on scenic Rattlesnake Island. The island is less than 5 feet (1.5 meters) above sea level, though it rises to 15 feet (4.6 meters) at one point on its northern end. Much of the northern portion of Rattlesnake Island consists of sandy fill pumped in from dredging operations that maintain the boat channels in the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to the habitats found on Anastasia Island, Rattlesnake Island supports slash pine and red bay woodlands, oyster shell beaches, and developing hardwood forests typified by wax myrtle, cedar, and cabbage palm. Shoals along the river currently allow fishermen on Rattlesnake Island to wade into the middle of the Matanzas River west of the inlet bridge, while shallow bars outside break Atlantic waves before they can roll into the mouth of the Matanzas River. At the Matanzas Inlet, many fish are caught from the bridge, which has a separate protected lane for fishermen, as well as around the inside and outside of the inlet. During the seasonal mullet run, cast netters may take hundreds of pounds. Sharks and tarpon weighing more than 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms) have been caught by fishermen standing on the shores of the inlet (SJRWMD 2009).
River water quality at the monument is heavily influenced by the daily tides and flows from upstream portions of the Matanzas River. Water-quality is potentially affected by nearby urban and residential development which mostly occurs immediately adjacent to the eastern sides of the river both north and south of the Matanzas River Inlet. For the 2022 reporting cycle, the Matanzas River near the monument (assessment unit FL2363F) was listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as impaired [303(d) listed], due to elevated mercury, iron, and fecal coliform bacteria (EPA 2022). Matanzas River south of the park, near Flagler Beach (water body IDFL2363D), is listed as impaired for chlorophyll a, iron, and mercury (EPA 2022).
The St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is currently monitoring water quality monthly in the Matanzas River at County Road 312 approximately 15 miles (24.1 kilometers) north of the park as part of their ongoing water-quality assessment program (SJRWMD 2023). Even with the level of development in the watershed, the Matanzas River is one of the most natural areas within the St. Johns River Water Management District’s 18-county region along Florida’s central east coast and was nominated as an Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) by the St. Johns River Water Management District (2009).
Methods
The water-quality assessment was conducted in estuarine waters in the vicinity of Fort Matanzas National Monument, following the methods developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Coastal Assessment Program (EPA 2010). Descriptions of the water-quality parameters and the assessment criteria are from the EPA National Coastal Assessment IV Report (EPA 2012). Methods used for these assessments were adapted and integrated into protocols tailored specifically to parks in the Southeast Coast Network (Starkey et al. 2023). Site selection and sampling methodology are briefly outlined in the following sections.
In 2022, thirty sites in estuarine waters near the monument were randomly selected for monitoring following methods developed by the EPA (Table 1, Figure 2; Stevens 1997; Stevens and Olsen 1999; Stevens and Olsen 2004). This method of randomly selecting spatially-balanced sites provides managers with a statistically valid estimate of the overall conditions of the assessed resource within or around the park.
Table 1. Site name (which includes site number 01, 02, ...etc), waterbody name and location, depth, coordinates, and chemical and physical attributes of sampling sites at Fort Matanzas National Monument, July 18–21, 2022. The table references site names used to present data in this report (Figure 2). All coordinates are in NAD83 Datum, in UTM zone 17. Salinity, pH, and water temperature measured at a depth of 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) unless water depth was too shallow in which case it was measured at 0.1 meters (0.3 feet). [SAV—sub-aquatic vegetation; m—meters; °C—degrees Celsius; PSU—practical salinity units].
Site Name | Water Body | UTMX | UTMY | SAV | Debris | Site Depth (m) | Water Temp (°C) | pH | Salinity (PSU) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FOMA01_2022 | Long Creek | 479282 | 3276752 | No | No | 0.9 | 28.69 | 7.59 | 21.61 |
FOMA02_2022 | Matanzas River | 473975 | 3295131 | No | No | 1.0 | 28.78 | 7.80 | 34.75 |
FOMA03_2022 | Matanzas River | 472873 | 3297862 | No | No | 1.0 | 30.06 | 7.85 | 34.08 |
FOMA04_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 477452 | 3281326 | No | No | 0.6 | 27.36 | 7.73 | 20.70 |
FOMA05_2022 | Matanzas River | 479760 | 3277007 | No | No | 1.6 | 29.05 | 7.78 | 27.26 |
FOMA06_2022 | Matanzas River | 475910 | 3289335 | No | No | 3.5 | 29.09 | 8.03 | 35.21 |
FOMA07_2022 | Matanzas River | 472550 | 3297181 | No | No | 0.9 | 29.64 | 7.80 | 33.98 |
FOMA08_2022 | Matanzas River | 474516 | 3293010 | No | No | 1.5 | 30.69 | 7.94 | 34.42 |
FOMA09_2022 | Matanzas River | 476849 | 3286405 | No | No | 4.5 | 29.47 | 7.85 | 30.06 |
FOMA10_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 474726 | 3282133 | No | No | 1.5 | 28.46 | 7.17 | 3.39 |
FOMA11_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 474761 | 3282169 | No | No | 1.0 | 28.46 | 7.14 | 2.63 |
FOMA12_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 477068 | 3281194 | No | No | 0.4 | 28.82 | 7.63 | 24.37 |
FOMA13_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 477576 | 3281601 | No | No | 0.6 | 28.14 | 7.66 | 23.66 |
FOMA14_2022 | Matanzas River | 473267 | 3294331 | No | No | 1.1 | 30.46 | 7.92 | 34.61 |
FOMA15_2022 | Matanzas River | 475057 | 3292048 | No | No | 0.9 | 31.06 | 7.91 | 35.45 |
FOMA16_2022 | Matanzas River | 477382 | 3285675 | No | No | 1.6 | 29.24 | 7.82 | 29.60 |
FOMA17_2022 | Matanzas River | 473776 | 3294203 | No | No | 0.9 | 28.23 | 7.83 | 35.11 |
FOMA18_2022 | Matanzas River | 479701 | 3277305 | No | No | 1.6 | 28.99 | 7.76 | 26.31 |
FOMA19_2022 | Matanzas River | 472843 | 3297987 | No | No | 1.1 | 30.29 | 7.85 | 34.2 |
FOMA20_2022 | Matanzas River | 476788 | 3287490 | No | No | 2.1 | 28.32 | 8.02 | 35.79 |
FOMA21_2022 | Matanzas River | 473715 | 3295897 | No | No | 0.6 | 28.84 | 7.81 | 34.81 |
FOMA22_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 478610 | 3281030 | No | No | 1.6 | 28.55 | 7.73 | 24.83 |
FOMA23_2022 | Pellicer Creek | 476522 | 3281106 | No | No | 0.7 | 28.53 | 7.53 | 13.78 |
FOMA24_2022 | Matanzas River | 473398 | 3296587 | No | No | 5.8 | 28.76 | 7.86 | 35.14 |
FOMA25_2022 | Matanzas River | 474131 | 3293665 | No | No | 1.0 | 29.72 | 7.91 | 34.66 |
FOMA26_2022 | Matanzas River | 476581 | 3287632 | No | No | 1.5 | 28.67 | 8.03 | 35.83 |
FOMA27_2022 | Matanzas River | 473781 | 3294588 | No | No | 0.8 | 29.74 | 7.90 | 34.64 |
FOMA28_2022 | Matanzas River | 478913 | 3281739 | No | No | 2.1 | 28.89 | 7.75 | 26.78 |
FOMA29_2022 | Matanzas River | 475112 | 3291970 | No | No | 1.0 | 30.40 | 7.93 | 35.43 |
FOMA30_2022 | Matanzas River | 471593 | 3298148 | No | No | 4.5 | 29.00 | 7.81 | 34.82 |
Water-Quality Data Collection
The water-quality assessment conducted during this sampling period incorporated hydrographic profiles at 0.5–1.0 meter (1.6–3.3 feet) intervals at each site, to measure temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. Chlorophyll a and total dissolved nutrient samples were collected from 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) below the surface. Chlorophyll a samples were processed using known volumes of water samples that were filtered onto glass-fiber filters then refrigerated and submitted for laboratory analysis.
Water clarity was estimated at each site using a Secchi disk to determine light extinction depths, which were converted to light attenuation coefficients (k) using the equation: K = c / Secchi depth (in meters) where “c” is a constant that corresponds to the water body’s naturally occurring clarity conditions ( i.e., c = 1.0 for naturally turbid conditions, c = 1.4 for normal turbidity conditions, or c = 1.7 for waters supporting submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration [Smith et al. 2006; EPA 2016]). Fort Matanzas National Monument uses a coefficient of 1.4 because the area experiences “normal turbidity” conditions (EPA 2016). This method of estimating water-clarity condition is generally used when information on light transmission in the water column is missing. The Southeast Coast Network is reporting derived values to maintain data consistency across network parks. Water clarity was not assessed at sites with excessive current or depths too shallow to ascertain an accurate Secchi depth measurement. When sites were too shallow to access by boat, or when they were located in heavily trafficked channels where safety was a concern, alternate sites were used.
Water-Quality Assessment Criteria
The categorical assessments (e.g., good, fair, poor) use measurements of chlorophyll a, nutrient concentrations, bottom dissolved oxygen, and water clarity (Table 2) and are intended to characterize acutely degraded water-quality conditions at a site. The assessments do not consistently identify sites that experience occasional or infrequent hypoxia, nutrient enrichment, or decreased water clarity. Therefore, a rating of poor for the water-quality index means the site likely exhibited consistently poor conditions before or after the assessment period. If a site is designated fair or good, the site did not experience poor conditions on the date of sampling; however, the site could be characterized by poor conditions for short time periods.
Site assessments were also made using an index that combines the ratings for each parameter into a site-specific water-quality index rating. This index allows for general comparisons between sites in a park (Table 3) and can be used to summarize overall conditions in the waters around a park. This rating also allows general comparisons between parks and at the same park over time based on the percentage of sites that fall within the good, fair, or poor categories.
Table 2. Water-quality monitoring condition criteria for water-quality parameters collected by the Southeast Coast Network based on thresholds set by EPA (2012) [μg/L—micrograms per liter; mg/L—milligrams per liter].
Rating | Water Clarity (k)1 | Chlorophyll a (µg/L) | Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) (mg/L) | Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (DIP) (mg/L) | Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) |
Good | < 1.61 | < 5 | < 0.1 | < 0.01 | >5 |
Fair | 1.61–2.30 | 5–20 | 0.1–0.5 | 0.01–0.05 | 2–5 |
Poor | > 2.30 | > 20 | > 0.5 | > 0.05 | <2 |
Table 3. Condition criteria used for water-quality assessment summaries at individual sampling sites and parks.
Rating | Site Water-Quality Index Rating1 | Park Water-Quality Index Rating |
---|---|---|
Good | A maximum of one indicator is rated fair, and no indicators are rated poor. | Less than 10% of sites are in poor condition, and more than 50% of sites are in good condition. |
Fair | One indicator is rated poor, or two or more indicators are rated fair. | 10% to 20% of sites are in poor condition, or 50% or less of sites are in good condition. |
Poor | Two or more of the five indicators are rated poor. | More than 20% of sites are in poor condition. |
Missing | Two components of the indicator are missing and the available indicators do not suggest a fair or poor rating. | NA |
Results
Parameter-Based Water Condition Assessments
Figures 3–7 illustrate the spatial distribution of sampling sites and the corresponding ratings for water clarity, chlorophyll a, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and bottom-reading dissolved oxygen (DO) based on each parameter’s corresponding condition category. Inset graphs on Figures 3–7 show the proportion of sites in the assessed area that were placed in each rating category. The map and graph in Figure 8 summarize Fort Matanzas National Monument’s water quality conditions during the assessment. Site-specific water-quality data for each parameter are also presented in Table 4. For comparison with past assessments, maps and condition rating summary graphs for sample years 2012–2022 can be found in the supplementary materials.
- Water clarity was rated good at four sites (13%), fair at fifteen sites (50%) and poor at eleven sites (37%).
- Chlorophyll a concentrations were rated good at thirteen sites (43%) and fair at seventeen sites (57%).
- Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations were good at 28 sites (93%) and fair at two sites (7%).
- Dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentrations were good at one site (3%) and fair at twenty-six sites (87%) and poor at three sites (10%).
- Dissolved oxygen concentrations (bottom) were rated good at fifteen sites (50%) and fair at fifteen sites (50%).
- Notably, there were no sites (0%) rated as poor for chlorophyll a in 2022, where as 16% and 7% of sites were rated as poor in 2012 and 2017. While this may be indicative of improving water quality in the southern portion of the surveyed area, site ratings of poor for dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) increased from 0% in 2012 and 2017 to 10% in 2022. Future surveys may further elucidate patterns in DIP. Other parameters have remained relatively consistent over the period of record and suggest stable water-quality.
- A water-quality condition summary index was calculated for each site sampled at Fort Matanzas National Monument based on the categorical assessments of chlorophyll a, DIN and DIP concentrations, dissolved oxygen, and water clarity. This summary index indicated good water-quality conditions at three sites (10%), fair water quality conditions at twenty-four sites (80%) and poor water-quality conditions at three sites (10%).
- The site water-quality index ratings are similar to findings in 2012 and 2017 which had 65% and 80% of sites rated as fair respectively.
- See supplemental materials to compare the distribution of good, fair, and poor ratings for each parameter across the period of record.
- Based on the EPA summary water-quality index rating, overall water-quality conditions near Fort Matanzas National Monument during 2022 sampling were fair. Previous assessments in 2012 and 2017 also indicated a summary rating of fair.
Table 4. Water-quality parameter values and assessment conditions for sampling sites in the vicinity of Fort Matanzas National Monument, July 18–21, 2022. Water clarity was assessed using light attenuation values (k) using a constant (1.4) for estuarine waters that experience “normal turbidity” conditions (Smith et al. 2006) and assessment categories that correspond to EPA (2012). Condition of other assessed parameters based on EPA (2012) [GreenD —good; yellowE —fair; redF —poor; *result was less than or equal to the Method Detection Limit [MDL reported]; kd— light attenuation coefficient; μg/L—micrograms per liter; N—Nitrogen; mg/L—milligrams per liter; P— Phosphorous; "–" — data not collected]. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are taken near the bottom (deepest reading).
Site | Water Clarity (kd) | Chlorophyll a (μg/L) | Dissolved Oxygen (DO, mg/L) |
Dissolved Inorganic N (DIN, mg/L) |
Dissolved Inorganic P (DIP, mg/L) |
Total Dissolved Nitrogen (mg/L) |
Total Dissolved Phosphorus (mg/L) |
Site WQ Index Rating |
FOMA01_2022 | 2.8F | 7.11E | 4.4E | 0.0746D | 0.0587F | 0.49 | 0.084 | PoorF |
FOMA02_2022 | 2.8F | 5.35E | 4.7E | 0.0516D | 0.0285E | 0.29 | 0.052 | FairE |
FOMA03_2022 | 2.8F | 5.72E | 5.7D | 0.0407D | 0.0259E | 0.28 | 0.049 | FairE |
FOMA04_2022 | 2.3E | 7.05E | 4.8E | 0.1083E | 0.0456E | 0.49 | 0.067 | FairE |
FOMA05_2022 | 2.0E | 7.48E | 5.1D | 0.0418D | 0.0343E | 0.36 | 0.053 | FairE |
FOMA06_2022 | 1.4D | 4.27D | 6.2D | 0.0177D | 0.0084D | 0.17 | 0.025 | GoodD |
FOMA07_2022 | 2.0E | 3.93D | 5.3D | 0.0231D | 0.0236E | 0.25 | 0.047 | FairE |
FOMA08_2022 | 1.8E | 4.56D | 6.0D | 0.0471D | 0.0230E | 0.29 | 0.061 | FairE |
FOMA09_2022 | 1.8E | 6.23E | 5.0E | 0.0291D | 0.0244E | 0.37 | 0.053 | FairE |
FOMA10_2022 | 3.5F | 4.63D | 4.3E | 0.0774D | 0.0530F | 0.60 | 0.077 | PoorF |
FOMA11_2022 | 3.5F | 5.24E | 4.8E | 0.0676D | 0.0534F | 0.57 | 0.072 | PoorF |
FOMA12_2022 | 3.5F | 6.88E | 3.5E | 0.0959D | 0.0423E | 0.49 | 0.070 | FairE |
FOMA13_2022 | 2.0E | 6.33E | 3.6E | 0.1034E | 0.0427E | 0.49 | 0.066 | FairE |
FOMA14_2022 | 2.0E | 4.65D | 6.4D | 0.0398D | 0.0222E | 0.24 | 0.041 | FairE |
FOMA15_2022 | 2.0E | 4.00D | 6.4D | 0.0233D | 0.0140E | 0.21 | 0.035 | FairE |
FOMA16_2022 | 2.3E | 6.92E | 5.1D | 0.0317D | 0.0271E | 0.39 | 0.063 | FairE |
FOMA17_2022 | 2.3E | 2.85D | 4.6E | 0.0509D | 0.0254E | 0.28 | 0.046 | FairE |
FOMA18_2022 | 2.3E | 7.49E | 5.1D | 0.0486D | 0.0326E | 0.44 | 0.075 | FairE |
FOMA19_2022 | 2.3E | 6.56E | 5.8D | 0.0341D | 0.0235E | 0.25 | 0.046 | FairE |
FOMA20_2022 | 1.4D | 4.64D | 5.7D | 0.0247D | 0.0105E | 0.18 | 0.029 | GoodD |
FOMA21_2022 | 2.8F | 5.06E | 4.9E | 0.0362D | 0.0250E | 0.27 | 0.045 | FairE |
FOMA22_2022 | 2.8F | 4.83D | 4.7E | 0.0847D | 0.0374E | 0.46 | 0.063 | FairE |
FOMA23_2022 | 2.8F | 10.85E | 5.0E | 0.0870D | 0.0478E | 0.48 | 0.067 | FairE |
FOMA24_2022 | 2.8F | 3.18D | 4.8E | 0.0401D | 0.0214E | 0.29 | 0.044 | FairE |
FOMA25_2022 | 1.8E | 5.00E | 6.0D | 0.0477D | 0.0237E | 0.31 | 0.045 | FairE |
FOMA26_2022 | 1.2D | 5.83E | 6.5D | 0.0215D | 0.0110E | 0.20 | 0.038 | FairE |
FOMA27_2022 | 2.3E | 5.08E | 6.0D | 0.0492D | 0.0232E | 0.27 | 0.048 | FairE |
FOMA28_2022 | 2.8F | 6.33E | 4.8E | 0.0632D | 0.0336E | 0.44 | 0.056 | FairE |
FOMA29_2022 | 1.4D | 3.63D | 6.3D | 0.0272D | 0.0159E | 0.21 | 0.039 | GoodD |
FOMA30_2022 | 2.0E | 3.65D | 4.8E | 0.0392D | 0.0250E | 0.33 | 0.074 | FairE |
Gregory, M. B., J. C. DeVivo, E. M. DiDonato, C. J. Wright, and E. Thompson. 2013. Protocol for monitoring estuarine water and sediment quality in selected Southeast Coast Network parks. NPS/SECN/NRR—2013/644, National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Available at: DataStore - Protocol for monitoring estuarine water and sediment quality in selected Southeast Coast Network parks (nps.gov) (last accessed August 2024).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2008. Marine Protected Areas (GIS Coverage).
Smith, L. M., V. D. Engle, and J. K. Summers. 2006. Assessing water clarity as a component of water quality in Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Environmental Monitoring & Assessment 115:291–305.
Starkey, E. N., M. B. Gregory, W. K. Wright, J. C. DeVivo, E. M. DiDonato, C. J. Wright, and E. Thompson. 2023. Protocol for monitoring estuarine water and sediment quality in selected Southeast Coast Network parks: Protocol narrative—version 2.0. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR—2023/2528. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Available at: https://doi.org/10.36967/2299077 (last accessed August 2024).
Stevens, D., and A. R. Olsen. 2004. Spatially balanced sampling of natural resources. Journal of the American Statistical Association 99:16.
Stevens, D. L., Jr. 1997. Variable density grid-based samplings designs for continuous spatial populations. Environmetrics 8:167–195.
Stevens, L., and A. R. Olsen. 1999. Spatially restricted surveys over time for aquatic resources. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics:415.
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). 2023. Surface water quality sampling at the St. Johns River Water Management District- 2023 status and trends report. Available at: 2023 Status and Trends - Surface Water (arcgis.com) (last accessed August 2024).
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2014. National Coastal Condition Assessment: Field operation manual. EPA-841-R-09-003, Washington D.C.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2012. National Coastal Condition Report IV. EPA-842-R-10-003, Washington D.C. 20460.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2016. National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) 2010 Technical Report. Washington, D.C.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2022. How’s my waterway waterbody report. US EPA Office of Water. Available at: How's My Waterway - Community (epa.gov) (last accessed August 2024).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2024. National Wetlands Inventory website. Available at: http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/ (last accessed August 2024).
Wright, Wendy, M. Brian Gregory and J. Asper. 2013. Assessment of coastal water quality at Fort Matanzas National Monument, 2012. Natural Resource Data Series NPS/SECN/NRDS—2013/451. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Available at: DataStore - Assessment of coastal water quality at Fort Matanzas National Monument, 2012 (nps.gov) (last accessed August 2024)
Wright, W., E. N. Starkey, and S. Cooper. 2019. Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Fort Matanzas National Monuments: 2017 Data Summary. Natural Resource Data Series NPS/SECN/NRDS—2019/1202. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Available at: DataStore - Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Fort Matanzas National Monuments: 2017 Data Summary (nps.gov) (last accessed August 2024).
Supplemental Materials
The Supplemental Materials to accompany this summary report include maps and graphs and are available on NPS IRMA
Data Package
The data package contains data and associated metadata used in the preparation of this report
Other Reports in this Series:
- Assessment of Coastal Water Quality at Fort Matanzas National Monument, 2012. Available at: DataStore - Assessment of coastal water quality at Fort Matanzas National Monument, 2012 (nps.gov)
- Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Fort Matanzas National monument 2017 Data Summary. Available at; DataStore - Assessment of Estuarine Water and Sediment Quality at Fort Matanzas National Monuments: 2017 Data Summary (nps.gov)