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In This Newsletter

New Southeast Coast Network Website Goes Live!
Shallow Groundwater Monitoring
March and April Fieldwork
SECN Aquatic Ecologist Attends National Training

New Southeast Coast Network Website Live!

The Southeast Coast Network unveiled phase one of its new website on March 12, 2018. The website, constructed using CommonSpot software and the NPS Content Management System, is designed to be more consistent with park pages. It features direct links to download species lists for SECN parks and a fresh clean layout.

Phase two will feature individual park pages, new monitoring pages, and information on data retrieval. It is expected to be live by the end of April. The new website is the culmination of months of work performed by the regional I&M editing team.

Safety coordinator Eric Starkey practices safety first in the field!

NPS Photo / Eric Starkey

A snowy start to the 2018 field season at the Oconee boat ramp

NPS photo / Eric Starkey

Shallow Groundwater Well Monitoring

To kick off field work in 2018, SECN staff serviced the shallow ground water monitoring wells at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Despite the chilly weather and snow in Athens, staff were able to install new level loggers in all five wells and reconfigure a well housing. Level data is now available for Burbank Point, Honey Hole, Lake Retta, South-end Pond and Lake Whitney. Data show the influence of passing tropical storms, hurricanes, and seasonal drying. New data will be posted following the next site visit in March.

A breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon National Park, location of the 2018 Inventory and Monitoring National Scientist's training.

NPS photo / Eric Starkey

Southeast Coast Network Ecologist Attends National Training

In January 2018, SECN Aquatic Ecologist Eric Starkey attended the first biennial Inventory and Monitoring scientist training at the Horace Albright Training Center in Grand Canyon National Park. The training covered an array of scientific topics, and provided a great opportunity for the network to seek collaborative opportunities with other networks across the country. Knowledge gained and contacts made in this workshop will help the Southeast Coast Network excel with protocol implementation and reporting.

Upcoming Field Work

Shoreline Monitoring is tentatively scheduled at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Fort Matanzas National Monument, and Canaveral National Seashore in March, and Cumberland Island and Cape Hatteras National Seashores in April.

Back Barrier resurvey and groundwater well monitoring is scheduled for late March at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Sondes will be gathered and deployed at Georgia and Florida coastal parks in mid-March and mid-April.

Salt Marsh monitoring that was scheduled for Mid-April at Cape Lookout National Seashore has been moved to May.