Fresh and Brackish Water Quality Monitoring

Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring staff performing joint water quality (freshwater) and stream monitoring in Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

NPS Photo/K. Weisenborn

Description and Rationale

The quality of terrestrial surface waters and groundwater is fundamental to ecosystems across the Pacific islands. Parks must determine the quality of their water resources, strive to avoid human-caused pollution occurring within and outside of park boundaries, and maintain surface waters and groundwaters as essential components of park aquatic and terrestrial systems.

All Pacific island national parks are also concerned about effects of adjacent land uses and increasing development in watersheds connected to the parks' freshwater, brackish water and groundwater resources.

The four core parameters chosen for monitoring by the NPS Water Resources Division (temperature, conductivity/salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen) provide baseline data for water quality assessment. In addition, turbidity, nitrite + nitrate, total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorous, and chlorophyll are monitored by the Pacific Island Network for their ecological significance.

Monitoring Objectives

1. Determine the range and spatial variance on an annual basis of temperature, pH, salinity/conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total nitrate, and chlorophyll in streams, wetlands, groundwater, and anchialine pools.
2. Determine the temporal (events, diurnal, seasonal, annual, decadal) and spatial trends, for temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen in streams, wetlands, groundwater, and anchialine pools.

For more information on PACN I&M fresh and brackish water quality monitoring contact: David Raikow

Monitored At

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  Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

  See what's monitored along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.

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  American Memorial Park

  See what's monitored at Memorials at American Memorial Park.

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  Haleakalā National Park

  See what's monitored at Haleakalā National Park.

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  Kalaupapa National Historical Park

  See what's monitored at Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

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  Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP

  See what's monitored at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.

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  National Park of American Samoa

  See what's monitored at National Park of American Samoa.

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  Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau NHP

  See what's monitored at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

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  Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

  See what's monitored at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site.

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  War In The Pacific NHP

  See what's monitored at War In The Pacific National Historical Park.