National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Assessment of Estuarine Water Quality at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores 2015 Data Summary Natural Resource Data Series NPS/SECN/NRDS—2016/1056 ON THE COVER Low salt marsh on Shackleford Banks. View is looking eastward across Back Sound to South Core Banks. Photo courtesy of Jason Gardner—Southeast Coast Network. Assessment of Estuarine Water Quality at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores 2015 Data Summary Natural Resource Data Series NPS/SECN/NRDS—2016/1056 Wendy Wright National Park Service Southeast Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network 135 Phoenix Drive Athens, GA 30605 September 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Data Series is intended for the timely release of basic data sets and data summaries. Care has been taken to assure accuracy of raw data values, but a thorough analysis and interpretation of the data has not been completed. Consequently, the initial analyses of data in this report are provisional and subject to change. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically rc edible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Southeast Coast Network website (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/secn) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Wright, W. 2016. Assessment of estuarine water quality at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores: 2015 data summary. Natural Resource Data Series NPS/SECN/NRDS—2016/1056. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 603/134559, September 2016 ii Contents Page Figures . iv Tables . v Summary and Key Findings . .. vi Introduction . 1 Study Area . 2 Cape Lookout National Seashore . 2 Cape Hatteras National Seashore . 3 Methods . 8 Water-Quality Data Collection . 8 Water-Quality Assessment Criteria . 8 Results . 9 Parameter-Based Condition Assessments . 9 Water-Quality Data . 16 Literature Cited . .. 17 iii Figures Page Figure 1. Map of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 2015, showing the location of the SECN fixed water-quality monitoring station. 4 Figure 2. Map of Cape Lookout National Seashore in 2015, showing the location of the SECN fixed water-quality monitoring stations. 5 Figure 3. Map showing the location of coastal assessment sites sampled in July 2015 in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores. 7 Figure 4. Turbidity measurements and quartiles measured in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 Figure 5. Chlorophyll a concentrations at sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. 11 Figure 6. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations at sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hat- teras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. 12 Figure 7. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentrations at sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. 13 Figure 8. Dissolved oxygen concentrations at sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. 14 Figure 9. Water-quality index rating at sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Look- out National Seashores in July 2015. 15 iv Tables Page Table 1. Map ID, waterbody names and locations, depth, coordinates, and chemical and physical attributes of sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, July 2015. 6 Table 2. Coastal water-quality monitoring condition criteria for water-quality parameters collected by the Southeast Coast Network. 8 Table 3. Condition criteria used for water-quality assessment summaries at individual sampling sites and parks. 9 Table 4. Water-quality parameter values and assessment conditions for sampling sites in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in July 2015. 16 v Summary and Key Findings In July 2015 the Southeast Coast Network conducted an • Dissolved nutrient concentrations were good across assessment of water quality in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras the assessed area with dissolved inorganic nitrogen and Cape Lookout National Seashores as part of the (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) National Park Service Vital Signs Monitoring Program. concentrations rated good at all 30 sites. Monitoring was conducted following methods developed • Dissolved oxygen levels were rated good at 97% of sites by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part (29 of 30 sites) and fair at 3% (one site). of the National Coastal Assessment Program (EPA 2009). Laboratory analysis measured chlorophyll a and total and • A water-quality condition summary index was dissolved concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous. Field calculated for each site sampled in Cape Hatteras measurements included water temperature, pH, dissolved and Cape Lookout National Seashores based on the oxygen, and salinity. Water clarity, which requires a Secchi categorical assessments of chlorophyll a, DIN and DIP depth measurement, was calculated when possible. Because concentrations, and dissolved oxygen. This summary waters were often too shallow to effectively obtain an index indicated good water-quality conditions at 93% of accurate Secchi depth measurement, turbidity measurements sites (28 of 30) and fair conditions at two sites (7%). are also presented. All measured parameters were rated • Although water-quality conditions were rated as good as good, fair, or poor based on thresholds set by the EPA at most sites, two sites near Manteo exibited fair but (2012). degrading conditions, with elevated total nitrogen, and • Water clarity was not calculated at all sites due to chlorophyll a concentrations, and low water-clarity the shallow depth of the seashore waters. Turbidity conditions. measurements ranged from 2.7 to 10.9 Formazin Nephelometric Units (FNU), and are good according to North Carolina state standards.. • Chlorophyll a concentrations were rated good at 24 sites (80% ). Six sites (20%) sampled in 2015 were rated fair. vi Introduction Water resources are important to park management from 2. Determine monthly and seasonal patterns in nutrient ecological, regulatory, and visitor experience perspectives; concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll therefore, estuarine water quality in and around parks was a) by collecting discrete water samples. selected as one of several vital signs to be monitored by the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring 3. Determine status and spatial variability of water and (I&M) Program (DeVivo et al. 2008). Data collected as a part nutrient chemistry conditions in estuarine waters every of this effort are intended to foster a better understanding five years. of water resources in and around parks and contribute to 4. Determine status and spatial variability of benthic a better understanding of park ecological processes and sediment quality (organic contaminants, carbon, and physical systems (Gregory et al. 2013). metal levels) in estuarine waters every ten years. To effectively monitor a diverse and dynamic set of This report summarizes coastal water-quality monitoring estuarine water resources, the NPS Southeast Coast I&M data collected during a synoptic assessment to address Network (SECN) implemented a two-pronged monitoring objective 3 at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National approach, which consists of collecting periodic discrete Seashores. Data was gathered from 24 July to 29 July 2015. and continuously recorded data from fixed stations The purpose of this document is to report the most recently located in each park combined with periodic synoptic collected data from within the seashores as part of an assessments of water quality at a larger spatial scale in ongoing long-term water-quality monitoring program. This the waters surrounding park areas (Gregory et al. 2013). report was designed to provide water-quality monitoring When implemented together, these approaches give a more data to managers as a concise summary in the context complete picture of physical processes, diurnal and seasonal
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