Scientific monitoring of estuary condition is an important part of effectively managing our estuaries. Long-term data allows us to evaluate management actions being implemented as well as the condition and response of our estuaries to typical seasonal weather patterns, atypical events such as summer floods, and shifts in climate. Data is also integral to building hydrodynamic models.

Estuaries are monitored every two to four weeks and data is collected on each of the following parameters:

• Oxygen levels
• Salinity
• Turbidity
• Algae (measured as chlorophyll a)
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus