Water quality data collected from volunteers of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership’s Citizens’ Monitoring Network (APNEP-CMN) were used for this study. APNEP- CMN is a network of private citizens who keep track of ambient, surface water quality in the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary and its tributaries. It began in 1988 as an initiative by the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation and was limited to monitoring areas in the Tar-Pamlico River watershed. In 1991, the monitoring project was transferred to the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (former program name) to gather essential data and focus additional public attention on the quality of the fragile water resources of the entire Albemarle-Pamlico estuary. This monitoring project has two main components: (1) water quality monitoring and (2) educational campaigns that focus on the themes of water quality, pollution, and aquatic ecology. Regional environmental groups/agencies and education campaigns help APNEP-CMN identify projects, recruit volunteers, and serve as advocates for these data.
APNEP-CMN volunteers monitor the water quality of the estuary after an initial training session from the project coordinator. Specifically, volunteers monitor dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, temperature, depth, and clarity to gauge the general health or quality of the waters in the estuary. Volunteers use titration/chemical water quality kits and other equipment manufactured by the LaMotte Company to analyze water samples. They also observe qualitative factors such as
weather conditions, wind speed, and other visual indicators, and record their results. The field data sheet that volunteers used to record these measurements is illustrated in Figures 1a and 1b. All data collected are forwarded to the project office (Institute for Coastal Science and Policy, East Carolina University) where the project coordinator organizes the information into a database for citizen and government agency use. Often, these monitoring efforts serve as useful supplements to existing governmental activities and databases when requested.
Personal involvement with APNEP-CMN
I served as project coordinator for APNEP-CMN from August 28, 2006, through September 30, 2011. Responsibilities specific to APNEP-CMN included: (1) outreach efforts towards the recruitment of volunteers, (2) volunteer training, (3) data manager, (4) APNEP-CMN newsletter editor, and (5) educator for a variety of education campaigns related to water quality and environmental awareness. APNEP-CMN ended as a result of budgetary cutbacks that all National Estuary Programs were experiencing at the time in addition to the development of a new work plan. APNEP staff were encouraged to reinstate APNEP-CMN as a new entity that would adopt a more ecosystem-based management approach at lower annual cost through established partnerships. Since APNEP-CMN ended in late 2011, its status has remained stationary with the exception of maintaining current volunteers through management of incoming water quality data and refreshing chemical supplies and equipment. I have volunteered my time to take on these limited tasks under the support of the Institute of Coastal Science and Policy and APNEP through the end of my dissertation research.
What is water quality monitoring and why is it important?
Water quality monitoring is the repetitive measurement or observation of a water body over time (USGS 2013). Water quality is collected repetitively to detect changes and trends in water
conditions that occur due to natural events and/or pollution. Typically, one or two years of data will not show major trends in water quality and will not pinpoint sources of pollution. Therefore, monitoring is a long-term effort (Meals et al. 2012). Carefully obtained, quality assured, objective monitoring is valuable in developing information about a water body’s baseline conditions. Trained analysts use these data to identify trends and changes in aquatic systems. By not relying on subjective information, monitoring can provide more objective, quantified measures of the past (APNEP 2013a).
What is the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary and why should it be monitored?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) defines an estuary as a partially enclosed area where freshwater from the inland rivers mixes with salty water from the Ocean (USEPA 2013). The Albemarle-Pamlico (A-P) estuary is considered one of North Carolina's most important natural resource treasures and was designated as an “estuary of national significance” by United States Congress in 1987 (APNEP 2013b). The estuary is home to a wide diversity of unique habitats and wildlife, including anadromous fish species such as river herring (Alosa spp.) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis) (Smith and Rulifson 2015). Historically, the estuary has also supported many important northeastern North Carolina industries such as commercial fishing, seafood, recreation, and tourism. Not only do we extract resources from the estuary but we also depend on its aesthetic and cultural viability to attract interest and tourism (APNEP 2013b).
The A-P estuary is the largest lagoonal system, and the second largest estuary in the United States (Cooper et al. 2004) with Chesapeake Bay being the largest. Geologically, Albemarle Sound is considered a “drowned river valley” estuary that flooded and filled empty valleys as a result of sea level rise during the Holocene epoch (Riggs et al. 1992, Sager and Riggs 1998). In contrast,
Pamlico Sound is a bar-built estuary (Pritchard 1952, Dyer 1997), which is categorized by shallow depth and reduced tidal influences in the areas farthest from the barrier island inlets (Giffin and Corbett 2003). Regarding estuary circulation, Albemarle Sound is classified as a salt wedge estuary due to higher freshwater inputs. Pamlico Sound is described as a partially mixed estuary since the inlets allow salt water to enter the Sound.
The six major river basins included in the A-P estuary are: (1) Chowan, (2) Neuse, (3) Pasquotank, (4) Roanoke, (5) Tar-Pamlico, and (6) White Oak. The Chowan, Pasquotank, and Roanoke watersheds flow into Albemarle Sound. The Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds discharge into Pamlico Sound. There are also a number of smaller watersheds that discharge into Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. The White Oak watershed flows into Core and Bogue Sounds. The other Sounds of the estuary are the Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke. Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds are connected to the Atlantic Ocean through small inlets in the barrier island system (North Carolina Outer Banks). These barrier islands lessen the impacts of lunar ocean tides except near the inlets. Wind driven tides dominate in Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the nearby tributaries (Cooper et al. 2004).
Estuaries are also known to be highly productive areas due to high production of organic matter (USEPA 2013). Geologically, the A-P estuary is unique due to diversity in sediment size and mineralogy. Sediments are derived from river input, shoreline erosion, the continental shelf, and biogenic production. Sediments that enter through the rivers (within the estuary) are silt and clay. Sand is limited or absent due to low flow velocities that cannot support sand transport and upstream impoundments that capture most of the coarser sediments. The major source of coarse sediment is through shoreline erosion by direct wave attacks and inlets, which accounts for approximately half of the medium-grained sand in the system (Meade and Trimble 1974). Estuary
dynamics, including tidal, climatic, retention time, and nutrient loading conditions sensitize the watersheds. Due to excessive levels of nutrients resulting in massive algal blooms and fish kills, the entire Tar-Pamlico watershed was designated as “Nutrient Sensitive Water” in 1989 by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (DNR 1989).
The A-P estuary is a large and diverse region and is too big to adequately monitor with government resources. Because the estuary is so large and the impacts are so diverse, assistance is needed to monitor the estuary. The wide expanse of waters that makes up the estuary is often more accessible to local citizens who live near it. The help of citizens fills in the gaps left open by limited government resources and funds. This led to the establishment of APNEP-CMN in 1988 and its further expansion to the entire Albemarle-Pamlico estuary in 1991.