NERRS site profiles

ERD Site Profile Guidance
The principal mission of the monitoring program is to develop quantitative measurements of
short-term variability and long-term changes in the integrity and biodiversity of representative
estuarine ecosystems and coastal watersheds for the purposes of contributing to effective coastal
zone management. The program is designed to enhance the value of the reserves as a s system of
national reference sites. To this end, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Code of Federal
Regulations Sec. 921.60 G states:
(a) To provide a systematic basis for developing a high quality estuarine resource and ecosystem
information base for National Estuari Research Reserves and, as a result, for the System, NOAA
may provide financial support for basic monitoring programs as part of operations and
management under Sec. 921.32. Monitoring funds are used to support three major phases of a
monitoring program:
1. Studies necessary to collect data for a comprehensive site description/characterization;
2. Development of a site profile; and
3. Formulation and implementation of a monitoring program.
The National Estuarine Research Reserve Action Plan articulates:
Objective 1. INCREASE ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF ESTUARIES THROUGH RESEARCH
AND MONITORING.
Key Actions

Date

Site profiles – Complete 13 site profiles

Sept 05

Apalachicola
Padilla Bay
Chesapeake Bay MD
Chesapeake Bay VA
Grand Bay
GTM
Hudson
Jacques Cousteau
Narragansett
North Carolina
North Inlet Winyah Bay
San Francisco
Wells

Dec 05
Oct 05
Oct 06
Oct 05
Oct 06
Oct 06
Oct 05
Oct 05
Oct 05
Oct 06
Oct 05
Oct 06
Oct 06

Status/Who
Research
Coordinators

ERD provided guidance to sites in 1996 in order to achieve a consistently high quality product
for use in the scientific and management community. The purpose of the site profile is to

summarize the existing state of knowledge for your site’s research and monitoring activities and
to identify research needs that should be addressed in the future. If there is little information
regarding one of the outlined items, specify that as a research need. If there is an abundance of
information on a particular subject, cite the most appropriate summary literature.
From previous guidance “ The target audience for the site profile is as follows:
Site profiles are intended to be primarily technical documents that provide a summary of
scientific information for academic and agency researchers, graduate students, advanced
undergraduates, and coastal resource managers. The completed site profile should
include references to the primary technical literature and description of ecosystem
components, ecological processes, habitats, and the floral/faunal communities that
provide an adequate basis for the development of scientific studies and applied
management investigations.
This definition is based on the majority opinion of the research coordinators and managers, in
consultation with ERD, through both individual and group discussions, and your written
comments. In the case of multi-component reserves, ERD strongly recommends that a review of
each component be incorporated into a single document.”
The following actions are recommended for insurance of a consistent product:
Stage

Reserve Action

ERD Action

2 - initial work

submit outline of proposed
work

review outline and provide
comments

3 - mid development

seek peer review of
sections/drafts

4 - final stages and publication

6 months before printing
date, submit draft document
to ERD

review draft and provide
comments

NERRS Site Profile Outline
Preface
Acknowledgements
I.

Introduction to the reserve
A.
Estuarine type characterization
B.
Description of NERRS program
C.
Reserve mission and site description
D.
Brief description of the NERRS program and importance of your site locally and
as part of the national system
E.
Historical and cultural resources and context
F.
Estuarine habitats at the reserve
G.
Ecological significance and designations of reserve
H.
Major management priorities that directly impact the reserve and the setting of the
reserve’s research and monitoring activities
I.
Reserve protection efforts

II

Environmental setting
A.
Estuarine geomorphology (including soils and sedimentary processes)
B.
Climate and weather
C.
Hydrology (watershed and tidal conditions)
D.
Land use and water use history within and adjacent to reserve
E.
Water quality
F.
Pollution impacts (nutrients, contaminants)

III

Biological setting
G.
Biotic habitats
H.
Microbiological components
I.
Plankton
J.
Vegetation
K.
Invertebrates
L.
Fish, reptiles and amphibians
M.
Birds and mammals

IV

Ecological setting (if appropriate, may be combined with biological setting)
A.
Origin and evolution of the estuary
B.
Influence of physical environment on the biota
C.
Biological productivity
D.
Community structure and processes

V

Research and monitoring activities (past and current)
A.
Research facilities
B.
Research activities
C.
Monitoring activities

VI

References

Optional
VII

Appendix A. Assessment of research and monitoring needs
A.
Research facility needs
B.
Research gaps
C.
Monitoring priorities and needs
D.
Research priorities and needs