Monitoring Our Estuaries

Peconic Estuary Long-Term Eelgrass Monitoring

The PEP Long-Term Eelgrass Monitoring Program (LTEMP) includes six eelgrass beds located throughout the estuary and representing a range of environmental factors (see map for sites and locations).  The monitoring program has evolved its methodologies from its inception in 1997, however, the basic parameter of eelgrass health, shoot density, has always been the focus of the program, thus allowing for comparisons between successive years.  Water quality data from Suffolk County Health Department is utilized, and beginning in 2004, water temperatures are now collected at the monitoring sites using submersible temperature loggers. 

Eelgrass Monitoring in the Peconic Estuary

PEP Eelgrass Monitoring 5 Year Report 2005

Long Island Sound Eelgrass Monitoring

In 2004, an eelgrass monitoring site was established in Long Island Sound at the largest extant eelgrass meadow on the North Shore of Long Island.  The meadow, called Mulford Point, is located approximately 2 miles south west of Orient Point in an area known as Petty’s Bight.  This meadow holds special interest in that it is the largest eelgrass bed on the north shore of Long Island and it grows in a habitat that was thought to be too high energy for eelgrass to grow.  The monitoring of this bed was approached in the same manner that is outlined above for the Peconic sites.  Six permanent monitoring stations were established using DGPS.  Divers then randomly sampled 10-0.1 m2 quadrats at each station for shoot density and macroalgal percent cover.  The aerial photo below shows the extent of the bed (outlined in light and dark blue) and the location of the permanent monitoring stations at the site.

South Shore Estuary Eelgrass Monitoring