A Framework for Coastal Water Resource Monitoring in Florida
A Framework for Coastal Water Resource Monitoring in Florida
A Framework for Coastal Water Resource Monitoring in Florida
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<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Monitor<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Framework</strong><br />
habitat measures), where the <strong>in</strong>fluence of human activities extends farther offshore,<br />
this separation may not be appropriate with<strong>in</strong> waters of the state.<br />
b) Timeframe<br />
Tier 1 monitor<strong>in</strong>g will provide annual statements of status and trends at its <strong>in</strong>tended<br />
scale. Some monitor<strong>in</strong>g may be concentrated on sampl<strong>in</strong>g occurr<strong>in</strong>g once per year<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g a period deemed to be that <strong>in</strong> which the ecosystem is most stressed or which<br />
otherwise provides the best <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation on system health.<br />
Additional Tier 1 <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation may be generated by comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Tier 2 data from a<br />
region or the entire state once a Tier 2 monitor<strong>in</strong>g program is fully established <strong>for</strong> that<br />
report<strong>in</strong>g area. This annual report may <strong>in</strong>clude statements about status and trends at<br />
seasonal or other shorter <strong>in</strong>tervals.<br />
c) Methods<br />
The sampl<strong>in</strong>g methods used will be appropriate <strong>for</strong> the measures that are selected <strong>for</strong><br />
this Tier. Measures will be selected to help address the Management Needs of the<br />
agencies as submitted to the <strong>Florida</strong> Oceans and <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Resource</strong>s Council and<br />
generally fall <strong>in</strong>to one of more categories of physical, chemical and/or biological<br />
types.<br />
Methods will be selected which provide the most cost-effective collection of the<br />
necessary <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation. For Tier 1 assessments, probabilistic, stratified-random<br />
sampl<strong>in</strong>g methods similar to those used by U.S. EPA’s EMAP, FWC’s IMAP, and<br />
DEP’s freshwater IWRM Tier 1 monitor<strong>in</strong>g program may be appropriate <strong>in</strong> many<br />
cases <strong>for</strong> assess<strong>in</strong>g status. Fixed station locations may be necessary <strong>in</strong> addition to<br />
help assess trend.<br />
Note: Intensive Studies<br />
The <strong>in</strong>tensive studies described below <strong>for</strong> Tier 2 will also be used to optimize<br />
placement of Tier 1 fixed trend stations.<br />
2) <strong>Coastal</strong> Tier 2: Local-scale <strong>Monitor<strong>in</strong>g</strong> and Assessment<br />
a) Scale<br />
Tier 2 monitor<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>in</strong>tended to provide <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation regard<strong>in</strong>g the status and trends<br />
<strong>for</strong> areas that are relatively small as compared to Tier 1. <strong>Monitor<strong>in</strong>g</strong> at this scale will<br />
provide <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation about the range of conditions with<strong>in</strong> the monitored area as well<br />
as the overall condition.<br />
For <strong>in</strong>stance, Tier 2 monitor<strong>in</strong>g will produce <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation about status and trends of<br />
waters with<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle estuary, such as describ<strong>in</strong>g conditions <strong>in</strong> different functional<br />
parts of the estuary. The estuary or other area be<strong>in</strong>g monitored will constitute a<br />
report<strong>in</strong>g area and monitor<strong>in</strong>g will be expected to provide useful <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation about<br />
status or trends at particular locations or regions with<strong>in</strong> the report<strong>in</strong>g area. The goal<br />
of Tier 2 monitor<strong>in</strong>g is enabl<strong>in</strong>g the assessment of the health of the different parts of<br />
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