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Eyes on the Bay Data Types Overview:

The table below gives an overview of our different water quality monitoring programs and the resultant different types of water quality data collected by Eyes on the Bay. Understanding the differences among these monitoring programs may help you determine what data type best suits your data needs.

  Continuous Monitoring Long Term Fixed Monthly Monitoring Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW) Vertical Profiler
Station Lists & Information: Continuous Monitoring Station Information Table (downloadable) Fixed Station Information Table (downloadable)    
Quality Assurance Project Plan: MDDNR 2022 Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan MDDNR 2022 Mainstem/Tributaries Monitoring Quality Assurance Projec MDDNR 2022 Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan MDDNR 2022 Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan
Sampling type: Deployed in-situ water quality meter, coupled with bi-weekly on-site measurements and sampling (AKA 'Calibration Data') Profile sampling at discrete stations from stationary boat or bridge Surface mapping program, sampling surface water from moving boat Anchored multi-depth profiler at discrete location
Sampling description: Autonomous water quality meters, exchanged every 2 weeks for cleaning & calibration Water quality profiles, and nutrient, sediment and chlorophyll samples taken Monthly sampling at a few sites each year Autonomous vertical water quality profiler anchored at one site per year
Sampling depth: 1 meter below surface or 0.3 m or 0.5 m off-bottom Water quality profiles: measurements taken at discrete depths based on site depth Surface water is pumped through a chamber where water quality is measured by a meter similar to those used in the continuous monitoring program Measurements recorded every 1-2 meter depth intervals

Sampling frequency:

 Continuous meter: recorded every 15 mins Cruises are monthly or bimonthly Data recorded every 4 secs while underway Conducts a profiling sequence every 1-3 hours
Sampling duration: April-October; or year-round, weather permitting Year-round April-October Year-round, as weather permits
Sampling longevity: Variable among stations,but sampling began in 2001. Our station timeline chart visually shows sampling longevity. 1984 - present    

Water quality profile done?

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During bimonthly instrument exchange ('Calibration Data')		 checkmark checkmark checkmark
WATER QUALITY METER PARAMETERS:
  Continuous Monitoring Long Term Fixed Monthly Monitoring Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW) Vertical Profiler
Water temperature (°C) checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Specific conductance (mS/cm=mmhos/cm) checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Salinity
(ppt)		 checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Dissolved oxygen (% saturation) checkmark checkmark red X mark checkmark
pH checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Chlorophyll
(µg/L)		 checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Blue Green Algae BGA (µg/L) checkmark
(at select sites)		 red X mark red X mark red X mark
Turbidity
(ntu)		 checkmark checkmark checkmark checkmark
Water Depth
(m)		 checkmark
(bottom sites)		 checkmark checkmark checkmark
Algal identification

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(if bloom observed)

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(at select sites, or if bloom observed)

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(if bloom observed)

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(if bloom observed)
  OTHER MEASUREMENTS:
 

Continuous Monitoring
(~Every 2 Weeks)

 Long Term Fixed Monitoring
(Monthly/Bimonthly)

Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW)
(Monthly)

 Vertical Profiler

(~Every 2 Weeks)
VSS, PC, PIP, TDN, TDP, NH4,TN, TP, PO4, NO2, NO23 checkmark
(at NERRS sites & all sites 2010 & prior)		 checkmark
(at select sites)		 checkmark
(only 2010 & prior)		  
Chlorophyll a, Pheophytin a, & Total Suspended Solids (TSS) checkmark

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(at select sites)		 checkmark
(water sample)		  
Alkalinity

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(Harris Creek only, downloadable)

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(at select sites)		   checkmark
(Harris Creek only, downloadable)
Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR) / Light Attenuation

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Secchi depth
(m)		 checkmark
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Data available on Eyes on the Bay? checkmark
Continuous Monitoring Data in summary download form, chart visualization, and raw data download (15 min increment data). Longer intervals of data can be requested.
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Charts of Long-Term Monitoring min, max and average results versus current monthly conditions. Data can be downloaded from CBP DataHub		 checkmark
DATAFLOW Maps & Data: Data are integrated as surface maps of temperature, salinity, DO, turbidity, and chlorophyll a.
Raw data can also be downloaded.		 checkmark
Vertical Profiler Data are available for download.
Data available on Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) Data Hub? checkmark
The biweekly 'calibration data' are available on CBP Data Hub (under 'Shallow-Water Monitoring Program'), but 15 min increment meter data are not

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Yes, all data are available on CBP Data Hub

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The biweekly data are available on CBP Data Hub (under Shallow-Water Monitoring Program), but underway data are not		 checkmark
The biweekly 'caibration data' are available on CBP Data Hub (under Shallow-Water Monitoring Program), but 15 min increment meter data are not