Nutrient Monitoring In Georgia's Coastal Rivers, Sounds, And Estuaries

Nutrient monitoring is an effort funded by the State of Georgia to assess the nutrient loads in our sounds and estuaries.  Nutrient monitoring began on March 1, 2000 and is a continuous monitoring program designed to establish trends for Nitrate nitrogen, Nitrite nitrogen, Ammonia nitrogen, Total dissolved phosphorus, Ortho phosphate, and Silicate.  Sample collection for nutrients occurs monthly at 89 stations on the coast.  

River nutrient monitoring is funded by the State Legislature annually. Monthly monitoring occurs year-round on the Ogeechee, Altamaha, and St. Marys Rivers.  On each of these rivers, six (6) sample sites have been chosen using the collective knowledge of resource managers, commercial fishermen, and scientists.  Water samples from each of these sites are collected by CRD and analyzed by University of Georgia for a suite of nutrients including Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, Total Dissolved Phosphorus, Orthophosphates, and Silicates.

The purpose of this monitoring effort is to establish scientifically sound data for nutrient loads in Georgia's coastal rivers, estuaries and sound systems. Thr baseline data are a tool for resource managers to use in making sound management decisions based on both historical and current water quality conditions.