Thirty coastal sites make up the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Explore your local reserve to learn about weather, water data, and so much more. Use the reserve map below or contact an Education Coordinator.

Alabama

Weeks Bay

Alaska

Kachemak Bay

California

Elkhorn Slough

San Francisco Bay

Tijuana River

Connecticut

Connecticut

Delaware

Delaware

Florida

Apalachicola Bay

Guana Tolomato Matanzas

Rookery Bay

Georgia

Sapelo Island

Maine

Wells

Maryland

Chesapeake Bay, MD

Massachusetts

Waquoit Bay

Mississippi

Grand Bay

New Hampshire

Great Bay

New Jersey

Jacques Cousteau

New York

Hudson River

North Carolina

North Carolina

Oregon

South Slough

Puerto Rico

Jobos Bay

Rhode Island

Narragansett Bay

South Carolina

ACE Basin

North Inlet/Winyah Bay

Texas

Mission-Aransas

Virginia

Chesapeake Bay, VA

Washington

Padilla Bay

Reserve Detail Map

Click the markers on the map above to see detailed information about each Reserve.

Detail of Map showing example of watershed boundary, reserve boundary and icon for selected water quality monitoring station
Biogeographic Regions

A biogeographic region is a geographic area with similar dominant plants, animals and prevailing climate. Reserves represent different biogeographic regions of the United States.

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Connecticut

National Estuarine Reserve System

Connecticut41.27°N 72.23°W

Details

  • Designated:

    2022

  • Protects:

    52,160 acres (211 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

Monitoring Data

Weather: High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C)
Water: High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C)
Dissolved Oxygen (%)
pH
Salinity (ppt)
Turbidity (NTU)

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Wells

National Estuarine Reserve System

Maine43.34°N 70.54°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1986

  • Protects:

    2,250 acres (7 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Acadian

  • Tidal Range:

    3.4 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Laudholm Farm High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36.6 -25.6 8.2
Water: Little River Mouth High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 29.5 -1.0 12.5
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 140.8 10.1 97.0
pH 12.9 2.1 7.6
Salinity (ppt) 34.7 0.1 17.4
Turbidity (NTU) 976 1 7

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Great Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

New Hampshire43.07°N 70.87°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1989

  • Protects:

    10,235 acres (21 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Acadian

  • Tidal Range:

    2.5 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Greenland High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 35.7 -26.8 7.9
Water: Great Bay High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 27.2 -2.3 15.4
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 170.2 69.9 99.7
pH 9.6 3.3 7.8
Salinity (ppt) 35.2 0.1 22.5
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 19

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Waquoit Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Massachusetts41.58°N 70.53°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1988

  • Protects:

    2,780 acres (9 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built/Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.6 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Carriage House High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 34.6 -21.0 10.6
Water: Childs River High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 29.9 -1.3 13.9
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 321.5 0.1 90.9
pH 9.7 6.1 8.0
Salinity (ppt) 31.3 0.1 26.9
Turbidity (NTU) 993 1 4

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Narragansett Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Rhode Island41.64°N 71.34°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1980

  • Protects:

    4,259 acres (17 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Potters Cove High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36.6 -21.2 10.2
Water: Potters Cove High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 44.8 -4.9 12.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 209.5 5.2 95.8
pH 9.5 2.1 7.9
Salinity (ppt) 39.7 0.1 28.3
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 7

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Hudson River

National Estuarine Reserve System

New York42.02°N 73.91°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1982

  • Protects:

    4,838 acres (20 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain/Fjord

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    1.2 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Field Station High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 49.9 -39.5 10.0
Water: Saw Kill High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 28.4 -0.1 14.9
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 128.3 80.9 99.5
pH 9.4 3.9 8.2
Salinity (ppt) 0.3 0.1 0.2
Turbidity (NTU) 987 1 6

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Jacques Cousteau

National Estuarine Reserve System

New Jersey39.55°N 74.46°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1998

  • Protects:

    114,665 acres (461 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    1.0 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Nacote Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 37.4 -15.9 11.5
Water: Chestnut Neck High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 30.9 -3.0 15.1
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 126.1 2.8 86.5
pH 10.0 4.4 7.4
Salinity (ppt) 29.7 0.1 15.0
Turbidity (NTU) 993 1 11

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Delaware

National Estuarine Reserve System

Delawre39.08°N 75.46°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1993

  • Protects:

    4,930 acres (20 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Saint Jones River High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 37.5 -16.1 13.1
Water: Scotton Landing High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 32.3 -1.3 15.3
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 173.2 0.1 67.1
pH 8.9 5.9 7.2
Salinity (ppt) 43.6 0.1 11.2
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 63

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Chesapeake Bay, MD

National Estuarine Reserve System

Maryland38.78°N 76.71°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1985, 1990

  • Protects:

    6,249 acres (20 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.6 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Jug Bay High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 41.6 -16.7 13.7
Water: Railroad High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 33.0 -0.4 15.6
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 168.2 29.7 83.3
pH 9.1 4.6 7.2
Salinity (ppt) 2.4 0.1 0.2
Turbidity (NTU) 996 1 24

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Chesapeake Bay, VA

National Estuarine Reserve System

Virginia37.41°N 76.71°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1991

  • Protects:

    4,435 acres (18 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Virginian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.9 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Taskinas Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 42.4 -12.7 15.4
Water: Taskinas Creek High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 36.1 -3.4 17.0
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 244.9 21.1 90.2
pH 9.9 2.5 7.5
Salinity (ppt) 22.2 0.1 10.8
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 67

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North Carolina

National Estuarine Reserve System

North Carolina34.16°N 77.85°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1985, 1991

  • Protects:

    10,000 acres (41 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built/Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Carolinian

  • Tidal Range:

    1.2 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Research Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 38.9 -8.9 17.4
Water: Research Creek High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 37.3 -1.4 19.6
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 492.8 2.0 88.6
pH 10.8 2.2 8.0
Salinity (ppt) 44.2 0.2 28.5
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 30

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North Inlet Winyah Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

South Carolina33.35°N 79.19°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1992

  • Protects:

    12,327 acres (50 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built/Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Carolinian

  • Tidal Range:

    1.4 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Oyster Landing High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36.7 -8.8 17.8
Water: Oyster Landing High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 37.2 -0.9 20.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 139.9 9.7 79.1
pH 9.8 3.2 7.6
Salinity (ppt) 39.7 0.2 32.4
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 14

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ACE Basin

National Estuarine Reserve System

South Carolina32.56°N 80.44°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1992

  • Protects:

    134,710 acres (553 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Carolinian

  • Tidal Range:

    1.9 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Bennett's Point High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 49.1 -39.9 18.9
Water: Mosquito Creek High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 33.2 4.7 20.3
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 127.8 2.6 73.4
pH 8.4 6.3 7.4
Salinity (ppt) 34.1 0.3 18.3
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 32

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Sapelo Island

National Estuarine Reserve System

Georgia31.42°N 81.30°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1976

  • Protects:

    6,110 acres (25 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Carolinian

  • Tidal Range:

    2.3 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Marsh Landing High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 38.2 -14.6 19.9
Water: Lower Duplin High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 40.1 5.8 21.0
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 136.8 0.8 79.0
pH 10.6 5.5 7.8
Salinity (ppt) 41.1 0.1 27.4
Turbidity (NTU) 998 1 51

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Guana Tolomato Matanzas

National Estuarine Reserve System

Florida29.67°N 81.26°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1999

  • Protects:

    55,000 acres (223 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Carolinian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Pellicer Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 39.4 -5.1 20.6
Water: Pellicer Creek High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 35.8 3.6 23.3
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 142.5 7.2 71.1
pH 9.7 2.1 7.4
Salinity (ppt) 47.5 0.1 17.7
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 16

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Rookery Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Florida26.03°N 81.73°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1978

  • Protects:

    110,000 acres (445 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built/Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    West Indian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Pellicer Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36.6 -0.8 22.9
Water: Pellicer Creek High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 34.9 7.3 25.6
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 161.7 8.4 83.4
pH 8.7 4.7 7.9
Salinity (ppt) 42.1 0.1 32.6
Turbidity (NTU) 996 1 15

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Apalachicola Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Florida29.79°N 84.88°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1979

  • Protects:

    246,000 acres (999 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Delta System

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Louisianian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.6 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: East Bay High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 41.1 -39.9 20.1
Water: East Bay Surface High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 34.2 -1.2 22.7
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 183.9 0.1 78.3
pH 10.3 4.0 7.6
Salinity (ppt) 34.1 0.1 9.2
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 16

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Weeks Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Alabama30.42°N 87.82°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1986

  • Protects:

    6,525 acres (35 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Louisianian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.5 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Safe Harbor High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 38.7 -8.3 18.5
Water: Fish River High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 35.1 4.3 22.3
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 199.9 0.1 79.9
pH 9.8 3.9 7.3
Salinity (ppt) 25.2 0.1 7.5
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 24

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Grand Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Mississippi30.38°N 88.44°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1999

  • Protects:

    18,400 acres (73 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Delta System

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Louisianian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Crooked Bayou High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 35.8 -6.7 19.7
Water: Bayou Cumbest High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 36.6 -4.6 23.1
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 215.3 5.3 79.7
pH 9.2 5.2 7.3
Salinity (ppt) 35.0 0.1 17.9
Turbidity (NTU) 993 1 16

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Mission-Aransas

National Estuarine Reserve System

Texas28.13°N 97.03°W

Details

  • Designated:

    2006

  • Protects:

    185,708 acres (752 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain/Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Louisianian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Copano Bay East High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 42.7 -4.2 21.5
Water: Copano Bay East High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 44.8 4.5 23.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 158.6 3.1 97.7
pH 8.9 4.9 8.2
Salinity (ppt) 42.4 0.3 20.2
Turbidity (NTU) 931 1 25

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Jobos Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Puerto Rico17.94°N 66.23°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1981

  • Protects:

    2,883 acres (11 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    West Indian

  • Tidal Range:

    0.6 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Jobos Bay Weather High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36 16.2 26.2
Water: Station 19 High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 39.1 20.0 28.5
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 230.6 20.9 99.9
pH 9.1 6.2 8.0
Salinity (ppt) 68.8 0.1 35.3
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 37

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Old Woman Creek

National Estuarine Reserve System

Ohio41.38°N 82.51°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1980

  • Protects:

    571 acres (2 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Great Lakes

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Old Woman Creek High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 35.1 -25.5 10.2
Water: Lower Estuary High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 34.0 -3.0 16.8
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 314.0 3.7 82.4
pH 9.4 4.2 7.8
Salinity (ppt) 0.8 0.1 0.3
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 63

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Lake Superior

National Estuarine Reserve System

Wisconsin46.69°N 92.17°W

Details

  • Designated:

    2010

  • Protects:

    16,697 acres (68 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar barrier

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Great Lakes

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) No data yet
Water: High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) No data yet
Dissolved Oxygen (%)
pH
Salinity (ppt)
Turbidity (NTU)

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Tijuana River

National Estuarine Reserve System

California32.57°N 117.13°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1982

  • Protects:

    2,513 acres (10 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Bar-built

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Californian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Tidal Linkage High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 36.5 0.1 15.9
Water: Tidal Linkage High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 39.5 5.1 20.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 499.8 0.1 91.6
pH 14.0 2.9 7.7
Salinity (ppt) 40.7 0.2 28.5
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 38

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Elkhorn Slough

National Estuarine Reserve System

California36.82°N 121.74°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1979

  • Protects:

    1,400 acres (6 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain/Tectonic

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Californian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Caspian Weather Station High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 37.2 -2.5 12.5
Water: South Marsh High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 28.7 0.0 15.0
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 444.1 0.1 82.7
pH 10.5 2.1 7.9
Salinity (ppt) 58.6 0.1 31.9
Turbidity (NTU) 996 1 11

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San Francisco Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

California38.19°N 122.03°W

Details

  • Designated:

    2003

  • Protects:

    3,710 acres (15 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Tectonic

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Californian

  • Tidal Range:

    N/A

Monitoring Data

Weather: Rush Ranch High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 40.0 -4.4 14.3
Water: First Mallard High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 27.2 5.7 16.1
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 140.9 2.7 72.0
pH 8.3 6.8 7.6
Salinity (ppt) 10.3 0.3 4.5
Turbidity (NTU) 965 1 46

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South Slough

National Estuarine Reserve System

Oregon43.34°N 124.32°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1974

  • Protects:

    4,779 acres (18 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Coastal Plain/Tectonic

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Columbian

  • Tidal Range:

    3.7 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Charleston Met. Station High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 32.5 -6.3 10.3
Water: Charleston Bridge High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 23.0 0.3 11.6
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 173.1 19.6 95.6
pH 12.1 4.5 8.1
Salinity (ppt) 37.0 0.1 29.7
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 20

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Padilla Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Washington48.50°N 122.50°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1980

  • Protects:

    13,335 acres (43 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Delta System/Fjord

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Columbian

  • Tidal Range:

    3.7 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Padilla Bay Farm High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 29.7 -15.2 9.9
Water: Bayview Channel High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 23.5 -1.5 10.5
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 258.3 38.5 97.1
pH 9.3 6.1 8.0
Salinity (ppt) 32.2 15.4 29.0
Turbidity (NTU) 999 1 6

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Kachemak Bay

National Estuarine Reserve System

Alaska59.60°N 151.41°W

Details

  • Designated:

    1999

  • Protects:

    365,000 acres (1,477 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Fjord

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Fjord

  • Tidal Range:

    8.7 meters

Monitoring Data

Weather: Homer High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C) 23.6 -16.2 4.5
Water: Homer Dolphin Surface High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C) 24.5 -2.3 7.8
Dissolved Oxygen (%) 490.8 0.2 104.6
pH 14.0 3.3 8.1
Salinity (ppt) 32.8 0.1 28.6
Turbidity (NTU) 996 1 11

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He'eia

National Estuarine Reserve System

Hawaii21.44°N 157.81°W

Details

  • Designated:

    2017

  • Protects:

    1,385 acres (5.6 km2)

  • Estuary Type:

    Insular

  • Biogeographic Region:

    Insular

  • Tidal Range:

Monitoring Data

Weather: High Low Ave.
Air temp (°C)
Water: High Low Ave.
Water temp (°C)
Dissolved Oxygen (%)
pH
Salinity (ppt)
Turbidity (NTU)