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National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)

Weekly Report – October 17, 2007

Nutrient Analyses in Vieques, Puerto Rico to Support Local Restoration Activities

Scientists from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA)conducted nutrient analyses in Vieques, Puerto Rico that will be incorporated into an integrated assessment to help target restoration efforts and facilitate management of these valuable marine resources. On September 23-25, CCMA scientists traveled to Vieques to collect water samples to characterize nutrient concentrations in coastal lagoons and near-shore waters around the island. CCMA scientists, working in close cooperation with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, will analyze the water samples for total phosphorus, nitrate, ammonium, urea, orthophosphate, and silica. This field mission represents the fourth of eight sampling missions to Vieques designed to assess the variability in nutrient pollution across space and time. For more information contact Dave Whitall at (301)713-3028 x138 or Dave.Whitall@noaa.gov .

Federal Collaboration Plans Field Activities to Assess Impacts of Agriculture on Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Scientists from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), in collaboration with multiple partners are working with the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices in reducing the input of chemicals, such as pesticides and nutrients, to the Reserve. Project partners include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-ARS), U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Puerto Rican Land Authority. Researchers from NCCOS and USDA-ARS met with local scientists in Aguirre, Puerto Rico from September 18-20 to finalize sampling logistics including selecting sampling sites both in the Reserve and in the watershed. Field work for this effort will begin in early FY08. For more information contact Dave Whitall at (301) 713-3028 x138 or Dave.Whitall@noaa.gov or Adam Zitello at (301) 713-3028 x176 or Adam.Zitello@noaa.gov .