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Many estuaries in the northeast are threatened by nutrient over-enrichment and consequent eutrophication, with resulting losses of biological diversity and habitat value. At Acadia National Park, excessive nutrient loading of coastal systems is one of the most significant resource management challenges. Baseline investigations have highlighted the susceptibility of Park estuaries to nutrient inputs and the threats posed by rapidly increasing residential development outside the Park boundary. Protecting estuarine resources from continued nutrient inputs requires the ability to predict responses to potential increases in nutrient loading resulting from changing land-use patterns and to detect early changes in estuarine status.
This project is focusing on a small, Ruppia (widgeon grass) dominated system at Acadia National Park, the Northeast Creek Estuary, using an interdisciplinary approach at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. Overall project goals are to link land use to nutrient loading and ecological responses and to adept a scientifically based estuarine monitoring program to local conditions. The following specific objectives are being addressed in 2000-2003:
This project will develop tools that resource managers can use to assess and predict changes in estuarine status related to nutrient loads. Specific products include the following:
