Long-term Monitoring in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)

Site:

28 coastal sites around the nation

Purpose(s):

(1) Long-term monitoring of land elevation and water level changes in a delicate coastal ecosystem
(2) Provide vertical control for multiple research projects

Summary:

NGS has helped establish high accuracy vertical control networks in many NERRS sites around the nation to support coastal restoration, research, testing of new geodetic technologies, and monitoring the effects of local relative sea level rise. NGS has also trained many scientists and managers at the Reserves about the importance of connecting long-term monitoring systems to a high accuracy vertical network, how to install basic geospatial infrastructure, and how to collect geodetic observations. For example, Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) and deep rod marks have been installed, and these marks have been connected through GPS or leveling to establish high accuracy local vertical networks on site. For more information on the NERRS, visit the Reserve System's website.