Estuarine Sediment Quality Measurements at Cumberland Island National Seashore (2007)

Thirty sampling sites in Cumberland Island National Seashore waterways were assessed for sediment quality in 2007. The dataset contains multiple sediment parameters per location, collected as part of a probabilistic monitoring protocol modeled after the EPA's National Coastal Assessment. Samples were analyzed by GPL Laboratories, LLC.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of sediment contamination by comparing parameter measurements across the thirty sites in Cumberland River, Mud Creek, and other waterways.
• Model relationships between different sediment parameters recorded per sampling location to identify environmental correlations.
• Establish baseline sediment quality conditions for the 2007 assessment period to support decadal trend analysis under the Southeast Coast I&M Network protocol.

Strengths

• Data collection follows a standardized EPA-modeled probabilistic sampling design for coastal assessment.
• Samples cover thirty distinct sites across five estuarine and riverine systems within a protected national seashore.
• Analytical work was conducted by a professional laboratory (GPL Laboratories, LLC), with documented procedures.

Limitations

• Dataset is from a single year (2007), limiting analysis of temporal trends without subsequent decadal surveys.
• The specific sediment parameters and their measurement units are not detailed in the available metadata.
• Data is provided in XML and ZIP formats, which may require parsing and extraction before analytical use.

Provenance

Source

Department of the Interior, Southeast Coast I&M Network

Collection Method

Sediment sampling using a Van Veen sampler at thirty probabilistically selected sites, with composite analysis per the National Coastal Assessment Quality Assurance Project Plan.

Time Range

2007

Freshness

null

Geography

Cumberland Island National Seashore, encompassing the Cumberland River, Mud Creek, Brickhill River, Cumberland Sound, and St. Marys River, United States.