Eelgrass Health and Water Quality in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire

An interdisciplinary project examined the resilience of eelgrass in Great Bay Estuary over a 20-year decline period. The project combined hydrodynamic modeling and field observations to assess stressors like nitrogen loading and sediment dynamics. It was produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and includes a technical report and interactive story map.

Use Cases

• Modeling nitrogen loading impacts on eelgrass health based on hydrodynamic modeling results
• Analyzing connections between water residence time and estuarine resilience based on project findings
• Informing sediment management strategies alongside nitrogen control based on project recommendations
• Developing educational materials on estuarine ecosystems based on the project's outreach products

Strengths

• Project involved a Project Advisory Committee with input from 14 organizations
• Includes a comprehensive technical report and an interactive story map
• Directly informs adaptive management plans and future EPA permit modifications

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Combined hydrodynamic modeling and new field observations

Time Range

Focuses on a 20-year decline period, with a permit issued in 2020

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 22:19:26.655899; freshness should be verified

Geography

Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire