Statewide Ecosystem Assessment of Coastal Aquatic Resources Project of Special Merit Science Stories in Your Community

Several Aquatic Preserve staff from the Southeast Region presented slides or posters at the SEACAR Project of Special Merit’s (PSM) Science Stories in Your Community Public Seminar showcasing work done in the region alongside the PSM team’s larger science communications initiatives. 

Lara Bracci’s poster, titled Importance of Water Quality Sampling in Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve, explains DEP’s Water Quality Assessment project that started in 2014. The project aims to identify and reduce pollutants and their impacts from land-based sources on coral reef ecosystems. The graphs represented trends among four nutrients at inlet sites, reef sites and outfall sites. Lara serves as the Land-Based Sources of Pollution Coordinator for the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (KJCAP).  

Tristan Clute’s poster, titled Exposing the Mysteries of North Biscayne Bay: What Continuous Monitoring Reveals That Periodic Sampling Misses, compares the two programs that make up the monthly water quality monitoring efforts for Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP). Sampling efforts for all of Biscayne Bay by many different entities attempted to capture a picture of what was happening in the beloved estuary, but we didn’t know what wasn’t being sampled because of issues, ranging from time constraints to access to sample equipment, therefore in 2019 BBAP established a network of (now) seven continuous datalogger stations and 23 monthly bottle-grab sites to better understand the conditions of the bay at all times of day all throughout the year. Tristan serves as the Water Quality Technician for BBA

Stephanie Stinson’s poster, titled Stakeholder Engagement in the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve, highlighted the wide variety of outreach methods that KJCAP staff use to engage local communities and visitors in order to foster greater stewardship among the stakeholder groups that enjoy and depend on the region’s marine resources. Stephanie serves as the Fishing, Diving and Other Uses Coordinator for CRCP and KJCAP. 

Genevieve Schave’s presentation, titled Water Quality: Collection, Technology, and Outreach, highlighted DEP’s water quality program in the Florida Keys Aquatic Preserves (FKAP), focused on the equipment and collection process, new technology recently installed in each preserve and how the office is working to increase education and outreach within the local community. Genevieve serves as the Water Quality Protection Program Coordinator for FKNMS and FKAP.