gov.noaa.nodc:0305617 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-06-03T13:23:17Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Water quality surveys in Culebra: comprehensive assessment of physical and chemical water characteristics from 2023-02-08 to 2025-01-13 (NCEI Accession 0305617) 2025-07-01 publication 2025-06-25 creation International DOI Foundation (IDF) 10.25921/cryr-nv29 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0305617 NCEI Archive Management System 0305617 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Bernardo Vargas-Ángel NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov https://coast.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation (NMFS/OHC) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-habitat-conservation HTTPS NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation (NMFS/OHC) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Lisa Vandiver NOAA Restoration Center lisa.vandiver@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-habitat-conservation HTTPS NOAA Restoration Center website Institution web page information pointOfContact Viqueira-Rios, Jorge Protectores de Cuencas author Figueroa-Sanchez, Yasiel Protectores de Cuencas author Sanchez, Juan Protectores de Cuencas author Rivera-Rieira, Rebeca Protectores de Cuencas author Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo Lynker, under contract to NOAA Restoration Center bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov author Vandiver, Lisa NOAA Restoration Center https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-habitat-conservation HTTPS NOAA Restoration Center website Institution web page information author NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation (NMFS/OHC) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-habitat-conservation HTTPS NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation (NMFS/OHC) website Institution web page information contributor NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) https://coast.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital This record provides physical, chemical, and pathogenic bacteria water quality metrics collected between February 2023 to January 2025 to provide reference data of nearshore and watershed water quality on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. The water quality monitoring was conducted at 18 fixed stations. Five stations were selected to quantify LBSP stressor loads at key points in the Cabra, Coronel, and Aeropuerto watersheds. Levels of land-based pollutant exposure in the nearshore were measured at 13 nearshore stations co-located with long-term seagrass monitoring sites. Nearshore monitoring sites were selected based on subject expert evaluation of watershed discharge points, coastal hydrodynamics, as well as the existing level of LBSP exposure and anticipated changes to LBSP exposure due to management actions. Nearshore monitoring stations were designated based on their land based sources of pollution LBSP management implementation status (i.e., LBSP Treatment Group) as follows: 1) Restoration stations: Located downstream where land-based pollutant management has or is being implemented. 2) LBSP Control stations: Represent a range of land-based pollutant impairments, including sites with no LBSP management, no known direct discharge of LBSP but are representative of the range of external factors that may be encountered at the Restoration sites. 3) LBSP Negative Reference stations of know significant -anecdotal and quantified- LBSP impairment. 4) Positive Reference sites of low LBSP impairment. Nearshore water quality parameters were collected at two depths: surface (10-25 cm ) and bottom (2 m deep). Watershed water quality was sampled at surface only. Metrics include: 1. Water physical properties: Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH. 2. Indicators of water clarity threats: CDOM Colored Dissolved Organic Matter that absorbs light in the blue and UV part of the electromagnetic spectrum, giving water a yellow-brown color; Turbidity; Chlorophyll-a, used to gain insight of phytoplankton primary productivity, measured as fluorescence at two wave lengths, blue and red; and Kd-PAR Attenuation coefficient of Photosynthetic Active Radiation. 3. Indicators of wastewater threats: Optical brighteners which are whitening agents added to laundry soaps, detergents, toilet paper, and cleaning products to brighten fabrics and/or surfaces, are used to detect the presence of household effluent; and Monochloramines, long-lasting disinfectant used to treat drinking water protecting its quality as it moves through distribution pipes, primarily serving as a marker for the effectiveness of water treatment. 4) Indicators of fecal contamination: Fecal coliforms, the group of bacteria found in fecal matter from warm-blooded animals, including humans; Enterococcus, the group of fecal coliforms specifically used to assess water quality in marine and estuarine environments; and E. coli, a specific type of fecal coliform often considered (but not exclusive) a more reliable indicator due to its specific association with human waste. This work is an integral component of the Culebra Ridge-to-Reef Monitoring Program; a spatiotemporally coordinated effort designed to evaluate the effectiveness of NOAA management strategies and actions in priority watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution (LBSP) impacts to the nearshore marine ecosystems of the island. This ridge-to-reef monitoring framework implements a Multiple Lines of Evidence approach consisting of: 1) Monitoring of LBSP stressors that are being managed through NOAA funding including sediment accumulation at unpaved road stabilization projects, water quality monitoring at key points throughout the watershed, and watershed modeling to estimate pollutant loads into the nearshore coastal environment. 2) Monitoring of LBSP exposure through nearshore water quality and sediment trap monitoring at nearshore fixed stations. 3) Monitoring of nearshore habitat responses that is co-located with the aforementioned nearshore water quality fixed stations and includes data collection via seagrass monitoring transects. Within this context, water quality is characterized and tracked to quantify the land-based pollutant loads and exposure levels in the receiving coastal environment and the associated seagrass and coral reef communities, which are ultimately the focal point of NOAA's LBSP management efforts on Culebra. This data was collected with financial support from the NOAA Restoration Center, the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0305617 Preview graphic PNG 0305617 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2025-06-24 publication bacteria CHLOROPHYLL A Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) DISSOLVED OXYGEN OXYGEN - PERCENT SATURATION pH PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVE RADIATION (PAR) SALINITY SALINITY - BOTTOM WATER SALINITY - SURFACE WATER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE turbidity WATER TEMPERATURE WIND DIRECTION WIND SPEED theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS multi-parameter water quality sensor instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological chemical in situ physical survey theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Caribbean Sea place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NOS/OCM > Office of Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian 30033 Reducing LBSP threats from unpaved roads on Culebra Island project CRCP Project Numeric Data Sets > Water Quality theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Microbiota > Bacteria EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Chemical EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Physical EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Watershed Data EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Chlorophyll EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Nitrogen > Dissolved Organic EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Oxygen EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > pH EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Optics > Photosynthetically Active Radiation EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Water Temperature EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Salinity/Density > Salinity theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC WINDS > SURFACE WINDS > WIND DIRECTION EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC WINDS > SURFACE WINDS > WIND SPEED EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > BACTERIA/ARCHAEA EARTH SCIENCE > CLIMATE INDICATORS > ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS > SURFACE SALINITY EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > CHLOROPHYLL EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > ORGANIC MATTER EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > OXYGEN EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > PH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY ACTIVE RADIATION EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > TURBIDITY EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Water quality metrics theme Provider Keywords COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Culebra Island (18N065W0011) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Culebra Island (18N065W0011) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > CARIBBEAN SEA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Culebra Island, Puerto Rico place Provider Place Names 0LWFGN Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Viqueira-Rios, Jorge; Figueroa-Sanchez, Yasiel; Sanchez, Juan; Rivera-Rieira, Rebeca; Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo; Vandiver, Lisa (2025). Water quality surveys in Culebra: comprehensive assessment of physical and chemical water characteristics from 2023-02-08 to 2025-01-13 (NCEI Accession 0305617). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/cryr-nv29. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. license This dataset has been dedicated to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. SPDX License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0) Vargas-Ángel, B. (2024). Culebra LBSP Ridge to Reef Monitoring Program. 2024-05-31 publication https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024_Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program.pdf HTTPS https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024_Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program.pdf Related report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice for Coastal Management author US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper Vargas-Ángel, B. (2024). Culebra Nearshore Water Quality Monitoring Program Work Plan. 2024-05-31 publication https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024c_Nearshore_WaterQuality_Monitoring_WorkPlan.pdf HTTPS https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024c_Nearshore_WaterQuality_Monitoring_WorkPlan.pdf Related report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice for Coastal Management author US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper Vargas-Ángel, B. (2024). Culebra Seagrass Monitoring Work Plan. 2024-05-24 publication https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024e_Seagrass_Monitoring_Transects_WorkPlan.pdf HTTPS https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024e_Seagrass_Monitoring_Transects_WorkPlan.pdf Related report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice for Coastal Management author US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper Vargas-Ángel, B. (2024). Culebra Cabra Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Work Plan. 2024-06-04 publication https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024b_Watershed_WaterQuality_Monitoring_WorkPlan.pdf HTTPS https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024b_Watershed_WaterQuality_Monitoring_WorkPlan.pdf Related report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice for Coastal Management author US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper Vargas-Ángel, B. (2024). Culebra LBSP Ridge to Reef Monitoring Program Appendix A: Identifying Priority Fixed-Site Monitoring Locations. 2024-05-22 publication https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024f_Appendix-A_Identifying_Priority_Fixed-Site_Monitoring_Locations.pdf HTTPS https://coast.noaa.gov/coral_storage/library/NOAA/CRCP/NMFS/OHC/Projects/30033/Culebra_LBSP_RidgeToReef_Monitoring_Program/Vargas-Angel2024f_Appendix-A_Identifying_Priority_Fixed-Site_Monitoring_Locations.pdf Related report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice for Coastal Management author US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Watershed Working Group Metrics Subcommittee (2016). USCRTF Watershed Partnership Initiative Priority Ecosystem Indicators. 2016 publication https://taskforce.coralreef.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Priority_Ecosystem_Indicators_Final-2_18_16.pdf HTTPS https://taskforce.coralreef.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Priority_Ecosystem_Indicators_Final-2_18_16.pdf Related report information Holst Rice, Susie US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Office for Coastal Management author Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Office for Coastal Management author Bradley, Patricia US Environmental Protection Agency author Slay, Hudson US Environmental Protection Agency author Wiltse, Wendy US Environmental Protection Agency author Storlazzi, Curt US DOI; US Geological Survey author Montgomery, Tony US DOI; Fish and Wildlife Service author Sturm, Paul Ridge to Reefs author Viqueira, Roberto Protectores de Cuencas author Callender, Tova West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative author Curtis, Meagan American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group author Dean, Jennie National Fish and Wildlife Foundation author U.S. Coral Reef Task Force publisher documentDigital crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA utf8 environment oceans climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere biota -65.3083333 -65.2444444 18.288611 18.319444 2023-02-08 2025-01-13 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 0.28 https://doi.org/10.25921/cryr-nv29 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/305617 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/305617 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0235/0305617/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0305617 v1.1 was published. 2025-07-01T13:24:36Z NCEI Accession 0305617 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0305617/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0305617 v1.1 published 2025-07-01T13:24:36Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: Water quality metrics (measured); Units: degrees C, ppb, PSU, %Saturation, mg/L, ug/L, rfu, NTU; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: multi-parameter water quality sensor; Sampling and Analyzing Method: In the field general water physicochemical characteristics, and clarity were measured implementing the Eureka Manta 35 Water Quality Sonde; surface salinity was measured using the HANNA HI98319U portable marine salinometer, Monochloramine with the HACH SL100 Portable Analyzer, and optical brighteners with the Turner AquaFluor handheld fluorometer. PAR was assessed using the Apogee buoy-suspended light sensing system and estimates of KdPAR were computed as the normalized average of surface and bottom measurements. The Quanti-Tray system was implemented to detect the presence of fecal coliforms using the Most Probable Number (MPN) model.; Data Quality Method: The quality control occurred at three major stages: 1) instrument calibration; 2) data entry; and 3) data management. Data entry quality control included both review and manual error correction steps including purging data outside the instruments' parameter detection ranges. Water quality measurements were made implementing state-of-the-art instrumentation. Handheld GPS units were used to locate sites and mark site locations. Survey methods were consistent across dates and sites. Data gaps may originate from, but not limited to, instrument malfunction, weather conditions, and the data quality control process. asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian multi-parameter water quality sensor multi-parameter water quality sensor used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters Instrument used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters, often used to measure water quality parameters. Can be a hand-held instrument or a sonde for unattended monitoring. Often used in coastal water monitoring stations. YSI is the preeminent brand (as of 2024).