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About the Park
Assateague Island National Seashore is home to a diversity of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, including the free-roaming, sun-bathing horses the park is known for. The vegetation, geology, and physical processes here, on this barrier island, reflect the complex interactions between land and sea along the mid-Atlantic coast.
Assateague’s coastal lagoons provide clues of the park’s water quality and ecosystem health. While park waters are currently considered to be in good condition, they have nevertheless been impacted by coastal development activities. Similarly, nearby estuaries where more extensive land use has occurred have experienced significant declines in water quality. Poorer water quality is primarily a result of human activities that introduce excess nutrients to the waters. Too much nutrient, also known as nutrient enrichment, negatively impacts the health of estuarine ecosystems.
Our Work with Assateague
The wellbeing of Assateague’s natural resources is essential to local wildlife and surrounding environments. To ensure these resources are well-protected, the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, along with Assateague staff, collects ecological monitoring data on several ecosystem vital signs. This data helps park managers make informed decisions and mitigate local and regional coastal development. Learn about our work below.
Monitored here:
Coastal Shoreline
Coastal Topography
Salt Marsh Elevation
Estuarine Water Quality
Seagrass
Forest Health
Air Quality
Publications
Source: Data Store Saved Search 5643. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.
Last updated: October 3, 2024