CRAFTING THE MESSAGE

Increased harmful algal bloom species from degraded water quality threaten the Assateague Island ecosystem.

Assateague Island National Seashore is a popular tourist destination, and prior research of the National Park’s coastal waters shows early indication of elevated nutrients and presence of harmful algal blooms, but there is no systematic coastal water quality monitoring. Therefore, continued coastal water nutrient and harmful algal bloom research is essential to understanding and protecting the Assateague Island ecosystem as a whole.