Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve Site Metadata Form Version 1.0 (July-December 1995) Latest Update August 12, 1997

Water quality monitoring is conducted at 26 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR)
at four locations within or adjacent to the reserve. The following parameters are collected at
least every 30 minutes: water temperature, specific conductivity, salinity, percent saturation,
dissolved oxygen concentration, water depth, pH and turbidity. All water quality data loggers
will be deployed from a known depth from the bottom at each site. Research objectives
Measurements are taken every 30 minutes over two week periods at one site in each component
river of Delaware's National Estuarine Research Reserve (St. Jones River and Blackbird Creek).
The St. Jones River is impacted by urbanization upstream and extensive agricultural activity
throughout the basin. The Blackbird Creek is one of the least impacted riverine systems in
Delaware.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Associated researchers and projects An extensive stormwater
sampling and hydrodynamic modeling project is underway in the upper reaches of the St. Jones
River Basin. This project includes flow weighted stormwater sampling to quantify pollutant loads
from each of the major landuses found in the Basin. A joint effort underway through NOAA's
Coastal Service Center and the DNERR characterization studies will initiate detailed monthly
water quality sampling at three sites in each river over a two year period and will quantify the
phytoplankton community with collections from the same sites. (See Section I.1. for research
contacts.) II. Physical Structure Descriptors Other remarks/notes

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE:
Observed

SPATIAL DATA ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
Indirect Spatial Reference: Site location and character The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve is comprised of two component sites,
the St. Jones River and Blackbird Creek components. Both components are located along the
Delaware Bay Coast. The St. Jones River Component is located in central Kent County Delaware,
east of the State Capitol City, Dover. The Blackbird Creek component is located in the
unincorporated area of Southern New Castle County. There are two sampling sites, one located in
each DNERR component. 1) Scotton Landing - is located in the Lower St. Jones River at the
Scotton Landing Public Fishing Pier, just up stream of Delaware Route 113. The site is
influenced by freshwater runoff from the relatively urbanized area upstream. Salinity ranges
from 8 - 30 ppt. Position: Latitude 39 degree 05' 05.9160" N Longitude 75 degree 27' 38.1049" W
2) Blackbird Landing - is located in the upper Blackbird Creek at Blackbird Landing Road. The
site is influenced by freshwater runoff from unimpacted forested areas intermixed with
agricultural land uses and a small amount of low density development. Salinity ranges from 2-7
ppt. Position: Latitude 39 degree 23' 19.5196" N Longitude 75 degree 38' 09.5882" W.