Monitoring

• Monitoring Overview
• Aquatic Plants (Fresh Water)
• Macroinvertebrates
• Estuaries
• Aquatic Plants (Saltwater)
• Washington State
  Water Quality Regulations
• Washington State
  Water Quality Standards

• Methods
• Forms

Monitoring Saltwater Plants

Why should we monitor these plants?

The amount of plant material produced annually by an ecosystem is called productivity. Coastal salt marshes rank among the systems with the highest productivity of any in the world. The dead/decomposing plant material (detritus) is just as important as the living plant material.

When is the best time of year to look for these plants?

This depends on the plants you are looking for. Many salt marsh plants grow at different times of the year which reduces competition for food and light. You should visit your site beginning in April and continue through July to record plant growth cycles, before you begin a monitoring program.