Water Quality Protection Program

An aerial view of the clear, blue, nearshore waters of the Florida Keys — Shallow areas with clear water and few particles often appear turquoise. This happens because as light reaches the ocean floor, it bounces off the sandy bottom, making the water appear shades of brilliant blue and turquoise. Photo: Jack Fishman

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program was the first such program developed for a marine sanctuary in the nation. The program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection in cooperation with NOAA. An interagency Steering Committee, which guides the program's implementation, has worked since the mid-1990s to understand and address sources of pollution and maintain the water quality conditions needed for healthy coral reefs, seagrass, and marine wildlife populations to thrive in sanctuary waters. The program supports the protection and restoration of water quality through a series of corrective actions, monitoring, research and special studies, and education and outreach activities.

Corrective Actions

Two boats moored in shallow water — Liveaboards can play a key role in maintaining nearshore water quality by following pump out protocols. Photo: FWC

Corrective actions include activities that directly mitigate water pollution by modifying regulations, prohibiting or restricting certain activities, and implementing pollution control measures. A major focus of the Water Quality Protection Program has been on reducing nutrient inputs and improving nearshore water quality by upgrading wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, restoring canals, and supporting the establishment of water quality standards for the Florida Keys that are protective of coastal marine resources.

Long-Term Monitoring Programs

An aerial view of calm mangrove islands at sunrise — The above-ground roots of mangroves slow down water flows and encourage sediment deposits, as well as filtering nitrates, phosphates, and pollutants from the water. Photo: Jack Fishman

Long-term monitoring programs have been established to provide information about the status and trends of water quality, coral reefs, and seagrass habitats in the sanctuary. The monitoring programs help document patterns and trajectories in the sanctuary's water quality and biological communities, provide insight into the complex balance of the marine ecosystem in the Florida Keys, and help researchers and managers understand likely drivers of large-scale changes.

The Water Quality Monitoring Program includes monitoring at locations throughout the sanctuary to provide information on long term trends in nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and other parameters that are used to measure the condition of nearshore waters and identify how sanctuary waters are influenced by activities outside the Florida Keys.

The Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) provides information on the status and trends of coral reef and hard-bottom habitats at fixed stations over time. Research findings provide important information to resource managers about coral health as it relates to water quality, and support resource management decisions that will guide coral restoration and promote resilience. This is an important part of the Water Quality Protection Program's monitoring network because the health of the coral reef ecosystem in the Florida Keys depends on the quality of water in which the corals live. Excess nutrients, sediment, and pollutants in the water can increase algae growth, which lowers water quality and can smother coral reefs. Pollution can also make corals more susceptible to disease, impede coral growth and reproduction, and cause changes in food structures on the reef. Coral reef research and monitoring are especially important for tracking the effects of increasing seawater temperatures and sea level rise associated with the Earth's changing climate.

The Seagrass Monitoring Program measures the status and trends of seagrass communities across the sanctuary, which encompasses part of the largest contiguous seagrass meadow on Earth. Measuring the spatial extent and species composition of seagrasses provides information about nutrient levels in the water. Low nutrient conditions, which are predominant in most sanctuary waters, favor the growth of turtle grass. In contrast, high nutrient conditions result in the loss of such seagrasses in favor of nutrient-loving algae that are indicative of deteriorating water quality. This monitoring effort can detect water quality driven changes in seagrass meadows even before there has been any significant loss of this vital habitat.

Mangroves in the distance and clear water in the foreground. — A healthy ecosystem is able to balance itself to maintain a stable state even in the face of minor disturbances. Photo: Scott Atwell/NOAA

Research and Special Studies

Research and special studies address specific management concerns and help elucidate the origins, transport pathways, and effects of pollutants on sanctuary resources. Such research helps improve understanding of sanctuary ecosystems and provides information on the effectiveness of management actions implemented to reduce pollution. Special studies in the Water Quality Protection Program have helped scientists and managers better understand a host of topics including groundwater seepage, the effects of mosquito-control measures on non-target animals, human pathogens in canals, and the effects of pharmaceutical drugs on marine life.

Education and Outreach

Education and outreach efforts include activities to increase public awareness of the sanctuary, the Water Quality Protection Program, pollution sources and impacts on the sanctuary's resources, and opportunities for individuals and communities to protect water quality. This also includes efforts to seek public input on water quality concerns and priorities for action within the Water Quality Protection Program. Everyone can support good water quality in the sanctuary. For additional information, read Water Quality: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 1 Mb). For more information on water quality regulations that affect boaters, read Boaters: Vessel Sewage Restrictions Protect Environment (PDF, 1 Mb).