gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:71316 eng UTF8 dataset Office for Coastal Management resourceProvider Cothran, Jeremy jeremy.cothran@gmail.com pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:17 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Assessing the Current and Potential Role of Shellfish for Improving Water Quality - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative) 2024-03 creation 2026 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 71316 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/71316 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Smyth20 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Smyth20 Online Resource download By leveraging reserve capacity and deepening relationships, this project fostered connectedness between people and data to strengthen water quality restoration efforts in Guana River Estuary. The Project The Guana River Estuary in northeast Florida is impacted by excess nutrients, regular occurrences of algal blooms, and a clear gradient of human influence from the headwaters to the estuary. In 2022, Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined that the Guana River Estuary headwaters, Guana Lake, and Guana River do not meet state water quality standards for nutrient concentrations. Restoring shellfish populations in ecosystems like the Guana River Estuary, can help improve water quality, since shellfish like oysters and mussels naturally filter water and increase removal of excess nutrients. However, this approach requires that ecosystem managers have a better understanding of how nitrogen moves through their estuary and the capacities of shellfish communities to remove nitrogen (N). Key information gaps include the distribution of shellfish species, the efficacy of different shellfish for nutrient removal, and the effects that water quality may have on shellfish function. By leveraging a well-established collaborative group, GTM Reserve's Oyster and Water Quality Task Force, and engaging additional users, this project helped to fill these gaps and support more holistic water quality management efforts in and around the Guana River Estuary. To assist with the development of restoration and management plans, this project: 1.Identified how land use change in the watershed affects the delivery of N to Guana Lake; 2. Surveyed shellfish distributions and condition; 3. Quantified filtration and N removal by shellfish; 4. Conducted field experiments to assess how N affects phytoplankton biomass and shellfish growth rates; and, 5. Quantified N removal via denitrification throughout the Guana River Estuary. The project not only generated valuable water quality and shellfish data but it also established a path for increased research and monitoring by fostering connectedness between people and data. The combination of robust data, open and transparent discussions, and regular check-ins increased trust in science, deepened relationships, and generated a number of products, including shellfish distribution maps, shellfish filtration and denitrification rates, sediment nutrient fluxes and denitrification rates along the salinity gradient, monitoring and restoration recommendations, and peer-reviewed and outreach publications. These outcomes will strengthen water quality restoration efforts in the Guana River Estuary and the greater watershed area. The Impact Generated robust data on water quality, potential solutions, and recommendations that have enabled organizations to advocate for water quality in the Guana River Estuary. Established new relationships and strengthened existing ones, creating a network of expertise to rely on for spin-off questions and future collaborations. Built trust in the science by providing opportunities for partners to engage with and discuss the data. completed Office for Coastal Management 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Office for Coastal Management Website Website listed for Office for Coastal Management information custodian asNeeded EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > MOLLUSKS > BIVALVES > OYSTERS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > COASTAL > SALT MARSH EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > OYSTER REEF EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > NUTRIENTS > NITROGEN theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 ecosystem engineer ecosystem service foundation species nitrogen cycling oyster map ribbed mussel salt march accretion wild hog theme Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR, FL place DOC/NOAA/NOS/OCM > Office of Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian NERRS project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Office for Coastal Management, [Date of Access]: Assessing the Current and Potential Role of Shellfish for Improving Water Quality - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative) [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/71316. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC). otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: The distributor does not assume liability. unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 71316 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nos/ocm/dmp/pdf/71316.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US oceans -81.39 -81.15 29.59 30.18 Guana Tolomato Matanzas, FL NERR | Currentness: Ground Condition 2021-04-01 2024-03-01 ==Project Lead Ashley Smyth, University of Florida, ashley.smyth@ufl.edu ==Collaborative Leads Nikki Dix, GTM NERR, Nikki.Dix@dep.state.fl.us Kaitlyn Dietz, GTM NERR, Kaitlyn.Dietz@dep.state.fl.us ==Technical Leads Christine Angelini, University of Florida Alexander Reisinger, University of Florida Shirley Baker, University of Florida Peter Ifju, University of Florida Hallie Fischman, University of Florida, halliefischman@ufl.edu Jayla Kindelspire, University of Florida Orlando Cordero, University of Florida false eng false Other N/A 2023-11-06 publication Multiple formats Office for Coastal Management 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Office for Coastal Management Website Website listed for Office for Coastal Management information distributor https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Smyth20 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Smyth20 download dataset Representativeness N/A This information is detailed within the project links. N/A Office for Coastal Management processor N/A