Citizen Monitoring of the Coastal Environment: Baywatch of Mobile Bay, Alabama (1991-1993)

Dataset extent

The Water Quality Act of 1987 established the National Estuary Program, which has as one of its objectives the formation of citizen groups for monitoring the quality of coastal waters. One such group that formed to monitor Mobile Bay was called Baywatch.

Under the guidance of Dr. George Crozier of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), and in association with the Mobile Field Office of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), citizens were trained to collect and analyze water samples once a week between 10am and 2pm for 50 stations located in the Mobile Bay delta, Mississippi Sound, Weeks Bay, Perdido Bay, and several local streams. Parameters measured included water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, air temperature, and rainfall. Water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured from both surface and bottom waters where possible.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Author Lei Hu
Maintainer data@disl.org
Last Updated October 31, 2024, 18:10 (UTC)
Created July 23, 2022, 03:05 (UTC)
Access_Constraints Please contact DISL Data Management for access to the dataset.
ISO 19115 Topic Categories inlandWaters, environment, climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Place Keywords Mobile Delta, Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound, Weeks Bay, Perdido Bay, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama, DISL
Theme Keywords water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, air temperature, rainfall, water quality, monitoring, citizen science, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Use_Constraints Acknowledgment of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Marine Resources Division, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mobile County Environmental Studies Center, and the Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center is required in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. Dauphin Island Sea Lab cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system, nor for improper or incorrect use of these data based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and should not be used as such.
dc.coverage.placeName Mobile Delta Mobile Bay Mississippi Sound Weeks Bay Perdido Bay Dauphin Island Sea Lab Alabama DISL
dc.coverage.t.max 19931229T
dc.coverage.t.min 19910102T
dc.coverage.x.max -87.45
dc.coverage.x.min -88.1683
dc.coverage.y.max 30.8335193
dc.coverage.y.min 30.2718
dc.creator DISL: Crozier Lab
dc.date Unpublished material
dc.description The Water Quality Act of 1987 established the National Estuary Program, which has as one of its objectives the formation of citizen groups for monitoring the quality of coastal waters. One such group that formed to monitor Mobile Bay was called Baywatch. Under the guidance of Dr. George Crozier of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), and in association with the Mobile Field Office of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), citizens were trained to collect and analyze water samples once a week between 10am and 2pm for 50 stations located in the Mobile Bay delta, Mississippi Sound, Weeks Bay, Perdido Bay, and several local streams. Parameters measured included water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, air temperature, and rainfall. Water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured from both surface and bottom waters where possible.
dc.language en
dc.subject water temperature salinity dissolved oxygen turbidity air temperature rainfall water quality monitoring citizen science Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
dc.title Citizen Monitoring of the Coastal Environment: Baywatch of Mobile Bay, Alabama (1991-1993)
spatial { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ -88.1683, 30.8335193 ], [ -87.45, 30.8335193 ], [ -87.45, 30.2718 ], [ -88.1683, 30.2718 ], [ -88.1683, 30.8335193 ] ] ] }