Humans strongly impact the dynamics of coastal systems, yet surprisingly few studies mechanistically link management of anthropogenic stressors and successful restoration of nearshore habitats over large spatial and temporal scales. Such examples are sorely needed to ensure the success of ecosystem restoration efforts worldwide.

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The Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and their managing organization, the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey, have chosen the emerging climate science field of Ecological Drought as a research focus area. This newsletter highlights the outcomes of a two-day workshop held in Honolulu, Hawai'i as part of a series of meetings at each of the nation’s eight CSCs.

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This guide was developed to help basin managers, decision makers and other water resource management practitioners navigate an increasingly complex ‘jungle of indicators’. It provides scientific, technical and communication guidance on use of indicators for better basin resource planning and management.

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Este boletim de saúde ambiental fornece uma avaliação transparente, oportuna, e geograficamente detalhada da saúde da Baía de Guanabara e sua bacia hidrográfica usando dados de monitoramento de 2013-2015. A saúde da Baía de Guanabara e da sua bacia hidrográfica são definidas através da análise de cinco indicadores comparados com limites ou metas cientificamente determinadas.

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This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of health in Guanabara’s Bay and basin using data from 2013-2015. Guanabara Bay health and Guanabara Bay Basin health are defined as the progress of five water quality indicators toward scientifically-derived thresholds or goals. The indicators are combined into two water quality scores, one score for the Bay, and one for the Basin.

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This technical document summarizes the methodology for the Guanabara Bay Report Card.

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Chronic seasonal low oxygen condition (hypoxia) occurs in the deep waters of Chesapeake Bay as a result of eutrophication-induced phytoplankton blooms and their subsequent decomposition. Summertime hypoxia has been observed in Chesapeake Bay for over 80 years, with scientific attention and understanding increasing substantially during the past several decades after rigorous and routine monitoring programs were put in place.

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This newsletter describes the collaborative project between the University of South Carolina, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association to assess levels of bacteria in recreational waterways in Charleston Harbor. The goal of this project is to better inform the public on safety risks in various recreational waterways due to bacteria levels.

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This newsletter describes the collaborative project between the University of South Carolina, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association to assess levels of bacteria in recreational waterways in Charleston Harbor. The goal of this project is to better inform the public on safety risks in various recreational waterways due to bacteria levels.

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Chesapeake Bay has undergone profound changes since European settlement. Increases in human and livestock populations, associated changes in land use, increases in nutrient loadings, shoreline armoring, and depletion of fish stocks have altered the important habitats within the Bay. Submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a critical foundational habitat and provides numerous benefits and services to society.

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