Coastal Charlotte Harbor Monitoring Network
CCHMN
CHNEP manages the Coastal Charlotte Harbor Monitoring Network (CCHMN), a partnership of agencies initiated in 2001 that collects monthly water quality data using consistent, technically sound sampling design. Long-term random sampling of strategically located stations allows scientific assessment of status and trends. CCHMN field and laboratory partners collect and analyze water samples from 60 randomly selected field sites throughout 10 waterbodies each month, including Lemon Bay, Cape Haze/Gasparilla Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, San Carlos Bay, Estero Bay, and the Tidal Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee Rivers. Fifteen water quality parameters are measured and analyzed using consistent field and laboratory methods (CHNEP 2015 and CHNEP 2016).
Data are uploaded biannually by partners to WIN (Watershed Information Network), previously called STORET (Storage and Retrieval), a standard, common public database maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, all contributing CCHMN laboratories and field monitoring agencies participate in Southwest Florida Regional Ambient Monitoring Program (SWF RAMP) quarterly meetings to help ensure region-wide data and methodology comparability. The SWF RAMP serves as a quality assurance forum for comparing split-sample laboratory results, resolving inconsistencies in results, and discussing pertinent water quality monitoring issues.