Continuous measurement of water level with tide gauges at one location in Salinity, surface and bottom, monthly. Water transparency, Sechi depth, and suspended particulate material, Chlorophyll-a surface concentration, monthly. Nutrient concentrations at

Figure 22 shows the location of suggested sampling sites appropriate for a monitoring program. The locations of these sites are based on the functional dynamics of Terminos Lagoon and the habitats or subsystems defined in Table 2 and Figure 10. These sampling sites cover the two Inlets, the Inner littoral of Carmen Island, the Central Basin, and the Fluvial-lagoon system inlets to the lagoon. Site 1 = Puerto Real Inlet Site 2 = Inner Littoral Carmen Island Isla Pajaros Site 3 = Estero Pargo Inlet Site 4 = Carmen Inlet Site 5 = Central Basin western Site 6 = Central Basin mid western Site 7 = Central Basin mid eastern Site 8 = Central basin eastern Site 9 = Fluvial-lagoon Candelaria river inlet Site 10 = Fluvial-lagoon Chumpan river inlet Site 11 = Fluvial-lagoon Palizada river inlet Site 12 = Fluvial-lagoon Atasta inlet For monitoring the water column Sites 1 to 12, we recommend consideration of the following parameters and frequencies of sampling:

1. Continuous measurement of water level with tide gauges at one location in

the lagoon. Measurements of climate data such as temperature, rainfall, and cloud cover. For monthly measurements, water column depth, time, tidal state, and current speed and direction should be measured in addition to temperature, pH, and conductivity.

2. Salinity, surface and bottom, monthly.

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3. Water transparency, Sechi depth, and suspended particulate material,

monthly.

4. Chlorophyll-a surface concentration, monthly.

5. Nutrient concentrations at the surface, monthly.

6. Oxygen concentration at surface and bottom, monthly.

7. Coliform bacteria at the surface and in Crassotrea virginica reefs. Monthly,

particularly at Sites 4 and 9 to 12.

8. Depending on the instrument used, temperature, pH, conductivity, and

other parameters can be obtained. For sites 1, 2 and 3 in Thalassia testudinum beds, we recommend the following parameters and frequencies of sampling : 1. Seagrass biomass, monthly, or seasonally as described in the next point. 2. Distribution of seagrasses can be monitored using aerial photographs, three time per year, in February end of ‘nortes’ season, May end of dry season, and October the highest river discharge at the end of the rainy season. For sites for mangrove sampling in Estero Pargo, Boca Chica, and Atasta, in Rhizophora mangle and Avicenia germinans habitats, we recommend the following parameters and frequencies of sampling :

1. Mangrove litterfall, monthly. 2. Mangrove stem growth, yearly.

3. Soil accretion, yearly.