Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring

The goal of this effort is to provide reliable ambient water quality information on marine areas where there is a concentration of marine transportation activity. Scientific evaluation of ambient marine water quality data provides information for how best to protect human health and the environment.

Since 2015, DEC has monitored select ports and waterways for a suite of parameters including dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, salinity, bacteria (fecal coliform and enterococci), ammonia as nitrogen, copper (total and dissolved), nickel (total and dissolved), and zinc (total and dissolved). The 2020 and 2021 assessments were conducted to evaluate water quality during the period of decreased ship traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Water quality sampling is occurring in 19 Alaskan ports and in 30 high traffic shipping lanes.

Water Quality Reports and Watershed Plans

For questions contact: maryann.fidel@alaska.gov