PacIOOS Nearshore Sensor Clean Water Branch 004: Keehi Lagoon, Oahu, Hawaii

The nearshore sensors are part of the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) and are designed to measure a variety of ocean parameters at fixed points. nss_cwb_004 was located separately at two locations within Keehi Lagoon near Keehi Lagoon Beach Park and the Interstate H-1 freeway on the South Shore of Oahu in the State of Hawaii for the Department of Health (DOH) Clean Water Branch (CWB). The CWB collected these data to assess water quality in the lagoon to determine whether state water quality standards are being met and to monitor how the water quality is changing over time.

Due to the triangle shape of the boat canal and multiple islands within the lagoon, water circulation is limited, in particular in the vicinity of the stream mouths. The sensor package was mounted to a PVC mooring at approximately 2.5 meters depth. PacIOOS nearshore sensors monitor coastal water conditions to help provide early indications of potentially polluted run-off from storm drainage, sewage spills, and soil erosion from land-based waterways such as streams and other outflows that lead directly into the ocean.