The Goodwin Islands are a 315 ha (777 acre) archipelago of salt-marsh islands surrounded by inter-tidal flats, extensive submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds (121 ha; 300 acres), a single constructed oyster reef and shallow open estuarine waters. Salt marsh vegetation is dominated by salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and salt meadow hay (Spartina patens). Forested wetland ridges are dominated by estuarine scrub/shrub vegetation. Mixed oak and pine communities are found on upland ridges located on the largest island. Water circulation patterns around the island are influenced by York River discharge and wind patterns of the Chesapeake Bay. Tides at the Goodwin Islands are semi-diurnal and display an average range of 0.7 m (range: 0.4 - 1.1 m).

Water quality ranges listed here were observed from data recorded between October 1997 and December 1998. Mean water temperature at the Goodwin Islands sampling station ranged from 7 °C in winter to 27 °C in summer. Minimum and maximum water temperatures recorded were 2.3 °C (January) and 31.6 °C (July). Mean monthly salinity ranged from 9.9 ppt (January) to 27.5 ppt (November). Mean salinity was greatest (23-25 ppt) during the summer and fall and lowest (13-15 ppt) during the winter and spring. Mean dissolved oxygen readings were near saturation during the examined time period except between July-August. Dissolved oxygen readings ranged from 23.6% (October) to 195.7% saturation (May); hypoxia is rarely observed.

Location and Access:

The Goodwin Islands (37° 13' N; 76° 23' W) component of the CBNERRVA is located on the southern side of the mouth of the York River. The islands are at the northeastern tip of York County approximately 22 km down the York River from VIMS. The Goodwin Islands are accessible only by boat. The nearest mainland is 0.2 km across the Sand Box Thoroughfare. Permission is required for specific activities on the island. Please call the Research Reserve office for further information.

Monitoring Programs:

Water Quality Monitoring - An Endeco YSI Environmental Monitoring System PC6600 or PC6000 is deployed in a permanent station on the southeastern side of the islands. The sampling station is located in a shallow embayment approximately 400 meters from shore. Average water depth at the station is on the order of 1 m. Beds of submerged aquatic vegetation dominated by eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) are interspersed with unvegetated subtidal sand flats surround the sampling station.

Water temperature, depth, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity and turbidity have been recorded semi-continuously (15 minute interval) at the Goodwin Islands since October 1997. Water column fluorescence, an indirect measurement of chlorophyll-a, began in 2001. Since 2002, water column inorganic nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, ortho-phosphate), total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus, and chlorophyll are determined monthly at the water quality monitoring station.

Biological Monitoring - The Goodwin Islands are a sampling site for the CBNERRVA York River shallow water seine survey. Fish, blue crab and grass shrimp size and density data have been collected since 1997 from this site. The Goodwin Islands are sampled monthly from February - July. Information on research projects investigating the oyster population on a created subtidal oyster reef near the island, the salt marsh plant community and nekton communities in the marsh, submerged aquatic vegetation and the waters around Goodwin Island are also available. Contact Reserve staff for more information regarding CBNERRVA monitoring programs.