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About the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment

The Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment's mission is to assess and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem conditions through research and monitoring.

Located in Silver Spring, MD, the scientists of CCMA conduct field observations on regional and national scales. The center provides the best available scientific information for resource managers and researchers, technical advice, and accessibility to data.

CCMA's science addresses five major environmental stressors: Pollution, Land and Resource Use, Invasive Species, Climate Change, and Extreme Natural Events.

CCMA's accomplishments include:

  • mapped 30% of U.S. coral reefs so far, and efforts continue to map the rest;
  • has maintained a contaminant monitoring program (Mussel Watch) in the U.S. coastal waters and estuaries since 1986;
  • developed new techniques for defining and managing marine protected areas;
  • mapped benthic habitats of U.S. coral reefs in the Caribbean, Northwest and Main Hawaiian Islands and Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary;
  • developed new ways to forecast harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Florida;
  • characterized sediment toxicity in 35 estuaries in the U.S.; and
  • implemented the National Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Program.

More accomplishments

Management

Director

Russell Callender

301-713-3028 ex. 162

Deputy Director

Terry McTigue

301-713-3028 ex. 141

Branch Leads:

Biogeography

 Mark Monaco

301-713-3028 ex. 160

Coastal Oceanographic
Assessment, Status and Trends (COAST)
(replaces Chemical Impacts and Remote Sensing teams) 		John Christensen 301-713-3028 ex. 153

Research Coordination and Administrative Support

Terry McTigue

301-713-3028 ex. 141