Ponds were divided into a 250-m² Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid (6.25 ha cells), and all integrated samples were located within this grid. Sampling grids were selected following a top-down trophic-level-process (Matveev 1995, Posey et al. 1995) by identifying major bird use areas, because the intent of the project was to understand relationships among trophic levels where we observed bird use. Results from monthly waterbird surveys were used to select 10 grids to sample bimonthly within each pond (or random selection was used when birds were not counted in all 10 cells) beginning in Mar 1999.

• Objective 1. Document nutrient concentrations, algal community primary productivity, and zooplankton community taxonomic composition
  
  
• Objective 2. Examine the structure of the pelagic and benthic invertebrate assemblages
  
  
• Objective 3. Examine abundance and composition of aquatic macrophytes
  
  
• Objective 4. Compare abundance, life stages, and composition of estuarine fishes, document food habits, and relate to fish-forage organisms and within-pond water quality
  
  
• Objective 5. Determine waterbird abundance and distribution, diet, and movements
  
  
• Objective 6. Measure the salinity gradient in the ponds and the hydrodynamics of the tidal sloughs adjacent to the ponds