Data management plays a very important role in the successful implementation of any project. The South Carolina Algal Ecology Laboratory (SCAEL) has documented its data like water quality and toxic algal in a very efficient way. Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) database documentation exists in various forms such as field notebooks, datasheets, spreadsheets, etc. Once we receive data from relevant sources it will be entered into Microsoft Access (vs 2002) database. In database there are different tables named Event Type, Flag, Methods, Parameter Type and Methods, People, Projects, Results, Sample, Source, Stations, Systems, Units etc. There are multiple columns in each table such as Station ID, Date, Comments, Depth, Tide, Replicate, etc. The database is designed in such a way that we can query and compute the data any way we need it. It is very handy and user friendly.  The data managed and documented in this way will be made available to any body who needs it. This database including metadata and documentation will be maintained as live documents and will be updated continuously.

All data and metadata will be continuously made available to The University of South Carolina’s Bell W. Baruch Institute. Data from all water quality and toxic algal projects related to coastal growth will be documented and provided to The University of South Carolina’s Bell W. Baruch Institute. In this way SCAEL will help to make available these databases and metadata to the research, planning and management communities.