About ERC

    ERC Weather Station  (opens new window)

The Center
The Estuarine Research Center is located near the Patuxent River (part of Chesapeake Bay watershed) in Saint Leonard, Maryland.  Research conducted at the state-of-the art facility is designed to increase the understanding of coastal ecosystems so that they may be properly managed and protected.   Much of the work is focused on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, such as the Patuxent River.

The Facilities
The Estuarine Research Center maintains excellent facilities that include:

• A 22,000 square foot laboratory and office building
• Fleet of research vessels including the 42-foot R/V Leidy
• Private dock providing accesss to the Patuxent River
• Outdoor and indoor facilities with flow-through ambient water
• Scuba support and dive locker
• Teaching laboratory, conference room and library
• Range of research laboratories, including isotope, constant temperature and image analysis labs