Estuary Loss Research Document

·        An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water

·        Formed where freshwater from rivers, streams, and groundwater flows to ocean, mixing with salt water

·        Protected from full force of ocean waves, winds, and storms by reefs or barrier islands

·        Often known as bays, lagoons, harbors, inlets, or sounds

·        Critical to the survival of tens of thousands of birds, mammals, fish

·        Wetlands bordering many estuaries improve water quality, protect against floods, and store water

·        Wetland plants and soils act as a natural buffer between the land and ocean, absorbing floodwaters and dissipating storm surges

·        Boating, fishing, swimming, windsurfing, and bird watching are a few activities people enjoy in estuaries

·        Serve as nursery grounds for two-thirds of the nation’s commercial fish and shellfish

·        Home to ports and marinas that support shipping and industrial activities

·        Impacts on estuaries include loss of habitat due to development, loss of recreational opportunities due to poor water quality, loss of economic resources due to shellfish bed closures and a reduction in fisheries

·        Excessive nutrients from failing septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, storm water runoff, industrial organic waste discharge, and contaminated runoff from fertilizers adversely affect estuaries

·        Excessive nutrients in estuaries can result in accelerated eutrophication and algal blooms

Works Cited

Bangladesh (n.d.). In Institute of Marine Sciences. Retrieved May 16, 2011, from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/ad894e/AD894E04.pdf

Coastal watershed factsheets - estuaries and your coastal watershed (1998, July). In United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved May 16, 2011. http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/fact5.cfm.

Estuaries of the world (2001). In University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs. Retrieved May 16, 2011. http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doee/science/descript/galry1.htm.

Halpern, P. (2009). Preserving the health of the Rio de la Plata. In Coastal Care. Retrieved May 16, 2011. http://coastalcare.org/2009/09/preserving-the-health-of-the-rio-de-la-plata.

Housatonic River Estuary. (n.d.). In Reocities. Retrieved May 16, 2011. http://www.reocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4136/houstury.htm.

Institute of estuarine & coastal studies (IECS). (2000). Habitat Loss in the Humber Estuary, UK . In Harbasins. Retrieved May 12, 2011. http://www.harbasins.org/fileadmin/inhoud/pdf/Final_Products/WP2/Products__Reports_and_Publications_by_IECS/a__Habitat_Loss_in_the_Humber_Estuary.pdf

Major causes of habitat loss (2009). In Restore America's Estuaries. Retrieved May 12,

2011. http://www.estuaries.org/major-causes-of-habitat-loss.html.