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.

Solutions to Estuary Loss

Estuary loss can be stopped. Governments need to make estuaries protected areas where people cannot build. People should be encouraged to hunt invasive species. Biodegradable fertilizer that will not cause algae blooms should be used more often. Using water permeable pavement when building will help prevent polluted water from flowing into estuaries. Dredging in and around estuaries should be more controlled. Sewage treatment technology should be improved to remove nutrients and pathogens that harm estuary life. Estuaries should be taken into account when dams are being built. Overall, people need to be more aware of the problem of estuary loss so we can work to reverse it.

Solutions To Estuary Loss Image