What Is An Estuary?
An estuary is a coastal area where
fresh water from rivers and streams
mixes with salt water from the
ocean. Many bays, sounds, and
lagoons along coasts are estuaries.
Portions of rivers and streams connected to estu-
aries are also considered part of the estuary. The
land area from which fresh water drains into the
estuary is its watershed.
Why Are Estuaries Significant?
Estuaries are significant to both marine life and
people. They are critical for the survival of fish,
birds, and other wildlife because they provide safe
spawning grounds and nurseries. Marshes and
other vegetation in the estuaries protect marine
life and water quality by filtering sediment and
pollution. They also provide barriers against dam-
aging storm waves and floods.
Estuaries also have economic, recreational, and
aesthetic value. People love water sports and visit
estuaries to boat, fish, swim, and just enjoy their
beauty. As a result, the economy of many coastal
areas is based primarily on the natural beauty and
bounty of their estuaries. Estuaries often have
ports serving shipping, transportation, and indus-
try. Healthy estuaries support profitable commer-
cial fisheries. In fact, almost 31 percent of the
Gross National Product (GNP) is produced in
coastal counties. This relationship between plants,
animals, and humans makes up an estuary's
ecosystem. When its components are in balance,
plant and animal life flourishes.
Because of our love of the water, almost half $f r
the United States population now lives in c
areas, including the shores of estuaqjqi,
tion, coastal counties are growing
faster than anywhere else. Unfortunately, thig
increasing concentration of people upsip$i
balance of the ecosystems. People need,
services, and roads, so new industry and busi-
nesses arrive to provide them. All this stresses
the estuaries by increasing the types and
amounts of pollution entering them. When
severe, such stresses have forced government
authorities to close beaches and shellfish beds
and issue warnings about eating fish. In addi-
tion, removing grass and trees for development
can cause soil erosion and reduce natural habitat,
which contributes to the threat of extinction of
endangered wildlife.
How Are We Protecting Estuaries?
In 1987, Congress established the National
Estuary Program (NEP) as part of the Clean
Water Act. The NEP's mission is to protect and
restore the health of estuaries while
economic and recreational activities.
this, the Environmental Protection
(EPA) helps create local NEPs by developing;
partnerships between government agencies that
oversee estuarine resources and the people who
depend on the estuaries for their livelihood and
quality of life. These groups plan and implement
programs according to the needs of their own
areas. To date, 21 local NEPs are demonstrating
practical and innovative ways to revitalize and
protect their estuaries.
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HOW DOES THE NATIONAL ESTUARY
PROGRAM WORK?
A major benefit of the NEP is that it brings communities
together to decide the future of their own estuaries. The
NEP combines the work of many groups. Each local
NEP consists of representatives from government agen-
cies responsible for the estuary's health and productivity and
from the community—citizens, business leaders, educators, and
researchers. Each NEP identifies its estuary's problems, recom-
mends solutions and makes financial commitments in a
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
The CCMP is a blueprint for revitalizing the estuary and protect-
ing it from new dangers.
By providing grants and technical assistance, EPA helps state
and local governments in their efforts to protect and restore their
vital estuarine resources. EPA also shares "lessons learned"
among atl the individual estuary programs as well as to other
coastal communities.
Which Estuaries Are In The NEP?
The following are the NEP's current programs:
Puget Sound in Washington State
Tillamook Bay in Oregon
San Francisco Estuary in California
Santa Monica Bay in California
Corpus Christi Bay in Texas
Galveston Bay in Texas
Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine Complex in Louisiana
Tampa Bay in Florida
Sarasota Bay in Florida
Indian River Lagoon in Florida
Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds in North Carolina
Delaware Inland Bays in Delaware
Delaware Estuary in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
New York-New Jersey Harbor in New York and New Jersey
Long Island Sound in Connecticut and New York
Peconic Bay in New York
Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island
Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bays in Massachusetts
Casco Bay in Maine
San Juan Bay Estuary System in Puerto Rico
The NEPs are as diverse as their individual estuaries. Each provides a
unique blend of marine resources, natural beauty, and economic and
recreational opportunities for its community. Therefore, estuary pro-
grams' priorities and potential solutions are equally diverse.
The variety of problems and the NEP's innovative solutions can be
seen in the individual estuary programs. Although each NEP is bat-
tling a myriad of sources of pollution and degradation, the following
descriptions highlight just one of a multitude of activities taking place
in each of the 21 programs.
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Puget Sound:
Protecting the Sound from Contaminated Sediments
Sediments in Puget Sound are contaminated with toxic chemicals. This
contamination results from large inputs of toxic substances to a body
of water, which is a very serious problem in estuaries. Marine animals
that live on the estuary floor can accumulate the poisons in their bodies
and, sometimes, pass them on to humans who eat them. To protect
marine life and help guide decisions on when and where to clean up
contaminated sediments, the Puget Sound NEP's CCMP called for
development of the nation's first marine sediment standards. Because
industrial and sewage plant dischargers are among the main sources of
toxic substances entering the Sound, these sediment standards are
being incorporated into their discharge permits. This should signifi-
cantly reduce the quantity of poisonous substances entering the Sound.
Tillamook Bay:
Protecting an Economy Based on Natural Resources
Tillamook Bay represents many small Pacific Northwest estuaries.
Dominated by rugged mountains with a narrow coastal plain, it pre-
sents a challenging combination of environmental concerns. Heavy
rainfall can wash sediment from the forested upper watershed and a
variety of pollutants from the lowlands through the rivers and into the
bay, affecting important fish runs and shellfish beds. Resulting loss of
habitat undermines fishing industries and threatens wildlife. In addi-
tion to habitat damage, excess sediment in the bay restricts navigable
areas, further limiting uses of the estuary. The program is finding ways
to protect both the area's natural resources and its natural-resource -
dependent economy.
San Francisco Estuary:
Improving Livestock Grazing Practices
Human activities in the 1600 square mile Bay/Delta watershed region
have drastically altered natural habitats and impaired the functions of
the estuary's ecosystem. Poor cattle grazing practices contribute to
soil erosion and water quality problems. In a model public/private
partnership, this NEP is assisting a private rancher in developing a
grazing management strategy for a 500 acre parcel of public land
within Wildcat Creek Regional Park. Strategies already being imple-
mented include building barriers to prevent livestock from trampling
sensitive habitats, installing pens to improve livestock management,
and selecting cattle grazing periods to retard the growth of alien and
nuisance plants. These measures encourage the regrowth of native
bunchgrasses and forbs that provide not only better habitat for
wildlife, but also more desirable forage for the cattle. In addition, soil
erosion and pollutant loadings should decrease.
Santa Monica Bay:
Reducing Stormwater Impacts
Southern California's culture has been linked to its beaches for
decades. But over the last several years, the number of visitors to area
beaches has dropped, due in part to concern about pollution in bay
waters. The Santa Monica Bay NEP determined that the 5,000-mile
storm drain system in the county was causing pollution that created
public concern about swimming and surfing. To ensure public safety,
this NEP produced bilingual advisory signs for posting by lifeguards
and initiated one of the first Stormwater runoff permit programs in the
nation. Eventually, this will reduce the amount of pollution entering
the bay.
Corpus Christi Bay:
Keeping the Fresh Water Flowing
The Corpus Christi Bay Estuary is located in a semi-arid
region and is subject to the growing needs of a large city. In
addition to a lack of rainfall, water from rivers and streams
that would otherwise flow to the estuary is diverted for resi-
dential, industrial, and agricultural uses. The lack of fresh
water mixing with sea water causes pollutants to concentrate
in the estuary and contributes to losses of oysters and white
shrimp. As the urban population in the Corpus Christi area
grows, so does the demand for water. This NEP will try to
meet these growing urban needs as well as provide adequate
fresh water to support the estuary's plant and animal life.
Developing water re use and conservation practices and allow-
ing reservoir releases of fresh water during critical high-salini-
ty periods are among the strategies available to the Corpus
Christi NEP.
Galveston Bay:
Preventing Shoreline Erosion
In Galveston Bay, shoreline was lost at a rate of 2.2 feet per
year between 1850 and 1982, causing a total loss of 8,000
acres. To reverse this trend, the local NEP is transplanting
smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) at a variety of sites
and protecting the new plants with temporary wave barriers
made of used parachute material. Volunteers from the
Galveston Bay Foundation, local businesses, citizen groups,
and student organizations have done much of the actual work
of transplanting the cordgrass.
Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine Complex:
Predicting Wetland Habitat Changes
Since 1932, over 400,000 acres of productive wetlands habi-
tat have been converted to open water in the Barataria-
Terrebonne Estuary System. This NEP is developing a com-
puter model of the 4-million-acre estuary system that will pre-
dict future habitat conditions. Looking at the whole estuary,
the model will show how and where changes—natural or
manmade—in one area affect other areas. The model will also
predict effects of natural events, such as hurricanes and
storms, and large-scale human activities, such as canal con-
struction and flood control. The Barataria-Terrebonne NEP
will use this landscape model to evaluate the impacts of
actions that could be taken to conserve the habitat in this
estuarine watershed.
Tampa Bay:
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods
Through local county extension services, the Tampa Bay NEP
launched a grass-roots initiative to reduce runoff to its bay.
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods pairs residents committed
to improving their environment with experts trained to advise
and assist. Neighborhoods may enroll in a 12-month program
that begins with a "checkup" identifying bay-polluting home
and landscape practices. On-site workshops follow, with
emphasis on ways to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use and
conserve water.
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Sarasota Bay:
Sea Wall Reefs for Young Fish
Much of Sarasota Hay's habitat for young fish was destroyed as the
natural, mangrove shoreline was replaced by concrete sea walls dur-
ing development of waterfront communities. Most of those sea walls
cannot be removed without causing severe damage to homes.
However, a project by the Sarasota Bay NEP may turn those sea walls
into an asset for the bay, rather than a liability. Four different styles of
small, artificial reefs attached to sea walls are being scientifically tested
for their ability to provide a home for young fish. Early results show
more than 400 young fish living near the reefs. Only a few young fish
have been seen in similar areas without reefs.
Indian River Lagoon:
Preventing Pollution
Excessive amounts of stormwater runoff deposit nutrients and sedi-
ment in the Indian River Lagoon. These impact bottom-dwelling
organisms, foster algae overgrowth, and smother seagrasses, which
are critical to the health of the estuary. To help keep sand, leaves, and
litter out of the lagoon, the Indian River NEP built a concrete sedi-
ment trap—called a "baffle box"—in a drainage system serving a
developed section of the shoreline. This "baffle box" has captured
approximately four tons of sediment since its installation in 1992. As
a result, the use of this simple and relatively inexpensive technology is
being expanded throughout the lagoon.
Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds:
Constructing New Marshlands
Like other estuaries, the Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds suffer from the
loss of wetlands habitat. Therefore, the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary
Program is sponsoring a marsh construction project. Landowners and
contractors are building breakwaters and planting marsh grass to pro-
vide vital habitat, prevent erosion, and filter pollutants. The breakwa-
ters will be low enough to withstand severe storms and maintain
water quality, but high enough to protect marsh grass planted behind
them and to buffer eroding shorelines from destructive waves.
Eventually, the marsh grass will provide additional habitat and pre-
vent further shoreline erosion.
Delaware Inland Bays:
Stabilizing Eroding Shorelines
As in many other estuaries, the Delaware Inland Bays are significantly
affected by shoreline erosion. Traditional soil stabilization techniques
used to combat erosion, especially building vertical bulkheads, harm
habitats of marine life and increase erosion of nearby unprotected
shoreline. Therefore, the Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program is
sponsoring a project to demonstrate the benefits of alternative stabi-
lization methods. The project involves stabilizing two eroding shore-
lines with a combination of native vegetation and rock groins. The
project will benefit not only the estuary, but also the plants, animals,
and people who live along the shores of the estuary. In addition, the
project will encourage state legislators to initiate a tax incentive pro-
gram to promote use of other natural erosion control measures.
Delaware Estuary:
Preventing Polluted Runoff
The waters of Red Clay and White Clay Creeks eventually mix with
the Delaware Estuary waters. When it rains, the sediments, animal
wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers wash off nearby farms and into the
creeks—eventually settling in the Delaware Estuary. To prevent these
pollutants from reaching the estuary and causing health hazards to
plants, animals, and humans, the Delaware Estuary NEP helped
develop and demonstrate methods such as the use of terraces and
grassy channels to capture and filter pollutants before they reach the
creeks. These techniques, where instituted by local farmers, were so
successful at reducing pollution that tours of the area were given to
other farmers and homeowners who could use the same approaches
on their crops and gardens.
New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary:
Cleaning Up Floatable Debris
Trash and other floatable marine debris washing up on area beaches
had been a chronic problem for the New York-New Jersey Harbor
Estuary, but unusual episodes in 1987 and 1988 shocked the public
and closed many beaches. The New York-New Jersey Harbor NEP
developed a short-term plan using helicopters and vessels for surveil-
lance and capture of the floatable debris. A long-term plan to address
the floatables problem was subsequently developed. It included the
purchase of additional skimmer vessels to collect debris, a pollution
abatement strategy, and an Operation Clean Shores program in New
Jersey that has already removed 10,000 tons of debris.
Long Island Sound:
Innovative Sewage Treatment
Excess nitrogen inputs are a major problem in Long Island Sound
because they deplete oxygen in the water that marine life depends
upon for its survival. Much of this nitrogen comes from sewage treat-
ment plants. The Long Island Sound NEP has demonstrated innova-
tive technologies to remove nitrogen from sewage treatment plant
discharges. Local trials in Connecticut and New York show that these
technologies are quite successful with either mechanical aeration or
diffused air systems. Consequently, this NEP is promoting the use of
these technologies to other sewage treatment plants to increase the
amount of oxygen in the sound and to make the sound more hos-
pitable to marine life.
Peconic Bay:
A Head Start on Resource Management
Long before Peconic Bay joined the NEP program, agencies, busi-
nesses, and citizens formed a task force to fight an algae overgrowth
that threatened their multimillion dollar fish and shellfish industries.
This resulted in a comprehensive study whose recommendations will
allow quick completion of the final NEP management plan for
Peconic Bay. Taking advantage of this early work, the Peconic Bay
NEP has decided to conduct various demonstration projects, includ-
ing a program to reestablish its scallop population. The program will
plant 100,000 seed scallops and implement controls on sources of
pollution that threaten the scallop habitat.
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Narragansett Bay:
Reducing Hazardous Waste
Narragansett Bay is the center of industrial activity in Rhode Island
and, therefore, receives a great quantity of pollutants. In addition,
pollution from highly industrialized areas in Massachusetts is washed
into rivers that flow into the bay. To help companies reduce the
amount of toxic contaminants they discharge into these waters, the
Narragansett Bay NEP established the Hazardous Waste Reduction
Project (HWRP). Under this project, companies could request a
technical assessment of practices generating hazardous waste.
Assessment teams inspected companies' industrial processes to identi-
fy possible areas where hazardous waste production or discharges
could be reduced. These teams also evaluated the most practical and
cost-effective methods of incorporating waste reduction technologies.
As a result of participating in the program, many companies have
established their own in-house waste reduction teams. The success of
this project has led the State of Rhode Island to establish a perma-
nent Hazardous Waste Reduction Program as well as a hazardous
waste collection facility.
Buzzards Bay:
Cleaning Stormwater
The threat of disease-producing organisms in stormwater runoff is caus-
ing increased closings of swimming beaches and shellfish beds around
Buzzards Bay. To reverse this trend,
the Buzzards Bay Project is working
with area municipalities to treat cont-
aminated stormwater by collecting it
in detention basins and percolating it
through soil to reduce the quantity of
bacteria and viruses. The use of artifi-
cial wetlands is also being tested to
reduce these pollutants.
Casco Bay:
Computer Tools for Decision Making
The Casco Bay NEP realizes that long-term protection of the
bay will depend on the actions of local communities. As a
result, the program has worked to give local officials the tools
they need to make sound environmental decisions. One of
these tools is a geographic information system (GIS), which
allows large quantities of geographic information—such as
critical natural resources, existing development, and drainage
ways—to be combined, analyzed, and printed as maps. As a
result, town officials can see the effects of their decisions in
advance. This type of decision-making power will be instru-
mental in preventing the pollution of Casco Bay.
San Juan Bay Estuary System:
A Tropical Estuary
San Juan Bay Estuary has a unique role to play in the NEP. The
first tropical island estuary to take part in the program, it con-
tains coral communities, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests—
all habitats designated as critical areas. The estuary is one of the
many tropical areas trying to balance economic needs and
resource protection through environmentally sensitive tourism.
Information gained and lessons learned in this NEP can help
other tropical estuaries in the United States and the Caribbean.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Massachusetts Bays:
Mini-Bay Projects
In 1991, the Massachusetts Bays
Program identified three coastal areas
to serve as small-scale NEP models of
integrated research, planning, action,
and public involvement. The mini-bay
projects selected were Wellfleet Harbor,
the Fore River Estuary, and the Plum
Island Sound/Rivers System. For five
years, the NEP will support the com-
munities bordering these areas in
their efforts to identify sources of pol-
lution, implement cost-effective cor-
rective actions, establish monitoring
programs, and generate local support.
By encouraging communities to work
together on the basis of where natur-
al resources are located, instead of fol-
lowing traditional political bound-
aries, the Massachusetts Bays NEP
encourages a new approach to envi-
ronmental protection.
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