What is an Estuary?

What is an Estuary?

Topics: What is an estuary? | Description | Unique features

Estuaries are places where freshwater like in rivers meet and mix with the salty ocean.

Each estuary can make up an individual ecosystem.

Estuaries are unique places and are valuable.

Estuaries may be called bays, lagoons, sounds, or sloughs.

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An estuary begins where fresh river water flows into coastal bays and inlets. Water in these areas between the land and the sea are driven by tides, like the sea, but are sheltered from the full force of ocean wind and waves, like a river.

When freshwater meets salty seawater, both liquids combine, turning into a brackish mixture.

All water from lakes, rain, land run-off ,and rivers runs downhill to the coast into an estuary.

The plants and animals that live in an estuary must be able to adapt to constantly changing conditions.

Fish for more info:

http://www.estuaries.gov/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/

Why are Estuaries Important

Why are Estuaries Important

Topics: Importance of estuaries | Natural sewer system | Benefits to humans | Shore protection

• Estuaries are safe havens and nurseries for plants and animals

• Estuaries are good filters for water pollutants

• Estuaries benefit humans

• Estuaries protect coasts.

Estuaries act like huge sponges, buffering and protecting upland areas from crashing waves and storms and preventing soil erosion. They soak up excess water from floods and tidal surges driven into shore from strong winds. Estuaries provide a protective nursery for young fish, shellfish, migrating birds, and coastal shore animals. People enjoy living near estuaries and the surrounding coastline. They sail, fish, hike, swim, and enjoy bird watching. An estuary is often the center of a coastal community. Estuaries are important to humans for commercial fishing and transportation.

Fish for more info:

http://www.estuaries.gov/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/

 

Estuaries as Nurseries

Safe havens and nurseries for plants and animals

Topics: Estuaries as nurseries | Safe havens | Nutrient rich

Estuaries are rich in nutrients.

Estuaries provide places for animals to breed and raise their young.

Estuaries support many kinds of plant and animal life.

Estuaries help provide the seafood we eat

Estuaries provide a safe haven in the cycle of life. Fresh and salt water create a unique nutrient-rich environment for phytoplankton, small fish, shellfish, birds, and many different land and marine animals. Rivers provide nutritional minerals, organic matter, and sediments to estuaries. These nutrients support life in the estuary. In the U.S., estuaries are nurseries to over 75% of all fish and shellfish harvested. Migrating birds return to rest and raise their young in this rich environment. Many marine animals and fish live part of their lives in an estuary. Without estuaries, many animals, plants, and fish would not survive.

Fish for more info:

http://www.estuaries.gov/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/

 

Estuaries as Filters and Sponges

Topics: Estuaries act as filters and sponge | Remove chemicals | Store excess water

Vegetation in estuaries helps trap and filter silt from river runoff

Estuary vegetation helps to filter chemicals and sewage.

Estuaries slow water runoff.

Estuaries help remove damaging human-made chemicals, fertilizer, and other water pollutants before they reach the sea. Wetlands surrounding estuaries act as a natural sewer system that absorb and clean wastewater. As water flows through a salt marsh, grasses and peat (a spongy matrix of live roots, decomposing organic material, and soil) filter pollutants. Vegetation helps filter and trap silt that would flood out to sea. Wetlands around estuaries help add water to underground aquifers that are important sources of freshwater for humans.

Fish for more info:

http://www.estuaries.gov/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/

 

Estuaries as Protection

Topics: Estuaries Act as Barriers to Storm surges | Erosion

Estuaries provide storm surge protection to upland areas.

Estuarine plants help prevent erosion.

Barrier islands are built by waves and currents.

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Different types of estuaries help protect uplands from storm surges, strong winds, and heavy seas. Bar-built estuaries occur when sandbars or barrier islands are built up by ocean waves and currents along coastal areas fed by one or more rivers or streams. Trees and grasses grow on the barrier island holding the soil. These barrier islands block ocean storms and high waves that would tear up sensitive estuaries. Mangrove estuaries are a forest maze blocking storm surges from tearing apart uplands and shallow mud banks. Salt marsh estuaries contain salt grasses with strong roots. The salt grass holds soil, protecting from erosion and silt removal.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries04_geology.html

 

Humans Love Our Coasts

Estuaries benefit humans

Coastal areas are popular places to live, work and play.

Estuaries provide habitat for seafood.

Native American cultures depend on estuaries.

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People love to live and vacation by the ocean. Over 50% of the U.S. population lives near the coast. They enjoy boating, swimming, bird-watching, sport fishing, viewing wildlife and exploring the coast. Coastal communities support recreation with vacation homes, hotels, restaurants and stores.

Estuaries support local economies through shrimp, shellfish, crab and lobster fishing in the wild. Estuaries also support fish and shellfish farming, called aquaculture. Estuaries provide habitat for over 75%of the U.S. commercial seafood caught.

To many communities, estuaries are a part of their life and culture. Many Native American tribes rely on fishing, shellfishing and other estuary resources.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=243

Types of Estuarine Habitats

Types of Estuarine Habitats

• Mangroves
• Salt marshes

 

Mangroves

Topics: Characteristics | Benefits | Animals

Estuary habitats vary widely based on climate and geology.

Mangrove forests are common in tropical areas of the world.

Mangroves provide shelter to animal species and protect coastlines.

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Two common estuarine habitats found around the world include coastal marshes and mangroves. The mangrove forests that grow in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico look like a maze of waxy leafed trees on stilts. They grow near the ocean's edge in tropical and subtropical climates. Slow-moving water allows sediments and mud to collect.  The sheltered waters provide breeding and nursery grounds for fish, oysters, mollusks, crabs, and shrimp. Crocodile, monkeys, and tropical birds live in mangrove estuaries. Mangroves stabilize coastlines reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/media/supp_estuar07d_mangrove.html

 

Salt Marshes

Topics: Characteristics | Animal species | Benefits

Salt marshes are salty because they are flooded by seawater every day.

Salt marshes are covered with salt-tolerant plants.

Salt marshes provide nursery and feeding areas for many animals.

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Salt marsh estuaries are found in cool, temperate climates. Winding creeks and channels in the estuary carry dead material (detritus) and sediment deposits, replacing what storms and tides flush out. Salt marshes are salty due to daily incoming and outgoing tidal waters. Many different types of marsh grasses, rushes, and sedges grow in salt marshes. Salt marshes provide important nursery areas for fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Young to adult animals and fish live and hide in the shallow waters and dense grasses from larger predators. Sea otters, leopard sharks, blue heron, deer, and grey fox live in salt marsh estuaries.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/media/supp_estuar06a_saltmarsh.html

Where Does Oscar Live?

Where Does Oscar Live?

Oscar lives in an Estuary like Elkhorn Slough

Elkhorn Slough has salt marshes, oak woodlands, grasslands, and freshwater ponds.

The estuary is important as an animal nursery and stopping place for migratory animals.

Seven species of sharks and rays inhabit the muddy waters

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Oscar lives in an estuary like Elkhorn Slough - one of the few coastal wetlands remaining in California. The main channel of the slough is bordered by a broad salt marsh.

The channels and tidal creeks are nurseries for many types of animals. More than 80 species of fish and 200 species of birds have been identified in Elkhorn Slough. Snakes, turtles, frogs, clams, otters and many other creatures also live there.

Elkhorn Slough is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS).

Tides

Tides

Tides are the daily rise and fall of water along coasts.

The moon is closer to Earth and affects tides more than the sun.

Tides cause change in estuaries and keeps them healthy

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Tides are necessary for healthy estuaries. They flush the systems and provide nutrients. The sun and the moon's gravity forces pull on the oceans. The moon is closer to Earth than the sun and its gravity force is stronger. The force causes the oceans to bulge. As Earth rotates, different places on the planet's surface travel through areas where the oceans bulge out. Tides flood as the waters rise on the coast, pushing seawater into an estuary. Tides ebb, and the waters flow out to sea.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides01_intro.html
http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=227

 

Water Quality and Monitoring Tools

Water Quality and Monitoring Tools

• Monitoring Tools
• Temperature and Salinity
• Turbidity and Sneaker Test

Water quality parameters are important indicators of habitat quality for numerous estuarine species and to determine health criteria and human uses.
Data are collected on:
Water Temperature
Water Depth
Salinity
pH
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity (cloudiness or clarity)

Monitoring Tools - Data Loggers

To understand changes in water quality, each estuarine reserve uses automated dataloggers to monitor physical and chemical variables. Each reserve collects data at a minimum of four stations, at 15-minute intervals.

Monitoring data for each reserve are available from the Centralized Data Management Office:
http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu/

Data Loggers are a long tube packed with sensitive probes. They collect water quality data such as dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, turbidity, water depth and water temperature.

Weather stations monitor air temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and rainfall.

Scientists collect water samples to monitor nutrients in the water such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Scientists use nets and seines to sample both large and small organisms in the water.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries10_monitoring.html

 

Temperature and Salinity in Estuaries

Salinity is the concentration of salts dissolved in the water.

Estuaries may have great changes in temperature in a short time

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Shallow estuarine waters allow great temperature changes. The sun heats up the estuary during the day, and cool waters from rivers and the sea enter the estuary by night.

Salinity is measured in parts per thousand (ppt). The salinity of seawater in the open ocean is about 35 ppt. Salinity in an estuary varies according to the location in the estuary, the daily tides, and the volume of freshwater flowing into the estuary. Floods lower the salinity, and drought causes higher salinity. Organisms living in estuaries adjust to changing salinities by moving out of unfavorable areas, shutting up shells, and digging borrows.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries10_monitoring.html

 

Dissolved Oxygen in Estuaries

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is influenced by temperature and salinity.

Higher temperatures and salinity reduce the amount of DO that water is able to hold.

Bacteria and other decomposers reduce dissolved oxygen because they consume it while breaking down dead material

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Oxygen enters the water through two natural processes: diffusion from the air and from photosynthesis by aquatic plants. This dissolved oxygen (DO) is needed for aquatic organisms such as zooplankton, fish, and invertebrates. The amount of DO may vary seasonally.

Excess nutrients in an estuary can cause oxygen depletion. Excess nutrients can come from many sources, including runoff that carries excess fertilizer or poorly treated wastewater. Excess nutrients may cause large algae blooms. When the algae die, they decompose and use all of the dissolved oxygen in the water, killing fish and other organisms.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/media/supp_estuar10de_dissolvedox.html

 

Turbidity and Sneaker test

Turbidity is a measure of water cloudiness caused by the amount of suspended matter in the water such as soil, sediments, sewage, and plankton. Clear water has a low turbidity level and cloudy (or muddy) water has a high turbidity level.

High turbidity can be destructive to many aquatic organisms found in water. Suspended material can clog the gills of fish and interfere with their ability to find food. It can also bury bottom-dwelling creatures and eggs. Suspended particles can transport pollutants through the water.

The "sneaker test" is a not-so-scientific way to determine turbidity. A more scientific way is to use a Secchi disk.

Fish for more info:

http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/media/supp_estuar10e_turbinity.html

 

 

 

What Can Effect Water Flow

What Can Effect Water Flow

Estuaries depend on the flow of water in and out of the ecosystem.

Water can be blocked by natural and human-made structures.

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There are various obstacles that can affect the flow of water in estuaries. Human-made concrete structures that are part of coastal development change the land to hard surfaces. These surfaces can no longer absorb storm surge or provide shelter to animals and plants.

Natural disturbances like hurricanes can cause debris that blocks the natural water flow.

The construction of dams change river water flow, restricts sediment deposits, and affect nutrient flow downstream.

Estuary restoration may include removing natural or human-made structures to restore proper flow of tidal waters.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries08_natdisturb.html

 

Sand and Soil in the Wrong Place Can Affect Water Flow

Estuaries are fragile ecosystems that are at risk from natural or human disturbances.

Storms, hurricanes, and ice can harm estuaries.

Sometimes dredging can help wetlands. These pictures show the results after sediments were removed by dredging. The plants came back naturally.

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Storms and hurricanes can tear up shorelines, moving sand and soil from one place to another. The sediment and dead material can suffocate living vegetation. Strong winds drive crashing waves into land and damage habitats.

Construction can add tremendous amounts of sediment into the water with runoff from building sites.

In New England, damage to coastal marshes is often caused by poorly designed water-control structures such as levees. These structures prevent normal water movement from tides.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries08_natdisturb.html

Estuary Food Web Clickable Map

Estuary Food Web Clickable Map

Click on the plants and animals!

Plants: creeping rye, coast live oak, pickleweed, alkali heath, eelgrass, algae.

Consumers: spider, frog, dragonfly, fat inkeeper worm, geoduck clam, intertidal shore crab, anchovy.

Predators: white-footed mouse, coast gartersnake, dowitcher, pelican, leopard shark.

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Estuary Habitats

Estuary Habitats

Different plants live in different areas depending on what conditions they are adapted to.

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Salt marsh grasses can tolerate saltwater.

Eelgrass lives in areas that are always under water.

The upland habitat contains land-based plants such as trees and shrubs that cannot tolerate seawater.

Some areas, like the upper marsh, contain plants that can withstand being under water at high tide.

Salt marshes are composed of upright plants that live above the water surface, but with their roots under water.

Mudflats are exposed to the air at low tide and are under water at high tide. Organisms must be adapted to these harsh extremes.

The channel (water column) of the estuary is always covered by water. It contains free-swimming animals and plants such as eelgrass and algae that cannot tolerate very long exposure to the air.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=236

Estuary Food Web

Estuary Food Web

Organisms can be grouped based on the role they play in the food web.

Energy is cycled through an estuary's food web.

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In all estuaries, animals and plants rely on each other through�the food web. Plants in estuaries are producers. They make their energy using�sunlight through�a process called "photosynthesis." Producers are important because they are the base of the food web.

Bacteria, worms, and insects act as decomposers, breaking down dead animals and plants. They are very important to estuaries because they recycle organic matter and nutrients back into the soil and water.

Consumers (fish, shorebirds, frogs) may eat one or more kinds of plants, insects, fish, or small reptiles. Larger predators (snakes, hawks, fish) consume small consumers.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=237

Plants in Estuarine Ecosystems

Plants in Estuarine Ecosystems

Estuaries are very productive ecosystems.

Different types of plants are adapted to different water levels.

Plants in salt marshes are adapted to living in salt water.

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Many different types of plants such as marsh grasses, rushes and sedges grow in salt marshes. These different types of plants require different water levels, oxygen content and salinity. These requirements determine whether they grow in the lower, middle or upper marsh.

Salt marsh plants are highly tolerant of the salty water and they have strong root systems that help them withstand surges of water that come from storms.

Other types of estuary habitats have different plant species.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries06_habitats.html http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=233

Birds and Animals in Estuarine Ecosystems

Birds and Animals in Estuarine Ecosystems

Salt marshes provide food and protection for birds and animals.

Birds, animals and plants depend on each other through food webs.

Salt marshes are important for migrating birds.

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In all estuaries, animals and plants rely on each other through a food web. Small consumers (fish, shorebirds, frogs) may eat one or more kind of plant, insect, fish or small reptile. Larger predators (snakes, hawks, bass) consume small consumers. Populations depend on their prey for energy.

Fish for more info:

http://www.abcxyz.gov (need link here)

Solid Pollution

Solid Pollution

• Trash, What You can Do
• Abandoned Fishing Gear, What You can Do

 

Trash Problem - Marine Debris

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Dispose of trash properly

Marine debris injures and kills marine life.

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Trash in Estuaries and the Ocean - Marine Debris

There is a word for trash in estuaries and the ocean-it is called "marine debris," and it is a big concern. Debris has serious effects on the marine environment, marine wildlife, the economy and human health and safety. Most human beings produce trash of some form or another. Much of this trash is made up of plastic. It is washed into estuaries when rain collects in storm drains. The unfiltered water goes into streams and rivers ending in the estuary.

Some plastics look like food and can make marine life sick if they eat it. Abandoned or lost fishing nets, lines, ropes, or other types of trash can entangle marine life, and they can be injured, sick, or die from drowning.

Fish for more info:

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov

 

What You Can Do

Remember the 3 R R Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You can become a key player in making our world a safe and healthy place.

Solid pollution is mostly trash that has not been properly disposed of.

You can serve as an example to others. For example, start a compost or vermiculture to transform your household garbage (food wastes, coffee grounds, etc.), into a rich earth-like material that can be added to a garden to help plants grow.

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Reduce - A key part of waste "reduction" is "conservation," or using natural resources wisely and using less than usual in order avoid waste.

Reuse - You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away or pass those materials on to others who could use them, too!

Recycle - Many materials we use every day can be remade into either the same product or new products, rather than to just be tossed in the trash. Making new items from recycled ones also takes less energy and other resources than making products from brand new materials.

Fish for more info:

http://www.marinedebris.noaa.gov
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm#reduce

 

Abandoned Fishing Gear

Marine debris incidents have been reported in 267 species of animals.

Many animals are injured and die after getting tangled in marine debris.

Sea turtles may get tangled in discarded fishing nets and drown.

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Abandoned Fishing Gear

Monofilament fishing line (made from a single thread), balloon ribbons, ropes, and netting can tangle, injure, and drown wildlife. Sea turtles, marine mammals, sea birds, and fish may see these things as food. Animals eat this plastic and may become injured or die from it. Monofilament line is especially deadly. It can take a very long time to decompose in the water.

What Can You Do?

Practice "plus-one" boating: bring back everything you take out... plus one piece of trash you find.

Recycle everything you can and be careful not to throw any type of fishing gear into waterways.

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Fish for more info:

http://www.marinedebris.noaa.gov

 

Liquid Pollution

Liquid Pollution

• Non-Point Source Pollution
• Can Contaminated Food Make You Sick?
• Oil Pollution
• Toxic Chemicals and Metals Pollution

 

Non-Point Source Pollution

Many types of human activities contribute to nonpoint source pollution.

The overall condition of U.S. coastal waters as fair to poor.

Polluted runoff has a great impact on aquatic plants and animals.

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Coastal bays and estuaries in the United States are seriously impacted by water pollution. Nonpoint source pollution - polluted runoff entering waterways from land-based activities - is the leading cause of water quality degradation to coastal waters.

This pollution includes runoff from farm and forestry land, suburban lawns, storm water runoff from city streets and parking lots, and discharges from old septic systems.

Pollutants like sediments, nutrients, organic matter, bacteria, oils, metals, and other toxic chemicals enter our coastal creeks, rivers, bays, and estuaries.

Fish for more info:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/pollution/02history.html http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/water_quality.html

 

Can Contaminated Food Make You Sick?

E.coli is short for Escherichia coli – a bacteria (germ) that causes severe cramps and diarrhea.

The most common way to get an E.coli infection is by eating contaminated food.

People who are infected with E. coli are very contagious.

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Many bacterial, viral, and protozoan disease-causing organisms exist in coastal environments and pose a threat to public health. These foreign microbes include bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella.

Water runoff contaminated with bacteria from pet wastes, septic tanks, and other sources can cause closures of beaches. Humans can get sick by eating contaminated food or seawater, or by getting contaminated water on an open cut or wound.

Fish for more info:

http://hml.noaa.gov/ohh/pst/welcome.html

 

Oil Pollution

Report oil or chemical spills to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

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The kind of oil spill we usually think about is the accidental or deliberate release of oil products into the environment. Sources of oil spills include pipeline breaks, ship collisions or groundings, bilge pumping from ships, and leaking underground storage tanks.

Oil products and oil-contaminated water runoff also come from streets and parking lots during rain storms.

Oil spills in rivers and estuaries are different from spills that occur in the open ocean. It is much harder to remove oil from plants than from a sand beach.

Shore plants and animals can be injured or killed by oil.

Fish for more info:

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/audience_subtopic_entry.php?entry_id=359&subtopic_id=27&audience_id=2

 

Toxic Chemicals and Metals Pollution

Report chemical spills to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.

Toxic pollutants may originate many miles away from the estuary.

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Pollution is an important threat to water quality in estuaries.

Toxic substances are chemicals and metals that can cause serious illness or death. They may be poisonous or carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Pesticides, automobile fluids, and metals such as mercury or lead have all been found to pollute estuaries. These substances can enter an estuary from industry, agriculture, and urban runoff.

If toxic substances are taken in by plants or animals, they can build up in tissues. Toxic substances that enter the estuary this way often contaminate bottom-dwelling animals like oysters or clams. These animals can then be a serious health risk to people who eat them.

Fish for more info:

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/audience_subtopic_entry.php?entry_id=359&subtopic_id=27&audience_id=2

 

How Humans Impact Estuaries

How Humans Impact Estuaries

Everything that drains from the land feeds into many estuaries.

Humans impact estuaries through coastal development, pollution, overfishing, dredging and filling, dams, and global climate change.

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Human activities have many affects on estuaries. Excess nutrients from agriculture waste (fertilizer, animal sewage), discarded trash, and chemical spills can pollute the water.

Land near the coast that once�made up�wetlands and estuaries is changed by people to hard surfaces and can no longer absorb storm surge and provide shelter or food for animals and plants.

Dams change water flow and block the movement of fish.

Invasive species have been introduced (animals, plants, shellfish, insects) that compete with native species for shelter, food, water, and space.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/About/Default.aspx?ID=250

 

What Can I Do to Protect Estuaries?

What Can I Do to Protect Estuaries?

To protect estuaries, you can:

Learn more about your local estuaries

Volunteer for clean up

Use cloth or reusable bags

Use less electricity

Fish respectfully

Respect habitat

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Estuaries require everyone's help and hard work to keep them clean and safe. There are many things you can do to help protect estuaries.

Education is the first step. Study and learn about estuaries. Are there estuaries near where you live?

Help by volunteering in an estuary clean-up program and to restore wetlands in your community.

Pick up trash along rivers and streams.

Report any leaking pipes or large drums that may have chemical waste or sewage.

Stop using plastic grocery bags.

Use less fertilizer on your lawn.

Get involved in a monitoring program at a local estuary.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/GetInvolved/Default.aspx?ID=211

 

R R R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

R R R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You can become a key player in making our world a safe and healthy place.

Solid pollution is mostly trash that has not been properly disposed of.

You can serve as an example to others. For example, start a compost or vermiculture to transform your household garbage (food wastes, coffee grounds, etc.), into a rich earth-like material that can be added to a garden to help plants grow.

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Reduce - A key part of waste "reduction" is "conservation,” or using natural resources wisely and using less than usual in order avoid waste.

Reuse - You can "reuse" materials in their original form instead of throwing them away or pass those materials on to others who could use them, too!

Recycle - Many materials we use every day can be remade into either the same product or new products, rather than to just be tossed in the trash. Making new items from recycled ones also takes less energy and other resources than making products from brand new materials.

Fish for more info:

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm#reduce

 

Planting to Restore the Estuary

Planting to Restore the Estuary

Estuaries require everyone’s help and hard work to keep them clean and safe.

The U.S has approximately 90,000 miles of marine tidal shoreline.

Estuaries are the most highly productive coastal environments.

During the last century, millions of acres of estuarine habitats have been destroyed.

Everything that drains from the land feeds into many different estuaries and the oceans.

Where ever you live, your actions affect estuaries.

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Sometimes nature needs a helping hand to restore estuaries. Of critical importance is the flow of water in and out of the estuary. It is also important to remove grazing livestock and invasive species.

Volunteers can replant underwater seagrass meadows, salt grass plants, native trees, and bushes. As native plants grow back, they will provide food and shelter for returning animals, insects, and marine life.

The goal is to rebuild the estuary to a healthy, natural ecosystem that works like it did before it was polluted or destroyed.

Fish for more info:

http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/GetInvolved/Default.aspx?ID=211

 

Return of the Habitat

Restoration is the process of re-establishing a self-sustaining habitat that closely resembles the natural condition. Habitat takes time to become re-established.

Transplanting eelgrass

Restoration is still a young science. Many habitat restorations that were "completed" in the last 10 years are still becoming established and are still being evaluated.

Some habitats have been damaged so severely over such a long period of time that it may take years before they become as productive as undamaged areas. It is critical to evaluate every project with a monitoring program.

Fish for more info:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/about/whatisrestoration.html