The Estuary
An Estuary is...
A coastal area where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with
salt water from the ocean. Texas has over 500 miles of coastline. Many bayous, bays, and
lagoons along the Texas Coast are estuaries.
The
community of life found in these waters and associated wetlands include mammals, birds,
fish, reptiles, shellfish, and plants.
Estuaries have economic, recreational, and aesthetic value. People
are attracted to estuaries to boat, fish, swim and enjoy their beauty. The economies of
many coastal communities depend on the natural beauty and bounty of their estuaries.
Estuaries come in all shapes and sizes, each unique to their location and climate.
With all the physical forces at work in an estuary (the flow of
rivers; the deposition of sediments; the ebb and flow of tides) conditions are constantly
changing. Species that evolve in estuaries are therefore adapted to tremendous variability
and extreme conditions in their environment.
The Problem....
Estuaries have had their sediments dredged, marshes and tidal flats
filled, water polluted, and shorelines reconstructed to accommodate housing,
transportation, commerce, industry, and agricultural needs.
As our population grows and the demands imposed on our natural
resources increase, so too does the importance of protecting these resources for their
natural and aesthetic values.
Why Estuaries Matter....
Nurseries: Many marine organisms, and most commercially valuable fish species, depend on
estuaries at some point during their development.
Productivity: Within the sediments -- whether mud, silt, sand or
rocks -- live billions of microscopic bacteria, a lower level of the food web that subsist
largely on decaying plants. Nutrients are essential to a healthy aquatic ecosystem, but in
excess can lead to algal blooms causing eutrophication, a condition which results in low
dissolved oxygen.
Water Filtration: Water draining from uplands carries a load of
sediments and nutrients. As the water flows through salt marsh peat and the dense mesh of
marsh grass blades, much of the sediment and nutrient load is filtered out. This
filtration process creates cleaner and clearer water.
Flood Control: Porous, resilient salt marsh soils and grass absorb
flood waters and dissipate storm surges. Salt marsh dominated estuaries provide natural
buffers between the land and the ocean. They protect upland organisms as well as billions
of dollars of real estate that might otherwise be subjected to more intense natural
forces.
What You Can Do....
Enjoy the Wetlands - Plan a “walk in the
wetlands” for your family or community. Visit one of the state parks or national
wildlife refuges along the Texas Coast to learn and teach others to appreciate their
beauty and values.
Participate in the Adopt-a-Wetland
Program - This program is designed to get youth involved in wetland conservation by
teaching scientific techniques for monitoring wetlands, providing data gathering
experience in the field, and stimulating interest in science careers and academic
programs.
Join
the Reef Ball Foundation. They are a
non-profit corporation whose Mission is to help restore our world's ocean ecosystems
through the use aesthetically pleasing, ecologically sound, and economically designed
artificial reefs that promote and support natural species diversity and population
density. The foundation emphasizes the importance of protecting our natural reef systems
through preservation and technology by providing innovative public educational
opportunities and community involvement.
Join the ReefBall
Coalition.The ReefBall Coalition, Inc. (RBC) was formed with one specific ideal - To
promote rebuilding and conservation of ocean habitats by creating partnerships between
project hosts and citizen volunteers in the fields of research, fieldwork and education;
and to provide the best possible environmental experience for thier volunteers. What
better way to help the coral reefs in peril than to join forces with other ocean lovers to
help, learn, and have fun at the same time!
Look into Government Programs - Contact state and federal
environmental protection agencies to find out what laws, programs, and projects protect
wetlands and estuaries. An excellent place to start is at the Texas Wetland Information Network.
