Water for Virginia Master Naturalists:

Estuaries & Coasts

Francis J. Reilly, Jr.

http://advancedmastergardener.org/water.htm

Frank@TheReillyGroup.netWebmaster@VMGA.net

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Types of surface water

Ephemeral streams – vernal poolsPuddlesStreamsPondsLakesRiversEstuariesOceans

Pollution Sources

Point SourceName some sources

Non-Point SourceName some sources

Pollution Types

SedimentNutrientsAnimal WastePesticidesSaltsToxicantsThermal

Pollution Sources

SedimentNutrientsAnimal WastePesticidesSaltsToxicantsThermal

Nutrients

N-P-KSources?Air is the major source!Sinks

Which are the Biggies for us?

SedimentNutrientsAnimal WastePesticidesSaltsToxicantsThermal

Chesapeake Bay PollutantsCHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM - ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

TRACK 1: NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT INDICATORCBP 7/22/03

1980s –2002

Decreasing

No significant trend

Increasing

Nitrogen Trends in Rivers Entering the Bay:

Flow Adjusted ConcentrationsMonitoring data from major rivers entering tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay show that nitrogen concentrations are decreasing in the Susquehanna, Potomac, Patuxent, and James rivers.

The Pamunkey (a tributary to the York) shows an increasing trend.

The remaining riversshow no trends.

Source: USGS and Susquehanna River Basin Commission, PA. Results are shown for flow adjusted trend analyses using the earliest complete data set collected since 1985.

Chesapeake Bay PollutantsCHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM - ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

TRACK 1: NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT INDICATORCBP 7/22/03

1980s –2002

Decreasing

No significant trend

Increasing

Monitoring data from major rivers entering tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay show that phosphorus loads are decreasing in portions of the Susquehanna and in the Patuxent, Mattaponi, James and Appomattox rivers.

The remaining rivers and the rest of the Susquehanna show no trends.

Source: USGS and Susquehanna River Basin Commission, PA. Results are shown for trend analyses using the earliest complete data set collected since 1985.

Phosphorus Trends in Rivers Entering the Bay:Monitored Loads

Types of Toxicity

AcuteCancer Birth DefectsEndocrine DisruptorsChronicBioaccumulationBiomagnification

Measuring Pollution

Chemistry/Laboratory/BioassayEffects

Global effectsLess fish landings – global warming

Ecological assaysMacroinvertebrate assays - surveys

Secondary effectsLow DO – Cloudy water

Chesapeake Bay - How’s It Doing

Lets look at some systems indicative of condition:SAV submerged aquatic vegetationStriped BassBlue crabsOysters

Chesapeake Bay - How’s It

Doing

SAV IS recovering

Chesapeake Bay -

How’s It Doing

Striped Bass

Chesapeake Bay - How’s It Doing

Blue Crabs

Chesapeake Bay - How’s It Doing

Oysters

Impacts of Pollution

ToxicityFood contaminationHabitat destructionHabitat degradationCascading Effects

Habitats at risk

Clear water habitatsSAVWetlandsOyster reef

Water Quality Healthy vs. Unhealthy

Sunlight Sunlight

HealthyHabitat

UnhealthyHabitat

BalancedAlgae Growth

Minimal Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment Inputs

Excessive Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment Inputs

HealthyBay Grasses Reduced

Bay Grasses

Algae Die-off

Algae Decomposition

No Oxygen

Lack of Benthic CommunityBenthic Community

HealthyOyster Reef

AdequateOxygen

Algal Bloom

Barren Oyster Reef

What is an Estuary?

???

What is an Estuary?

Where salt water blends with freshWhere the river meets the sea?

What is an Estuary? the wide part of a river where it nears the sea; fresh and salt water mix wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are often associated with high rates of biological productivity. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary

The thin zone along a coastline where freshwater systems and rivers meet and mix with a salty ocean (such as a bay, mouth of a river, salt marsh, lagoon). www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/append/glossary_e.htm

A semi-enclosed body of water which has a free connection to the open sea and within which seawater is measurably diluted by fresh water derived from land drainage. www.estuaries.gov/glossary.html

An inlet or arm of the sea, especially the wide mouth of a river, where the tide meets the current. www.floridadep.net/evergladesforever/about/glossary.htm

A semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and where fresh water derived from land drainage (usually mouths of rivers) is mixed with seawater; often subject to tidal action and cyclic fluctuations in salinity. biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/zy198.htm

the part of the wide lower course of a river where it is met by the sea www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/short_series/lakereservoirs-2/glossary.asp

an environment where terrestrial, freshwater, and seawater (saline) habitats overlap www.nwrc.usgs.gov/fringe/glossary.html

A complex ecosystem between a river and near-shore ocean waters where fresh and salt water mix. These brackish areas include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, wetlands, and lagoons and are influenced by tides and currents. ... www.nsc.org/EHC/glossary.htm

a place where fresh and salt water mix, such as a bay, salt marsh, or where a river enters an ocean. mvhs1.mbhs.edu/riverweb/glossary.html

The broad lower course of a river that is encroached on by the sea and affected by the tides. usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/geography/glossary.htm

Semi-enclosed coastal waters at the junctions of rivers with ocean habitats, for example littoral basins, bays, inlets and harbours. Estuaries have a high biological productivity due to nutrient delivery and mixing processes. ... www.eubios.info/biodict.htm

A place where freshwater and salt water meet (ie where a river meets the ocean or the Gulf of Mexico). sofia.usgs.gov/virtual_tour/glossary.html

A coastal body of water that connects to the oceans so that fresh water from a river mixes with saltwater from the oceans, such as in the Chesapeake Bay. mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/science/glossary.shtml

the part of a river where fresh water meets the sea and is affected by tides activities.macmillanmh.com/science/ca/grade6/glossary/e.html

An estuary is where a river meets the sea. EUPHAUSIID Euphausiids are small, plentiful, shrimp-like, crustaceans that live in the open ocean. They are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/glossary/indexe.shtml

a water passage where the tide meets a river current, especially at the lower end of a river www.yukonriverpanel.com/glossary.htm

The area where fresh and salt water mix at the mouth of a river, used as rearing and feeding habitat by many fish species and other animals. www.governor.wa.gov/gsro/glossary/default.asp

Mouth of a river where its fresh water mixes with salt water and is affected by tides. www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/fishhtms/glossar.htm

Mouth of a river, where fresh river water mixes with the seawater. www.newforest.gov.uk/index.cfm

the area where a river empties into an ocean; a bay, influenced by the ocean tides, resulting in a mixture of salt water and fresh water. www.wef.org/LearnAboutWater/ForThePublic/WaterTerms/

A bay that formed when a broad river valley was submerged by rising sea level or a sinking coast. eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Library/glossary.php3

a bay or inlet, often at the mouth of a river, in which large quantities of freshwater and seawater mix together. These unique habitats are necessary nursery grounds for many marine fishes and shellfishes. www.nrdc.org/reference/glossary/e.asp

where river currents meet and are influenced by oceanic tides montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/teachercurriculum/glossary.html

1. The portion of a river that is affected by tides. 2. A semi-enclosed body of water where the salinity of ocean water is measurably reduced by freshwater input. Estuaries are very important nursery regions for many coastal ocean species of fish and invertebrates. amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/browse

An arm of the sea at the mouth of a river. www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/ancient/vocab.html

A place where fresh (non-salty) water enters the sea, such as at a river mouth. sciencebulletins.amnh.org/bio/f/sprawl.20050201/glossary/index.php

What is an Estuary?

the wide part of a river where it nears the sea; fresh and salt water mix

An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are often associated with high rates of biological productivity.

A semi-enclosed body of water which has a free connection to the open sea and within which seawater is measurably diluted by fresh water derived from land drainage

A semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and where fresh water derived from land drainage (usually mouths of rivers) is mixed with seawater; often subject to tidal action and cyclic fluctuations in salinity.

What is an Estuary?Old Woman Creek Reserve, Ohio

  

             

•First NERR – 1980

•Smallest – 571 A

•No salt water

•Tides?

•So what dies it have in common with the Chesapeake?

What is an Estuary?

the wide part of a river where it nears the sea; fresh and salt water mix

An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are often associated with high rates of biological productivity.

A semi-enclosed body of water which has a free connection to the open sea and within which seawater is measurably diluted by fresh water derived from land drainage

A semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and where fresh water derived from land drainage (usually mouths of rivers) is mixed with seawater; often subject to tidal action and cyclic fluctuations in salinity.

Chesapeake Bay

Largest in USMaybe largest in the

world

Tides

Spring Tide

Neap Tide

Daily cycle

High and low tide

Lunar Tidal Day

Tides So What?

Tidal Action

Tides So What?

Intertidal zone

Tidal flatsTidal

wetlands

Intertidal Zone - Vertical

Zonation

Tidal Marsh – Sea Level Rise

Intertidal Zone Horizontal

Salt Water

Shoals

•Point No Point Light 6 miles north of Mouth of Potomac

Depths

Benthos/ Soft Bottoms

Eel Grass Beds

Shell Fish Beds

Oysters

More Oysters

Oyster Reef

Fisheries

You can’t eat ‘em all

Other Important Bay Denizens

Blue Crabs – Callinectes sapidus

Waves – the BeachWaves

“break” at 1/7th Lambda

Build or erode beaches

“decide” what is on the beach

The Beach

Barrier Island Ecology

Dune Change Shape

The Dune

Inter Dunes

Back Side