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NATIONAL COASTAL CONDITION REPORT III
Citation:
ENGLE, V. D. NATIONAL COASTAL CONDITION REPORT III. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-12/045, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
EPA report
Description:
Coastal waers in the US include estuaries, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, ,mangrove and kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and upwelling areas. Critical coastal habitats provide spawning grounds, nurseries, shelter, and food for finfish, shellfish, birds, and other wildlife. The nation's coastal resources also provide nesting, resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for 85% of waterfowl and other migratory birds. Estuaries are bodies of water that provide transition zones between the fresh water from rivers and the saline environment of the ocean. This interaction produces a unique environment that supports wildlife and fisheries and contributes substantially to the economy of the US. With each National Coastal Condition Report, the collaborating agencies strive to provide a more comprehensive picture of the nation's coastal resources. The NCCR III builds on the foundation provided by the NCCR * and II, and efforts are under way to assess even more areas using comparable consistent methods. The NCCR III provides additional condition data for Alaska and Hawaii. The Great Lakes data are not comparable with data provided for other regions although comparisons of condition scores can be made. Ongoing monitoring efforts in Alaska, Hawaii, and the island commonwealths and territories will support comprehensive assessments of estuarine condition in future National Coastal Condition Reports.