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YAQUINA BAY AND BEYOND: WHAT SHAPE ARE OUR ESTUARIES IN?
Citation:
Nelson, W G. YAQUINA BAY AND BEYOND: WHAT SHAPE ARE OUR ESTUARIES IN? Presented at Hatfield Marine Science Center Seafest, Newport, OR, June 21, 2003.
Description:
The great natural beauty of Oregon's estuaries gives an impression of systems that are far less altered than those in other areas of the US. However, over the years, Yaquina Bay and other western estuaries have been variously affected by habitat loss and alteration, over harvest of species, and the introduction of exotic species and chemical contaminants. Changes to the coastal watersheds from logging, farming and urbanization leads to changes in inputs of freshwater, nutrients, and sediments. EPA at HMSC conducts research focused in Yaquina Bay to find new ways to assess the condition of estuaries, and leads a program to assess the condition of coastal resources along the entire west coast of the US. The talk will review some of the environmental changes that have taken place in Yaquina Bay as an example for the region. A brief description of EPA research will be followed by a summary of the condition of West Coast estuaries produced by current EPA monitoring studies.