You are here:
THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF ESTUARIES: A FOCUS ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO COASTS OF THE UNITED STATES
Citation:
Benson, W H. AND J K. Summers. THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF ESTUARIES: A FOCUS ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO COASTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Fish Physiology, Toxicology, and Water Quality: Sixth International Symposium, La Paz, B.C. S. Mexico, January 22-26, 2001. Robert V. Thurston (ed.), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-02/097, 2002.
Description:
Monitoring the estuaries of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coastlines was performed annually from 1990 to 1997 to assess ecological conditions on a regional basis for four biogeographic provinces. These province estimates - Virginian, Carolinian, West Indian, and Louisianian Provinces - are combined to provide an assessment of 87% of the estuarine area of the United States and 96% of the estuarine area of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Combining information over the 6 years of monitoring showed 34 ? 4% of the Atlantic and Gulf estuarine sediments displayed poorer than expected biological conditions, based on benthic and finfish community conditions, and 21 ? 4% of the area was characterized by low water clarity, the presence of marine debris/noxious odors, or elevated fish tissue contaminants. More recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a 5-year effort, known as Coastal 2000, to build the scientific basis and the state capacity to monitor for the status of, and trends in, the condition of estuaries of the United States.