The objectives were to determine the maximum possible shipment of water out of the Mullica River basin that could take place without damage to the ecology of the river-bay system. Aquatic biologists have been collecting data on the biological systems for about a decade, within which the most severe drought of record occurred. The effect of removal of water from the basin over a long period of time was simulated by the natural occurrence of drought. Based upon the observations made over the periods of low and of average and of high flows of fresh water, base lines of desired minimum average flows were drawn for each month of the year.