Summation

Summation

The complex interaction of estuary morphology, freshwater influx, waves, and tides leads to the diverse range of estuarine conditions and environments that exist on a global basis and that may exist daily to seasonally in an individual estuary. The high primary and secondary productivity of estuaries and the fact that they can provide an important buffer to inland communities and infrastructure against the open ocean make estuaries a critically important coastal system. Yet, many are at risk because of exploitation. The Chesapeake Bay estuary, for example, has experienced widespread degradation of fisheries because of damage to bay habitat from the introduction of excess nutrients and pollution, and extensive programs are underway to mitigate against the substantial damage that has already been done to the system.