Estuary Project Analysis - Essay Example

? Estuary Project Introduction Estuaries fashion an essential feature in the intricate and dynamic characteristics of the coastal watershed. The economy of the environment of these estuaries primarily relies on its beauty and bounty. However, pollution of these estuaries impedes on their resources and vitality. There are five avenues via which pollution affects the productivity of the estuary. These five avenues are; agricultural pollution, legacy pollution, sewage, industrial pollution and urban storm water runoff. Main Body Given the number of avenues via which, the San Francisco estuary may be impacted, it is not a surprise as to the major goals the management has set forth to achieve. The first step is to engage measures that aim to reduce, completely, the pollution to which the estuary is prone. This entails the employment of toxic reduction programs, which have the long time goals of reducing the load of toxic pollutants. Other additional measures include engaging in economic incentives that discourage the use of toxic raw materials and subsequently the production of harmful waste products. People and industries should be made accountable to their waste disposal mechanisms lest they wilfully engage in polluting the estuary, which are environmental audits. Environmentally friendly agricultural practises should be encouraged and advertised for those who are ignorant. These agricultural practises might need to include the creation of means via which pesticides will not penetrate the estuary. A disturbing fact is that new commercial products are being created and sold in the market daily. Some of these new products will be a source of pollution. Thus, pollution prevention will not be complete if this avenue is not analysed. In this regard, stewardship programs should be employed that seek to guide on the reduction of pollution attributed to new commercial products in the market. There are instances whereby the complete prevention of pollution is not realistic. As such, pollution control mechanisms must be employed. One key measure will be to establish means via which both point and non-point sources of pollutants will be reduced. Additionally, the accumulation of sediments and pollutants present in estuarine organisms must be looked into. Additionally, the accumulation of mercury and selenium should be controlled in respect to the source and sinks. A major concern, in pollution control, will be to manage the amount of run off arising from public and private establishments. Appropriate measures have been put in place to check on this, it varies from the implementation of ordinance and education the general public on the appropriate ways of managing run-offs. Additionally, measures have been proposed to curb and control the amount of pollution arising from energy and transportation systems. In the context of controlling pollution, the role played by mines and agricultural toxic waste has also been analyzed. Various avenues have been proposed in reaching this goal (Gordon Becker, 2011). When all this is done, it is of fundamental importance to check on the significance of pollution on the life of wildlife and the human population. This entails the cleaning up of pollutants of the aquatic species in the estuary. Additionally, the source of food for these species should be checked. Subsequently, the deposits or hot spots of the sediments be it mercury or selenium should be controlled if not completely eradicated. All these measures mentioned above are being employed in the endeavour of finally making the water quality better and conducive for life. An additional objective is to improve the water quality via the restoration and improvement of the tidal wetland functions. Subsequently, the riparian and floodplain actions in the wetland will also be improved. Aside from the aspect of pollution, biotic and abiotic factors impede on the productivity and diversity of life present and dependent on the estuary. The abiotic factors that affect the estuary consist of the amount of sunshine that is available; the relative saline state of the water, the concentration of nutrients plus the oxygen concentration that has dissolved. In relation to the living organisms, the salinity is very important, and it varies with the increase in concentration from the mouth to the sea water. In the same context, the amount of sunshine level dictates the characteristic of photosynthesis that will take place. A vital aspect in the life of species living in the estuary is the concentration of oxygen in the water. This is because a large majority of the organisms depend on it for survival. Another vital factor is the level of nutrients in the water. An increased amount of nutrients will lead to the growth of algae, which will in turn consume an increased oxygen volume thus reducing the amount of oxygen available to other organisms. The biotic factors are the living organisms present in the estuary. They form the chain comprising of producers, consumers and predators. The main producers present in the estuary are phytoplankton. The consumer section is made up of zooplankton which feed on the phytoplankton, eaten by grass, smelt and shrimp which are then eaten by striped bass. The last section of predator is comprised of birds, seals, fish and finally humans. The important fact to note is that without any of these creatures the ecosystem of the estuary will be thrown off balance. The existence of human population in the environment of the estuary has had adverse effects on the estuary. The increased pollution has led to the decline of recorded population of certain species. This is exemplified by the decline of some species of fish in the estuary. Additionally, diking and filling activities have resulted in the elimination of suitable habitats of aquatic life. The reduction of level of fresh water inflow has altered the dynamics of its plant and animal species. As a consequence of the increased human interaction, the number of fractured habitats has witnessed an increase in their relative amount. The toxic substances have led to the habitat adopting a dynamic distribution. The conservation measures employed in the management of the estuary have had a significant impact in the maintaining of biodiversity. Prior to the inception of these above mentioned conservation avenues, several plants and animals were experiencing a decline in their respective populations. This can best be exemplified by the different species of fish. However, conservation efforts have resulted in the creation of a suitable and conducive environment for living and procreation. As such, there has been a tremendous increase in the biodiversity of both plants and animals in the estuary. Conclusion There has been a steady progress in the conservation efforts in the estuary. When analysing the goals of the current management then this steady progress will eventuate into tremendous improvements of the suitability and vitality of the estuary. However, this will not be possible unless the public and industries are educated on their role in conserving the estuary. References Gordon Becker, J. (2011). The State of San Francisco Bay 2011. San Francisco. Read More