San Francisco estuary - Essay Example

? Estuary Paper Project The San Francisco Bay is made up of rivers and five bays thus making up a wide river mouth that is floodedby the sea during ocean tides. The mixing of the fresh and salty water brings out the complete biological importance of the estuary. The estuary drains water from approximately half of California State. Therefore, the bay is very important to the people since it also contains marshes and mudflats that act as a source of food to fish in the area(Edmund, 2012). Therefore, this makes fishing a key economic activity in the area. The estuary has been found to support over a hundred species of fish that inhabit both the salty and fresh water. Apart from fish, the estuary also supports wildlife such as birds. Therefore, the estuary indeed contributes significantly to human welfare around the area. However, with time different human activities have posed a key threat to the bay. This is due to the negative effects that industrial, agricultural and mining activities have on the organisms that have inhabited the estuary. In addition, both birds and fish have been forced to migrate due to destruction of 80% of its marshes. Therefore, indeed different ways of restoring the estuary need to be developed (Edmund, 2012). The population of growth rate of San Francisco was reported to be very high after the population number clocked 825, 900 people in 2012 census. The number of children born each year keeps on increasing and yet, the corresponding death rate remains very low. Therefore, with this high population growth, the number of persons demanding food also keeps on increasing each year. Consequently, individuals have to come up with different ways of producing food for survival. This causes the number of economic activities in the city to increase in number (Edmund, 2012). Consequently, this has had a negative effect on the estuary. For instance, industrial activities produce chemicals that pose danger on the lives of animals in the estuary. Industrial activities also reduce the marshlands of the estuary therefore, affecting the ecosystem of the bay negatively. Due to population increase, most of the vegetated wetlands of the estuary have also been destroyed with time. This is mainly caused by the increase in agricultural activities in the area. Destruction of the wetlands affects the overall balance of the ecosystem since; it affects the flora and fauna in the estuary. Different food chains also become broken since; degradation of the wetlands also forces some birds and mammals to migrate the area (San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, 2001). Dredging is also an issue that has been raised by the increasing population (Cohen & Laws, 2012). Dredging leads to increased dumping of the dredged sediments thus, causes pollution of the estuary. Increased industrial activity also causes increased level of pollutants from the industrial wastes. Pollution has been found to be a key problem to the estuary since the year 1879. For instance, mining activities bring a large number of pollutants such as mercury to the estuary. Urban runoff is also a key source of pollution to the estuary. This is because; it carries with it chemicals and metals washed from the streets. On the other hand, petroleum products also enter the estuary through spillage from motor vehicle engines and other accidental spills such as from boats and ships. Pesticides used in agriculturemay also be washed to the water thus contributing to the pollution (Cohen & Laws, 2012). On the other hand, some of the pesticides used to control weeds in the water may also pollute the estuary despite being helpful. Therefore, it is indeed essential that the authorities focus on controlling pollution since; it has many detrimental effects on the bay. Human behavior indeed increases the habitat fracture because; most of the reasons leading to the fracture arise from human activities (Edmund, 2012). For instance, mining, agriculture, construction and industrial activities are all activities that are caused by humans. Therefore, indeed the human behaviors are a key fuel of the degradation. In as much as natural causes may also contribute to the habitat fracture, human beings remain to be the leading cause. In addition, human beings are also the ones that have delayed to find solutions to their own behaviors. While they might have the option to rectify their actions, human beings have not considered taking this option, instead, they keep on increasing their activities (Palaima, 2012). Therefore, although authorities in San Francisco may focus on correcting the actions, their efforts might be in vain if the population surrounding the estuary remains inconsiderate of the habitat. Conservation in the estuary is being used to maintain biodiversity of plants and animals in the estuary through a number of ways. For instance, municipal authorities have been installing primary and secondary treatment facilities around the area to ensure treatment of sewage(Cohen & Laws, 2012). Primary treatment majorly involves separation of solid objects and sediments from the sewage solution. On the other hand, secondary treatment involves breakdown of the organic materials in the water biologically. Treatments have greatly helped in the conservation since; it reduces the level of contamination while increasing the oxygen levels in the water. Municipal treatments also reduce the industrial discharge to the water. Conservation of the estuary’s habitat has also been made possible through construction of dams and diversions(Citizens Alliance to Restore the Estuary, 1990). The reservoirs assist significantly in controlling the flow of water in the estuary. Although diversions in the bay are important, they may reduce the rate of flushing of the contaminants from the estuary. In addition, this might also increase the water salinity. Conservation has also been increased through introduction of new species into the estuary. This increases the number of organisms in the estuary. Specie introduction also ensures that there is continued procreation among the fish in the estuary. Therefore, although some animas may die due to pollution, introduction of new species ensures that the habitat is progressive (Citizens Alliance to Restore the Estuary, 1990). Conserving biodiversity in the estuary can be said to be progressing well since; the estuary has become more productive with time. In addition, the numbers of animal species that have inhabited the area have also increased over the past years. Treatment of wastes entering the sea also enhances the biological richness of the estuary (Palaima, 2012). The fishing industry has also developed significantly since; the conservation ensures that different fish species survive in the estuary. In conclusion, it is clear that indeed the San Francisco estuary has essential benefits to the whole population. Individuals have been provided with food through the bay since; most of the inhabitants of the estuary consist of fish and birds. The ecosystem also acts as a tourism attraction since; it has attracted different animal and bird species (Palaima, 2012). Therefore, the estuary is indeed a key source of income to the whole of San Francisco. Individuals should be enlightened on its importance in order to ensure conservation of the area. This is because; it is only through its conservation that they will derive more benefits from the estuary. Authorities should also device ways of controlling pollution in order to ensure that they maintain the biodiversity between the plants and animals in the estuary. References Citizens Alliance to Restore the Estuary (1990).Restoring the Bay: A citizens' agenda to restore the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.Oakland, Calif: Restoring the Bay Campaign. Cohen, A., & Laws, J. (2012).An Introduction to the San Francisco Estuary. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from http://www.savesfbay.org/sites/default/files/Intro_to_the_Estuary.pdf Edmund, B. (2012). SFBCDC - The San Francisco Bay Estuary. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/bay_estuary.shtml Palaima, A. (2012). Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration of Tidal Marshes.University of California Press. San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (2001).Restoring the estuary: Implementation strategy of the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture : executive summary. Oakland, CA: San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. Read More