Estuary Definition and Orientation
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Transcript of Estuary Definition and Orientation
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Estuary Definition and Orientation
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What is an estuary?
• An estuary is formed where rivers meet the sea.
• An estuary is a semi-enclosed river mouth or bay where salty seawater is diluted by freshwater from rivers and creeks.
• An estuary is made up of tidal marshes, tidal flats, and open water channels.
• An estuary is flooded by the tides.
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What does an estuary look like from the air?
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South South Slough Slough NERRNERR
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What is South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve?
• a 4,771 acre protected natural area
• A place to investigate and conduct studies (research)
• A place for people to learn about estuaries and their watersheds (education)
• A place to restore and protect estuaries and their watersheds (stewardship)
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Is this still the estuary?
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Is this still the estuary?
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Is this still the estuary?
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The Physical Estuary
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The flooding and ebbing of the tides is one of the most important forces shaping
and influencing the estuary.
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The flooding and ebbing of the tides is one of the most important forces shaping
and influencing the estuary.
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High tides and low tides can make the same place look very different.
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High tides and low tides can make the same place look very different.
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The gravitational forces of the moon and the sun drive the tides.
Spring tide
Neap tide
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Sediment and other particles are common in the estuary’s waters, yet too much sediment can cause
damage to habitat and the flora and fauna.
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Estuaries are flooded by the tides twice daily. Winter rains increase the depth of the flooding waters expanding the reach of the floodplain.
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Upwelling occurs during the late spring and summer when strong, continuous winds from
the north bring cold, nutrient rich ocean water to the surface.
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The Life Zones of the Estuary
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Estuary zones – upper estuary
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Estuary zones – upper estuary
Tidal marsh
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Estuary zones – upper estuary
Tidal marsh
Tidal flat
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Estuary zones – upper estuary
Tidal marsh
Tidal flat
Open water channel
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Estuary zones – lower estuary
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Estuary zones – lower estuary
Open water channel
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Estuary zones – lower estuary
Tidal flat
Open water channel
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Estuary zones – lower estuary
Tidal marsh
Tidal flat
Open water channel
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Salt marshes and tidal fresh marshes are some of the most productive
environments on earth!
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Tidal flats of the estuary are usually made of sand, mud, or cobble.
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Tidal flats may be made of exposed bedrock where strong currents prevent
sediment from accumulating.
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Low tide exposes the flats to predators such as herons, shorebirds, and
raccoons.
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Life of the Estuary
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The producers of the estuary are the plants. They capture the sun’s energy
and convert it to a food source for millions of animals.
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Salmon and many other kinds of fish use the estuary as a zone of transition, a place where young fish grow, safe from predators
they will face in the ocean.
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Many forms of life in the estuary live beneath the surface of the mud or sand.
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Migratory birds depend on the wetlands of the estuary for resting and feeding as they travel between nesting
and wintering grounds.
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Crabs live in many different types of
habitat in the estuary.
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Many animals begin their lives in the protective waters of the estuary.
A larval crab A juvenile English sole
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Estuary Functions and Impacts
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Healthy estuaries can provide many different values and perform many
important functions.• Flood control• Nursery areas• Migratory stopovers• Recreation• Production of
biomass• Safe harbor• Feeding grounds
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Timber harvest is a regulated activity in the watershed that must be properly conducted
to reduce impacts to streams, rivers, and estuaries.
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Waste that is not properly treated pollutes the waters of the estuary with
excess nutrients.
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Research has improved our understanding of what is necessary to restore estuary functions and habitat.
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Welcome to the Estuary!