or limiting shoreline development. Such areas may be slated as 

 high priorities for study and monitoring. 



Protection and enhancement of living resources require public 

 understanding, not only of what is happening to the resource and 

 why, but of the time necessary for recovery. The ecosystem's 

 response to improvements will not occur overnight. Organisms will 

 need time to re-establish themselves through natural propagation 

 or through human intervention like developing aquaculture or 

 hatcheries. The quality of the estuary will, however, have to be able 

 to sustain living resources. 



After the Conference has reviewed and selected management 

 activities, it designs, writes, and enacts action plans. To protect and 

 enhance a living resource such as submerged aquatic vegetation, 

 an action plan will likely address improvements in water and 

 sediment quality first. Replenishing grasses can then be con- 

 sidered. Table 4.6 outlines a preliminary plan of action to correct 

 the loss of submerged grasses. 



Table 4.6.— CCMP Action Plan Outline for Loss of 

 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation 



PROBLEM Loss of submerged aquatic vegetation In two major 



tributaries due to increased turbidity and sedimen- 

 tation from nonpoint sources. 



Restore submerged aquatic vegetation beds to 

 1950 levels in Identified tributaries. 



PROGRAM GOAL 

 OBJECTIVES 



CCMP ACTIONS 

 Within One Year: 



Within Two Years: 



Within Three Years: 



LEAD 

 RESPONSIBILITY 



COOPERATING 

 AGENCIES 



RESOURCES 



Reduce nonpoint source nutrient and sediment 

 loadings to each tributary. 



Re-establish submerged aquatic vegetation where 

 water quality and clarity are sufficient to support it. 



Survey tributaries and identify areas where water 

 and sediment quality is sufficient to support sub- 

 merged aquatic vegetation. 



Identify groundwater discharges impacting the es- 

 tuary. 



Identify tributary segments with highest nonpoint 

 source loadings of nutrients and sediments. 



Develop a nonpoint source control program for 

 each segment, setting targets for load reductions. 



Develop and implement revegetation programs for 

 selected segments. 



Develop and implement systemwide survey 

 methodology for submerged aquatic vegetation. 

 Conduct annual surveys. 



Full implementation of nonpoint source control pro- 

 gram for selected segments. 



Monitor segments for improvements in water 

 quality. 



State department of natural resources ar>d water 

 pollution control agency. 



Environmental Protection Agency, Soil Conserva- 

 tion Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service. 



Public and private organizations to conduct annual 

 surveys of submerged aquatic vegetation to supple- 

 ment aerial surveys. 



$500,000 annually for revegetation program com- 

 mitted by state legislature. 



Redirection of existing resources and new funding 

 of nonpoint source abatement and control 

 programs in selected tributaries, agreed to by 

 state/EPA. SCS to target special control projects In 

 key tributaries. 



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