1-4 



Increasing use and misuse of the Nation's estuaries have created 

 and intensified many problems. Once productive shellfisheries 

 have been completely smothered by sedimentation or closed by 

 pollution; once deep and beautiful harbors are silted up and 

 unnavigable, except for carefully marked dredged channels; pas- 

 sage of anadromotis fish is blocked by polluted estuarine zones; 

 thermal discharges affect entire ecosystems; diversion of rivers 

 has caused salt water intrusion into ground water; and untreated 

 or inadequately treated municipal and industrial waste discharges 

 have damaged fisheries, added to siltation, and made many areas 

 unsuitable for the increasing recreational use the present soci- 

 ety demands. 



There was little awareness of the danger to future generations 

 as long as the ability of the natural environment to absorb the 

 effects of the socio-economic environment seemed unlimited, and 

 the problems of pollution and environmental damage were isolated. 

 But now, in the second half of the 20th century, the entire 

 Nation must face the results of those three hundred years of 

 exploitation and weld the three estuarine environments into a 

 national program to preserve, study, use, and develop the estua- 

 rine zone. Action is needed now. The purpose of this Study is 

 to recommend that action. 



