11-54 



subtle long-term interference with growth and reproduction processes. 

 The end result is to create a biological desert in whicn no organism 

 can survive. Tne pesticide group is of particular concern in the 

 estuarine zone, tstuaries are the terminus for most of the major 

 river systems, and as such they tend to concentrate the waterborne 

 materials carried in by the large terrestrial drainage systems. Tiie 

 biological magnification capability of estuarine animals significantly 

 increases the hazard and destructive potential of any contributed 

 pesticides. The ultimate damage is to stress or eliminate parts of 

 the energy conversion chain in the estuarine environment. 



The addition of large quantities of heat from industrial cooling water 

 constitutes a form of pollution which must be considered. Tne entire 

 ecosystem may be stressed by thermal pollutio n. The amount of damage 

 is dependent on the resulting temperature of the environment and the 

 species composition of the biotic community. The total ran?e of 

 detriments should be carefully consiuered on an individual case 

 oasis before heat is released to the environment. Meat affects the 

 physical properties of water, the rates at which chemical and 

 biological reactions progress, and can kill living organisms. 



Man's activities may affect the rate of sedi mant inflow, 

 deposition, and outflow by purposely or inadvertently upsetting 

 the natural balance. If upstream erosion is increased due 

 to poor land management practices, the load carried in will 

 increase. Conversely activities along the coast can result in 



