VI-10 



SECTION 2. ESTUARINE RERISTEP AREAS 



As another means of orqanizinq the pertinent information, a classifi- 

 cation scheme for the estuarine areas of thp United States was 

 develooed. 



The entire coastline was divided into subdivisions called Estuarine 

 Register Areas (ERA). (See Figure VI. 1.2) 



The object of this division and classification is to seoarate the 

 coastal area into units within which infomation may be organized 

 indeoendently. The choice of boundaries for each system was based 

 on consideration of its water pollution control and resource 

 management aspects and does not necessarily reflect a scientific or 

 engineering classification of estuarine systems. 



Each coastal system tributary to, or comnosed oartially of, an ocean 

 or sea is designated a primary system. Estuaries tributary to a 

 orimary system are secondary systems; those tributary to secondary 

 systems are tertiary systems; etc. This identification scheme includes 

 all coastal waters o^ the United States, from the oceans to the limit 

 of tidal effect. Although somewhat arbitrary, it offers a ineans of 

 identifyina areas without a cumbersome latitude and longitude arrange- 

 ment and permits the addition of ERA's as needed. 



As a further classification and identification of Estuarine Renister 

 Areas, a descriotion classification scheme in terms of dominating 



