IV-74 



TABLE IV. 1.9 CHARACTERISTIC NATURAL ESTUARINE ZONE CIRCULATION 

 AND WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS 



Bio- 

 physical 

 Heqlon _ 



(1) Smooth Shoreline 



(2) Indented Shoreline 



(3) Marshy Shoreline 



North Deep near shore, oceanic 

 Atlantic water, longshore currents, 



some suspended sand and 



clay 



Deep near shore, oceanic 

 water, erratic tidal currents; 

 eddies and tidal pools 



Strong currents In many small 

 channels through marsh, some 

 turbidity, high oxygen 



Oceanic water, longshore 

 Middle currents', suspended mud, 

 Atlantic clay silt 



Generally shallow, sus- 

 pended mud and sand, oceanic 

 water 



Moderate currents tn well- 

 defined channels, high dis- 

 solved oxyginlc material, 

 little turbidity, high 

 oxygen 



Longshore tidal currents 

 Chesa- highly variable salinities, 

 peake small amounts of organic 



material , 



Moderate tidal currents, 

 highly variable salinities, 

 some turbidity 



Poorly defined channels, 

 small currents, dissolved 

 organic material, moderately 

 fluctuation oxygen 



Primarily tidal and wave 

 South Induced currents, oceanic 

 Atlantic water with mud, clay and 



silt 



Moderate tidal currents, 

 highly variable salinities, 

 some turbidity 



Small currents, high color, 

 dissolved organlcs, highly 

 variable oxygen, some- 

 times low, high temperatures 



Clear ocean water, gentle 

 Carlb- currents, warm temperatures 

 bean throughout the year 



Clear ocean water, gentle 

 currents, eddies, warmer 

 than ocean 



High dissolved organlcs, 

 color, suspended mud, 

 very small currents, hot 



Gulf of Clear, generally warm 

 Mexico ocean water, longshore 

 currents 



Very small currents, ocean 

 water with slight turbidity, 

 warmer than ocean 



High dissolved organlcs, 

 color, very small currents, 

 slightly turbid, very 

 warm 



Strong wave action. 

 Southwest cool oceanic water, some 

 Pacific silt and clay turbidity 



Moderate suspended sol Ids, 

 erratic currents, high 

 oxygen, cool 



High suspended sol Ids, 

 erratic tidal currents, 

 warmer than ocean and 

 rivers 



Northwest Strong wave action. 

 Pacific cold ocean water, some 

 silt and clay turbidity 



Moderate suspended sol Ids, 

 erratic currents, high 

 oxygen, cold 



High suspended solids, 

 erratic tidal currents, 

 warmer than ocean and 

 rivers 



Alaska 



Very cold oceanic 

 water, usually 1ce, 

 salinities slightly 

 depressed 



Very cold oceanic water, 

 overlain by some fresh 

 water, high oxygen 



Very cold water, variable 

 salinity, much fine silt, 

 debris from freezing 



Pacific 

 Islands 



Clear, warm ocean 

 water, strong wave 

 action 



Clear ocean water, gentle 

 currents, eddies, warmer 

 than ocean 



High dissolved organlcs, 

 color, suspended mud, 

 very small currents, hot 



References : 



1) U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Coast Pilots . Tidal Curre nt Tables. 



2) U. S. Army Project and Study Reports. 



3) FWPCA Reports and unpublished data. 



4) National Estuarlne Inventory. 



