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Chapter 4 

 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS 



This p*rt of the report emphasizes 

 the complex Interaction among the 

 biophysical and socioeconomic 

 environments within the estuarlne 

 zone. The existing socioeconomic 

 environment is the subject of the 

 preceding chapter; this chapter 

 deals with trends associated with 

 the social and economic 

 environment. 



The availability of certain resources in or near estuaries has 

 strongly Influenced patterns of population growth and economic 

 activity. Once initiated, these changing economic and demographic 

 patterns alter the nature of the estuaries themselves. For example, 

 the presence of plentiful timber resources was a factor in the 

 development of many coastal towns and cities. Long after the deple- 

 tion of the timber resource, the deep deposits of sediments carried 

 down from the scarred land to the estuary bottom alter the biophysical 

 system. Similarly, new sets of economic activity such as transporta- 

 tion, manufacturing, and commerce replace the initial extractive 

 luubering activity and in turn affect the biophysical environment. 



