157 



It is, however, important to understand that estuarine uses are not 

 mutually exclusive and that with sufficient planning and caution, these 

 uses can exist in harmony with one another. In fact, in order to receive 

 the maximum return from a natural resource such as an estuary, all 

 of the uses of the specialized environment should be developed to 

 the maximum with the detrimental uses minimized. 



Minimizing detrimental uses does not, in most cases, mean that the 

 major activity must be stopped. Eather, it means that for most uses 

 only the harmful extent of such uses must be stopped or restricted. 

 For example, sanitary wastes disciharged from ships may be a harmful 

 side effect of shipping that must be curtained. There is no need to con- 

 clude, however, that shipping must be stopped. Similarly, water skiing 

 or boat racing may be harmful to sport fishing. However, a simple zon- 

 ing of certain areas for use of sport fishermen and not for high speed 

 boating or water skiing allows the use of an estuary for all these 

 pursuits. 



At the present time, the major uses of estuaries, in terms of gross 

 monetary return are : military use, shipping, and industrial activities. 

 These uses are, of course, historical and do not necessarily reflect the 

 uses that would be made of the estuary under today's conditions or 

 future conditions, if each use were to compete for the water use at the 

 same time. In other words, historical use has brought about the present 

 use imbalance in many estuarine systems. However, given the oppor- 

 tunity to develop, other uses might attain equal importance economi- 

 cally while contributing important social benefits. 



Estuaries at the present time represent underdeveloped natural re- 

 sources that are important to the social as well as the economic well- 

 being of the Nation. Although lack of understanding of the dynamics 

 of an estuary and the inability to foresee the coming of age of an 

 industrial economy, with its resultant increase in leisure time, may have 

 combined to allow undesirable exploitation of certain estuaries, such 

 exploitation need not be allowed to continue. 



Based on present trends and demands, there is little doubt that there 

 will be a tremendous need for estuarine uses other than for military, 

 shipping, and industrial uses. That is, if the facilities are available 

 for recreation, sports, or aesthetic enjoyment, they will be used and 

 used to great advantage from an economic standpoint as Avell as a 

 social standpoint. Also, some commercial fishery ventures may again 

 become not only feasible but profitable if the detrimental uses of estu- 

 aries are curtailed. 



NAKKAGANSETT BAY 



(IV-3-1) 



The Narragansett Bay system in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is 

 an estuary of approximately lYO square miles with a total shoreline 

 of approximately 240 miles. Except for normal shoaling towards shore, 

 there are only very limited areas where the water depth is less than 6 

 feet at mean low tide. Passages between the islands have sufficient 

 depths for large ships — ^channels need only be dredged where they 

 enter the Taunton and Providence Rivers. Because of the islands in 

 the bay and the irregular coast, Narragansett Bay has a long shore- 

 line with coves and embayments that are protected from the wave 

 effects of major storms. The tidal range is a moderate 3 to 4 feet but a 

 favorable cross section to length ratio of the basin helps to ensure 

 reasonably good flushing. Figure IV.3.2 (on p. 159) is a map of the bay. 



