443 



adjacent wetlands and marshes (122), for this is damage that cannot 

 be undone. 



In addition, dirty water, littered beaches, raw sewage, and other 

 pollutants cause the area to become unhealthy (47), or at least ugly. 

 Needless to say, these factors destroy the recreational (108), residen- 

 tial (41), and navigational (38) values people seek in the estuarine 

 area. 



Several witnesses, when asked to describe the results of pollution in 

 the estuary nearest them, said, succinctly, "It stinks" (33) . 



TABLE V.5.3C.— SUMMARY OF PREVAILING TONE OF RESPONSES PER TYPE OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE GROUP AND PER 



CATEGORY 



Distribution of responses among groups— 



Subject category 



Question No. 3: What have been the results of pol- 

 lution, modification, and use in the estuaries and 



estuarine zones? 



Loss of marine food potential 44 15 14 44 117 



Destruction of natural resources, including fish and 



wildlife, and detriment to conservation efforts 



Loss of recreation, potential, including tourism 



Loss of land value and productivity, increased 



erosion, and damage to buildings 



Public health endangered 



Destruction of seafood industry and jobs ___ 



Obstruction of navigation, reduction of water supply 



and usability, and alteration of tides, salinity, 



cu rrents 



Damage to laboratory function 



Waste heat used elsewhere to enhance growth of fish, 



shellfish, and beneficial plants — may work here... 



Permanent destruction of estuaries and wetlands 



Stagnant water, mosquitoes, eutrophication, and 



malodor 16 5 1 11 33 



SUMMAKEZATION OF VIEWS AND ANSWERS IN TABLE V.S.sd 



Table Y.5.3d demonstrates that the chief recommendation for deal- 

 ing with the problems of estuarine pollution was comprehensive 

 management, based on long-range planning and careful land and 

 water use (212). Because one of the problems mentioned earlier was a 

 lack of planning criteria, these would have to be developed, and a set 

 of priorities established. 



The next recommendation involved strengthening the pollution laws 

 we now have, and enacting new ones as needed. But, more importantly, 

 the laws, including water quality standards (63), must be enforced 

 to be effective (165) . 



Other recommendations included adequate waste treatment (95), 

 regulation of activities such as dredging (86), legal protection of the 

 estuaries, including acquisition and conservation practices (82), pol- 

 lution control and abatement (78), and public education to the values 



