448 



Section 4. Summary Analysis of Major Concerns 



Summarizing the major interests and concerns of the witnesses, as 

 expressed in the replies to the first five questions, a number of factors 

 were demonstrated, as described in the ensuing paragraphs. 



The primary interests of the speakers were : the estuary as a source 

 of food, the estuary as an ecosystem, and the estuary as a locus for 

 leisure activity. The estuary also serves as a protective barrier against 

 storms and flooding, and it helps to modify the climate. It is a source 

 of commercial resources — harbors for shipping, fish and shellfish for 

 food, minerals for industry, and water for human and industrial use. 



For these reasons, the estuarine environment is considered a good 

 place to live and work. 



An additional use of the estuary is as a natural laboratory to increase 

 understanding and knowledge of its biota and other features. 



Accordingly, concern was expressed over any activity or phenomenon 

 that acts to destroy the values of the estuary, and over the resultant 

 damages. 



The major worry was pollution of all kinds, and especially inade- 

 quately treated municipal, industrial, and vessel wastes. 



Modification, whether natural or artificial, was the second concern. 

 This would include drainage ditches used for pest control, impound- 

 ments for water supply, and fill for residential development. Related 

 to this, and to some degree involving it, would be the problems created 

 by indiscriminate and too rapid development and by improper land 

 management. These concerns were expressed in terms of upriver as 

 well as estuarine activities. 



Jurisdictional and legal questions were also mentioned as being of 

 concern, especially as they le'ad various authorities to a reluctance to 

 take action and a tendency to complain that nobody is doing anything. 

 The need to resolve these questions, and those related to the lack of 

 planning criteria for coping with conflicting use demands, is critical. 



The destruction of natural resources despite conservation efforts 

 was a source of uneasiness for a number of witnesses, as was the re- 

 lated loss of marine food potential and consequent depression of the 

 seafood industry. 



Related to the shipping and water supply values was concern about 

 phenomena reducing these uses — obstruction, salinity intrusion, and 

 tidal and current alterations. 



Because recreation was cited as a prime estuarine use, the thought 

 of the destruction of its potential through health hazards, stagnant 

 water, foul odors, increased pest populations, and sheer ugliness was 

 particularly bothersome to many of the speakers. 



Among needs that concerned the participants were : long-range plan- 

 ning, stronger laws, enforcement of laws and water quality standards, 

 pollution control and abatement including air, and clarification of 

 jurisdictions. Related to several of these were recommendations for ac- 

 tivity control, including in many cases a moratorium on dredging and 

 filling. 



Another problem brought out at the meetings was that relatively 

 little is known about the estuaries, per se, or about the effects of many 

 pollutants on the estuarine ecosystem and environment, nor is there 

 sufficient background knowledge for effective use planning and ad- 

 ministration. Research in these areas is needed. 



