530 



Solutions : Those areas which lack water quality data were compared 

 with available "Stage of Development" data. There is a strong correla- 

 tion between lack of data and lack of population pressures. While 

 demographic information is no substitute for water quality data, it 

 does at least serve as an indicator of potential problem areas. 



Handbook Section 8. Sediments and sedimentation 



Problem : Sampling of estuarine sediments has apparently been done 

 principally as a part of a specific U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proj- 

 ect investigation or as part of a research project. The majority of this 

 sampling has been limited to surface samples of the bottom, with only 

 occasional core samples. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation 

 channel data is, of course, the best source, but is still extremely limited. 

 Solution : Although little concrete data exists, much has been written 

 on the subject. Two contracts were let with U.S. Geological Survey to 

 investigate the literature and additional contracts were let to perform 

 sediment case studies in estuaries of various types. 



Handbook Section 9. Uses 



Problem : While commercial use data are generally available, recrea- 

 tional use is not so easily documented. Only in areas where intensive 

 studies have been made are there concrete data on participation days, 

 boat use, swimming, sports fishing, etc. The same is true of use by fish 

 and wildlife. 



Solution : Examination of related data — fishing and hunting license 

 sales, the results of creel surveys, the number of marinas and boat 

 slips — permitted extrapolation wherever feasible. Many of the data 

 included in this area are estimates by the field staff of the Bureau of 

 Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and State commercial and sports fishing 

 agencies. 



Hamdbook Section 10. Sources of folhition 



Problem : While the locations of most of the major waste discharges 

 are known, information on the characteristics of individual waste ef- 

 fluents is extremely limited. They are known accurately only for the 

 largest municipal waste discharges and for waste discharges in areas 

 which have been the subject of an enforcement or technical assistance 

 study. In particular, knowledge of the characteristics of individual 

 industrial waste discharges is very poor, and data on them are ex- 

 tremely scattered. This is also true of other waste discharges, such as 

 agricultural land drainage, waste from recreational facilities, and the 

 specific effects of watercraft wastes in estuaries. 



Solution : The principal waste characteristics of each major type of 

 industry with locations in the coastal zone were defined, then combined 

 with known water use by various of these existing industries, where 

 the processes and types of treatment are known. The results of such 

 combinations are very general at best and have been automated in the 

 inventory only where actual measurements were encountered. 



