CHAPTER 3. MAJOR RESEARCH AND STUDY NEEDS 

 Section 1. Introduction 



The National Estuarine Pollution Study was specifically instructed 

 by the Congress to identify problems and areas in which further 

 research and study are required for the preservation, study, use, and 

 development of the estuaries of the Nation. 



This chapter will discuss these research and study needs in fairly 

 broad terms. The intent here is to present an overview, providing a 

 guide toward the purpose for doing research, the kind of basic infor- 

 mation needed to desi^ate desired estuarine uses and goals, and to 

 support a comprehensive plan of management. Next the knowledge 

 gaps are identified and the research and study programs needed to 

 supply this knowledge are developed. Examples of study programs 

 to satisfy specific goals are outlined and the principles and a system of 

 managing estuarine research and studies are proposed. Finally, the 

 recommendations of the combined National Academy of Sciences 

 Committee on Oceanography and National Academy of Engineering 

 Committee on Ocean Engineering together with a scheme of priorities 

 are presented. 



By no means does this chapter attempt to present every possible 

 need. This would be an impossible and pointless effort, for it is our 

 task and our intent to indicate here the broad areas in which research 

 and study are needed and to encourage those people who have the 

 most knowledge concerning specific problems to design and implement 

 the special studies that will increase our knowledge. 



The information needed to prepare this chapter was obtained by 

 several approaches with the overriding goals being to represent as 

 broad a diversity of interests and as many knowledgeable people as 

 possible. Many people, numbering in the hundreds, have contributed 

 generously of their time, effort, and thinking to make up this chapter. 

 It would be impossible to mention them all and indeed, unfair, because 

 of the variation in quality and quantity of the various individual 

 contributions and the applicability of the various recommendations. 



Some needs were identified by many people from various parts of 

 the country indicating great importance, yet each recognized need 

 appears as only a single item. Other needs suggested by perhaps only 

 one person, are vitally important in a specific locality but would not 

 have the same national impact as others. 



HOW THIS CHAPTER WAS DEVELOPED AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION 



The best source of information concerning needed research and 

 studies in the estuaries is the people who work directly on estuarine 



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