592 



Further development of decision models which can "quantify" these 

 factors on a design or operational basis is a high priority item in a list 

 of needed research. A central problem of estuarine resource manage- 

 ment is unquestionably the matter of economic evaluation and resource 

 allocation. It is ironic that even though management activity is spe- 

 cifically designed to add to the sum total of human satisfactions and 

 benefits, it is probably the most mishandled aspect of long-term re- 

 source planning. 



Estuaries resources evaluation 



To define the economic value of the estuaries of the country would 

 require detailed studies which, while underway, are not complete. It 

 is possible, however, to project what the loss of the estuarine areas 

 would mean and it may be possible to apportion the increased value 

 of restored or preserved estuaries on the basis of current patterns of 

 usage and importance to our society. It is certain that whatever value 

 may be placed upon the estuaries today, the value of estuaries can only 

 be predicted to increase in the future. 



We need to develop a sound basis for determining the economic 

 and social benefits from estuarine areas and their living resourceis, both 

 in terms of tangible values and their intangible returns to society. 

 Land-water use studies to determine the real value of the estuaries 

 for commercial and sport fisheries, recreation, navigation, and other 

 commercial and industrial uses probably can be quantified even though 

 there are no thorough statistics developed to document the exact value 

 of the millions of acres of bays, estuaries, and coastlines near these 

 estuaries. 



For example, in southern California the loss of the estuaries would 

 destroy the major resource currently available to the bait fishing in- 

 dustry. It would result in the extirpation of those fishes which require 

 the estuaries during their life cycle, such as the striped bass and the 

 croaker. It would result in the loss of a habitat for migratory water- 

 fowl and it would result in the loss of an important area for public 

 recreation and esthetic enjoyment. Recreation includes fishing, swim- 

 ming, boating, and just being by the water. Esthetic enjoyment in- 

 cludes the pleasure of watching persons and animals livmg in their 

 environment of the moment as well as the natural beauty of the estuary 

 itself. We would lose the type habitat required as an example of the 

 estuarine ecosystem for the education of our students as well as the 

 opportunity to delve into the mysteries of life in this area through 

 research. We would lose the example of the zone where it is most likely 

 that animals left the sea to roam the land. 



The estuaries are valuable, not only for their biological resources, 

 for recreation, commercial harvesting of fish and shellfish, education, 

 and research, but also as open spaces and opportunities for further 

 development such as placing still another road, a marina, housing, 

 plantsites, highways, or anything for which raw land is required, or 

 for siting powerplants or any other facility for which large amounts 

 of cooling waters are required. The current trend is to convert the 

 natural resource of the estuary to some other use with the elimination 

 of all other options or alternative uses. 



Research and study then is needed in techniques of measuring estua- 

 rine utility which could result in added productivity of the national 



