601 



effect. There is no pretension that we are dealing with a pristine eco- 

 system. Note also that this plan recognizes the importance of the legal 

 and economic aspects that exist in real-world resource allocation and 

 management. It does not attempt to satisfy the basic need for long 

 range planning, nor does it specifically identify goals. It does, however, 

 pose the questions that will supply quantified alternatives from which 

 goals may be selected and plans formulated. 



This model baseline study is thus applicable to virtually every estua- 

 rine zone in the country and is, in fact, practically a prerequisite to the 

 elucidation of specific plans for management and development. 



I. Surveys to identify existing pollution in the estuary and in tribu- 

 tary streams : 



(A) Literature survey of existing knowledge. 



(B) Field studies to identify and measure the amount and sea- 



sonal occurrence of pollutants : 



1. Chemical pollutants : 



(a) Organic: 



(i) Economic poisons, e.g., herbicides, 



pesticides, 

 (ii) Detergents. 



(iii) Oils and solvents from industry. 

 (5) Inorganic: 



(i) Metal ions. 



(ii) Substances that alter the acid-base 

 balance of the estuary. 



2. Sewage and waste discharge pollutants : 



(a) Excess plant nutrients. 



(b) Pathogens, e.g., bacteria, viruses, parasites. 



(c) Solid wastes that increase turbidity, form 



sludge beds, or settle out to cover over the 

 bottom. 



3. Fresh water. 



4. Heated discharges. 



5. Air-borne pollutants. 



II. Continuous monitoring of significant pollution, as identified by 

 studies above. 



III. Identification of sources of pollution. This recjuires industrial 

 and domestic waste inventories, evaluation of nonpoint source pollu- 

 tion such as urban street run-off, erosion, agricultural run-off, and 

 irrigation return flows, as well as domestic sewage and industrial dis- 

 charges. Pollution from vessels, oil discharges, and accidents involving 

 hazardous substances must be recognized along with effluents from 

 saline water conversion plants and heated water discharges. 



IV. Disposition and fate of pollutants in the estuary: dispersion, 

 concentration, degradation, precipitation, disposal to the air. 



V. Field studies of the estuarine environment : 

 (A) Physical- Chemical factors : 



1. Salinity. 



2. Temperature. 



3. Dissolved Oxygen. 



4. Turbidity. 



5. Water currents, flushing, tidal action, and other hy- 



draulic features. 



