175 
system and concentrating on the increased production of a single 
crop would destroy this stability and lead to a boom and bust economy. 
Simplifications of the present system by man may destroy the 
self-fertilizing and energy transport systems that are currently 
functioning and quite possibly the extra input required to maintain 
a one-crop estuary would be more than the benefits gained by the 
increased production of this crop. Another possibility is that wet 
lands can be used as a natural tertiary treatment plant for municipal 
wastes. The detritus system of energy transport and storage could 
probably handle the increased nutrient load without upsetting the 
existing balance. However, more research is again needed before this 
can be accomplished without resulting in the destruction of the marsh. 
Are some municipal wastes incompatible with the system? How 
does the system react to the increased nutrient load? What changes 
occur in floral and faunal populations? Can the increased production 
be utilized? These and many other such questions must be answered 
before we can extend our wet land utilization into such an area. 
Expanded utilization of wet lands will require knowledge of long- 
range effects and coordination between the various agencies and 
organizations that make land use decisions. The entire ecosystem must 
be evaluated, as sound decisions cannot be made by considering only 
bits and pieces of it. At present the multitude of private, local, State, 
and Federal agencies that have some control over wet lands are 
operating without a coordinating philosophy, with no intercommuni- 
cations, and often with opposing mission. Mosquito control commis- 
sions operate solely to eliminate this one insect, and ignore hydrology 
and pesticide pollution. The Army Corps of Engineers bases its deci- 
sions on navigation and engineering factors only, and gives no consider- 
ation to the ecological changes that may result. Private organizations 
too often base their decisions purely on economic gain without regard 
to the environmental deterioration they may cause. Town zoning 
boards usually are interested in public health and overall population 
density, and make their decisions accordingly. I have tried to show 
that the marsh is an important resource to a large segment of our 
population and to a broad section of our coastal region. This general 
importance of wet lands makes the establishment of a council with an 
overview philosophy a necessity. Review and control of existing and 
proposed projects and activities by the many wetland users should be 
the main function of this council. Decisions made by mission-oriented 
agencies that result in alterations of the wet lands should be subject to 
review by someone who has the data to evaluate such decisions from 
the broader viewpoint of general effects on this vital and limited 
resource. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 
Burkholder, P. R. (1956) Bull. Torrey Botanical Club 83:327-34. 
Burkholder, P. R., and L. M. Burkholder (1956) Limnol. and Oceanogr. 
1(3) :202-08. 
Burkholder, P. R., and G. H. Bornside (1957) Bull. Torrey Botanical Club 
84:366-83. 
Chapman, V. J. (1960) Salt Marshes and Salt Deserts of the World, Leonard 
Hill Ltd., London, 392 pages. 
Committee of Scientists for a Quality Environmnent (1970), “A proposal for a 
Council of Ecological Advisors to the Governor and Legislature of Con- 
necticut.”’ >. 
6. Cronin, L. E. (1967) in ‘‘Estuaries,” ed. Lauff, Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. Publ. 
No. 83. 
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