• Understanding of the effects of habitat alteration (both within watersheds and their 
coastal ecosystems) on the exchange of materials (e.g., dissolved nutrients, particulate 
organic matter, organisms) with adjacent waters where these responses cannot be 
immediately linked to fish, shellfish, and wildlife populations of interest. 
• Role of areas of critical habitats along the coast in providing flood and erosion control, 
and an understanding of the effects of habitat alteration (both within watersheds and their 
coastal ecosystems) on the retention of sediments by coastal ecosystems. 
• Importance of areas of critical habitats in watersheds adjacent to coastal waters in 
providing nutrient filtration (e.g., riparian zones, inland wetlands, forests, salt marshes). 
• Effect of nonindigenous organisms on the structure and function of wetlands and other 
critical habitats. 
• Mechanistic understanding of nutrient effects on vegetation and tropic structure of critical 
habitats. 
References 
Bauer, S.B., Ralph, S.C. 1999. Aquatic habitat indicators and their application to water quality 
objectives within the Clean Water Act. EPA 910-R-99-014. EPA, Region 10. 
Brazner, J.C. 1997. Regional, habitat, and human development influences on coastal wetland 
and beach fish assemblages in Green Bay, Lake Michigan. J. Great Lakes Res. 23:36-51. 
CENR. 2000. From the edge: science to support restoration of Pacific salmon. National Science 
and Technology Council. 
Detenbeck, N.E., Arthur, J.W., Bertelsen, S.L., Brazner, J.C., Snarski, V.M., Taylor, D.L., 
Thompson, J A. 2000. Western Lake Superior comparative watershed study. 
Environ. Toxicol Chem. 19:1174-1181. 
EPA. 1990. Reducing risk: setting priorities and strategies for environmental protection. 
SAB-EC-90-021.26 pp. 
EPA. 1999. EPA’s framework for community-based environmental protection. EPA 237-K-99- 
001. Washington, DC. 40 pp. 
EPA. 2000. Wildlife Research strategy. EPA. NHEERL/ORD. September. 
Houde, E.D., Rutherford, E.S. 1993. Recent trends in estuarine fisheries: predictions of fish 
production and yield. Estuaries 16:161 -176. 
Jude, D.J., Pampas, J. 1992. Fish utilization of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. J. Great Lakes 
Res. 18:651-672. 
38 
