Agenda - 10-19-1993 - IV-B - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHAT IS AN ESTUARINE SYSTEM? An estuary is a body of water,such as the mouth of a river,where the ocean's salty tide meets the river's freshwater current These seemingly incompatible habitats host a broad range of marine life.They provide a lifelong home for oysters, crabs, bay scallops and clams. And they serve as spawning grounds for many varieties of finfish. The Albemarle-Pamlico region includes the rivers, creeks and streams that flow into the sounds and marshes, as well as the fields, forests, cities and towns that surround them.The region supports an -abundant array of plant and animal life, and provides us with a rich natural heritage. It also is generous in its economic opportunities:Farmers cultivate :, its sods,fishermen ply its waters,loggers harvest its forests and miners unearth its minerals. The area's natural beauty attracts tourism and 's .... resort development. All are dependent on the estuarine system for their livelihood, and all play a role in its continued health. HOW HEALTHY IS THE ESTUARY? To the casual observer, the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system appears to be in good shape,especially when you compare it to heavily, P P Y en Y P o ulated and industrialized systems in other parts of country,such .... _..... ...... P P sY P try, as Boston Harbor or Long Island Sound. However,the environment already is showing serious signs of stress: :::!::.:..f�I ht. .. cent of:the.:freshwater r . :. xvers.and:strearns ua ��-- the Albemarle Eamlico, ire on are unfit for fi=sh propagation, shellfish harvestin or recreation, Art additional 34 percent are anly partialfy'supportu g he are::a ". ii- ;>:;>:;:;;:.:;:::•:i::iiri<>i'<:i:%. `%ii>::�':iZY..-.;� ::isi:;'r,;�:;:i:ti £i: i4«i�::•;:i�i:>Si::i i:ii:i'<'i'.` .,.:}i:i. ��' .• � ::: �.. ::i<ii::iii::;::;i:. .. •-r �..�•. ::'�:":i'i�'ii'::i:i:��:::�i:.....i'::•:::::::::''::::::::. •:::::<::26,6 1 acres ;o: ;:: x e..shell ish habitat are ;dosed....::; i; ;::'��::::;: 'i>4f•z�f #:i;'`ii?:;z?:;i`ii � ::: i>::: v:? :v::3i::::<s:;::':iis:'i:ii ::::: I�nsafe f evels o�mercury and dtaxin have been loured ..:';:.�.�: .... ...... ..............�.;:i;:; :::�:Vii;:}:ii`:;}"•i:'i:�:'::�::::i::i:i:.::.�::::i:.�:.:.::::::iii:�i::-.�i:�i::::�i:v::•::_vi:�:v:i::�i:iJ:'::i:::i::i::::i.i::i:.:J:::•iii::i�i: ::i�i:L:iii:. ............... .. .; .. ::C'!:v i'::ii:ii:ii ii:•i::'•`::+i)i.�ij.:i:v�i';::i:::i�:::i:: ;:• ::: :::::-:.:�•:::m is tissues msgrne areas >::;;. :.. ;;:> E Disease epidemics have been reported m f$n€sh blue:..:.::i • Througghout the region,;drainmg and filling o£wet <.. lands has contributed to the destruction of vital!fish lant and wildlife habitats • • F In some cases,the damage is irreversible. :.. In the last 200 years,half of North Carolina's original 10 to 11 million .... • acres ofwetands have been altered for a r,culture forestry and urban development.Of these altered wetlands,abouthalf continue to support some of their wetland function. The other half have been effectively lost. About one third of this loss occurred between 1950 and 1980. In