Water Quality Degradation Threats to Coastal Habitats

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Habitats Affected

Water column, shell bottom

Common Sources

Stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, overloaded sewage systems

Impacts

  • Public health risks leading to restrictions on swimming
  • Shellfish consumption
  • Permanent or temporary closures of shellfish harvesting waters
  • Water-borne illness

Habitats Affected

Water column, shell bottom, SAV, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom

Common Sources

Construction sites, runoff from agriculture, forestry, roads, mining, resuspension from dredging, and bottom-disturbing fishing activities

Impacts

  • Elevated turbidity impacts the ability of SAV plants to survive and grow.
  • Suspended sediment in the water column can clog fish gills, deter successful recruitment of invertebrates onto shell bottom or ocean hard bottom, reduce feeding success of visually oriented predators.
  • Excess sedimentation can cover shell bottom and ocean hard bottom, and fill in shallow creeks and rivers.
  • Suspended sediments transport bacteria and toxins through coastal waters, making them available to aquatic organisms in the water column.

Habitats Affected

Water column, shell bottom, SAV, wetlands, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom

Common Sources

Wastewater discharges, nonpoint runoff from agriculture, urban areas, animal operations, and air emissions

Impacts

  • Excess nutrients fuel phytoplankton blooms in the water column, which can contribute to low oxygen events in the water column and bottom sediments, causing fish kills and mortality of fish and non-mobile invertebrates in the water column, soft bottom, or shell bottom communities.
  • Reduced light availability in the water column from plankton blooms and excessive epiphytic growth impacts the ability of SAV plants to survive and grow.
  • High levels of nitrogen can cause mortality of eelgrass.
  • Excess nutrient loading can result in toxic blooms such as red tide or Pfiesteria outbreaks

Habitats Affected

Water column, shell bottom, SAV, wetlands, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom

Common Sources

Wastewater discharges, nonpoint runoff from agriculture, urban areas, animal operations, and air emissions

Impacts

  • Excess nutrients fuel phytoplankton blooms in the water column, which can contribute to low oxygen events in the water column and bottom sediments, causing fish kills and mortality of fish and non-mobile invertebrates in the water column, soft bottom, or shell bottom communities.
  • Reduced light availability in the water column from plankton blooms and excessive epiphytic growth impacts the ability of SAV plants to survive and grow.
  • High levels of nitrogen can cause mortality of eelgrass.
  • Excess nutrient loading can result in toxic blooms such as red tide or Pfiesteria outbreaks.