Estuary Management in the Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest estuaries range from large (Washington's Grays Harbor, 58,000 acres) to small (Oregon's Twomile Creek, 20 acres); from rural (Big Creek estuary in Lincoln County, Oregon) to urban (Puget Sound, in Washington, supporting a population of 3.9 million); and from pristine to seriously degraded. They are used as stopovers by migratory birds, as spawning and nursery habitat for salmon, and--for people--as places of reflection, recreation, and commerce. Estuary management consists largely of understanding issues and stakeholders, regulating use, and monitoring development. However, it also involves knowing the ecological system and its cycles, characteristics, tendencies, and trends. Indeed, lack of information might be the single thing that most hinders effective management. In this book, the Pacific Northwest Coastal Ecosystems Regional Study provides the basic information about estuaries in the region, including acreage, major population centers, natural features, and freshwater sources. The book also discusses federal and state agencies and other groups involved in estuary management, and it examines the perennial issues that arise when human development competes with natural habitat. "Estuary Management in the Pacific Northwest" reviews 4 estuaries in Washington, 22 in Oregon, and 1 in northern California. By Pacific Northwest Coastal Ecosystems Regional Study. 2003. References, index, 7 x 10 inches, 134 pages. Paper. ORESU-H-03-001