Practical Guide to Estuary Friendly Living, Study notes of Construction

Download Practical Guide to Estuary Friendly Living and more Study notes Construction in PDF only on Docsity! Karl Havens Gary Lytton William Seaman A Practical Guide to Estuary-Friendly Living r estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 1 10/8/2012 1:43:26 PM For many, the scenic beauty of the coastal marsh in winter is a source of renewal and inspiration. estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 2 10/8/2012 1:43:27 PM Prime real estate for fish. Prime real estate for people. Estuaries are valuable and essential for nature and humans alike. And, wherever you are in Florida, you are close enough to an estuary to either impact or protect it, depending on your actions. The vast network of coastal waters and wetlands that forms Florida’s estuaries provides major economic and environmental benefits to residents and visitors in the Sunshine State. Estuaries support some of our largest commercial and recreational fisheries. They also are the setting for many popular outdoor activities. Estuaries are outstanding places to canoe, kayak or just watch nature. They also play an important role in protecting our coasts from storms. They dissipate wave energy and thereby reduce the damage to our shores and properties. In short, estuaries are coastal treasures. readers will be able to better understand, appreciate, protect, and perhaps even restore their local estuary. We suggest an action-oriented approach and provide you with numerous suggestions for things you can do to help. Suggestions for community- wide activities also are included. While this booklet does not provide all the answers, it is a good starting point for readers who want to change their personal habits and get involved in active stewardship of Florida’s estuaries. Despite all the good they do, Florida’s estuaries are being damaged or even destroyed by activities associated with population growth. Construction projects, new highways, dredging, altered freshwater drainage, water pollution, increased boating and anchoring, over-fishing and other activities have combined to create major stress on estuaries. Scientists are learning more about how each of these activities impacts estuary health, and there is an emerging consensus that estuaries require protection. This booklet can provide you with a starting point for taking a more active role in safeguarding the health of Florida’s estuaries. From Pensacola Bay to Biscayne Bay, from the mouth of the St. Johns River to the Ten Thousand Islands, ESTUARY-friendly living r RED DRUM, or REDFISH Drawing by Diane Peebles LEFT: Florida estuaries can contain hundreds of plant and animal species, and even many more microbes, and patterns of feeding can be very complex. Here is an example of a simple estuary food web. estuaries_20 pages plus cover USE.indd 5 10/10/2012 2:21:42 PM Estuaries are places where fresh water from land meets salt water from the sea. Some estuaries, like Tampa Bay, are huge; others are tiny. Some are almost entirely enclosed by land, while others occur as long stretches of marshes facing the open sea. The number of freshwater sources can range from just one major source (as in the St. Johns River) to hundreds of tiny creeks (as in Florida Bay). Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth — rivaling tropical rainforests. Estuaries are 25 times more efficient at converting sunlight and nutrients to plant biomass than open- ocean environments, and 2.5 to 8 times more efficient than terrestrial agriculture. Estuaries also support tremendous biodiversity, the total number of species in an ecosystem. As an example, the 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon is recognized nationally for having over 3,000 species, including nearly 400 fish. WHAT IS AN ESTUARY? The major estuarine systems of Florida in approximate location to major metropolitan areas. estuaries_20 pages plus cover USE.indd 6 10/10/2012 4:47:04 PM Although Florida’s estuaries come in many shapes and sizes, all of them share some environmental features. For instance, as you cross a bridge along the coast, look down and you’ll probably see several of the following:  Rivers that bring fresh water from inland areas  Barrier islands that protect estuary mouths  Open water  Oyster bars  Inlets  Salt marshes and/or mangrove forests  Submerged seagrass beds  Mud flats  High biological diversity — lots of plants and animals WHAT’S IN AN ESTUARY? Within a typical estuary, there is a wide variety of connectivity among the major physical, chemical and biological processes. estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 7 10/8/2012 1:43:38 PM Seagrass Beds Seagrass beds, made up of a variety of different species, cover more than 500,000 acres of the bottom in shallow water along our coasts and in our estuaries. They are especially abundant from Tarpon Springs northward to Apalachee Bay on the Gulf coast, and as far north as Volusia County on the Atlantic coast. Seagrass is important because:  It helps maintain water clarity by trapping fine sediments and particles with its leaves.  It provides food and shelter for more than 500 species of fish and other marine life.  Its roots help hold the sea bottom in place.  It provides feeding grounds for protected marine animals including manatees and sea turtles. As is the case for mangroves and salt marshes, seagrass beds also have been destroyed by human activities. These include scarring from boat propellers and smothering by sand that migrates from areas where beaches are artificially renourished. Extensive seagrass beds are sometimes called underwater meadows due to their lush vegetation, and their blades harbor numerous invertebrates and fishes. r estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 10 10/8/2012 1:43:43 PM Salt Marshes Salt marshes are common along the northern Atlantic and Gulf coasts and are comprised of grasses and tidal creeks. In northern Florida, salt marsh estuaries occupy hundreds of thousands of acres of the coastal zone. Here are some facts about salt marshes:  They provide habitat for shrimp and young fish until they are large enough to move out into open waters.  They help filter impurities and nutrients from the water.  They provide protection of the shoreline from waves and thereby help reduce shoreline erosion.  A significant loss of salt marsh habitat has occurred statewide as a result of coastal development. These habitats also are threatened by sea-level rise, and in many areas are being replaced by open water. The salt marsh is a vast nursery ground for juvenile animals, which follow the tides as the marsh is flooded and then drained in a cycle that promotes a constant supply of food. r BLUE DASHER estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 11 10/8/2012 1:43:45 PM Estuaries provide essential habitat for many species of fish, invertebrates, and birds. Some of these animals spend their entire lives among the mangroves surrounding the estuary or in the seagrass beds in the warm, shallow waters. Others are born or hatched within the estuary and then move on to upland areas or deeper waters offshore. Still others are born offshore and then move into estuaries to complete the juvenile stage of the life cycle. The key thing to know is that many animals depend on the estuary for survival. Without that habitat, many would become extinct. Here are some facts about the inhabitants of Florida’s estuaries:  The manatee, green sea turtle, and American crocodile are all found in estuaries. Each of these species has been classified as threatened or endangered, which means that these animals are in danger of becoming extinct unless action is taken to save them.  Popular and important food and game fishes found in estuaries include snook, tarpon, snapper, redfish, and spotted sea trout.  Crabs, shrimp, clams, and oysters all depend on estuaries for survival.  Many small organisms, such as baitfish and various invertebrates, live in estuaries, where they provide essential food for predatory fish. Aquatic Animals r Hundreds and sometimes thousands of species of invertebrate animals and fishes live in various Florida estuaries, making them hotspots of biodiversity. BLUE CRAB GREEN SEA TURTLE HATCHLING estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 12 10/8/2012 1:43:47 PM  Runoff. Pesticides, fertilizers, oils, paints and other materials resulting from human activities are carried with storm water from the uplands into the estuary. This can result in loss of water quality and clarity. The increased amount of impermeable surfaces, described above, also means that when pollutants are released, they may quickly be transported to the estuary during the next rain.  Siltation. Construction work, paving of large areas, and the digging of canals have changed drainage patterns. As a result, many estuaries are being filled with soil that washes into them.  Trash. Humans generate huge amounts of trash and some of it ends up in estuaries. Not only is this trash ugly, it harms water quality and, in many cases, it kills wildlife and fish.  Exotic Species. Unwanted fish and other creatures from peoples’ aquariums sometimes are dumped in streams and rivers and make their way into estuaries. In some cases they can impact native species by altering their habitat, competing for their food, or eating them.  Sea-level rise. Florida’s estuaries are at risk from the changing climate; sea-level rise is already resulting in changes in coastal wetlands. The plants in some estuaries, like some mangroves in South Florida, are keeping pace with sea-level rise by trapping new sediment and essentially increasing their surface elevation, but this is a rarity. More often the estuary plants are losing ground. A major impact of sea-level rise is to increase the content of sulfate, a component of sea water, in the soils of estuarine wetlands. This has the result of degrading the fiber of the soil, so that the habitat literally breaks apart, and areas are converted to open water. Some plants can migrate upstream as sea level rises; however, structures like roads, seawalls and buildings often create barriers to this process. On a state and national scale, sea-level rise is becoming one of the greatest threats to survival of estuarine habitats. r Our estuaries are degraded by development, pollution, nutrients, changing climate, and other human impacts. estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 15 10/8/2012 1:43:56 PM Up to this point we have identified that estuaries are a national treasure that provide critical economic and ecological value. We documented that estuaries are under threat from pollution, development, sea-level rise and other factors. In the face of these challenges, what can citizens and visitors to the Sunshine State do to protect estuaries? The first step is to simply be aware that regardless of where you live in Florida, your actions can affect the health of estuaries. Once you know this, there are many things you can do to live in an “estuary-friendly” manner, and by example, show your friends and neighbors how to do this too. In the next few pages we provide some suggested actions that you might consider taking. 1. ACTIVELY HELP TO PROTECT AN ESTUARY There are many things you can do to help protect your local estuary, from simple actions like picking up litter along the shoreline to joining or organizing volunteer restoration projects. Here are just a few examples. For more ideas, go to www.estuaries.gov, a website of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.  Clean the coast during the International Coastal Cleanup: Each year on the third Saturday in September, more than 10,000 Floridians volunteer for a one-day cleanup of the Sunshine State’s coastline. The cleanup effort results in the removal of hundreds of tons of trash annually. For information on how you can participate in the world’s largest volunteer cleanup effort, visit www. oceanconservancy.org.  Leave no trace of your estuary visit: Learn how to use “Leave No Trace” camping and hiking techniques when you visit the estuary by visiting www.LNT.org. The goal should be to take only photos and leave only footprints behind.  Volunteer: Visit the Keep Florida Beautiful website at gogreenfl.org to get information about ongoing projects in your local community, or check out other opportunities on the website of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection: www.dep.state. fl.us/cmp/links/#volunteer.  Write a letter: One of the most effective tools for getting attention and support for protecting an estuary is a personal letter to your local, state or national elected representative. Learn who these people are, learn how to write an effective letter, and use this approach to draw attention to estuarine issues.  Learn more about estuaries by visiting a Florida Aquatic Preserve. Many of Florida’s most valuable and undisturbed estuaries are part of the State’s Florida Aquatic Preserve system. Learn more about your local estuary by visiting www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/ programs/aquatic. A RECIPE FOR ESTUARY-FRIENDLY LIVING estuaries_20 pages plus cover USE.indd 16 10/10/2012 2:21:57 PM  Respect wildlife from a distance. Never follow or harass manatees, dolphins, turtles or other aquatic animals.  Conserve fresh water. It is quickly becoming one of our most limiting natural resources. Remember, estuaries must have balanced inflows of fresh and salt water to survive and flourish.  Be a responsible pet owner for the duration of your pet’s life. It is against the law to release non-native animals into the wild, even by accident. 2. THINK BEFORE POURING There are many ways we can damage an estuary, but some of the most serious damage is done by the things we pour down the drains in our homes. Whether the drain empties into a sewer system, storm drain, or septic tank, the liquids we pour down the drain could end up in the estuary. The consequences can include outright toxicity to plants and animals. That’s why we should:  Read the label. Products containing lye, phenols, petroleum distillates, or trichlorobenzenes are extremely harmful to estuaries. Look for alternative products to purchase and never pour toxic products down the drain.  More generally, never pour oven cleaners, ammonia, bleach, furniture polish, or floor wax into a drain. Common household products can be highly toxic to plants and animals that live in our estuaries. estuaries_20 pages plus cover USE.indd 17 10/10/2012 4:47:10 PM  Don’t drain pools into the street or a stream! Instead, let the chlorine dissipate and then drain the pool onto an area of soil or mulch so it can be slowly absorbed.  Be careful with pet wastes. If washed into the estuary by rain, dog droppings can add unwanted nutrients, as well as bacteria and viruses, to the water. Put pet wastes in the trash or bury them 6–8 inches deep and away from surface waters. 4. COMBINE CAR AND PROPERTY CARE WITH ESTUARY CARE When it comes to protecting the estuary, perhaps each of us should consider our cars to be miniature oil tankers. After all, each car holds a variety of oils, greases, and fuel that can be deadly to estuarine environments. In fact, every car has enough oil in its motor to create an eight- acre oil slick in the estuary. Despite this danger, Floridians put about 7 million gallons of oil into the environment each year by pouring it down storm drains, tossing it in the garbage, or simply dumping it on the ground. Chemicals used around the home to deal with insect pests or to coat driveways also can be toxic to organisms that live in estuaries, and care should be taken in selecting which ones to use. Needless to say, we all need to do more to stop this pollution.  Whenever possible, use bricks, gravel or other porous materials when building sidewalks or patios. These materials allow rainwater to seep into the ground and replenish underground supplies. Paved surfaces speed the flow of runoff from your yard into the storm drains and on to the estuary.  If you use automatic sprinklers, install a soil moisture sensor and water your lawn only as often as needed. Follow recommendations of your local water management district or county extension office for timing and amount.  Adjust sprinklers to reduce runoff from the yard. Don’t allow sprinklers to put water on driveways or sidewalks.  Protect mangroves. If you are fortunate enough to have mangroves on your property, take extra care to protect them. Check with your county environmental resource management office or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the regulations about pruning them.  Be careful when disposing of chemicals from your swimming pool. They can be deadly in an estuary. Always take excess chemicals and even the empty containers to hazardous waste collection centers for disposal. Do not put them into your plastic recycling bins.  Drain your swimming pool only when absolutely necessary. Don’t add chemicals for several days before draining, to give the chlorine time to dissipate before the water is drained. Here are some ways to help.  Be aware of the environmental dangers posed by cars. Motor oil, gasoline, antifreeze, transmission fluids, degreasers, battery acid, waxes and cleaners, radiator flushes, and rust preventatives can damage the estuarine environment.  Collect used oil and antifreeze and take them to a collection center, garage or recycling center. Clean up antifreeze spills quickly. Antifreeze is a powerful pollutant and it can kill fish and wildlife, as well as dogs and cats. Have fluid leaks repaired promptly. Use kitty litter to absorb oil from newly discovered leaks. Dispose of properly.  Use only non-phosphate detergents to wash your car. If it is possible, without damaging your sprinkler system, park your car on the grass when washing it so that soap is not washed down the driveway and into the storm system. estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 20 10/8/2012 1:44:11 PM For instance:  Avoid shallow water where the boat’s propeller can churn up the habitat of animals living in the mud on the estuary’s bottom. This also will protect your propeller, engine and your wallet!  Stay out of seagrass beds. These vital habitats can be damaged when boats run aground in or run through seagrass. If you get stuck in a seagrass bed, shut down and raise the engine and push the boat to deeper water. Prop damage to sea grasses in any of Florida’s Aquatic Preserves is punishable by fine.  Observe speed limits and No Wake zones. Excessive wakes can damage fragile shorelines. Speed limits are designed to protect boaters and swimmers, as well as manatees.  Keep your boat in top running condition. Repair all fuel and oil leaks promptly. One quart of oil leaked into the water can create a two-acre oil slick.  Use extreme caution when fueling. Accidental overfilling of fuel tanks is one of the most frequent causes of fuel leaks into estuaries. Check with your local marine supply store for devices that can be used to prevent fuel spills.  Never dump sewage overboard. Use pump out stations.  Use biodegradable pesticides and where possible, use pesticides made of natural plant products that do not harm the environment.  Reduce the impacts of your impermeable surfaces. If your house has rain gutters, install spreaders that distribute the water onto your grass or landscape, rather than directing it onto your driveway. Consider installing rain barrels to collect water for reuse. If you are building a new home, ask the builder about options for driveways constructed of semi-permeable materials that will allow water to pass through to the underlying soil, rather than quickly running off. If your existing driveway needs to be sealed, look for a company that can do it with a material that has the lowest possible toxicity to marine life. Some driveway sealants release high amounts of toxic hydrocarbons (oil products) and should be avoided. Consult this publication on sealcoating your driveway: seagrant.unh.edu/sealcoat.pdf. 5. PRACTICE ESTUARY-FRIENDLY BOATING There are more than a million registered boats in Florida and the number is rising as more and more people want to enjoy the many experiences associated with boating. While boats provide Floridians with an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the state’s estuaries, as well as a way to fish and for some, earn a living from the sea, they also can damage these fragile environments. In most cases, this damage is caused accidentally — especially when it comes to fuel spills. By using common sense and observing a few rules, boat owners can greatly reduce their impact on Florida’s estuaries. Florida is the nation’s top boating destination, so boaters should take care in sensitive estuarine environments.  Before discharging bilge water overboard, use a bilge sock or other fuel-absorbing product in your bilge to soak up oil and fuel floating on top of the bilge water.  Scrub your boat frequently with water and a brush to remove stains before they become so embedded that cleaners are required to get them off. If necessary, use vinegar and baking soda as cleaners. Never use detergents, as they can harm aquatic life.  Remember to stow litter onboard for proper disposal when you return to the dock.  Be careful with hull paint. If you need to scrape or sand the hull, catch the scrapings on a drop cloth and dispose of properly. Never have your boat hull scrubbed or scraped while it is in the water. 6. BE A CONCERNED ESTUARY VISITOR Fishing, kayaking, sunset-watching, picnicking, and many other fun-filled activities await visitors to Florida estuaries. In fact, estuaries not only provide us with opportunities for fun, they also are sources of inspiration and education. In return, we owe it to our estuaries to do what we can to protect them. Here are some ways we can all help to ensure that our estuaries remain a vital part of the Sunshine State’s environment:  Pick up and dispose of any trash you see along the shore. If you don’t, who will? Plastic garbage can remain in the estuarine environment for hundreds of years. In fact, if the original Spanish settlers at St. Augustine had tossed plastic bottles on the shore in the 1500s, the litter could still be found today.  Plastic six-pack rings are death traps for wildlife. Always dispose of them properly and, if possible, cut the rings apart.  Clean up your fishing line. Remember, the monofilament fishing line you toss out today can entangle and kill seabirds and wildlife for the next 600 years. Always make sure the line is disposed of properly. Many fishing piers and bait and tackle shops now collect fishing line for recycling. Locations of recycling bins in your area can be found on this website hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: www.fishinglinerecycling.org/ index.asp.  You can make a small container to store used fishing line out of an old tennis ball can until you can empty it at a recycling location. What it all comes down to is the commitment that Floridians will make to the concept and practice of “sustainability.” This refers to the effort we make to conserving healthy estuaries for future generations. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN  If you see a manatee, pelican, or other animal entangled in monofilament line, contact the FWC immediately at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).  Be aware of windy conditions that could blow picnic supplies into the estuary. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are eaten by sea turtles and other marine creatures that mistake this debris for jellyfish or other food. The results are usually fatal.  Conserve estuarine plants and animals. You’ll find lots of colorful and attractive plants growing along estuaries. Don’t pick them. They are essential for wildlife habitat and for holding coastal beaches together.  Estuarine wildlife can be fascinating, but don’t disturb or feed dolphins, manatees, pelicans and other creatures. Feeding wild animals encourages them to approach people, boats, and highways — often with fatal results for the wildlife. It also is illegal in the state of Florida to feed certain animals, including dolphins, manatees, and alligators. estuaries_20 pages plus cover.indd 22 10/8/2012 1:44:17 PM