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Last updated: October 11, 2002
South Florida Restoration Science Forum

Our Coastal Ecosystems

The Caloosahatchee Estuary: What freshwater flow regime will protect and enhance submerged grass beds, and other biotic resources?

What is the problem?

illustration showing saltwater intrusion when little discharge persists

Too little discharge allows saltwater intrusion (blue & green color)

illustration showing large areas of freshwater with high freshwater discharge

Too much freshwater discharge turns the estuary fresh (red color)

(Click on any image above for full-sized version.)

Extreme fluctuation in salinity causes damage to estuarine organisms and communities.

Next Next: Identifying freshwater discharges and a salinity gradient


U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/sfrsf/rooms/coastal/caloosahatchee/problem/index.html
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Last updated: 11 October, 2002 @ 09:42 PM (KP)