Croatan Sound
Protect our estuarites
Location
Croatan Sound is located in Dare County. The sound separates the Roanoke Island and the towns of Wanchese and Manteo from the mainland in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Plants
The Croatan Sound was once a marsh and surrounded by towering pines and patches of woods and forests.
Animals
Oysters and clams are both found in estuaries, they help prevent the land from erosion by attaching to gravel and shells on the shoreline. Pelicans, ibises, and even egrets and herons all can be spotted around the sound and floating on the water.
Importance of Estuaries
Estuaries are important because they provide nesting and feeding habitats for a lot of marine plants and animals. Many birds, fish, amphibians, insects, and other animals count on estuaries as a place to live, feed, nest, and reproduce. Estuaries are also important to humans, there account for about 75% of the United States commercial fish catch. They are used for recreational activities and transportation.
Rivers, streams, or waterways that feed into the Croatan Sound
The Croatan Sound connects the Albemarle Sound and the Pamlico Sound. The Neuse, the Pamlico, and the Tar rivers all feed into the Pamlico Sound and from there, they travel into the Croatan Sound.
Threats to North Carolina Estuaries
Threats
North Carolina Estuaries are threatened by changes being made to the borders. Roads, bridges, culverts, sewage systems, pipelines, and dams being constructed can change the flow of water through the ecosystem. The asphalt and concrete deflect water, so pollution runs straight into the estuaries. Dredging of channels, which allows large boats to travel through, damages plants, oyster beds, and stirs up sediment. The stirred up sediment will cause the channels to have to get dredged again and sediment can get caught in fish gills. Sewage treatment plants, septic systems, polluted air, and fertilizers can cause the estuary to have an too many nutrients. The excess of nutrients can cause algae blooms which block other plants from receiving sunlight. Toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, weed killer, paint, oil and other substances pollute the estuary and kill many plants and animals. These are only some of the various threats that face North Carolina estuaries.
Bibliography
- "Climate Kids NASA's Eyes on the Earth." NASA's Climate Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016
- "Croatan Sound - OuterBanks.com." Croatan Sound - OuterBanks.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
- "Estuaries." NOAA's National Ocean Service Education:. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
- Harrell, Waverly, and Jennifier Godwin-Wyer. "Estuaries in North Carolina: A Primer." Estuaries in North Carolina: A Primer. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
- "Croatan Sound - OuterBanks.com." Croatan Sound - OuterBanks.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
- "Estuaries." NOAA's National Ocean Service Education:. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
- Harrell, Waverly, and Jennifier Godwin-Wyer. "Estuaries in North Carolina: A Primer." Estuaries in North Carolina: A Primer. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.