Freshwater Inflow
Why is it important in bays and estuaries?
What is freshwater inflow?
Freshwater flows into an estuary and mixes with the marine water of the estuarine ecosystem. The mixing of freshwater inflow and the marine water of the estuarine ecosystem occurs spatially and temporally from climatic influences including tidal action, seasonal variability and storms.
How its important to bays and estuaries
Along with freshwater, the inflows bring nutrients and sediments that feed fish, wildlife, invertebrates, plankton, and wetlands plants. In recent years freshwater inflows have been lower than biologists consider adequate to maintain highly productive aquatic environments.