Pollution Prevention and Reduction: a Look at the San Francisco Bay Estuary
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Date Submitted: 11/15/2014 03:25 PM
Pollution Prevention and Reduction: A Look at the San Francisco Bay Estuary
Michael Rawls
BIO315
April 8, 2013
Dr. Carol Britson
Pollution Prevention and Reduction: A Look at the San Francisco Bay Estuary
Estuaries are partially enclosed coastal bodies of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixing with the saltwater of the sea. These estuarine environments (estuaries and the land surrounding them) are areas of transition; from land to sea and freshwater to saltwater (U.S. EPA, 2012). Estuaries support an exceptional variety of plant and animal life and different habitats such as fresh and saltwater marshes, sandy beaches, mud and sand flats, oyster reefs, and mangrove forests. Estuaries provide a multitude of benefits, services, and resources; especially to the numerous species of birds, fish, and other wildlife that inhabit these ecosystems. These areas offer commercial value as in fisheries, tourism, and other recreational activities.
In addition, “Over half the U.S. population lives in coastal areas, including along the shores of estuaries” (U.S. EPA, 2012, para. 8). Unfortunately, this increased population density of people brings along the perils of pollution. From urban and agricultural run-off to industrial and manufacturing discharge, San Francisco Bay area estuaries are at risk; upsetting the balance and integrity of estuarine ecosystems. This is why it is important to increase the awareness of the issues surrounding pollution and discover acceptable, measurable ways to further prevent and reduce pollution.
In terms of the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the steam engine propelled the human species into a new era; an era for large-scale transport. Likewise, the result of mechanization afforded the human population with improved farming methods. This change triggered a major shift in the distribution of the human population and land usage (Smith & Smith, 2009). Both advancements contributed to the United States population...
