Test your knowledge of estuaries
-
An estuary
is a body of water partly surrounded by land where fresh water
from rivers
and streams runs into and mixes with salt water from
the ocean.
- Estuary is another name for bay, sound, inlet, harbor, or lagoon.
- Estuaries are among the most productive natural systems on earth and can produce more food per acre than the richest Midwestern farmland.
- Estuaries account for what percentage of the total U.S. commercial fish catch each year?
- Since the 1800s, urbanization has converted what percentage of Washington 's coastal wetlands?
- What percentage of Washington's estuaries has good water quality?
- 7 What percentage of Washington's threatened and endangered species require healthy wetlands for survival?
- 8. In the urban areas of Seattle and Tacoma, how much salt marsh has been lost?
- In the Puget Sound, more than 3,000 acres of sediments are so contaminated that federal law requires that they be cleaned.
- In the U.S., fishing, tourism and recreation boating all depend on healthy and productive stuaries. How many jobs do these activities provide for Americans?
- Estuary is another name for bay, sound, inlet, harbor, or lagoon.
Answers
- True An estuary is a body of water partly surrounded by land where fresh water from rivers and streams runs into and mixes with salt water from the ocean. The key is the mixing of fresh and salt water. return to next question.
- True Estuary is another name for bay, sound, inlet, harbor, or lagoon. return to next question.
- True Because of the mixing of nutrients from land and sea, estuaries are among the most productive natural systems on earth and can produce more food per acre than the richest Midwestern farmland. return to next question
- Correct answer = d Estuaries account for 75% of the total U.S. commercial fish catch each year. return to next question.
-
Correct answer = d Since the 1800s, urbanization has converted 90 - 98% of Washington's coastal wetlands. return to next question - Correct answer = b Only 35% of Washington 's estuaries have good water quality. return to next question.
- Correct answer = b At least 35% of Washington 's threatened and endangered species require healthy wetlands for survival. return to next question.
- Correct answer = d In the urban areas of Seattle and Tacoma, almost 100% of salt marsh has been lost. return to next question.
- True In the Puget Sound, more than 3,000 acres of sediments are so contaminated that federal law requires that they be cleaned. return to next question.
- 10. Correct answer = c In the U.S., fishing, tourism and recreation boating all depend on healthy and productive estuaries and provide more than 28 million jobs for our nation.
Source: Restore America's Estuaries web site: www.estuaries.org
April 2002 "A National Strategy to Restore Coastal and Estuarine Habitat" by Restore American's Estuaries