Habitat Home
Coastal Habitat
Protection Plan
(CHPP)
CHPP Recommendations
Habitat Information
Habitat Mapping &
Monitoring
Documents and Downloads
Contact Us
Related Links
Habitats
Water Column
Shell Bottom
Submerged Aquatic
Vegetation
Wetlands
Soft Bottom
Ocean Hard Bottom
Threats to Habitat
|
| Turbity and Sedimentation |
Habitats Affected: Water column, shell bottom, SAV, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom
Common Sources: Construction sites, runoff from agriculture, forestry, roads, mining, resuspension from dredging, and bottom disturbing fishing activities
Impacts
- Elevated turbidity impacts the ability of SAV plants to survive and grow.
- Suspended sediment in the water column can clog fish gills, deter successful recruitment of invertebrates onto shell bottom or ocean hard bottom, reduce feeding success of visually oriented predators.
- Excess sedimentation can cover shell bottom and ocean hard bottom, and fill in shallow creeks and rivers.
- Suspended sediments transport bacteria and toxins through coastal waters, making them available to aquatic organisms in the water column.
Go back to Threats to Habitat (Overview Chart)…
Go back to Threats to Habitat (Index)… |
