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Ground-Water Flow and Discharge to Coastal Environments |
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Identification of ground-water flowpaths and ground-water discharge is critical in understanding the freshwater inputs and water quality of coastal ecosystems. Freshwater discharge to coastal wetlands and estuaries is an important national issue because of the habitats these areas provide for plants, fish, and wildlife. Examples of areas where freshwater inputs are a concern are Chesapeake Bay; Florida Bay; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and Great South Bay, Long Island. Many different types of coastal terranes and ecosystems can be found along the eastern seaboard. The importance of ground water as a source of freshwater and nutrients to these different ecosystems has only recently begun to be understood. The complexity of ground-water dynamics in coastal ecosystems is illustrated by ground-water flowpaths and discharge locations in tidal saltmarshes of New England (figure 6). |
For more Information, Contact |
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Paul Barlow, Coordinator Atlantic Coastal Zone Assessment U.S. Geological Survey 10 Bearfoot Road Northborough, MA 01532 (508) 490-5070 |
pbarlow@usgs.gov |
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