NOAA Report: Approximately 85% Of West Coast Estuary Habitat Lost
A report published in PLOS ONE reveals that "more than a century of development" has erased approximately 85% of historical tidal wetlands in California, Oregon and Washington. However, there is good news. Scientists with NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center have found potential restoration opportunities.
Estuaries are important as they serve as "critical nurseries" for juvenile salmon and steelhead while they transition from freshwater to the ocean.
"Given how valuable estuaries are to so many different species, it's important to understand how much they have changed and...
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