BAYS & ESTUARIES, II: Freshwater makes the world go 
round ... details ahead on Passport to Texas
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Passport to Texas from TPWD and the SFWR Program


What is an estuary?

An estuary is where rivers meet salt water and there's a mixing 
of fresh and salt water. [:06]

That's the simple definition. Yet coastal fisheries 
biologist Bill Balboa says there's nothing simple about 
these important and complex ecosystems. And freshwater 
is the key to their survival.

Bay productivity is directly linked to freshwater inflows and the 
nutrients and sediment and the sort of salt dilution effects that 
come from inflows. [:09]

Bays and estuaries need freshwater from rivers to exist. 
Helping upstream users understand how their actions 
impact what happens downstream, and that what 
happens in the gulf eventually impacts all Texans, is what 
biologist Rebecca Hensley, calls coastal fisheries greatest 
challenge.

If all the water is used in the upper reaches of the rivers, then a 
lot of the commercial landings and the fish that people eat in 
those areas - from stores - would not be available. It would 
probably destroy a lot of the economic aspect of the coast, the 
state, the gulf coast if those types of things occurred along this 
region. And the bays do need the freshwater. And we need to 
start thinking along those lines - that we're all intricately woven 
together. [:28]

That's our show for today. The Sport Fish and Wildlife 
Restoration Program supports our series, and works to 
increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating 
opportunities in Texas. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.