HR: 0800h
AN: H51D-1164    [Abstracts]
TI: Estuarine Ecohydrology: The Importance of Wetlands in Estuary Robustness
AU: * Plater, A J
EM: gg07@liv.ac.uk
AF: University of Liverpool, Department of Geography University of Liverpool P.O. Box 147 , Liverpool, L69 7ZT United Kingdom
AU: Kirby, J R
EM: j.r.kirby@livjm.ac.uk
AF: Liverpool John Moores University, School of Biological and Earth Sciences Liverpool John Moores University Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF United Kingdom
AB: In addressing the interaction of biota, hydrology and sediments in determining estuary functioning, it is important to recognise that human activity has increased the flux of water and sediment (and associated nutrients and pollutants) to the coast, leading to enhanced lake sedimentation, floodplain alluviation, delta progradation, estuary infilling and, in recent times, eutrophication and pollution. These factors contribute to the ephemeral nature of estuaries when viewed on a geological timescale. Recent directions in coastal and river basin management acknowledge the importance of balancing human use and ecosystem function within a large-scale integrated management framework. In addition, the importance of wetlands in regulating water, sediment, pollutant and nutrient transfer has been highlighted. With considerable practical success being achieved in the development of riparian woodlands and the managed realignment of saltmarshes, we highlight the importance of perimarine wetlands as an important buffer zone at the interface between river basin and coastal cell. The benefits of these wetlands as an ecohydrological management tool are considered, and priorities for developing a new realignment continuum are discussed.
DE: 1821 Floods
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1890 Wetlands
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting