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03/15/2022 Item S.E. <br />What are some of the main threats to the health of the Lagoon? <br />Like all estuaries, the IRL is a semi -confined water body characterized by mixing of saline <br />ocean water and freshwater originating in uplands. Water exchanges between the <br />Lagoon and the Atlantic through five inlets. Mostly natural in origin, the inlets are <br />artificially deepened and stabilized, and are maintained through human manipulation. <br />➢ Reduced water quality due to man-made hydrologic changes <br />❖ Reduced freshwater inputs increase salinity levels & affect species diversity <br />❖ Large volumes of freshwater discharged seasonally reduce salinity levels in <br />specific areas along the lagoon & may affect species diversity <br />❖ Discharges of pollutants into the Lagoon inclucing nutrients, heavy metals, oils, <br />pathogens, and chemicals associated with agricultural and urban stormwater <br />Loss and fragmentation of habitats - Sim:e the mid -1950's, more than 40,00o acres of <br />highly productive salt marsh and mangrove marsh have been converted into <br />mosquito impoundments. Loss of mangrove marsh is a loss of nursery habitat for <br />juvenile fish and invertebrates. Coastal hammocks along the Lagoon are converted to <br />other uses <br />What are some of the main threats to the health of the Lagoon? <br />y Overuse/overharvest o resources - overfishing is cited as a cause of declining fish <br />populations. Reduced supply of shellfish may result in overharvest of remaining <br />resources. <br />i Proliferation_ of invasive exotic species - exotics plants & animals compete with native <br />species, greatly reducing ecosystem biodiversity and function. Exotic species usually <br />have few natural controls to help keep their numbers in check. <br />Australian <br />Interested in a great <br />gxrfiax �'i: er / Jnr:; <br />overview of the <br />Lagoon history, <br />44 <br />ecology, and on- <br />going management <br />v <br />< <; <br />issues? This 2007 <br />JRWMD document <br />4 <br />is a great resource. <br />Download a copy at: <br />-- <br />h_ttps: www.�a. ov sites defa_ulj[filesj20?8- <br />gyd.c=m nt, 58692 an river lagoon an_introdu <br />ction to a natural_ireasure <br />2007,pdf <br />7 <br />