Turbidity and Sedimentation

Habitats Affected:

Water column, shell bottom, SAV, soft bottom, ocean hard bottom

Common Sources:

Construction sites, runoff from agriculture, forestry, roads, mining, resuspension from dredging, and bottom disturbing fishing activities

Impacts:

• Elevated turbidity impacts the ability of SAV plants to survive and grow.
• Suspended sediment in the water column can clog fish gills, deter successful recruitment of invertebrates onto shell bottom or ocean hard bottom, reduce feeding success of visually oriented predators.
• Excess sedimentation can cover shell bottom and ocean hard bottom, and fill in shallow creeks and rivers.
• Suspended sediments transport bacteria and toxins through coastal waters, making them available to aquatic organisms in the water column.

Go back to Threats to Coastal Fish Habitat (Overview Chart)