. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Struggle to Protect Estuaries per thousand parts water, the warmer waters are more inviting to developing young fish and shellfish. Large or sudden influxes of fresh water can disrupt that delicate bal- ance, and fishermen often point an accusing finger at upstream farmers whose drainage ditches funnel fresh water down rivers into estuaries. More and more, however, farmers are turning to techniques such as water management, strip cropping and vegetation lines designed to reduce runoff. In five years' time,
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. Struggle to Protect Estuaries per thousand parts water, the warmer waters are more inviting to developing young fish and shellfish. Large or sudden influxes of fresh water can disrupt that delicate bal- ance, and fishermen often point an accusing finger at upstream farmers whose drainage ditches funnel fresh water down rivers into estuaries. More and more, however, farmers are turning to techniques such as water management, strip cropping and vegetation lines designed to reduce runoff. In five years' time, Copeland says he has seen much improvement in the quality of water coming downstream and off fields. He notes, too, that runoff isn't necessarily bad. An estuary, by definition, refers to that zone where salt water and fresh water meet. Land drainage is a permanent part of that picture. "I don't know how one changes nature," says Copeland, who recently completed a detailed study of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system. "[Drainage] is not going to change," he says. "But you can change how it goes. How much water do you let loose when?" Further restrictions on upstream use could be coming if the Wildlife Resources Commission agrees to extend nursery protec- tions to waterways it controls in- land of the estuaries. Widening the existing nursery zones would help protect shrimp, crabs and other ocean animals that cross that imaginary line now separating estuarine waters over- seen by Marine Fisheries—which recognizes nurseries—and the wildlife agency, which doesn't. Last fall, the Division of Marine Fisheries suggested that wildlife officials add 10,000 acres to those areas already designated as nur- series. Inland waterways currently include no protected nurseries, though a wildlife official says dis- ruptive activities such as trawling or dredging are not allowed anyhow. "Most of the things [the Divi- sion of Marine Fisheries] protect
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