Pilot Study of the Activity Assessment Routine Ecological Systems Component for a Waterway Activity

Abstract

The Ecological Systems Component (ESC) of the Activity Assessment Routine (AAR) was developed by the Texas Coastal Management Program to serve as a general assessment tool for coastal development. A pilot study, part of the Texas Ports Study, was undertaken to refine and improve the usefulness of the ESC in assessing ecological impacts of navigation development and to test the ESC under actual conditions. This document discusses the methodology of the ESC; it is not an additional or alternate assessment of the project used for the pilot study.