Historical freshwater inflow alteration and its potential effect on estuarine biota in Gulf of Mexico estuaries: workshop summary, Pensacola Beach, Florida, March 14-16, 1995

In cooperation with the Freshwater Inflow Committee of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Program (GOMP), NOAA's Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Division convened a workshop from March 14-16, 1995 to identify estuaries to examine important relationships among freshwater inflow alteration, estuarine habitat, and biological resources using information derived from the National Estuarine Inventory (NEI). Twenty-three Gulf scientists and estuarine resource managers participated in the workshop in Pensacola Beach, Florida. The primary goal was to identify and prioritize a subet of Gulf estuaries where freshwater inflow may potentially be managed to restore and/or enhance estuarine resources and habitat. Through a sequenced, consensus-building workshop process, five estuaries were selected that represent high-priority, freshwater-related habitat and resource issues across all Gulf estuaries. Plans are to conduct detailed, site-specific analyses for the five systems through the Freshwater Inflow Committee. This report summarizes the discussions and recommendations of the workshop participants, and provides a point of reference for the continuing evolution of the GOMP Freshwater Inflow Committee's long-term program.