How Much Do You Know About Estuaries?

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How Much Do You Know About Estuaries?

In honor of National Estuaries Week (Sept. 16 to 23), test your knowledge about estuaries (especially the Delaware Estuary).

What is an estuary?

An estuary is where salt water and fresh water meet. It's the part of a river or creek where the tide flows in and out, mixing fresh and salt water.

A freshwater area near a river or stream

A saltwater area near the ocean

A land mass near the water

Where salt water and fresh water meet

The Delaware Estuary is in ____ ?

All of these. The Delaware Estuary includes southeastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, and most of Delaware. https://delawareestuary.org/interactive-estuary-map/

Delaware

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

All of these

None of these

True or False: Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems in the world.

True! Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Many animals rely on estuaries for food, places to breed, and migration stopovers. For example, migratory red knots stop along shores of the Delaware Bay to eat horseshoe crab eggs on their way from South America to the Arctic.

True

False

Which of these animals is found in the Delaware Estuary?

All of these. The Delaware Estuary is home to some amazing animals, including the Atlantic sturgeon, blue crabs, black bears, otters, great blue herons, white perch, and striped bass, and more! Learn more about some of these via:

https://delawareestuary.s3.amazonaws.com/TREB+2022+Full+Report.pdf

Sturgeon

Blue Crab

Bear

Otter

Heron

All of these

How many estuaries are part of the National Estuary Program?

28. According to the EPA, there are 28 estuaries of national significance located along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in Puerto Rico in the National Estuary Program (NEP). Each NEP focuses within a study area that includes the estuary and surrounding watershed.

What animal is NOT typically found in the Delaware River or Bay?

Salmon, of course, are native to the waters of the American Pacific Northwest. If you find one in the Delaware River or Bay, it's lost!

Striped Killifish

Dolphin

Salmon

American Eel

In What Year did Congress Establish the National Estuary Program?

Congress created the National Estuary Program in the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act.[1]

1921

1972

1992

1987

True or False: Horseshoe crabs closely related to blue crabs

False! Despite their name, horseshoe crabs are not really crabs (crustaceans). Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are more closely related to spiders and scorpions.

True

False

In What Year did the DELAWARE ESTUARY become part of the National Estuary Program?

The Delaware Estuary Program became one of the 28 National Estuary Programs in 1988 after it was deemed an Estuary of Significance.

1987

1988

1989

1990

What can you do to keep the Delaware Estuary healthy?

All of the above. These are just a few easy things you can do to keep pollution out of our waterways. For more information about things you can do for the Delaware Estuary, visit https://delawareestuary.org/save-the-estuary/

Pick up pet waste

Avoid putting cooking grease down the sink

Volunteer for local cleanups and events

Keep storm drains clear of trash and debris

All of the above

You got {number correct}

Not so good. But this is a great opportunity to learn! Surf the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary's website www.delawareestuary.org to learn about the different programs and about the natural world of the estuaries, especially the Delaware Estuary.

To learn more about estuaries in the United States, go to: https://www.epa.gov/nep/overview-national-estuary-program.

You got {number correct}

Well done! We hope you apply your knowledge toward teaching others about the Delaware Estuary. Up your bragging rights and learn even more by going to the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary website at www.delawareestuary.org.

To learn more about estuaries in the United States, go to https://www.epa.gov/nep/overview-national-estuary-program.