The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation

In general, the roles of freshwater are relatively well understood, as well
as the effects of reduced freshwater inflow. However, studies that link fish
populations to freshwater inflow are quick to point out that there are many
complexities in the system due to relationships between species, nutrients, and
other input factors into the ecosystem. More important than a large quantity of
inflows, however, is the large seasonal fluctuation of inflows. A myriad of
organisms depend on the ecosystem for different periods of their life cycles.
Seasonal fluctuations, droughts, and floods are necessary in order to maximize
the productivity of estuaries for fishery purposes. While increased inflows
generally have a positive and linear correlation with increased fish populations, if
inflows are consistently high, estuary productivity can decrease.
Human interference with freshwater inflow has begun to change the
dynamic of San Antonio Bay Region. The ecosystem will continually have to
adapt to varying amounts of freshwater inflow due to human development
especially in and around the city of San Antonio. Given the mounting pressures
on the environment, it is increasingly important that adequate freshwater is
allocated to sustain the ecosystem.
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