Ecosystem response to regulatory and management actions: the southern California experience in long-term monitoring.

摘要: Billions of dollars have been invested over the past 35 years in reducing pollutant emissions to coastal environments. Evaluation effectiveness this investment is hampered by lack long-term consistent data. A rare opportunity exists southern California evaluate management actions analyzing monitoring effluent, sediment, benthos, and fish comparing trend data periodic regional surveys environmental condition. In paper, we ask question "have improvements effluent quality response regulation translated into receiving environment?" Results indicate that directed at mass from wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) resulted substantial improvement aquatic communities. However, magnitude timing varies indicator suggesting use multiple assessment endpoints necessary adequately interpret trends. Reductions effect POTW allowed managers shift resources address other contaminant sources such as stormwater resuspension legacy pollutants.