Sci 275 Week 9 Mitigation Strategies Solutions

Saltwater Intrusion and the Sustainability of Coastal Freshwater Resources Your name Freshwater resources in coastal regions are threatened by saltwater intrusion and the salinization of the fresh groundwater resources. Saltwater intrusion and salinization is characterized by the increase of chloride ion concentrations in freshwater aquifers. This occurs predominantly along coastlines, though there are instances of inland salinization. Saltwater intrusion has several causes, some of which are natural and some are induced by human activities. Once saltwater intrusion has occurred, it is almost impossible to reverse, making this a significant threat to freshwater resources. Sustainability strategies meant to slow or halt the rate of saltwater intrusion can be costly but necessary to protect the resources from further damage. Among the natural causes of saltwater intrusion are storm surges caused by hurricanes and other tropical systems. This was seen in 2005 with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast of the United States. In these cases, tidal flushing removed some of the introduced salinity in the freshwater marshes before substantial damage was done. In areas away from the influences of tidal flushing, and in areas where precipitation did not flush the salt water from the water table, there was considerable damage