of turbid water which extends from a focus in Benner Day south

into Jersey Bay along the navigable channel east of Bird Cay.

Environmental stresses on the Lagoon are increasing from ex-

panding development in Nadir and Bovoni and as far away as

Tutu which contribute increasing amounts of silt and fresh

water during storms. Sewage eutrophication and pollution

from the Nadir plant will increase and there are signs that

the ability of the receiving water to absorb these wastes is

waning. Foam from the plant is frequently piled up along the

northwest shore.

 In addition, previous studies (Michel and Tabb, 1968;

Michel 1970; McNulty, 1970) have shown that this corner of the

Lagoon is one of the most poorly flushed reaches of the area.

It is, therefore, probably the least suitable to receive sew-

age effluent. The ability of the system to absorb this waste

in the past is testimony to the healthy and productive nature

of this environment. However, this ability to assimilate

organic and inorganic nutrients is not infinite and with the

increasing pressures of other ecological modifications (silta-

tion, fresh water, turbidity), the productivity and assimila-

tion potential of the Lagoon nay be declining. At any rate,

conditions are presently less normal in this quarter than they

are elsewhere in the Lagoon. All of the lagoon, however,

still appears highly productive even though siltation on

Thalassia, resulting from floods a year ago, still persists.


Pace 2"