Summary

Description

Several trends have been observed over time in Back Bay. The salinity of Back Bay has fluctuated up and down between saline, slightly brackish, and a nearly freshwater environment. Anecdotally, Weiland 1897 noted productive oyster beds being replaced by submerged aquatic vegetation SAV, freshwater fisheries and waterfowl use with the closing of Currituck inlet. There has been a general decline in SAV populations, although Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Refuge notes that in 1993 SAV appears to be making a slow come back in some areas. The Refuge also notes that winter waterfowl counts are currently a mere fraction of the observed numbers reported for the early part of this century. Historic waterfowl use observations correspond with a general decline in SAV populations since the early part of this century. Anecdotal observations indicate that the fish population may have been more marine in the early part of the century. Over the last four decades, which have been well documented, the fish species diversity, though nearly 50 freshwater, shows brackish water species accounting for 60 of the standing crop. The formerly renowned citation size largemouth bass fishery has been reduced from 17 of the biomass in 1980 to 2 of the biomass in 1986. Change in salinity increased salinity proving toxic to young bass and a lack of submerged aquatic vegetation food source have been suggested as possible causes of the declining fishery. In the less saline environment, recruitment of young bass may be more successful than in the past.