History

• In 1998, President Clinton made a proclamation regarding the protection of coral reefs. The EPA references Clinton's Executive Order 13089, which discusses the need "to preserve and protect the biodiversity, health, heritage, and social and economic value of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and the marine environment." Changes in salinity are cited as one reason the need exists to conserve, mitigate and restore coral reefs.
  
  

Significance

• Generally speaking, salinity refers to the elevated levels of a combination of salts present in water. These different salts typically consist of calcium sulfates, magnesium, bicarbonates and sodium chloride. Salinity is a significant element in a reef's ability to thrive. The various salts play a role in the actual construction of a coral reef. Coral reefs are made up of corals, sponges, mollusks and echinoderms, along with coral sands and limestone buildup. Even the exoskeletons of previous generations help in the construction of coral reefs.
  
  

Benefits

• Coral reefs develop into rocklike formations resulting from everything involved in their construction, including salinity. The 1998 Executive Order prompted the establishment of the United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF). Collecting different species from coral reefs for observation is among its responsibilities. This is beneficial because it helps to successfully identify improper levels of salinity. Salinity can be both a good or bad thing for a coral reef.
  
  

Facts

• Excessive salinity is a problem, regardless of the type or reason. Irrigation salinity may cause a rise in the water tables or dry land salinity may degrade the soil and interfere with plant growth. In either case, the coral reefs are so sensitive to their environment, they are affected. Fluctuations in rainfall are even significant. The low concentration of salt that accumulates from the rainfall over the years can potentially upset the salinity balance.
  
  

Considerations

• According to "Coral Reefs A World of Their Own," the ideal coral reef environment has a salinity level of 30 to 40 parts per thousand. What the "per thousand" represents and the correct method for determining salinity concentration is often debated. This is because the volume and temperature of the water involved is an important variable in the equation. Since coral reefs grow best in clear and shallow water and a sunny environment, any natural or man-made activity that causes unclear or murky water is also detrimental to a reef's existence.