Download the National Coastal Condition Report III (2008)

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The National Coastal Condition Report III (NCCR III), December 2008, is the third in a series of environmental assessments of U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes. The report includes assessments of 100 percent of the nation's estuaries in the contiguous 48 states and Puerto Rico. Estuaries are bodies of water where fresh water from rivers meets the salt waters of the ocean. This interaction provides a unique, highly productive environment that supports a great diversity of wildlife and fisheries and contributes tremendous value to the nation's economy.

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Use the links in the table below to download the individual chapters.

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National Coastal Condition Report III - December 2008 (Entire Report) (PDF) (329 pp, 40.7MB)

Read the Summary of the Findings from the Executive Summaries (2008):

• Executive Summary Part A (PDF) (10 pp, 1.6MB)
• Executive Summary Part B (PDF) (6 pp, 2.4MB)

Table of Contents

• Front Cover, Acknowledgements, and Table of Contents (PDF) (17 pp, 1.2MB)
• Chapter 1 Part A: Introduction (PDF) (21 pp, 2.5MB)
• Chapter 1 Part B: Introduction (PDF) (17 pp, 1.6MB)
• Chapter 2 Part A: National (PDF) (17 pp, 2MB)
• Chapter 2 Part B: National (PDF) (5 pp, 1.2MB)
• Chapter 2 Part C: National (PDF) (8 pp, 2.1MB)
• Chapter 2 Part D: National (PDF) (5 pp, 1.4MB)
• Chapter 2 Part E: National (PDF) (8 pp, 2.5MB)
• Chapter 3 Part A: Northeast Coast (PDF) (10 pp, 1.4MB)
• Chapter 3 Part B: Northeast Coast (PDF) (17 pp, 2MB)
• Chapter 3 Part C: Northeast Coast (PDF) (6 pp, 2.5MB)
• Chapter 4 Part A: Southeast Coast (PDF) (11 pp, 1.4MB)
• Chapter 4 Part B: Southeast Coast (PDF) (17 pp, 2.1MB)
• Chapter 5 Part A: Gulf of Mexico Coast (PDF) (6 pp, 1.8MB)
• Chapter 5 Part B: Gulf of Mexico Coast (PDF) (9 pp, 1.7MB)
• Chapter 5 Part C: Gulf of Mexico Coast (PDF) (20 pp, 2MB)
• Chapter 6 Part A: West Coast (PDF) (10 pp, 1,014.4K)
• Chapter 6 Part B: West Coast (PDF) (9 pp, 1.7MB)
• Chapter 6 Part C: West Coast (PDF) (14 pp, 2.5MB)
• Chapter 7: Great Lakes (PDF) (14 pp, 1.4MB)
• Chapter 8 Part A: Alaska, Hawaii and Island Territories (PDF) (17 pp, 1.9MB)
• Chapter 8 Part B: Alaska, Hawaii and Island Territories (PDF) (25 pp, 1.9MB)
• Chapter 9: Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use (PDF) (19 pp, 1MB)
• Appendix A and References (PDF) (36 pp, 748K)