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An estuary is a semi-enclosed marginal-marine body of water in which salinity is measurably diluted by fluvial discharge (Fairbridge, 1968). Sediments deposited in this setting are influenced by a complex combination of tides and tidal currents, oceanic waves, locally generated waves, river discharge, precipitation, temperature, and local flora and fauna. These factors differ markedly among the world's estuaries, and accordingly the sedimentary facies produced vary widely. Depositional facies have been examined in relatively few estuaries, mostly in temperate climates (Howard and Frey, 1975; Klein, 1977; Lauff, 1967). The extent to which results of these studies can be generalized is uncertain. Nonetheless, features found are very likely recognizable in many ancient estuary deposits.

This paper is based primarily on analysis of depositional facies in Willapa Bay, a mesotidal, temperate-climate estuary on the southwestern coast of Washington. This bay location hosted repeated estuary development during the Pleistocene epoch, and is enclosed on three sides by Pleistocene terrace deposits composed of ancient estuarine sediment. The ancient deposits provide not only a basis for comparing ancient and modern depositional facies, but also a model of internal stratigraphy in a substantial accumulation of estuary deposits.This paper is based primarily on analysis of depositional facies in Wil-lapa Bay, a mesotidal, temperate-climate estuary on the southwestern coast of Washington. This bay location hosted repeated estuary development during the Pleistocene epoch, and is enclosed on three sides by Pleistocene terrace deposits composed of ancient estuarine sediment. The ancient deposits provide

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