Larvae float freely in coastal and estuarial waters up to 18 meters of depth. The estuarial river system empties into Bon Secour Bay at Mobile Bay. It has one small estuarial tributary arm, the Wairau Creek in the southwest. Oakland Bay is a tidal estuarial body of water near the town of Shelton, Washington. Despite its name, the "river" is in fact an estuarial arm of the Manukau Harbour.