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The Effects of Nutrient Pollution on the Neuse River Estuary

The Effects of Nutrient Pollution on the Neuse River Estuary. Valerie Winkelmann. What is nutrient pollution or eutrophication?. A slow natural process of enrichment Produces enhanced productivity in the body of water Caused by elevated nutrient loading

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The Effects of Nutrient Pollution on the Neuse River Estuary

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  1. The Effects of Nutrient Pollution on the Neuse River Estuary Valerie Winkelmann

  2. What is nutrient pollution or eutrophication? • A slow natural process of enrichment • Produces enhanced productivity in the body of water • Caused by elevated nutrient loading • Nitrogen is of main concern in Neuse River Estuary (NRE)

  3. Eutrophication leads to… • Accelerated enrichment by artificial means produces population explosions of phytoplankton, a.k.a. algal blooms • Algae exceed carrying capacity and die • Bacterial decomposition creates high BOD • Compounded by low DO due to summer water temps • Hypoxic or even anoxic conditions

  4. SO WHAT?

  5. Problems… • Fish kills result from anoxic conditions or toxic blooms • Harms shellfisheries as well • Phytoplankton are base of the food chain • Organisms selectively feed • Pfiesteria and other toxic blooms • Alter community structure

  6. Sources of nutrient pollution • Anthropogenic • Urban: wastewater treatment plants • Industrial: point source • Agricultural: fertilizer and animal waste • Sediments: highly organic sediments decompose, oxygen sink • Atmospheric deposition

  7. Over 5 years… • Phosphorous loading decreased 14% • Total nitrogen loading increased 16% • Total inorganic nitrogen increased 38%

  8. FYI • 441 point dischargers contributed 3.34 x 10^8 L effluent/d • 554 concentrated animal operations • Swine production in the basin has increased 285% in the last decade • In 1998, 5.9 x 10^9 kg manure from pigs and poultry contributed 4.1 x 10^7 kg N and 1.4 x 10^7 kg P

  9. Solutions • State regulations require a 30% reduction in N loading by 2003 • Reduce impervious cover • Retention ponds • Riparian buffers • Strict regulation on point source polluters • Nutrient management • Controlled drainage • Conservation tillage system

  10. Eventual Outcome

  11. Acknowledgments • Ms. Kelly McFarlin Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI

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