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YAQUINA ESTUARY NUTRIENT CRITERIA CASE STUDY: GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPING NUTRIENT CRITERIA IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Citation:
BROWN, C. A. AND W. G. NELSON. YAQUINA ESTUARY NUTRIENT CRITERIA CASE STUDY: GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPING NUTRIENT CRITERIA IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Presented at Briefing to OST on NHEERL Estuarine Nutrient Case Studies, Washington, DC, December 21, 2006.
Description:
The presentation provides an introduction to the Yaquina Estuary Nutrient Case Study which includes considerations for development of estuarine nutrient criteria in the Pacific Northwest. As part of this effort, a database of historic and recent data has been assembled consisting of causal (nutrients) and response variables (chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and SAV). Research results are presented which summarize nutrient loading to Yaquina Estuary, sources of nutrients, the importance of natural versus anthropogenic factors on water quality within the estuary, and assess whether there have been long-term trends in water quality parameters. In addition, water quality conditions in the Yaquina Estuary are compared to other estuaries and streams in the region. Using the reference condition approach, we estimate potential numeric criteria and then evaluate these criteria to determine if they are protective of submerged aquatic vegetation. We use a stress-response model developed for Zostera marina, which incorporates multiple factors influencing plant productivity.