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Science Supporting Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Lakes and Their Watersheds: A Synopsis of Research Completed for the US Environmental Protection Agency
Citation:
Hagy, Jim. Science Supporting Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Lakes and Their Watersheds: A Synopsis of Research Completed for the US Environmental Protection Agency. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-15/262, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this document is to provide an accessible overview to two research reports produced under contract to EPA under supervision of J. Hagy as technical point of contact. The report is also intended to provide some context for the reports, which are intended to be distributed with this report.
Description:
Nutrient pollution remains one of the most prevalent causes of water quality impairment in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to addressing the challenge of managing nutrient pollution has included supporting development of numeric nutrient criteria for the Nation’s waters. To create scientific information that could assist the Agency and its partners work toward this goal, EPA’s Office of Research and Development funded a two-year extramural research project focused on criteria development for lakes and reservoirs, and in particular the challenge of relating criteria for streams to protection of downstream lakes and reservoirs. Research focused on two areas of the US with abundant water resources, namely the upper Midwest and the Southeast. Study areas in Wisconsin and Tennessee were selected based on the availability of extensive long-term data sets quantifying both water quality and aquatic life variables. The resulting research was documented in considerable detail in two final project reports (Paul, M., A. Herlihy, D. Bressler, L. Zheng and A. Roseberry-Lincoln (2014). Methodologies for Development of Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Freshwaters. Prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC and Tetra Tech, Inc, Center for Ecological Science, Research Triangle Park, NC.: 135 pp.; Paul, M., J. Butcher, L. Zheng, T. Zi and D. Allen (2015). Methods for Computing Downstrewam Use Protection Criteria for Lakes and Reservoirs. Prepared for US Environmental Protection Agency by Tetra Tech, Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC and Tetra Tech, Inc, Center for Ecological Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC.) This report provides an accessible overview of the research with interpretation of its possible significance from the perspective of ORD. The research illustrates the fact that relating aquatic life condition to nutrients and water quality is challenging but tractable and that the application of optima and tolerance models is a useful approach. Exploration of theoretical considerations related to developing downstream use protection criteria identified several separate, yet related challenges. Novel methods that were developed and applied illustrated that empirical approaches of intermediate complexity may offer a viable way to improve explicit consideration of downstream use protection in water quality management. These methods are, nonetheless challenging to understand. Further development, application and explanation will be needed to make widespread application a greater possibility.