You are here:
Trajectories of Eutrophication and Hypoxia in United States Estuaries and Coastal Waters
Citation:
Hagy, J. Trajectories of Eutrophication and Hypoxia in United States Estuaries and Coastal Waters. IMBeR Eutrophication Study Group February Meeting, NA, MA, February 29, 2024.
Impact/Purpose:
This presentation will be presented at a remote meeting to members of the Eutrophication Study Group, a focus study group (https://imber.info/science/focus-study-groups/) within IMBeR (https://imber.info/about/what-is-imber/). The Eutrophication Study Group focuses on eutrophication related topics affecting the coastal zone, including (1) the diversity of eutrophication and the response of marine ecosystem on eutrophication, (2) nutrient reduction policy and its effects in different countries, (3) how to consider climate-driven effects on nutrient reduction policy and (4) what is our expectation on after-eutrophication? As a new member of the study group, my presentation was invited as an opportunity to share with the group that research that I have been doing. As such, the presentation focuses on specific topics and areas where I have done research, although for the purpose of making a coherent presentation that is relevant at the desired scale, additional research is introduced. This research may provide an international audience with a broader perspective on eutrophication science and management in the US if they have not already gained such perspectives in other ways.
Description:
If a water body in the United States is not as healthy as we’ve decided it should be, the most likely cause is nutrient pollution <span style='mso-element:field-begin'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> ADDIN EN.CITE <EndNote><Cite><Author>US Envirionmental Protection Agency</Author><Year>2023</Year><RecNum>1014</RecNum><DisplayText>(US Envirionmental Protection Agency 2023)</DisplayText><record><rec-number>1014</rec-number><foreign-keys><key app="EN" db-id="zsf99dvfj0dspde2ewax5xdopx5z9fadxtw5" timestamp="1706713131">1014</key></foreign-keys><ref-type name="Report">27</ref-type><contributors><authors><author>US Envirionmental Protection Agency,</author></authors></contributors><titles><title>National River and Streams Assessment: The Third Collaborative Survey. EPA 841-R-22-004</title></titles><dates><year>2023</year></dates><publisher>US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development</publisher><urls><related-urls><url>https://riverstreamassessment.epa.gov/webreport</url></related-urls></urls></record></Cite></EndNote><span style='mso-element:field-separator'>(US Envirionmental Protection Agency 2023)<span style='mso-element:field-end'> and the so-called “eutrophication syndrome” <span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> ADDIN EN.CITE <EndNote><Cite><Author>Cloern</Author><Year>2020</Year><RecNum>656</RecNum><DisplayText>(Cloern et al. 2020)</DisplayText><record><rec-number>656</rec-number><foreign-keys><key app="EN" db-id="zsf99dvfj0dspde2ewax5xdopx5z9fadxtw5" timestamp="1588184649">656</key></foreign-keys><ref-type name="Journal Article">17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author>Cloern, James E.</author><author>Schraga, Tara S.</author><author>Nejad, Erica</author><author>Martin, Charles</author></authors></contributors><titles><title>Nutrient Status of San Francisco Bay and Its Management Implications</title><secondary-title>Estuaries and Coasts</secondary-title></titles><periodical><full-title>Estuaries and Coasts</full-title></periodical><dates><year>2020</year></dates><isbn>1559-2723
1559-2731</isbn><urls></urls><electronic-resource-num>10.1007/s12237-020-00737-w</electronic-resource-num></record></Cite></EndNote><span style='mso-element:field-separator'>(Cloern et al. 2020)<span style='mso-element: field-end'> that results from it. While this is an accurate characterization of the current status of US waters, an understanding that a problem is severe or extensive may not offer adequate insights to guide or motivate the work needed to improve water quality and the resulting condition of coastal ecosystems. Rather, a more nuanced scientific and social understanding of the problem is needed. In this presentation, I explore case studies of US estuaries and coastal waters experiencing eutrophication and hypoxia and the progress of their environmental management programs, emphasizing my own scientific research or contributions to policy development. Through this lens I identify characteristics of coastal ecological systems and associated environmental management programs that are most associated with progress toward remediation of coastal eutrophication and hypoxia in the US. Conversely, I identify examples of progress that has been relatively modest despite substantial investments in scientific understanding and policy development and suggest potential barriers to progress. Successful management actions to address eutrophication in the US have been most associated with leadership from a dedicated watershed management agency that identified and communicated specific ecological goals. While sustained progress has depended on managing nutrients from all sources, the nutrient management actions that have had the largest and most immediate effect have been technological solutions that reduced point source emissions of nutrients to both water and air. In several important cases, targeted legislation and regulatory actions accelerated progress. In the northeast US, a large reduction in atmospheric nitrogen deposition has been driven by remediation of both stationary and mobile air emissions of reactive nitrogen. The long-term success of nutrient management in the US may hinge on maintaining nutrient controls while public focus declines due to incremental progress and competing environmental concerns such as climate change.
