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 Nitrogen is of main concern in Neuse River Estuary (NRE)

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

SO WHAT?

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

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

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

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

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

Eventual Outcome

Acknowledgments Ms. Kelly McFarlin Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI