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)

Small Volume Bioassay NR-5 Chl

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Control All All-NO3-NH4-urea All-P

Treatment

Ch

loro

ph

yll u

g/L

July 31 - Aug 4, 2001

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

Concentration of Different Species in NR1 5-June-01

0100200300400

Control All All-NO3-NH4

All-NO3-urea

All-NH4-urea

All-NH4-NO3-urea

Treatment

Am

ou

nt

of

Sp

ec

ies

Centritractus belonophorus Ankistrodesmus

? ?

Gomphospaeria

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