Effects of Reducing Nutrient Loads to Surface Waters within the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The overall goal of this assessment was to evaluate the effects of nutrient-source reductions that may be implemented in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) to reduce the problem of low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) in the nearshore Gulf of Mexico. Such source reductions would affet the quality of surface waters-streams, rivers, and reservoirs-in the drainage basin itself, as well as nearshore Gulf waters. The task group's work was divided into addressing the effects of nutrient-source reductions on: (1) surface waters in the MRB and (2) hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.

Description

158 pages; available for download at the link below.

Keywords

nonpoint source pollution, dead zone, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River Basin, nutrient loading, water pollution, eutrophication

Citation