Major Point and Nonpoint Sources of Nutrient Pollution to Surface Water Have Declined Throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Description

The Chesapeake Bay Program's Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) provides nitrogen and phosphorus balance data for counties throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This study, published in Environmental Research Communications, leveraged these data to create a detailed nutrient inventory for these counties from 1985 through 2019. Nutrient inventories can inform water quality management decisions by identifying shifts in nitrogen and phosphorus balances over space and time, while keeping track of likely urban and agricultural point and nonpoint sources of pollution. Understanding drivers of water quality in local watersheds is the first step in implementing targeted restoration practices.

Citation

Sabo, R. D., B. Sullivan, C. Wu, E. Trentacoste, Q. Zhang, G. Shenk, G. Bhatt and L.C. Linker, 2022. “Major point and nonpoint sources of nutrient pollution to surface water have declined throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed”, Environmental Research Communications, 4:045012, doi: 10.1088/2515-7620/ac5db6.