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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds
Published on: September 26, 2017
Eutrophication of agricultural streams: defining nutrient concentrations to protect ecological condition
Patricia A Chambers1, C Vis, R B Brua
1Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Blvd., Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada. patricia.chambers@ec.gc.ca
Abstract:
Inputs of nutrients (phosphorus, P, and nitrogen, N) to coastal and fresh waters can accelerate eutrophication, resulting in excessive aquatic plant growth, depletion of oxygen, and deleterious changes in abundance and diversity of organisms. Using long-term (approximately 1995-2005) monitoring data from agriculturally-dominated watersheds in southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada, we developed and tested several approaches for setting targets for N and P. Our research showed that it is possible to set scientifically-credible targets for total P and total N to protect ecological condition of streams in agricultural landscapes, and define achievable targets attainable following adoption of beneficial management practices.
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