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Limited progress in nutrient pollution in the U.S. caused by spatially persistent nutrient sources
Rebecca J Frei1,2, Gabriella M Lawson1, Adam J Norris1
1Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.
Plos One
|November 29, 2021
Summary
Nutrient pollution from human activities remains high in U.S. waters. Targeting small critical source areas and restoring water flow can significantly improve water quality across the nation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Ecology
Background:
- Ecosystems are saturated with nitrogen and phosphorus due to agriculture, wastewater, and fossil fuels, impacting biodiversity and water security.
- Despite reduction efforts, nutrient and carbon concentrations remain elevated in many regions globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spatial and temporal patterns of nutrient and carbon concentrations and flux in U.S. streams and lakes.
- To identify critical source areas and understand factors influencing nutrient balance.
Main Methods:
- Applied an ecohydrological framework to ~12,000 water samples from the contiguous U.S. (2000-2019).
- Quantified temporal trends, spatial pattern persistence, and source/sink patch sizes.
- Utilized machine learning models to link nutrient concentrations with land use and land cover.
Main Results:
- Spatial patterns of nutrient and carbon concentrations were persistent across ecoregions.
- Critical source areas (2-8% of land) accounted for 75% of estimated nutrient flux.
- Machine learning confirmed relationships between human activity, ecosystem capacity, and nutrient balance.
Conclusions:
- Targeted nutrient interventions in small landscape portions can yield substantial water quality improvements.
- A dual approach of reducing inputs from critical source areas and enhancing natural removal capacity is recommended.
- Restoring hydrological connectivity is key to improving nutrient removal.
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