Nutrient Pollution Entering Our Waters!

First, I would like to encourage everyone to attend the 4-State Watershed Academy happening this Thursday and Friday (September 29th & 30th) in West Siloam Springs, OK. You can access information on the academy including registration by clicking the link on the left hand banner on this newsletter. An impressive cast of speakers will be covering a wide range of topics that include nutrients and TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load). This is an event you will not want to miss!

Last week I talked about the REGFORM Water Seminar in Columbia and the topic of affordability. Another topic that received a lot of attention was the discussion of nutrients and their effect on our waters. EPA is focusing a huge portion of their regulatory activity on nutrient pollution reduction. They even have a web site just for nutrient issues. EPA states that nitrogen and phosphorus pollution is caused by excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus entering our water bodies from many different sources. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution has consistently ranked as one of the top causes of degradation in U.S. waters for more than a decade and affects all types of water bodies across the United States, including lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans.

Table Rock Lake

They go on to say nitrogen and phosphorus are a part of a natural, healthy aquatic ecosystem. They support the growth of underwater plants, which produce oxygen and habitat that supports growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms. Nitrogen and phosphorus also support the growth of algae, a natural part of many aquatic ecosystems. Algae is found in shallow water or near the surface of the water body, where it can access sunlight to photosynthesize. As a result, algae is a food source for some species of fish and shellfish. Nitrogen and phosphorus levels vary naturally and some amount in a water body is not harmful. In fact, nitrogen and phosphorus are essential to maintain the health of the organisms that live there. When too much nitrogen and phosphorus enter surface waters; however, they cause the ecosystem to become unbalanced. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often a result of human activities and they speed up the growth of algae in surface waters to an unhealthy level in a process called eutrophication. The algae grow out of control and form what is called an algal bloom. These algal blooms can cause many problems for underwater plants and animals, as well as humans. 

2006 photo of algae caused by excessive nutrients in the James River at Galena, MO prior to phosphorus removal at their wastewater treatment plant .

EPA is pressing all states to develop Numeric Nutrient Criteria. On EPA's map shown below, the states not shaded in blue or green have not yet developed nutrient criteria. For example, when Table Rock Lake was placed on the 2002 303(d) list of impaired water for nutrients, DNR used narrative criteria, basically observation. Numeric criteria will establish a numeric level for phosphorous and nitrogen that when water quality testing data shows the lake has exceeded those values, it is then considered impaired.

EPA map - Clean Water Act - nutrient criteria

I was part of the Missouri DNR stakeholder committee formed in 2005 to develop nutrient criteria for lakes. We spent three years on the effort and the proposed rule was submitted to EPA in 2008. Due to a lawsuit in Florida over nutrients, EPA would not discuss the proposed rule submission with DNR. Normally EPA and DNR would work together on the rule to iron out any problems but that did not happen. In August, EPA sent a letter to DNR in which they disapproved a major portion of the lake nutrient criteria rule. This was the first official communication on the issue between the two agencies.

Last week on September 21st, I attended a DNR Nutrient Stakeholder meeting. A representative was present from EPA to explain their decision. He listed two issues EPA had with the nutrient rule: lack of sound scientific rationale or transparency-inability to reproduce the numeric criteria based on the data; and that the nutrient criteria did not demonstrate that it would adequately protect the "use" of the water bodies. When pressed for details on exactly what EPA did not like and what they would like to see in the revised rule, the EPA representative continuously expressed that he had to guard his response carefully to not cause any legal problems. The outcome of the meeting for all extents and purposes is that DNR and the stakeholders are still not quite sure where we go from here on nutrient criteria, but legally, DNR has to proceed and proceed quickly. A response from DNR is required in 90 days from the date of EPA's letter. And when lake nutrient criteria are finally approved by EPA, the next process will be to develop nutrient criteria for streams.

There is no doubt, nutrient pollution is and will continue to be a problem. I believe that if the Missouri Clean Water Commission in 2002 had not instituted phosphorous limits on effluent discharges from wastewater treatment plants in the lake watershed, we would have large algae blooms in Table Rock Lake today. The challenge going forward will be to develop the right nutrient criteria that will best protect a water body's uses and aquatic life. It has not been and will not be an easy process.

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Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)

Written by Missouri Department of Conservation 

Nicknames: Needlenose gar, billfish, billy gar 

Claim to fame: These long-nosed, tough-skinned, toothy fish are found in most of this area's lakes and larger streams. Though some anglers bow-fish for longnose gar (which are classified as a non-game species by the Missouri Wildlife Code), many people consider these unusual-looking creatures to be little more than "trash fish" that prey on popular sportfish species.

 

Longnose Gar / MDC

 

Species status: They are common in much of the state.

Family matters: Longnose gar belong to the fish family Lepisosteidae, a group of primitive species commonly referred to as the gars. There are seven species of gar found in North America, four of which occur in Missouri.

Length: They commonly reach lengths of 3 feet or more. The largest one recorded in Missouri measured 59 inches.

Diet: Longnose gar feed on a variety of fish species, but gizzard shad appear to make up the bulk of their diet.

Weight: They commonly grow to weights of 5 pounds or more. The largest weight recorded in Missouri was 31 pounds.

Distinguishing characteristics: The upper body of a gar is brown or dark olive, which gradually fades to a white belly.