Nitrogen & Phosphorus ‘The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint outines the maximum amount fof nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment each state in the Chesayseake Bay watershed can release imto the Bay and still get our estuary off the "dity waters” list Too Much Nitrogen and Phosphorus Are Bad for the Bay Nutrients—primarily nitrogen and phosphorus—are essential for the growth of all ving organisms in the Chesapeake Bay. However, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus degrade the Bay's water quailty. ‘Atits healthiest in the early 1600s, the Chesapeake watershed was mainly comprised of forested butfers, wetlands, and resources lands (meadows and some farmland) that absorbed and fitered ‘iutrents. Haphazard development has stripped the watershed of these buffers, and today pollution lows undiluted into waterways. As land use pattems change and the watershed's population grows, Nhe amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment entering the Bay's waters increases ‘yemendously. Each year, roughly 300 milion pounds of polluting nitrogen reaches the Chesapeake Bay—about six times the emount that reached the bay in the 1600s. CBF's health index, called the ‘State of the Bay Report, estimates that the Chesapeake Bay watershed rated 100 on a scale of 100 in the 1600s. In 2012, the report rated the Bay at 32 out of 100. Water quality is so poor that the. ‘Chesapeake Bay is on the Environmental Protection Agency's “dity waters" list. HOW ALGAL BLOOMS ‘Both nitrogen and phosphorus fed algal blooms that block sunlight to underwater grasses and suck up fe supporting ARE FORMED ‘oxygen when they die and decompose. These resting jgad zones" of low or no oxygen can stress and even kil fish and sheitish. Algal blooms can also tigger spikes in pH levels, stressing fish, and create conditions that spur the groth of parasites. Algal Blooms and Dead Zones Toxic algae, such as some blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), can sicken people, as wel, but animals are especially susceptible. These toxins affect the animars liver and nervous system, and can result in death, This video by 1e Environmental Protection Agency cautions pet owners to hee rotect their "pooch." 5 iMajor Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus The major of nittagen ard phosphorus potion comes from sewage reatment plants, animal eed @> lots, and polluted runoff from crop land, urban, and suburban areas. In addition, air pollution (from Vehicle exhaust) and industrial sources such as power plants contribute roughly 1/3 of the nitrogen pollution, ‘The largest source of pollution to the Bay comes from agricultural runoff, which contributes roughly 40 percent ofthe ritrogen and 50 percent of the phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay. ‘The fastest growing source of nitrogen pollution to the Bay is polluted runoff. What Needs To Be Done? ‘Agriculture may be the biggest source of pollution, but its also presents the biggest ‘opportunity. Implementing conservation measures on farms is one of the most cost-effective ‘ways to reduce pollution to our local streams, rivers, and the Bay. These practices include Implementing nutrient management and conservation plans; Planting cover crops; Fencing animals out of streams, Instaling and maintaining grassed or forested buffer strips along farm fields ‘re trcapa cn boo famers have shown a Sullness fe implement te graces. buttey need. franca and technical Ssttance todo so, Thats why CBF has and al eantinve tovght atthe state and federal level for conservation funding forthe Bays farmers GREEN FILTER GRay FUNNEL ther solutions to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution include ‘upgrading stormwater systems, and sewage treatment plants, proper operation of septic systems, using nitrogen removal technologies on septic systems, and decreasing fertilizer applications to laws. Because roughly one-third of nitrogen pollution comes from the ai, we can reduce nutrient loads by ‘conserving energy, which will result in fewer demands on power plants that emit nitrogen, and driving less, which reduces vehick emissions that also contribute to airborne ritragen loads. Important natural filters such as forests, oysters, wetlands, and underwater grasses need to be protected and restored. Overall, the Bay has lost 98 percent of ts oysters, about 80 percent of grasses, and nearly 50 percent of forest buffers, ®