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Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health

Nearshore and open waters provide drinking water for municipalities and habitat for numerous species of birds, fish, and other aquatic life. This is the area in which most residents and visitors experience the Great Lakes through swimming, boating, and other forms of recreation. Nearshore water quality has become degraded, as evidenced by eutrophication—the process by which a water body is enriched by nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, resulting in excessive growth of algae, depletion of the dissolved oxygen that aquatic species need to survive, beach closings, and other impacts. GLRI is supporting efforts to promote nearshore health. As part of this effort, USGS is evaluating best management practices, monitoring nutrient and sediment loadings and increasing the scientific understanding of the link between nutrients and HABs, to help managers make better informed decisions. 

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Lake Erie green waters at the Beach with Buoy marking swim area

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

The USGS collaborates with local, state, federal, tribal, university, and industry partners to conduct the science necessary to understand the causes and effects of toxic HABs and inform water management and public health decisions. USGS is characterizing the life cycle of HABs, their asociated toxins, and the genes responsible for cyanotoxin production. This work is enhancing the ability of Great...
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Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

The USGS collaborates with local, state, federal, tribal, university, and industry partners to conduct the science necessary to understand the causes and effects of toxic HABs and inform water management and public health decisions. USGS is characterizing the life cycle of HABs, their asociated toxins, and the genes responsible for cyanotoxin production. This work is enhancing the ability of Great...
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Monitoring set-up at the watersheds site which includes boards and such to direct water flow to drainage.

Nutrient Monitoring Activities

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems. Reduction in nutrient inputs to the Great Lakes is a priority under both the Great lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. To support these efforts, USGS scientists across the Great Lakes region are monitoring the transport of nutrients at key locations.
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Nutrient Monitoring Activities

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems. Reduction in nutrient inputs to the Great Lakes is a priority under both the Great lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. To support these efforts, USGS scientists across the Great Lakes region are monitoring the transport of nutrients at key locations.
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USGS monitoring station at Edge of Field runoff from event

Agriculture Best Management Practices

One major objective of the GLRI is to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds by implementing conservation or other nutrient-reduction practices. These efforts focus on reducing phosphorus runoff from fields. USGS scientists are supporting these efforts by providing data and other information to help managers understand the impacts of practices on nutrient runoff.
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Agriculture Best Management Practices

One major objective of the GLRI is to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural watersheds by implementing conservation or other nutrient-reduction practices. These efforts focus on reducing phosphorus runoff from fields. USGS scientists are supporting these efforts by providing data and other information to help managers understand the impacts of practices on nutrient runoff.
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Photo of stormwater runoff flowing into a storm drain

Urban Best Management Practices

Many cities and towns in the Great lakes basin are utilizing urban stormwater best-management practices (BMPs) to reduce the stormwater runoff to local combined sewer systems and ultimately, the Great Lakes. Urban stormwater BMPs can include permeable pavement, bioswales, infiltration basins, and planters. USGS scientists are supporting these efforts by providing data and other information to help...
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Urban Best Management Practices

Many cities and towns in the Great lakes basin are utilizing urban stormwater best-management practices (BMPs) to reduce the stormwater runoff to local combined sewer systems and ultimately, the Great Lakes. Urban stormwater BMPs can include permeable pavement, bioswales, infiltration basins, and planters. USGS scientists are supporting these efforts by providing data and other information to help...
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