Please read this press release from Nikki Dictson. It's a good summary of an EPA survey. Link to that survey and more is below.
U.S. EPA News Release: EPA Survey Finds More Than Half of
the Nation’s River and Stream Miles in Poor Condition
03/26/2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2013
EPA Survey Finds More Than Half of the Nation’s River and
Stream Miles in Poor Condition
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency released the results of the first comprehensive survey looking at the
health of thousands of stream and river miles across the country, finding that
more than half – 55 percent – are in poor condition for aquatic life.
“The health of our Nation’s rivers, lakes, bays and
coastal waters depends on the vast network of streams where they begin, and
this new science shows that America’s streams and rivers are under significant
pressure,” said Office of Water Acting Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner.
“We must continue to invest in protecting and restoring our nation’s streams
and rivers as they are vital sources of our drinking water, provide many
recreational opportunities, and play a critical role in the economy.”
The 2008-2009 National Rivers and Stream Assessment
reflects the most recent data available, and is part of EPA’s expanded effort to
monitor waterways in the U.S. and gather scientific data on the condition of
the Nation’s water resources.
EPA partners, including states and tribes, collected data
from approximately 2,000 sites across the country. EPA, state and university
scientists analyzed the data to determine the extent to which rivers and
streams support aquatic life, how major stressors may be affecting them and how
conditions are changing over time.
Findings of the assessment include:
- Nitrogen and phosphorus are at excessive levels.
Twenty-seven percent of the nation’s rivers and streams have excessive levels
of nitrogen, and 40 percent have high levels of phosphorus. Too much nitrogen
and phosphorus in the water—known as nutrient pollution—causes significant
increases in algae, which harms water quality, food resources and habitats, and
decreases the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. Nutrient
pollution has impacted many streams, rivers, lakes, bays and coastal waters for
the past several decades, resulting in serious environmental and human health
issues, and impacting the economy.
- Streams and rivers are at an increased risk due to
decreased vegetation cover and increased human disturbance. These conditions can
cause streams and rivers to be more vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and
pollution. Vegetation along rivers and streams slows the flow of rainwater so
it does not erode stream banks, removes pollutants carried by rainwater and
helps maintain water temperatures that support healthy streams for aquatic
life. Approximately 24 percent of the rivers and streams monitored were rated
poor due to the loss of healthy vegetative cover.
- Increased bacteria levels. High bacteria levels were
found in nine percent of stream and river miles making those waters potentially
unsafe for swimming and other recreation.
- Increased mercury levels. More than 13,000 miles of
rivers have fish with mercury levels that may be unsafe for human consumption.
For most people, the health risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is
not a health concern, but some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of
mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous
system.
EPA plans to use this new data to inform decision making
about addressing critical needs around the country for rivers, streams, and
other waterbodies. This comprehensive survey will also help develop
improvements to monitoring these rivers and streams across jurisdictional
boundaries and enhance the ability of states and tribes to assess and manage
water quality to help protect our water, aquatic life, and human health.
Results are available for a dozen geographic and ecological regions of the
country.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys
Nikki Dictson
Extension Program Specialist II
Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources |
Texas Water Resources Institute
1500 Research Parkway, Suite 110 | 2260 TAMU | College
Station, TX 77843-2260
p: (979) 458-5915 | f: (979) 845-0662
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences
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