Nutrient pollution significantly degrades aquatic habitats, poses public health risks, and threatens local economies, with over 45% of streams exhibiting high nutrient levels. The EPA is actively addressing this issue by providing technical assistance, funding research, and collaborating with states and agricultural communities on restoration efforts. Key initiatives include the National Water Quality Initiative and various partnerships to reduce nutrient discharges and improve water quality.

1. EPA Perspective on Nutrient Pollution
Al Basile
U.S. EPA Region 8
Denver, CO

2. Photo credit: Chris Johnson,
Alabama DEM

3. Nutrient Pollution
•Degrade habitat for fish and wildlife;
•Render water bodies unsafe for swimming and
other forms of contact recreation;
•Create a public health concern for drinking water
supplies;
•Decrease property values, and
•Negatively impact local economies.
Photo credit: Larry Dupont, VT CAC

4. Nutrient Pollution
Photo credit: Larry Dupont, VT CAC

5. National Scope of Nutrient Pollution
• More than 45% of streams have medium to high levels
of nutrients;
• Approximately 4 million lake acres identified as
threatened or impaired;
• Approximately 78% of assessed coastal areas exhibit
signs of eutrophication;
• The occurrence and severity of nuisance algal blooms
is on the rise; and
• Algal toxins have potentially serious human health and
ecological effects.

6. EPA Region 8
Waters Threatened/Impaired by Nutrient Pollution:
>8,000 river miles
>300,000 lake acres

7. Phosphorus delivered to the Gulf of Mexico

8. Chesapeake Bay

9. Lake Erie

11. Photo credit: Oregon DEQ

12. Photo credits:
M. Suplee, V. Watson, M. Teply, and H. McKee

13. Grand Lake St. Mary’s
Ohio

14. What is EPA doing to help address
nutrient pollution?
1. Providing states with technical assistance and
other resources to help develop water quality
criteria for N and P;
2. Working with states to identify waters impaired
by nutrients and developing restoration plans;
3. Awarding grants to states to address pollution
from nonpoint sources, such as agriculture and
storm water runoff;

15. What is EPA doing to help address
nutrient pollution?
4. Administering a permit program designed to
reduce the amount of N and P discharged to
the environment from point sources;
5. Providing funding for the construction and
upgrade of municipal wastewater treatment
plants;
6. Working with states to reduce nitrogen oxide
emissions from air sources;

16. What is EPA doing to help address
nutrient pollution?
7. Conducting and supporting extensive research
on the causes, impacts, and best approaches
to reduce nutrient pollution; and
8. Improving collaboration with other federal
partners (e.g., USDA) and stakeholders.

17. Incremental Progress?

19. EPA is working on the following actions
with the Agriculture Community:
-Continue to improve dialogue between EPA, states,
and the agriculture community;
-Continue to build partnerships;
-Continue to improve data utilization; and
-Collaborate with USDA and the agriculture community
to facilitate forums on best available and emerging
technologies.

20. Collaboration – a few examples
-National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
-Hypoxia Task Force
-Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GOMI)
-Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI)
-Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative
-Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)
-EPA AgSTAR Program
-National Air Emissions Monitoring Study
-ND nutrient management plan development

21. We value your input!
As we continue to move forward, please let us know
what else we can do to help the agriculture industry
reduce its environmental impact?

22. www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution