Briefing on New Science to Identify Sources of Excessive Nutrients in Rivers and Estuaries

The USGS held a Congressional briefing to demonstrate a new and innovative online decision support system used to identify sources of nutrients to downstream waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound and others. The decision support system provides access to six newly-developed regional SPARROW models that describe how rivers receive and transport nutrients to sensitive waters.

Steve Preston, a scientist for the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program demonstrated the decision support system and described the models. The briefing was moderated by Alan Vicory, Executive Director of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. Other speakers included Saya Qualls, Tenn. Department of Environment and Conservation Water Pollution Control and Wayne Anderson, Minn. Pollution Control Agency.