USGS Continuous Nutrient Monitoring in the Mississippi River Basin

USGS “supergages” are very complex. Continuous concentrations of nutrients and streamflow are measured at supergages and the information is available to the public in real-time. A network of supergages are very important in the Mississippi River Basin for assessing the changes in the amount of nutrients that are transported to the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. By monitoring and analyzing the nutrient data from a regional network of supergages we are taking the first steps in understanding how actions by farmers, industry and governments on the landscape are changing the conditions in the river and the actions we may need to take to preserve this vital resource for generations to come.