On November 10, the U.S. Geological Survey released an analysis of nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed which examines the greatest opportunities for nitrogen reduction through 2050.

Over 20 scientists from the USGS and Chesapeake Bay Program Office are authors of the report which analyzed nitrogen data starting in 1950 up until the present day.

The report examines the major nitrogen sources, including the application of crop fertilizers and livestock waste (manure), wastewater discharged to streams, atmospheric deposition (primarily fossil fuel emissions and agricultural sources) and runoff from developed areas.

“The scenarios suggest reductions of nitrogen in agricultural and developed areas have the greatest potential in decreasing nitrogen to the Chesapeake Bay in the coming decades.” said John Clune, a USGS scientist and lead editor on the new report.

Click Here for a copy of the report.

For information on water research in Pennsylvania, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s Pennsylvania Water Science Center webpage.

[Posted: November 22, 2021]

11/29/2021