ASSESSING THE HYPOXIA THREAT IN US COASTAL WATERS

ASSESSING THE HYPOXIA THREAT IN US COASTAL WATERS

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT OF HYPOXIA IN U.S. COASTAL WATERS

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (JSOST)

JSOST INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, HYPOXIA AND HUMAN HEALTH (IWG-4H)

LIST OF ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Problem

Legislative Mandates for Action

Adaptive Management

Federal Research Accomplishments and Opportunities for Advancement

Conclusion

1. LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND, REPORT OVERVIEW, AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

1.1. Legislative Background

1.2. Report Overview

1.3. The Report Development Process

2. CAUSES AND STATUS OF HYPOXIA IN US COASTAL WATERS

2.1. The Issue of Hypoxia

2.2. Status of Hypoxia in the United States

2.3. Causes of Hypoxia

2.3.1. Physical Factors

2.3.2. Biological/Chemical Factors

2.4. Consequences of Hypoxia

2.4.1. Ecological Consequences

2.4.2. Economic Consequences

2.5. Future Considerations

2.5.1. Climate Change

2.5.2. Impacts of Biofuels Strategy

2.5.3. Impacts of Future Management Decisions

3. FEDERAL HYPOXIA AND WATERSHED SCIENCE RESEARCH: STATUS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

3.1. Improving Understanding of Hypoxia in Coastal Waters

3.1.1. Monitoring Hypoxia

3.1.2. Modeling and Forecasting Hypoxia

3.1.3. Identifying Causes and Characteristics of Hypoxia

3.2. Quantifying and Modeling the Impacts of Hypoxia

3.2.1. Mortality and Altered Distribution of Fauna

3.2.2. Changes in Food Web Structure and Physiology

3.3. Monitoring and Modeling Nutrient Flux in US River Systems

3.3.1. Monitoring Nutrient Sources and Fluxes to Coastal Systems

3.3.2. Modeling Nutrient Sources, Fate, and Transport

3.4. Assessing, Managing, and Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Ecosystems

3.4.1. Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Rivers and Streams

3.4.2. Restoring and Enhancing Natural Nutrient Retention Processes to Reduce Pollution of Aquatic Environments

3.5. Economic Assessments

4. FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS AND INTERAGENCY COORDINATION

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Improved Characterization and Quantification of Hypoxia

4.2.1. Hypoxia Surveys

4.2.2. Instrumented Observing Systems

4.2.3. Other Advanced Technologies

4.2.4. Improved Modeling of Hypoxia

4.3. Improved Characterization of Impacts of Hypoxia

4.3.1. Impacts Surveys

4.3.2. Assessing Biological Responses and Modeling

4.3.3. Assessing Economic Impacts

4.4. Quantifying Nutrient Flux to Coastal Waters

4.4.1. Monitoring Nutrient Sources and Fluxes to Coastal Ecosystems

4.4.2. Modeling Source Areas, Source Mechanisms, and Trends in Nutrient Loads

4.4.3. Nutrient Processes in Watersheds

4.5. Approaches for Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Waters

4.5.1. Evaluation of Nutrient Reduction Strategies

4.5.2. Biofuels Research

4.5.3. Local Water Quality Concerns

4.5.4. Nutrient Management Technology Development

4.5.5. Improve Natural Nutrient Removal Processes

4.6. Existing and Future Coordination

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX I: FEDERAL AGENCY HYPOXIAOR HYPOXIA-RELATED RESEARCH

I.A. Department of Agriculture

I.B. Department of Commerce

I.C. Department of Defense

I.D. US Environmental Protection Agency

I.E. Department of Interior

I.F. National and Regional Interagency Efforts

APPENDIX II. GEOGRAPHIC CASE STUDI

Introduction and Background to Case Studies

LONG ISLAND SOUND

Physical Description of the System

HISTORY OF HYPOXIA(ISSUE, CAUSES, ECONOMIC, AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS)

SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS (TO DATE AND PLANNED)

FUTURE OUTLOOK

REFERENCES

LAKE ERIE

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (issue, causes, economic and ecosystem impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

CHESAPEAKE BAY

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

PENSACOLA BAY

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

NORTHEAST PACIFIC CONTINENTAL SHELF(OREGON/WASHINGTON)

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

YAQUINA BAY

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

HOOD CANAL

Physical Description of the System

History of Hypoxia (Issue, Causes, Economic and Ecosystem Impacts)

Science and Management Actions (to Date and Planned)

Future Outlook

REFERENCES

APPENDIX III. TABLE OF US SYSTEMS IMPACTED BY HYPOX

REFERENCES

Chapter 2 TESTIMONY OF DR. ROBERT E. MAGNIEN, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR SPONSORED COASTAL OCEAN RESEARCH, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. HEARING ON "HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS: ACTION PLANS FOR SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS"

INTRODUCTION

Harmful Algal Blooms in the United States

Hypoxia in the US

HABHRCA Today

NOAA HAB and Hypoxia Programs

Major Accomplishments

Harmful Algal Blooms

Hypoxia

CONCLUSION

End Notes

Chapter 3 TESTIMONY OF DR. RICHARD GREENE, CHIEF, ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS AND EFFECTS BRANCH, GULF ECOLOGY DIVISION, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. HEARING ON "HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS: ACTION PLANS FOR SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS"

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA – THREATS TO HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEMS

Epa Research

Freshwater HABs

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia

EPA PATICIPATION IN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCES AND WORKGROUPS

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Task Force

Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrients Task Force

CONCLUSION

End Notes

INDEX