State of the Harbor Kaitlyn Shaw Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department Water Resource Specialist
The Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen in Atmosphere Nitrogen in Animal Proteins Nitrogen in Plant Proteins Nitrogen in Decaying Material and Waste Bacteria “fix” Nitrogen for use by Plants
Balance
Photo: Tom Montgomery
Alteration of the Nitrogen Cycle The Haber Process: 1913, synthetic fertilizer development. Artificial nitrogen fixation to create ammonia. Today 450 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer are produced annually through this process. Enabled the worlds population to increase from 1 billion to 7 billion in just 100 years.
Nutrient Sources
Imbalance
Photo: Tom Montgomery
Why do we care? Health culture home values instrinsi. value Threats to public health, water supply Damage to the environment. Economic impacts to tourism, fishing industry, property values. Loss of ecosystem function. Difficult & expensive to reverse.
What is being done? We are here! Summarize the cwa and whats covered under it. Especially the regs that state that point sources need to meet the same standard DEP discharge permit.
Water Quality Goals Protect public health. Achieve surface water standards. Protect eelgrass, fish and shellfish. Promote natural attenuation of nutrients through wetland protection. Achieve nitrogen goals: Concentration which will sustain the healthiest level of habitat known to exist historically.
Historic and current Biogeochemistry of SE MA estuaries Historic and current Biogeochemistry of SE MA estuaries. Develop nutrient related goals or Total maximum daily loads of nitrogen that each system can receive to maintain historic healthy habitat.
Water Quality Sampling Program Routine testing. Weekly algae monitoring. Education and outreach.
Water Quality Sampling Program Routine testing. Weekly algae monitoring. Education and outreach.
Nantucket Harbor Long Term Trends Achieving goal Improving Not achieving goal Worsening
Additional Research Image: Noela Sánchez-Carnero
Questions?