Last week, the US EPA released an underwhelming memo titled ‘Accelerating Nutrient Pollution Reductions in the Nation’s Waters.’
The memo renewed its commitment to reducing nutrient pollution and called for a scaling up of the current efforts to meet a 45% reduction. However, the strategy described is not much different than the previous action plans that spend a lot of time and money tracking, reporting, and prioritizing the small amount of funding and conservation practices that are going on. It also does little to expand programs that put conservation practices on the ground.
An additional $60 million will be provided for the nutrient loss reduction strategies for the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force states over 5 years, or about 1 million per year per participating state. This is just enough to keep the NLRS limping along as other funding resources have been depleted. It is also not enough to improve the worsening nutrient pollution problem.
One highlight of the memo is the reprioritizing of funding to projects that protect drinking water, especially in underserved communities, recognizing that environmental impacts are disproportionately felt in these communities. It reminds us that nutrient pollution is one of the most pervasive water contaminants, damaging the Gulf of Mexico, our local lakes and streams, and drinking water. Fifty eight percent of streams, 45% of rivers, and 2/3rds of the coastal waters of the U.S. are impaired by nutrients. This is a massive undertaking and will take an equally large investment and commitment to make it happen.
PRN Agricultural Programs Specialist Catie Gregg cautions, “As we approach our interim goals and are seeing nutrient pollution only getting worse, we need a much stronger plan to turn this around.”
