Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Ecosystems
Sunset over a coastal marsh. Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan
Long-term Alliance Partnership Goal
Develop nutrient criteria management tools to reduce nutrient pollution to Gulf of Mexico coastal waters, and work to ensure that Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts incorporate innovative practices and technologies to reduce the potential for nutrient pollution to coastal ecosystems.
The Governors’ Action Plan identifies three associated actions:
N-1: Increase regional coordination in the development of nutrient criteria
N-2: Implement nutrient reduction activities during Gulf recovery and rebuilding
N-3: Assert an aligned, five Gulf State position on the need to address Gulf of Mexico hypoxia
N-1: Increase regional coordination in the development of nutrient criteria
Action: Establish a regional coordination venue to coordinate knowledge, resources, and tools for the development of nutrient criteria in Gulf coastal ecosystems.
36-Month Outcome:
- Establish a Gulf of Mexico Alliance Nutrient Criteria Coordination Team of state and federal representatives to meet the needs of the Gulf States through improved coordination among existing local, state, regional, and national nutrient reduction programs.
N-2: Implement nutrient reduction activities during Gulf recovery and rebuilding
Action: During recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf region, apply innovative practices and technologies to restore fishing and recreational uses in key coastal watersheds impaired by excessive nutrient inputs.
36-Month Outcome:
- Implement nutrient prevention and reduction activities in Gulf communities improving or rebuilding infrastructure.
N-3: Assert an aligned, five Gulf State position on the need to address Gulf of Mexico hypoxia
Action: Assert a unified position shared by all Gulf States to advocate actions – by all 31 states in the Mississippi River Watershed – to reduce Gulf hypoxia.
Barataria Bay salt marsh, Jefferson Parrish, LA. Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan
36-Month Outcome:
- Develop and represent a consistent five Gulf State position on the need to reduce Gulf hypoxia in venues such as the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force.
Highlights of Governors’ Action Plan Accomplishments
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Water Quality / Hydrodynamics Model Database (zip, 707kb)
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