Water Quality Indicators: Nutrient Impacts on Chlorophyll or Algal Species Composition

The objective of this project was to develop an alternative and more appropriate method to choose nutrient criteria. Its major focus was to evaluate the scientific basis for nutrient criteria as a predictor of designated use attainment. To answer the research question, the research team used a combination of methods that included studying eutrophication theory from literature reviews, examining water quality data, collecting expert elicitations, and building structural equation models. With these tools, researchers may study eutrophication impairment in lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and coastal ecosystems. This research is particularly important because it offers scientific basis for nutrient criteria that is predicatively linked to designated use attainment. Published by WERF. 82 pages. Soft cover.

Originally funded as WERF project 02-ECO-1.