Nutrient Reduction - Gulf Hypoxia Task Force Meeting December 6

The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force met on December 6, 2023, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Here, agencies reported progress on addressing the Dead Zone in the Gulf.   For the full report check out the reports here at this link.   The graphic above was presented by Dave Scheurer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The Dead Zone, as measured in the mid-summer survey, was smaller than expected but this was attributed to the drought that gripped the Mississippi River Basin in 2023.  Lower flows meant that less nutrients were washed off the land and so less nutrients reached the Gulf.  

Lori Sprague of the US Geological Survey provided a water quality update in three succinct slides:​

The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force set a revised goal of lowering Nitrogen and Phosphorus discharges to the Gulf by 20% by 2025 and 45% by 2035.   These slides show that as of 2022, Total Nitrogen loads from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers have dropped below the 2025 goal level but have not yet reached the 2035 goal.  Phosphorus remains above the interim level.