Subject: New USGS Water Quality Findings: No Consistent Declines in Nitrate Levels in Large Rivers in the Mississippi River Basin ******Please distribute to your staff and other colleagues****** New USGS findings released in the journal of Environmental Science & Technology,accessible at: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/nitrate_trends/. No Consistent Declines in Nitrate Levels in Large Rivers in the Mississippi River Basin-- Despite efforts to reduce nitrate in the Mississippi River basin, nitrate concentrations and transport at eight mainstem or large tributary sites have not declined from 1980-2008. The results are based on a new statistical method developed by the USGS that takes into account variation in river flows, in order to paint an accurate picture of long term trends. These results reflect the cumulative changes over time in nitrate sources and conservation practices throughout the Mississippi River basin, and highlight the need for comprehensive nutrient management strategies that will reduce nutrients in both streams and groundwater. Key findings: · Nitrate concentrations increased considerably at two sites (Mississippi River at Clinton, IA and at Missouri River at Hermann, MO) · Nitrate concentrations remained very nearly the same or increased at the other six sites (Iowa River at Wapello, IA; Illinois River at Valley City, IL; Ohio River near Grand Chain, IL; and along the Mississippi River at Grafton, IL; at Thebes, IL; and near the Old River Outflow Channel) · Nitrate transport to the Gulf of Mexico increased from 1980 to 2008 · Increases in nitrate concentrations in groundwater are having a substantial effect on nitrate concentrations in rivers and transport to the Gulf of Mexico. The evidence for this comes from the fact that increases in nitrate concentrations are particularly large during low flow conditions. Contacts: Lori Sprague, [log in to unmask], 303-236-6921 Robert Hirsch, [log in to unmask], 703-648-5888 _____________________________________________ Mike Woodside USGS -- National Water-Quality Assessment Program 640 Grassmere Park, Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37211 615-837-4706 http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/ _____________________________________________ _________________________________________Clean Water Network list serves are for CWN members only and messages are intended solely for those environmental activists. To contact the Network, please DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Instead please send an email to [log in to unmask] To subscribe to this list, you must be affiliated with an organization that is a member of the Network. To check your organization's status, subscribe to any of our list serves, or update your contact information, please contact Network staff via the email address above. To learn more about the Network, go to:www.cleanwaternetwork.org UNSUBSCRIBE You may now automatically unsubscribe from this list by following the directions below. Please note that you must contact Network staff if you wish to re-subscribe later. If your contact information is changing, please let us know so that we can update our Member Database. Click here to send an email that will automatically unsubscribe you from this list. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp