| There are a variety of substantial resources dedicated to the restoration of impaired waters as the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems is constantly declining. There is a significant amount of data indicates that water quality of both the Chesapeake Bay and the Lower Mississippi River Basin water has altered over the past hundred years for a variety of reasons. This research presents the comparison of the dynamics and modalities of transported nitrates and phosphates by tributaries of the lower Mississippi River basin and the Chesapeake Bay. Nitrates and phosphates fate and transport has impacted the economic, environmental, and recreational benefits as well as induce. The Environmental Protection Agency indicates that in the Mississippi River basin, 39 percent of streams have high levels of nitrogen while 32 percent of streams have high levels of phosphorus. Nitrogen (N) from urban and urbanizing watersheds is a major contributor to water quality degradation and eutrophication of receiving water bodies (Shields, et. al, 2008). Agricultural processes in urbanizing watersheds contribute to transport of excessive nutrient loads. There is intake of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in over 60% of coastal rivers and bays in the United States (Motavalli, et. al, 2008). The implementation of urban and forestry Best Management Practices for the reduction of hypoxia could be effected using riparian buffers. Best Management Practices would control the downstream flow of agricultural related nutrients from the upper Mississippi River basin, which has the highest concentrations of nitrogen occurrence. |
