EPA Report Says Nutrient Pollution is Widespread in Lakes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the results of a national assessment showing that nutrient pollution is widespread in the nation's lakes, with 4 in 10 lakes suffering from too much nitrogen and phosphorus.

Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms, lower oxygen levels, degraded habitat for fish and other life, and lower water quality for recreation. The National Lakes Assessment also found an algal toxin - microcystin - in 39 percent of lakes but below levels of concern. Low concentrations of the herbicide atrazine were found in 30 percent of lakes.

"America's lakes and reservoirs provide many environmental and public health benefits; we use lakes for drinking water, energy, food and recreation, and our fish, birds, and wildlife depend on lakes for habitat," said Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water at EPA. "The National Lakes Assessment provides us with valuable information to help protect and restore our lakes across the country."

The assessment is part of a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys designed to provide information about the condition of water resources in the U.S. The surveys are conducted in partnership with states and tribes to provide national-scale assessments of the nation's waters.

An earlier National Lakes Assessment was conducted in 2007, but this latest study is expanded to include smaller lakes and increase the number of lakes assessed.

Lake managers can use the new interactive dashboard to evaluate site-specific information and to explore population-level results. Conducted on a five-year basis, future lake surveys will help water resource managers assess broad-scale differences in the data and perform trends analysis.

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread and costly environmental and public health challenges. EPA is working on many fronts to reduce the severity, extent, and impacts of nutrient pollution in our nation's lakes and other waters.

These efforts involve overseeing regulatory programs, conducting outreach and engaging partners, providing technical and programmatic support to states, financing nutrient reduction activities, and conducting research and development. In September, EPA called upon states and stakeholders to intensify their efforts to reduce nutrient pollution in collaboration with EPA.

For more information: https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/nla