Background
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for healthy ecosystems and supports the growth of algae and aquatic plants, which in turn provides food and habitats for fish, shellfish, as well as other marine life. However, too much nitrogen, including nitrogen pollution from human sources like fertilizers and waste, can lead to excessive algal growth and subsequent negative effects in our waters.
In the Peconic Estuary, nitrogen pollution is one of the greatest threats to water quality, causing harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, fish kills, and high costs of treating drinking water. The western part of the estuary is particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of nitrogen pollution due to the presence of multiple pollution sources and low levels of tidal flushing. Towards the eastern end of the Estuary, deeper waters and greater tidal flushing lessen the potential for severe impacts from nitrogen pollution.
Too much nitrogen is a primary cause of excessive algal growth
When high levels of nitrogen enter the estuary from sources such as fertilizer or human and animal waste, algae can begin rapidly growing, causing a bloom. This includes
A bloom is typically considered a ‘Harmful Algal Bloom’ (HAB) if it creates any health impact to other living organisms, or otherwise degrades or impairs water quality. Some algal blooms can produce toxins that cause severe illness or death in humans or wildlife. Other blooms do not directly produce toxins, but all HABs can have secondary impacts by:
The Peconic Estuary experiences annual HABs. Check the NYSDEC Harmful Algal Bloom Notification Pages for recent HABs in the area.
Read more about HABs in the Peconic Estuary in the PEP Annual Water Quality Report.
