Sticking to a Pollution Diet
2010 May 27
Map of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Like food, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are good things at the right levels. But the bay and its rivers, streams and creeks are getting far too much of the stuff, choking off oxygen for fish and crabs, and blocking light needed by underwater grasses.
Koroncai and Batiuk are taking their sweatsuits and whistles throughout the massive Chesapeake Bay watershed to help the states and the District of Columbia do what it takes to shrink their pollution waistlines. But the effort needs your help. There are many ways to lighten up on the nutrients you deliver to your local waters — from driving less to skipping the spring fertilizer. Check out this list of actions you can take to help protect your favorite river or stream.
Have you taken any of these steps or others? Our EPA dieticians want to know.
And for the latest information on the effort to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, sign up for our June 7 webinar and visit our website at www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
14 Responses
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Great post. A suggestion
Try to link from your and other stake holder websites to your post and this will drive more ‘eyeballs’. You need to get the word out. This is a sure way that Google and Yahoo web crawlers will find this post and steer more users to your site.
a friend
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At least there’s no oil spill there. Seriously, pollution in our rivers, streams, and oceans is a huge problem today and if we don’t get a handle on it I fear the trickle down effect will be devastating to our whole society.
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The biggest problem with water is floods. Now, we get a lot of floods this summer in Poland. Waters in Poland are not as dirty and polluted as in other countries, but still we can’t deal with it properly.
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just by chance i was searching google about motor pollution and came across your post…it was mind blowing
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This is as most of the times a joy browsing these articles
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I was doing a search and came across this site. I must admit that this info is great! Keep up the good info. Will be reading your articles
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Great site and I like your articles keep it up!
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Fertilizer is a huge problem. Farmers used to allow fields to lie fallow to rebuild nutrients. Now it’s just dump on more chemical fertilizer that will wash into the Chesapeake, one of the most beautiful bays on earth, or any nearby water source. There should be tougher laws on fertilizer use.
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We tend to think more is better, eating excess amounts of vitamins and minerals in pills to supplement fresh vegetables and fruit, ignorant of how our body reacts to it. Similar, using fertilizer indiscriminately can adversely affect nature, far beyond the garden, as well…
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I must say that the information you stated above was really great. Regarding fertilizing, the excessive use of it will really cause damage. It is just like when you are undergoing diet. Sometimes people think that taking medication to lose weight is just that easy but excessive diet medication can also cause harmful effects to your body.
People should take consideration first before using any fertilizers. Excessive use of it is really bad and I hope someday there will be tougher law on using fertilizers.
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I think farmers should consider going back to growing organic.
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this kind of problem is the result of greed. there should be moderation in everything we do. even if the intent is for the common good, people tend to overdo things. we should promote environmental awareness and spread information in any way possible. you can do this even just by sitting in front of the computer. browse websites that can help promote environmental awareness.
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there are fertilizers that do not have adverse effects compared to commercial ones. since they are organic, they are environmental friendly. this problem should be addressed and it would help if information is disseminated in every form possible, like creating blogs and sites concerning this subject.
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Great metaphor use for dieting and “nutrient pollution”. You dont really think about how a simple thing like your fertilizer for your yard can have a great impact on the broader ecology.
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