Nutrient Pollution Not Declining in Illinois Waterways
A state report released in December detailing Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) shows the state “is poised to miss a 2025 goal to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus heading into its waterways,” according to a by NPR Illinois; however, some progress has been made. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential elements for life, but the two nutrients of are also of the greatest concern because in excess they prompt too much algae growth which hurts dissolved oxygen in the water, which is what fish and other aquatic life need to breathe and grow.
The states: “Nutrient levels in Illinois waterways continued to increase in 2021 and 2022 compared to baseline measurements, and the NLRS… strategy will likely fall short of its 2025 interim goals, particularly for phosphorus. This is despite multi-sector investments in resources and practices that support nutrient loss reduction across the state.”
In 2017, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), Friends, the Sierra Club-Illinois Chapter, and other environmental groups agreed to work together to set a limit on the amount of phosphorus the MWRD can release into the river system. Phosphorus comes into MWWRD treatment plants both in the raw sewage and the stormwater runoff.
“Nutrient pollution is insidious and devastating for aquatic life,” said Margaret Frisbie, Friends’ executive director. “The limits set to date are nowhere near where basic water chemistry research tells us they should be and if we want to ensure a healthy aquatic environment, we need to do better.”
The NPR story notes that “Illinois is one of 12 states on a focused on reducing the amount of excess nitrogen and phosphorus released into its lakes, rivers and streams.”
An annual about Illinois' Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is scheduled for January 25 in Springfield. The conference also has an online option.
