Gulf of Mexico Research
Robert Kröger, Dan Prevost, Jerry Farris (ASU), Matt Moore (USDA/ARS)
The Gulf of Mexico is the 7th largest economy in the world, and as such as provides significant contributions to industry, ecology and economy of the region. On an annual basis the Gulf of Mexico experiences an area of low oxygen or hypoxia as a result of nutrient enriched river influences increasing algal biomass and the associated bacterial respiration to decompose those bacteria. From 2004-2008 the areal extent of the hypoxic zone has been over 17,000 km2, with the 2008 measurement of 20, 721 km2 being the second largest ever documented. The 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan set a goal to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 km2 by 2015. To reach this goal the Action Plan calls for nutrient loading reduction targets of 45% for both nitrogen and phosphorus, based on model predictions.
The Water Quality Laboratory at Mississippi State University strives to provide research, scientific outputs , public information as well as very importantly on-the ground nutrient reductions towards improving downstream aquatic ecosystem water quality, with the ultimate goal of improving ecological and economic integrity within the Gulf of Mexico.
Several helpful links for Gulf of Mexico related items
- Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
- Mississippi Delta Nutrient Reduction Strategy
- Gulf of Mexico Program Office
Outputs
Gulf of Mexico Research
Gulf of Mexico Research- MASGC - Decreasing nitrate-N loads to coastal ecosystems with innovative drainage management strategies in agricultural landscapes
- EPA-GMPO: Evaluation of innovative, low-technology water management structures as important tools in nutrient reduction strategies
- Monitoring for short term success of BMP structures in the Harris and Porters Bayou 319 watersheds for altering hydrology and reducing sediment and nutrient concentrations.
- Understanding nitrate delivery within the Big Sunflower River, Mississippi: implications for nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico
- Scientific valuation of best management practices towards improving nutrient management
- Denitrification in agricultural drainage ditches under various hydrologic management regimes
- Understanding the influence of Annamox and denitrification in agricultural drainage ditch sediments in potential nitrogen removal
- Review of best management practice efficiencies in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley
- Integrative Aquatic Research on Southfarm
Other Water-Related Research
- Hill Country Aquaculture
- Sport Fisheries Restoration in Puerto Rican Reservoirs - Water Quality
- Soil media compositions for water quality improvements and stormwater management in urban flow-through facilities
- Oxbow lake fisheries and water quality
