Report: Nitrogen levels six times the ‘healthy limit’ in Indian River Bay

For years, officials have dedicated time and resources to research and maintain clean waters in Delaware’s inland bays.

A five-year report released shows signs of recovery, as well threats which still linger.

One sign that shows promise toward healthier coastal bays in Delaware is the apparent progress in water clarity, according to Dr. Marianne Walch.

Dr. Walch, science and restoration coordinator for Delaware’s Center For The Inland Bays (‘CIB’), says the progress was especially prevalent in Assawoman Bay and some open water areas of Indian River Bay.

“Since the inlet was originally stabilized in the 1930’s, its progressively gotten more and more volume of water coming through it,” says Dr. Walch. “So that increasing flushing of water in and out is actually flushing out nutrients at the same time.”

However, those same nutrients are still a problem in certain areas.

Dr. Walch describes nutrient pollution as an excessive amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the bays.

According to CIB’s report released Tuesday, inputs of nitrogen into the Indian River Bay exceed more than six times the healthy limit. This runs the risk of throwing the system out of balance.

“We get algae blooms, which lead to murky water, reduction of light for plants to grow and eventually wildly fluctuating oxygen levels that harm aquatic life,” she tells 47ABC.

Nutrients typically enter through point and non-point sources.

Chris Bason, executive director of CIB, says point sources are easy to spot and maintain. An example includes pipes out of wastewater treatment plants.

Bason says the inlands originally started out with 13 point sources; however, it has been reduced to two in the past 20 years.

That shows progress, but he notes there’s a range of non-point sources that do drain into the water.

“Fertilizers that are put down and lost from agricultural fields. Put down and lost from our lawns and also from storm water run off coming from urban streets that goes into the bays,” explains Bason.

According to Dr. Walch, the report suggests recovery is possible; however, she admits there are still many water quality and habitat challenges ahead.

She says progress will take commitment from partners plus dedicated funding.

To view a copy of the report, click here.