USING ARCHIVED DATA TO RECOMMEND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR REDUCING PHOSPHORUS CONTRIBUTED TO LAKE ERIE FROM OHIO’S SANDUSKY BAY TRIBUTARIES: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK

Nutrients that flow into lakes and rivers are contributed from various identifiable sources and nonpoint sources. Residential, urban, forested areas, and agricultural grounds all contribute to nutrient loading into major water bodies. Agricultural surface runoff and tile drainage however, are conductive to the issue of environmental degradation and eutrophication. It is from the application of fertilizers, manure, and certain landscape practices, that after irrigation and saturation of the soil, result in an ultimate accumulation to a watershed. Environmental degradation due to eutrophication exists as a major obstacle to farmers’ profits and maintaining proper ecosystems, as well as their services. Since the conception of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972, the phosphorus nutrient pollution issue has shifted from bonded particulates and their point sources, to the nutrient dissolved form, orthophosphate. A form of phosphorus largely contributed by non-point sources, a more readily bio-available limiting nutrient for algae. This paper will assess available archived data to explore reasonable efforts to reduce nutrient loading in the Western Lake Erie subwatershed HUC 04100011 1403, Little Muddy Creek, Ohio.