An integrated approach to coupled nutrient and microbial source tracking in an agricultural watershed.

ABSTRACT: Estuaries often experience multiple water quality impairments including nitrogen enrichment and elevated fecal pollution. These pollutant sources are often linked and difficult to characterize, especially in multiple use watersheds, hindering the identification of effective mitigation steps. Tillamook Bay (Oregon, USA) has a mixed-use watershed including many potential nutrient and fecal bacteria sources due to agricultural activities, human development, and local wildlife populations. In this study, microbial source tracking, watershed modeling, and stable isotope analysis were combined to understand sources of watershed nitrogen and fecal bacteria to receiving waters. Tributaries of Tillamook Bay were sampled approximately monthly from June 2016 to May 2017 at 16 sites. Paired measuremen

SUBMITTER: Zimmer-Faust AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403495 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature