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Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force Releases Draft Action Plan for Public Comment
Management directives to reduce the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico have come primarily through the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force’s 2001 Action Plan, called for by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Control Act (HABHRCA) of 1998. Following their 15th meeting in Cincinnati, OH on October 29-30, the Task Force has released a draft revised Action Plan for public comment. Based on a scientific reassessment and independent review by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board Hypoxia Advisory Panel (HAP), the draft 2008 Action Plan states the Task Force will “strive to reduce or make significant progress” towards the 2001 Action Plan goal of reducing the size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 km2 by 2015. In addition, it was concluded during the reassessment process that reductions of at least 45% in both nitrogen and phosphorus inputs would be required to meet the 5,000 km2 goal. The public comment period for the draft ends on January 4, 2007 and stakeholders and the public with interests in the Gulf of Mexico are encouraged to participate.
The northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone is the focus of the largest interagency ecosystem management effort in the Nation to address the serious threat of nutrient pollution. The progress made by the HAP to advise the Task Force’s efforts toward a revised Action Plan is a critical step to facilitating mitigation of the hypoxic zone. As stewards of coastal ecosystem health, NOAA has had a critical role in Task Force activities since its inception, and is represented by Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. Furthermore, scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) represent NOAA on the Task Force’s Coordinating Committee, play key advisory roles, and manage programs that are the major driving force for determining priorities for, and funding of, research into the causes of hypoxia and its impacts on living resources [get a PDF of report]. For more information, contact Alan.Lewitus@noaa.gov
Related Links
News
- Recent Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Hypoxia Assessment (NGOMEX) funding announcement.
- CSCOR-supported Research Provides Foundation for Effective Management of the "Dead Zone" in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
- CSCOR Co-Sponsors Symposium To Identify Management Strategies for the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic "Dead Zone"
- Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Symposium a Critical Component of Scientific Reassessment
Events
- Summit on Long-Term Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone: Developing the Implementation Plan for an Operational Observation System Stennis, Mississippi: January 30-31, 2007
- Ecological Impacts of Hypoxia on Living Resources Workshop Stennis, Mississippi: March 26-29, 2007
Related Web Sites
- EPA Mississippi River Basin & Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Information Page
- EPA/Gulf of Mexico Program
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON)
- Hypoxia Watch System for the Gulf of Mexico
- CSCOR's Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems and Hypoxia Assessment (NGOMEX) Program
- Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA)
- NCCOS Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Factsheet: Providing Key Information to Understand and Reduce the Impacts of Oxygen Depletion on Living Resources in the Gulf of Mexico (PDF)