(RICHMOND, VA)—Today the Virginia State Water Control Board approved key revisions to James River water quality standards for chlorophyll. These standards reduce harmful algal blooms by setting limits on the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that fuels their growth. Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Scientist Joe Wood issued the following statement.
"Harmful algal blooms in the tidal James River can foul waterways with toxins, threaten human health, and even kill oysters and fish. The James River will be the first river in the region protected by science-based chlorophyll limits designed to prevent such harmful algal blooms. These limits are a model for how this complex issue can be managed throughout Virginia and beyond.
"This is the culmination of years of water quality monitoring, research, and a lot of hard work by state agencies, universities, wastewater authorities, and other stakeholders. Thank you to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and other partners involved for their longstanding efforts to ensure science-based chlorophyll standards in the James River."
CBF Statement on James River Standards to Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms
27 Jun 2019
