On Sept. 6, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released its nutrient decision support system. The tool is composed of six regional models that show nutrient contributions from natural and anthropogenic sources and reveal how nutrients move through the environment.

The system enables users to investigate water quality effects achieved through a combination of nutrient reduction strategies that target one or multiple nutrient sources. For example, the model can determine the reduction in nutrient load achieved by reducing agricultural inputs versus those from wastewater treatment plants. This data tool can help decision-makers evaluate management alternatives. See the USGS press release for more information.

In relation to this tool, the Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.) and the Northeast Midwest Institute (D.C.), in co-operation with USGS, will host a congressional briefing, New Scientific Findings To Help Direct Action on Excessive Nutrients in Rivers and Estuaries. It will cover the nutrient decision support system as well as USGS’s assessment of nutrients in waterbodies throughout six major U.S. regions. The briefing, which is free and open to the public, will be held Oct. 28, 10–11:30 a.m., in room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Contact Pallavi Raviprakash at praviprakash@wef.org for more information.