Hey, everyone.

This topic came up in the "Pissing" thread, and I thought it should have its own thread...

It's not about seeding rivers with carcasses, it's about seeding rivers with nutrients, literally dumping fertilizer in them.

I've seen some studies, not on hand now, that have some positive things about it. However, the (not so obvious) problem is this; the areas of rivers that are most nutrient poor are at the headwaters, gradually becoming more rich as the river system grows. If we fertilize the headwaters, by the time the water gets down to the lowlands the problem kicks in.

The problem is that farming, industry, and water treatment generally takes place in the lowlands. If we seed the upper, somewhat sterile, parts, by the time the water goes past a mill, a treatment plant, and two cattle farms, the water is considerably "over-seeded" with organic nutrients.

Is there a way to avoid this problem? The legal concern is that water below those industrial concerns won't pass the Clean Water Act standards, and those industries will pay the price...

Does anyone have any scholastic or practical knowledge about this problem? Mine is only rudimentiary, so I'm interested in what others may have to say about it.

Fish on...

Todd.