Project A: Fate and Transport of Urea in Central Coast Waters
Instructor: Marc Los Huertos
Dates August 28-September 20
Purpose: Urea is a common fertilizer used on row crops and has been implicated by marine biologists as the potential cause of harmful algal blooms in the Monterey Bay. Currently, there are no standards to regulate urea concentrations in surface waters, nor is it clear that urea can even be transported from soil into surface waters without being quickly transformed to ammonium and nitrate.
Objective: Characterize the urea concentrations and loads upstream and downstream of row crops in the central coast and develop an understanding of its source and fate from watersheds to marine waters.
Goals: 1) Develop and implement a monitoring plan to generate high quality data; 2) Interpret and provide results in a technical report; 3) Develop follow-up strategies based upon potential policy and management implications of research.
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