Hypoxic dead zones found in urban streams

Hypoxic dead zones are what occurs when dissolved oxygen levels in water drops. Water drops so low that living animals like fish suffocate while living there. This usually occurs in coastal waters, but a new study shows that intense storms flows can erode some streams to become a series of pools that trap nutrient-laden runoff. The elevated nutrient levels spur great oxygen consumption that cause the pools to become hypoxic until the next storm flushes them out. The intense flows changed the shape of the streams so much that water stopped flowing. The streams became pools containing high levels of organic matter like nitrogen from leaking sewer pipes, fertilizer, and pet waste.



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