New paper on phosphorus legacies in watersheds and implications for eutrophication

Phosphorus (P) applied to the landscape as fertilizer and manure accumulates as legacy within watersheds. A new paper, co-authored by Philippe, presents a model that considers the key processes controlling legacy P accumulation and depletion trajectories along the land-aquatic continuum. The results show that watershed phosphorus legacies continue to degrade water quality over many decades and, therefore, can make it difficult to meet water quality goals. The modeling results show that legacy phosphorus must be taken into account when setting policy goals for water quality improvement. The model was published in the journal Water Resources Research and can be accessed here.