An Environmental Accounting System to Track Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Pollution in the Lake Champlain Basin, Second Year Report. Technical Report #60.

Ghebremichael, L., and Watzin, M. UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. (2010). An Environmental Accounting System to Track Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Pollution in the Lake Champlain Basin, Second Year Report (Technical Report No. 60). Grand Isle, VT: Lake Champlain Basin Program

Lake Champlain exhibits eutrophication primarily as a result of continuing nonpoint source inputs of phosphorus from the surrounding watershed. The goal of our project was to develop a framework and model that could be used to account for major sources and potential reductions of phosphorus across the landscape. In our first year report, we presented a literature review that evaluated the relative magnitude of phosphorus sources and transport pathways in the watershed, and summarized the relative reductions that might be achieved using various BMPs in both agricultural and urban/suburban land areas. We used this information to develop a framework to examine critical sources and potential reduction scenarios for phosphorus in agricultural watersheds. This framework includes both a farm-level model-based phosphorus accounting system and a watershed-level model-based phosphorus accounting system. This report presents that framework and the results of our modeling efforts in four sections.