Quantification and Valuation of Nitrogen Removal Services Provided by Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture at the Subwatershed Scale
Anthony Dvarskas, Suzanne B. Bricker, Gary H. Wikfors, John J. Bohorquez, Mark S. Dixon, Julie M. Rose
Abstract
. This nitrogen removal represents 9% of the total annual Greenwich-specific nitrogen load, 16% of the combined nonpoint sources, 38% of the fertilizer sources, 51% of the septic sources, 98% of the atmospheric deposition to the watershed, or 184% of the atmospheric deposition to the embayments that discharge to Greenwich Bay. Our approach is transferable to other coastal watersheds pursuing nitrogen reduction goals, both with and without established shellfish aquaculture. It provides context for decisions related to watershed nitrogen management expenditures and suggests a strategy to comprehensively evaluate mechanisms to achieve nitrogen reduction targets.