Although much progress has been made in the United States in controlling point sources of pollution—that coming from distinct points such as sewage or industrial pipelines—it is the nonpoint sources, which include urban runoff, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition, that are of current concern. Although sewage inputs are the dominant problem in a few coastal areas, nonpoint
source pollution causes the most damage nationally. Central to the recommendations in Clean Coastal Waters is that a national strategy should set reasonable goals for improvement and expand monitoring of coastal waters to make sure goals are being met. Long-term monitoring and assessment programs help managers to (1) establish what the “baseline” nutrient levels should be; (2)determine where nutrient over-enrichment is most acute; and (3) measure whether or not actions to reduce nutrient run-off have been effective. The report recommends that a national assessment survey be conducted every 10 years to determine the extent of nutrient problems and the effectiveness of efforts to combat them. Nutrient inputs can be reduced by improvements in agricultural practices, reductions in atmospheric sources of nitrogen, and improved treatment of municipal wastewater, among other means. Other promising strategies include the creation of regional stormwater control facilities, use of wetlands as nutrient sinks (absorbers), and biological treatment. Many of these actions are best addressed at the local level, but a truly national strategy must challenge federal, state, and local agencies to work together, and to create partnerships with academic and research institutions.