Glossary

Hypoxia means low oxygen and is primarily a problem for estuaries and coastal waters.

Hypoxic waters have dissolved oxygen concentrations of less than 2-3 ppm.

Hypoxia can be caused by a variety of factors, including excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, and waterbody stratification due to saline or temperature gradients.

These excess nutrients, eutrophication, promote algal growth.

As dead algae decompose, oxygen is consumed in the process, resulting in low levels of oxygen in the water.

- Mississippi River Basin Watershed Nutrient Task Force, 2010