Dr. Michael Hutchins's blog

Eutrophication is the biggest water quality problem threatening society globally (Smith and Schindler 2009, Trends in Ecol Evol 24, 201-207). Increased levels of nutrients released to our rivers and streams due to human activities can cause damaging algal blooms.

With all the recent heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts of the country the impacts of urban growth on river flows has again been a topic of debate. The video below shows the dramatic impact, in this case in August, of intense rainfall in an urban area on river flow. Contrast this with the same stretch of river during a dry spell (image on the right).