LUMCON has been measuring the Dead Zone since 1985, and this year’s Dead Zone is above both the long-term average size and the average size over the last 5 years. 

Despite voluntary initiatives to address the Dead Zone enacted by Louisiana and EPA, the Gulf Dead Zone has only grown bigger. This lack of action forced members of the Mississippi River Collaborative to file suit against EPA in 2012. Specifically, this lawsuit was filed due to EPA’s refusal to set numeric standards for nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and ensure that all states in the river basin meet those standards.   

“EPA told states to develop numeric nitrogen and phosphorus limits fifteen years ago,” stated Cynthia Sarthou, Executive Director for the Gulf Restoration Network. “EPA has spent the decade and a half since backing off hard deadline after hard deadline for reducing Dead Zone-causing pollution.”