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Eutrophication Natural eutrophication is the process by which lakes gradually age and become more productive. It normally takes thousands of years to progress. However, humans, through their various cultural activities, have greatly accelerated this process in thousands of lakes around the globe. Cultural or anthropogenic "eutrophication" is water pollution caused by excessive plant nutrients. Humans add excessive amounts of plant nutrients (primarily phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon) to streams and lakes in various ways. Runoff from …

…instituted within the St. Lawrence Great Lakes Basin. Legislation to control phosphates in sewage, and to remove phosphates from laundry detergents, was part of this program. By the mid-1970's, North American interest in eutrophication had waned. However, this "nutrient pollution" problem remains the number one water quality problem worldwide. After more than three decades, ELA scientists continue to unravel the details of algal responses to nutrients and the food chain effects that accompany them.