Since 1985, scientists have been documenting a hypoxic zone in the Gulf
of Mexico each year. The hypoxic zone, an area of low dissolved oxygen
that cannot s- port marine life, generally manifests itself in the
spring. Since marine species either die or ee the hypoxic zone, the
spread of hypoxia reduces the available habitat for marine species,
which are important for the ecosystem as well as commercial and
recreational shing in the Gulf. Since 2001, the hypoxic zone has
averaged 2 1 16,500 km during its peak summer months, an area slightly
larger than the state 2 2 of Connecticut, and ranged from a low of 8,500
km to a high of 22,000 km . To address the hypoxia problem, the
Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (or Task
Force) was formed to bring together represen- tives from federal
agencies, states, and tribes to consider options for responding to
hypoxia. The Task Force asked the White House Of ce of Science and
Technology Policy to conduct a scienti c assessment of the causes and
consequences of Gulf hypoxia through its Committee on Environment and
Natural Resources (CENR).