The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has expanded its efforts to clean up the East River and Long Island Sound by reducing their nitrogen levels. Nitrogen buildup promotes excessive algae growth, which endangers fish and other organisms close to the base of the food chain, converting once thriving waterways into dead zones. DEP has been working to interrupt this cycle by reducing the amount of nitrogen discharged from three waste-water treatment plants in the Upper East River.

via City Expands East River & Long Island Sound Cleanup Effort – City Limits Magazine – CityLimits.org.