The Power of Information

5 Years in a Row

Top rated, 2003-2007

Link to Charity Navigator

At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.

sign up

support ewg
printable all on one page email this page

Dead in the Water: Maps


To Restore Gulf Fisheries, Conservation Money Should Be Targeted to Top Polluting Watersheds

map of mississippi river basin


MAP LEGEND
line

Top Polluting Counties

Top Polluting and Second Tier Counties

Top Polluting, Second and Third Tier Counties

5% of the MRB that accounts for 40% of fertilizer N pollution

10% of the MRB that accounts for 65% of fertilizer N pollution

15% of the MRB that accounts for 80% of fertilizer N pollution

line



Farms in Counties that Comprise 5% of the MRB Delivered 40% of Fertilizer Runoff Nitrate to the Gulf

Top 10 Counties, Ranked by Ratio of Farm Payments fo Water Conservation Payments

View a specific state:

State/CountyFarm subsidies
1995-2002
Water
Conservation
Program* payments
1995-2002
Ratio of Farm
payments to
Conservation
payments
Newton County, Indiana$77,149,597$1,566$49,265:$1
Logan County, Illinois$137,053,648$4,816$28,458:$1
Stark County, Illinois$71,801,213$3,396$21,143:$1
Henry County, Illinois$173,408,749$9,828$17,644:$1
Fulton County, Indiana$52,559,803$4,074$12,901:$1
Carroll County, Illinois$88,198,822$8,765$10,063:$1
Jasper County, Indiana$92,195,726$11,535$7,993:$1
Ogle County, Illinois$137,056,519$19,926$6,878:$1
Mason County, Illinois$73,484,102$11,286$6,511:$1
Warren County, Illinois$119,168,532$23,162$5,145:$1
Total$1,022,076,710$98,354$10,392:$1

* Includes payments for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and all payments in the Conservation Reserve Program if the producer received a CRP - Wetlands or CRP - Riparian Area contract payment.

For full list, click here



Farms in Counties that Comprise 15% of the MRB Delivered 80% of Fertilizer Runoff Nitrate to the Gulf

Top 10 Counties, Ratio of Farm Payments fo Water Conservation Payments

View a specific state:

State/CountyFarm subsidies
1995-2002
Water
Conservation
Program* payments
1995-2002
Ratio of Farm
payments to
Conservation
payments
Fayette County, Kentucky$8,729,334$111$78,643:$1
Saint Charles County, Missouri$36,101,578$601$60,069:$1
Newton County, Indiana$77,149,597$1,566$49,265:$1
Jackson County, Minnesota$126,427,738$3,388$37,321:$1
Logan County, Illinois$137,053,648$4,816$28,458:$1
Stark County, Illinois$71,801,213$3,396$21,143:$1
Marshall County, Iowa$110,283,780$6,124$18,008:$1
Henry County, Illinois$173,408,749$9,828$17,644:$1
McHenry County, Illinois$64,476,371$4,184$15,410:$1
Fulton County, Indiana$52,559,803$4,074$12,901:$1
Total$857,991,811$38,088$22,527:$1

* Includes payments for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and all payments in the Conservation Reserve Program if the producer received a CRP - Wetlands or CRP - Riparian Area contract payment.

For full list, click here