What is the difference between flow-adjusted and overall (not flow-adjusted) trends in nutrient concentrations in streams?
“Flow-adjusted trend” analyses of nutrient concentrations removes variability that may be caused by precipitation and stream flow and thereby generally reflect changes due to human and (or) land-use changes. For the “Overall trend” analyses, nutrient concentrations are not flow adjusted so that the net effects of all influences (for example, changes in both land use and climate) on concentration can be evaluated. Analyses of “overall trends” also allow for the assessment of nutrient concentrations in streams relative to water-quality standards and the condition of aquatic communities.
