The UMES nutrient management/water quality research initiative supports sustainable agriculture that maintains agronomic productivity while protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay. We do this by developing processes that control the transport of nutrients and other contaminants of concern from poultry litter manured fields to surface waters, and developing and testing economical alternative management practices that minimize phosphorus, nitrogen, trace elements (e.g. arsenic, copper) and pharmaceutical transfers to  surface water resources. A broad array of research projects are conducted by a group of well- respected scientists from, University of Maranhao, Brazil, UMD, and USDA scientists at USDA-ARS units located at Penn State University, Auburn University, and University of Arkansas at Booneville. The nature of this program attracts scientists and others from across the country representing multiple disciplines, and is indeed a unique collaborative effort. The site for this program represents the “best” facility for water quality and nutrient management among small Colleges and Universities in America.