Nutrient Monitoring on the Ohio River: Balancing Information Needs

1. Nutrient Monitoring on the Ohio River: Balancing Information Needs

2. The Ohio River Basin

3. 981 Miles long from Pittsburgh, PA, to Cairo, IL Drainage basin covers 204,000 sq. miles in 14 states Basin home to 25+ million people Drinking water for 3 million people 120+ species of fish live in the Ohio River 20 dams and 49 power-generating facilities 230 million tons of cargo transported annually Ohio River/ Basin Facts

4. About ORSANCO • Interstate Compact agency • Member states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia. • 3 Commissioners per state plus 3 federal

5. Authority: Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact • The Compact is incorporated in the laws of each of the member states. • The Compact is also incorporated in Federal law. • The Compact was signed by the Governors and State Commissioners on June 30, 1948.

6. Guiding Principle: Wastes discharged in one state shall not harm the waters of another state.

7. Commission Structure 3 Commissioners per State = 24 3 Federal Commissioners = 3 Total Commissioners = 27 Standing Committees Special Committees Program Advisory Committees Advisory Committees ORSANCO Staff Administrative Technical Public Information

8. ORSANCO Commissioners Represent: • Municipal Utilities (4) • State/Fed environmental agencies (8) • Attorneys (4) • Elected Official (1) • Environmental consultants (3) • Educational institutions (1) • Industry (1)

9. Current Program Areas • Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment • Biological Studies • Spill Detection and Response • Pollution Control Standards • Public Involvement

10. Monitoring/Assessment Requirements of the Ohio River VWS Compact • No specific mention • Article I sets water quality goals for interstate waters, pledges states to work cooperatively to reach them. • Article VI sets water quality requirements for intrastate waters. • Implied need – status and trends monitoring/assessment.

11. Monitoring/Assessment Requirements of the Ohio River VWS Compact • Article VIII charges the Commission to study the pollution problems of the District. • Implied need - any monitoring/assessment effort that identifies causes of water quality problems.

12. Current Monitoring and Assessment Activities • Monitoring of the Ohio River on behalf of the states • Biennial water quality assessment (305[b]) • Special studies as directed –currently wet weather studies, biological criteria development

13. Routine Monitoring Programs • Bimonthly ambient monitoring • Bacteria and Dissolved Oxygen • Fish Population studies • Macroinvertebrate sampling • Fish Tissue analyses

15. ORSANCO Nutrient Related Activities • Algae and Nutrient Monitoring • Nutrient Criteria Development • Participation in Gulf Hypoxia Meetings • Nutrient Loading Project • Organize and coordinate Ohio River Sub Basin Committee

16. Algae Monitoring • Taste and Odor problems in drinking water supplies • Need for consistent data • Cooperative sampling with water utilities

17. Nutrient Criteria Development • Need for cause (nutrient) and effect (algae, chlorophyll a) data • Desire for multiple observations to define relationships

18. Current Algae/ Nutrient Monitoring Program • Cooperative monitoring by ten Ohio River drinking water utilities. • Samples collected two times per month. • Analyses for algae, chlorophyll a, turbidity, total P, TKN, ammonia N, nitrite + nitrate N.

19. Ecoregions of the Mainstem TN – 2.18 mg/L TP – 0.076 mg/L TN – 0.31 mg/L TP – 0.010 mg/L TN – 0.69 mg/L TP – 0.037 mg/L

20. Average Phosphorous Concentrations Default USEPA Criteria Ecoregion VI – 0.076 mg/L Ecoregion IX – 0.037 mg/L Ecoregion XI – 0.010 mg/L River-wide Average TP = 0.15 mg/L 0.11 mg/L 0.12 mg/L 0.10 mg/L 0.18 mg/L 0.16 mg/L 0.25 mg/L 0.11 mg/L 0.11 mg/L 0.15 mg/L 0.24 mg/L

21. Average Nitrogen Concentrations Default USEPA Criteria Ecoregion VI – 2.18 mg/L Ecoregion IX – 0.69 mg/L Ecoregion XI – 0.31 mg/L River-wide Average TN = 1.50 mg/L 1.50 mg/L 1.56 mg/L 1.22 mg/L 1.44 mg/L 1.67 mg/L 2.22 mg/L 1.36 mg/L 1.68 mg/L 1.94 mg/L 1.15 mg/L

22. Wheeling, WV

23. Wheeling, WV

25. ORSANCO Participation in Gulf Hypoxia Deliberations • Attended meetings on behalf of member states since 1995. • Have attended all Task Force meetings. • Full Commission met in conjunction with Task Force in 2002. • Received funding for 1st year of Sub Basin Committee operation in June, 2005.

26. Actions Assigned to Sub Basin Committees Develop strategies for nutrient reduction for each sub-basin Reduce loadings from point sources Increase assistance to agricultural producers/ businesses for implementation of best management practices

27. Total N Yield Delivered to the Gulf of Mexico

28. Tributary Nitrogen Loads

29. Estimated peak season total nitrogen loads on selected tributaries (lbs/day/sq.mi.)

30. Information Needs for Gulf Action Plan • Quantify Ohio River nutrient loading to the Mississippi over time. • Quantify tributary loads for prioritization. • Track tributary conditions to assess program effectiveness

31. Monitoring Program Design Questions • Can current program meet Gulf Action Plan needs? • Can resources be shifted away from criteria development? • Role of probabalistic design