Gulf Hypoxia and its Impact on Ohio Municipalities
Hypoxic Zones are Spreading Diaz & Rosenberg, Science, 2008
Comprised of: Federal Agencies (EPA, NOAA, USDA, USACE, USGS, DOI) States represented by Agriculture or Environment Departments (AR, IL, IA, LA, MN, MS, MO, OH, TN, WI) Goals: Examines complex science and policy issues surrounding Gulf Hypoxia Takes collaborative actions to improve water quality
Goolsby et al. 1999, Rabalais % 58% 18% 21% [w & w 2.4%] Huge Watershed, Huge Problem
mg/L Source: N. Rabalais, LUMCON 21 – 28 July 2007 Bottom-Water Hypoxia up to 22,000 km m nearshore to m offshore 0.5 km nearshore to 100+ km offshore widespread and severe in May – Sep
Brown Shrimp O 2 > 2 mg/l Significant fisheries resources at risk Reduced habitat Altered migration Changes in food resources Susceptibility of early life stages Growth and reproduction
Atlantic croakerBrown shrimp >4 Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) Catch percentiles % 25-50% 50-75% % 0 Craig et al., 2005 NGOMEX 2002 Cruise
Time Magazine Nutrients, Increased Growth, Low Oxygen
no data h h d d d drought h hurricane Source: N. Rabalais, LUMCON River N load is main long-term driver of hypoxia
(A) Total Nitrogen(B) Total Phosphorus Alexander, et al, Environ. Sci. Tech., 2008 Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico
Sub-basin Nitrogen Contribution
Sub-basin Phosphorus Contribution
Goals of the 2008 Action Plan Coastal –Reduce or make significant progress towards reducing the five-year average areal extent of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 square kilometers Within Basin –Restore and protect the waters of the 31 states within the MARB Quality of Life –Improve communities and economic conditions across the MARB
Moving Forward: Implementation State nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies Federal nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies Annual Operating Plans Annual Report
For more information or to read the Action Plan visit:
Ohio River Basin Team A partnership helping to protect and restore local waters and the Gulf of Mexico John Kessler, Ohio DNR
Ohio River Basin Steering Committee Members Illinois Dept of Agriculture Indiana Dept of Environmental Management Kentucky Dept of Environmental Protection Kentucky Division of Conservation Ohio Dept of Natural Resources Ohio EPA Pennsylvania Conservation Commission Tennessee Dept of Environmental Cons West Virginia Conservation Agency West Virginia Dept of Agriculture West Virginia Dept of Environmental Protection ORSANCO
The Ohio River Basin
Biggest Challenges Absence of clear drivers (but this may change) –Financial (some funds shifted) –Regulatory (nutrient criteria, TMDLs in-state and interstate or regional???) –Public Opinion (climate change, energy) –Working voluntarily in advance of regulation
Program Integration and Implementation Examples from Ohio
Typical Eastern Corn Belt Field with Conservation Tillage
Combinations of Practices
Rural Drainage
Urban Stormwater BMP
Scioto CREP practice
WQ Trading Example (holding pond and plan needed)
Urban CSO
Public Treatment Works
Nutrient Load Reductions 2006 Examples Scioto Watershed CREP –57,000 out of 70,000 acres enrolled –36,000 lb. P/yr –73,000 lb. N/yr Great Miami Trading –68,000 lb. P over 5 to 20 years –176,000 lb. N over 5 to 20 years
Thank You