Nutrient Monitoring on the Ohio River: Balancing Information Needs

The Ohio River Basin

Ohio River/ Basin Facts 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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Ecoregions of the Mainstem TN – 0.69 mg/L TP – mg/L TN – 0.31 mg/L TP – mg/L TN – 2.18 mg/L TP – mg/L

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

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

Wheeling, WV

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

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

Total N Yield Delivered to the Gulf of Mexico

Drainage Area Total N Lb/day Total N Lb/sq mi Wabash33,1001,630, Great Miami , Tennessee40, , Cumberland17, , Scioto , Tributary Nitrogen Loads

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

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

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