ORSANCO’s FY16 Technical Program

WQ Monitoring Programs Bimonthly & Clean Metals Sampling – Metals & traditional 15 mainstem, 14 tribs, every other month. Bacteria – Weekly samples fecal & E. coli at 13 sites (6 CSO areas). Nutrients – Nutrients and continuous DO/temp sampling at biological monitoring sites sites, 3 rounds nutrients. – Continuous monitors upstream and downstream Smithland Pool. Supplemental – TotHg & MeHg at two additional BAF sites. – TotHg & MeHg at 15 major tribs.

WQ Data Assessment & Distribution Report all data (web & other means). Complete (b) assessment for Ohio River. Complete bacteria trends assessment. Participate as end user in HEC/RAS flow model development.

Pollution Control Standards Development – Work on priority issues for 2018 review. – Report to USEPA with explanation on differences between ORSANCO and National criteria. – Development GIS database of NPDES discharges. Administration – Review draft permits for consistency with ORSANCO standards. – Ongoing coordination with state permitting agencies (NPDES Subcommittee). – Annual compliance report. – Evaluate variance requests (as needed).

Technical Programs (cont.) Urban Wet Weather – Annual CSO Abatement Report. – Annual Storm Water Abatement Report. Watershed Protection – Participate GOM Hypoxia Task Force. – Continued investigation and develop ability to effectively utilize satellite data. – Participate as necessary in hydropower development water quality issues. – Continued involvement in nutrients trading as necessary. Bacteria TMDL – Continued support as needed.

Special Projects WV 604(b)3 Project Proposal – Collect fish tissue contaminants data. – PCBs, dioxin, TotHg & MeHg – Kanawha & Monongahela rivers – 84 samples from 7 sites. – $130K+ Mercury Study Proposal. Possible RARE grant to analyze HABs data.

Source Water Protection Programs Source Water Protection Plans – Coordinate efforts with states developing source water protection plans for drinking water utilities that withdraw water from the Ohio River. Emergency Response Program – Continue to receive, evaluate and communicate information regarding spills to the Ohio River, tributaries, or other sources that could impact the water quality of the Ohio River for drinking water use.

Source Water Protection Pgms. (con’t) Emergency Response Programs – Convene meetings of emergency response and water quality agency personnel to promote communication among and between such agencies to facilitate interstate coordination during Ohio River spill response events – Update and publish the Emergency Response Directory for the Ohio River.

Source Water Protection Pgms. (con’t) Emergency Response Programs – ODS – Update and maintain operational integrity of ODS instrumentation at 16 sites – Provide operator training and support – Review data from all ODS locations for detections and evaluate equipment operation – Utilize ODS and drinking water utility resources as needed during spill events

Biological Programs Fish, Macroinvertebrate, and Habitat Surveys – 15 probabilistic sites in each of 3-4 pools/yr – 18 riverwide fixed stations sampled annually for fish – Data used to calculate index scores to assess ALU for 305(b) – All raw data and annual report made available on web Bioassessment – Create annual pool survey reports summarizing findings – Refine/create biological indices – Analyze trends in fish and macroinvertebrate data – Participate in workshops, conferences, and meetings – Publish reports and manuscripts

Fish Tissue – Collect ~40 composite samples annually – Support states’ fish consumption advisory programs – Assess Fish Consumption Use for 305(b) – Track long-term trends – Develop reports/manuscripts – All raw data made available on web