OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Late 80’s and Early 90’s Healthy, What
Brought About the Rebirth?
• Phosphorus reductions from POINT sources (29,000 metric
tons to 11,000)
‐ Somewhat aided by agriculture practices
Blue-green Algae Bloom circa
1971, Lake Erie
Photo: Forsythe and Reutter
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Phosphorous Levels are Rising
Again; Now Soluble
Microcystis at Stone Lab (8/10/10)
Photos courtesy of Jeff Reutter
Stone Lab
September 11, 2011
Photo: Jeff Reutter
August 11 2011
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
October 9, 2011
Microcystis near
Marblehead
Photo: Richard Kraus, United States Geological Survey
Only Western Basin Problem?
October 9, 2011
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Possible Agriculture Action Areas
• Eliminate fall and winter application of fertilizer and manure
• Eliminate broadcast application and incorporate fertilizer
• Soil testing of all fields to prevent application of too much P
– Do not apply P above agronomic need (OSU Ag research)
– 30% of Ohio fields have too much P already
• No fertilizer when rain is in forecast (within 48 hours)
• Place a moratorium on addition of more tiles
– 50% of dissolved Phos. leaving fields is going through tiles
• Consider reducing the size of farms falling under CAFO
regulations
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
What other levers can we turn?
• Lawn Care Recommendations:
‐ Follow Scott’s lead.….all lawn care fertilizer sellers and
lawn care applicators meet the zero P goal
• Sewage Treatment Plant Recommendations:
‐ Expedite actions to eliminate CSOs
• Water Treatment Plant Recommendations:
‐ Ortho-P as a corrosion reduction strategy
• More closely monitor septic tanks:
‐ Assure that all septic tanks are working properly
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Maumee Storm Runoff Statistics
(from 1960-2010)
• Statistically significant increases in :
• Number of storm runoff events per year (up 67%)
• Number of spring runoff events (up 40%)
• Number of winter runoff events (up 47%)
• Annual storm discharge (up 53%)
• Summer storm discharge (up 27%)
• Other seasonal comparisons show increases but
they are not significant
Source: Dr. Peter Richards, Heidelberg University
March-June Maumee Discharge
2.77
March-June Maumee Total P
1,099
March-June Maumee DRP
238
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Merged NOAA-U.Toledo severity index
range of
models
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
HABs Challenges…and review
• Need agriculture solutions (4Rs):
• Right fertilizer source (i.e., manure and P free)
• Right rate (i.e., amount; Ag need)
• Right time (i.e., rain and frozen ground)
• Right place (i.e., only where needed)
• Lack of funding for monitoring
• CSO elimination is expensive
• Regulation of septic tanks is weak
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
Recovery – End on a positive note
• Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes
by volume
• Retention time for water is very short
• Western Basin retention time is 20-50 days
• Therefore, recovery will be almost
immediate!!!
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
• Questions?
• For more information:
‐ Dr. Kristen DeVanna Fussell
‐ Ohio Sea Grant Office, Ohio State
University, 1314 Kinnear Rd., Columbus,
OH 43212
‐ Phone: 614-247-7439
‐ E-mail: [email protected]
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
The New Threat
• “Asian”…..actually, Bighead, Silver, Black and
Grass Carp
• Big and Silver average 30-40 pounds, can reach
100
• Juveniles can eat 120% of weight/day
• 25,000 pounds caught by commercial
fishermen in Illinois river this year
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
The New Threat Continued…..
• Plankton and Blue-green algae will support
• Will rivers support reproduction ?
• What is being done:
– Pheromones (caged females and food cues)
– Identifying likely dispersal routes
– eDNA work
– Water cannons
– CO2
– Poisons
– ACRCC