About Lake Erie… The warmest, most productive of the Great Lakes RED – SHALLOW, WARM BLUE –...
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Transcript of About Lake Erie… The warmest, most productive of the Great Lakes RED – SHALLOW, WARM BLUE –...
About Lake Erie…About Lake Erie…
The warmest, most productive of the Great The warmest, most productive of the Great LakesLakes
RED – SHALLOW, WARM
BLUE – DEEP, COLD24’
62’
200’
5’
10’
Lake Erie So Shallow
Erie
Lake Erie Water Quality TrendsLake Erie Water Quality Trends
•Before 1970 Getting WorseBefore 1970 Getting Worse
•1970-1975 Stable1970-1975 Stable
•1975-1990 Improving1975-1990 Improving
•1990/1995 to present – Getting Worse 1990/1995 to present – Getting Worse
Phosphorus Load Reduction Targets(metric tonnes per year)
Basin
EstimatedLoadingsat 1 mg/l
PhosphorusTargetLoad
Estimatesof Further
ReductionsRequired
Lake Erie 13,000 11,000 2,000
Lake Ontario 7,430 7,000 430
Lake Erie Total Phosphorous –
Target Level – IJC
D. Rockwell, US EPA - GLNPO
Lake Erie Disolved Phosphorus
Sources: Agriculture Runoff Dishwasher Detergent Zebra Mussels
Lower Lake Levels Lawn Fertilizers Mayfly Larvae
Maumee
0.0
0.4
0.8
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Sandusky
-0.2
0.2
0.6
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Cuyahoga
-0.1
0.4
0.9
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Grand
-0.3
0.0
0.3
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Source: P. Richards, Heidelberg College
Maumee
Sandusky
Cuyahoga
Grand
Western Lake Erie
Algae Blooms
Zoomed Cyanobacterial Bloom in Western Lake Erie on July 13, 2007: Stretched Natural Color Image (Left) and PC or Phycocyanin Content
Image (Right, Red is 5-14 µg/liter of PC).
Algae BloomsAlgae Blooms
2006 Lake Erie Green 2006 Lake Erie Green
Western Basin Maumee BayWestern Basin Maumee Bay
Phosphorous Loading
1969 29,000 tons
1985 11,000 tons(Target IJC # )
2004 15,000 tons
Soluble Reactive Phosphorous increasing since 1995
Why is Phosphorus increasing?
Major Stormwater ProblemTributary LoadingAISAIS——Zebra MusselsMayflies CSOs, SSOs Septic Systems
OSU Reutter
Nutrients and organic material in sewer discharges and CSOs contribute directly to HABs and the Dead Zone, but non point loading from agriculture is the predominant factor!
OSU Reutter
Global warming -Climate change Make problems worse!
There will be :Increased oxygen consumption More frequent &nd severe storms.
4-3-07 Maumee Bay
“It’s very resistant to freezing and cold weather. It’s tough stuff. Once it’s established, it’s hard to get rid of it,” said Tom Bridgeman, a Lake Erie researcher for the University of Toledo who said the algae has the texture of coarse hair.“It’s a new nuisance algae in western Lake Erie,” he said. “It might potentially impact swimming areas and shoreline use.”Picture and article from Toledo Balde 4-24-07
Western Lake Erie has a new form of toxic, blue-green algae — and this time, it’s a hardy one that hugs the shoreline.Called lyngbya wollei, it’s stringy stuff that balls up in the shape of marbles as it rises to the surface and forms thick mats along the shore. And unlike many other forms of algae, it doesn’t necessarily fade away as the water cools.
Blue-Green Algae – Lyngbya Wollei – Maumee Bay
First appearance, Fall 2006
Is on Northern shore of Maumee Bay in Luna Pier
And has moved nine miles down the southern shoreline.
Is massive in Maumee Bay – described as the size of a house
L. wollei is a freshwater benthic cyanobacterium found in lakes, rivers, springs, and water supply reservoirs throughout southeastern UScapable of forming thick nuisance blooms“nitrogen fixer” can convert N2 to a biologically available form of N (NH3) proliferates in eutrophying waters a potentially useful bioindicator of eutrophication
Phosphorous Sources(In alphabetical order as proportions unknown – too
much phosphorous is known)
• Agricultural Runoff• Dishwasher Detergent• Factory Farms• Lawn & other Fertilizers• Storm Water discharge• Wastewater discharge• Zebra Mussel ExcretionNote – Another reason for phosphorous increases
in Lake Erie is lower water levels
Reducing Phosphorous
• Studies in Maine show that 9-34% of the phosphorous discharged is from automatic dishwasher detergent
• Studies show that taking phosphorous out of mature lawn fertilizer has no impact on the quality of the grass – in Minnesota significant impacts on reduction
What Can We Do?????
• Get Phosphorous out of Dishwasher Detergent – get introduced in Ohio House
• Check off brand stores and make sure there is no phosphorous in laundry detergents
• Take phosphorous out of mature lawn fertilizers• Monitor runoff from factory farms and other
sources• Local Ordinance to ban phosphorous in mature
lawn fertilizer
Lawn Fertilizer BanMature Lawns
• State of Minnesota – statewide ban
• Ottawa County, Michigan
• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Muskegon County
• McComb County – now under consideration
Green Lawns, Clean Lake The Connection Between Lawn Care & Water Quality
Sample Ordinance
• Effective one year after adopted
• For mature lawns
• Does not apply to farms, gardens etc.
Volunteer Monitoring
• Target nutrients, and maybe bacteria
• Need to test multiple stream locations at same time and then retest periodically
25
Successful ProgramsReport and Use Their Results
• Data are turned into a story• Results and the story are reviewed
by data users and resource people• Results are reported in various
ways tailored to the audience• Information is turned into action• Monitoring is used to assess
progress in meeting goals
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
4/1
8
5/2
5/1
6
5/3
0
6/1
3
7/6
7/1
2
7/2
4
8/1
5
8/2
9
9/1
0
9/2
6
10
/8
10
/26
11
/3
Depth (m)
Eutrophic
Mesotrophic
SECCHI DEPTH
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
4/21 5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 6/30 7/14 7/28 8/11 8/25 9/8 9/22 10/6 10/20 11/3
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
ppbCHLOROPHYLL LEVELS
26
Gain interest of volunteers Raise awareness Provide information for
reductions Promote individual actions
for water quality protection Provide information on
places where no one else is looking
Identify & solve problems
locally
Successful ProgramsMake A Difference
27
Compiling InformationImportant Questions to Consider
• What stream? – where does it start/end – do other streams drain into it
• Data will be used to determine nutrient levels• The data and test are indicators and not quality
controlled• Variables monitored – temperature, dissolved
oxygen, phosphorous, nitrates, ammonia – ecoli should be taken to lab
• Need funding for supplies – about $25 for 8 samples
Modified from EPA Volunteer Stream Monitoring Methods
28
Goals and Objectives• Goal (Outcomes) – what do you want to
happen?• Want tp determine where nutrient levels are high
and look for ways to reduce the levels
• Objectives – Specific and measurable• Less algae in Western Lake Erie• To reduce the # of algal blooms • “Reduce phosphorus concentrations to IJC
recommended level
• Revise as needed
29
World Water Monitoring DayOctober 18, 2006
www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
30
Resources Available for Monitoring Programs:
31
Volunteer Monitoring List Servs
• Post queries see who responds– Exchanges archived at
www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer
32
Consider Charging for Services
• Greater value often placed on things with a cost
• Supports the program
• Provides stability – which can attract additional funds
• Can be used for match
• Can enhance perception of credibility
Lake Erie Volunteer Monitoring
•Several Same Stream monitoring locations
•No QAPP
•No Training
•Basic Study Design
•Assigned Segments
•Assessment Tip Sheets
•Data Sheets standardized
90