ohio sea grant and stone laboratory phosphorus reductions from point sources (29,000 metric tons to...
TRANSCRIPT
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
• Phosphorus reductions from POINT sources (29,000 metric tons to 11,000)‐ Somewhat aided by agriculture practices
Late 80’s and Early 90’s Healthy, What Brought About the Rebirth?
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
Photos courtesy of Jeff Reutter
Microcystis at Stone Lab (8/10/10)
Stone Lab September 11, 2011
Photo: Jeff Reutter
August 11 2011
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
Microcystis near Marblehead
October 9, 2011
Photo: Richard Kraus, United States Geological Survey
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
October 9, 2011
Only Western Basin Problem?
OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY
• 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
Possible Agriculture Action Areas
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