OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY Phosphorus reductions from POINT sources (29,000 metric tons to 11,000) ‐Somewhat aided by agriculture practices Late.

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