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Wabash River Continuous Monitor. Agenda Item 7a. Project Goals. 1 year project. Budget of $98,000 Determine annual load of nutrients from Wabash River to Ohio River Evaluate the Wabash River as a possible cause of low dissolved oxygen in the Smithland Pool. Project Location. Parameters.
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Wabash River Continuous Monitor Agenda Item 7a
Project Goals • 1 year project. Budget of $98,000 • Determine annual load of nutrients from Wabash River to Ohio River • Evaluate the Wabash River as a possible cause of low dissolved oxygen in the Smithland Pool
Parameters • Continuous monitor data downloaded 3/day • pH, conductivity, temp, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a • Nutrients collected every 2 weeks • Ammonia, TKN, Nitrate/Nitrite, Total Phosphorus, BOD, TSS, Algae, Chlorophyll • Ohio River samples collected during summer months • Data available on website
Challenges • Previous 10 year gauge range of 2 to 22 feet. We experienced 45 days at 1 foot and 14 days at 23.5 feet. • Lightning • Damaged equipment caused loss of data in May/June. Nutrients samples still collected during this period.
Comparison to Ecoregion VI (corn belt) • Total Phosphorus • Max = 0.535 mg/L • Min = 0.029 mg/L • Avg = 0.165 mg/L • EPA Ecoregion VI • 0.0763 mg/L • Total Nitrogen • Max = 5.98 mg/L • Min = 1.023 mg/L • Avg = 2.536 mg/L • EPA Ecoregion VI • 2.18 mg/L
Wabash River Nitrogen Data • Total Nitrogen • Max = 5.98 mg/L • Min = 1.023 mg/L • Avg = 2.536 mg/L
Wabash River Nitrogen • TKN • Range of 0.407 – 2.48 mg/L • N/N • Range of <0.100 -4.57 mg/L • During low flow periods in September 2010 and 2011 nitrate/nitrite dropped below detection limit.
Wabash River Nutrient Load • Annual TN load • 7/1/2010 to 6/30/2011 • 137,755 metric tons • Average Ohio River load (2001-2005) 533,000 metric tons • 25.8%
Wabash River Nutrient Load • Annual TP load • 7/1/2010 to 6/30/2011 • 4,100 metric tons • Average Ohio River load (2001-2005) 57,000 metric tons • 7.2%
Wabash River DO and Chl. a • Max DO = 16.75 mg/L • Min DO = 2.64 mg/L • # days < 5 mg/L average DO = 0 • # days < 4 mg/L instantaneous DO = 5 • # days of DO range >6 = 9
Chlorophyll Comparison EPA Ecoregion VI criteria = 7.33 ug/L
Future Activities • Data collection ended 9/30/2011 • Analytical results by 10/31/2011 • Grant ends April 4, 2012 • Load calculation • LOADEST (USGS model) • Other Suggestions? • Probable extension of project with 3 year, $200,000 grant through IDEM • Instrument left in place and operational in anticipation of extension
In 2007 ORSANCO began asking major POTWs (>1mgd) to begin quarterly monitoring for TKN, Ammonia, Nitrate/Nitrite, Total Phosphorus • There are 65 major POTWs on the mainstem • We have retrieved data for 29 facilities from OTIS
Facilities • IN • Charleston • Clarksville • Mt. Vernon • Oak Park • Tell City • KY • Derek Guthrie • Eastern Regional • Owensboro East • OH • Belpre • EORA • Ironton • Marietta • Muddy Creek • New Richmond • Portsmouth • South Point • Toronto • Union Rome
Facilities (cont.) • PA • Aliquippa • Beaverborough • Montour Run • Riverview Authority • Vanport • WV • Huntington • New Martinsville • Parkersburg • Wheelin • Lubeck • Moundsville
Future Activities • Applied for grant which will allow further investigation • What is the range by type of treatment? • What assumptions have been made in previous studies (concentration and flow)?