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Ohio State’s Sea Grant and Stone Lab Going Green. Dr. Jeffrey M. Reutter Director, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab. Jeffrey M. Reutter, Ph.D., Director. 1895—F.T. Stone Laboratory 1970—Center for Lake Erie Area Research (CLEAR) 1978—Ohio Sea Grant College Program
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Ohio State’s Sea Grant and Stone Lab Going Green Dr. Jeffrey M. Reutter Director, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab
Jeffrey M. Reutter, Ph.D., Director • 1895—F.T. Stone Laboratory • 1970—Center for Lake Erie Area Research (CLEAR) • 1978—Ohio Sea Grant College Program • 1992—Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium (GLAERC) • Grad student at Stone Lab in 1971 and never left. Director since 1987.
What is Stone Lab? • Oldest freshwater field station in the nation • Ohio’s Lake Erie Lab since 1895 • Island campus of OSU on Gibraltar Island, Lake Erie • Research, education, and outreach laboratory for Ohio Sea Grant College Program
What is OhioSea Grant? • Part of National Sea Grant Collage Program in NOAA • 32 programs—every coastal state • Partnership of: • Government • Academia • Private Sector • Focus on 3 E’s: • Environment • Economy • Education • Accomplish through: • Research • Education • Outreach
Sea Grant and Stone Lab • Research, education (k-gray), outreach to public • Based at OSU, but involve all Ohio colleges • Focusing Ohio’s universities on real-world problem solving • Stone Lab—20 courses, training for private sector and agency managers, visited by 20,000 people/yr • Over 40 research projects each year • Website—10 million hits/yr • 6 Extension specialists along Ohio shoreline • January 2013 National Evaluation ranks us as one of the top programs in the country!!
Stone Lab on Gibraltar and South Bass Islands Today
Workshops • Algal identification • NOAA Science Literacy • Dealing with Cyanobacteria, Algal Toxins and Taste and Odor Compounds • Outdoor Photography • Lake Erie Sport Fishing • Fish-Sampling Techniques
Lake Erie: One of the Most Important Lakes in the World Dead lake image of 60s and 70s. Poster child for pollution problems in this country. But, most heavily utilized of any of the Great Lakes. Shared by 4 states and 2 countries. Best example of ecosystem recovery in world.
Southernmost Image: Ohio Sea Grant
Because of Land Use, Lake Erie Gets: More sediment More nutrients (fertilizers and sewage) More pesticides (The above 3 items are exacerbated by storms, which will be more frequent and severe due to climate change.) And Lake Erie is still biologically the most productive of the Great Lakes—And always will be!!
50:2 Rule (Not exact, but instructive) Lake Superior: 50% of the water and 2% of the fish Lake Erie: 2% of the water and 50% of the fish
Lake Erie Stats Drinking water for 11 million people Over 20 power plants Power production is greatest water use 300 marinas in Ohio alone Walleye Capital of the World 40% of all Great Lakes charter boats Ohio’s charter boat industry is one of the largest in North America $1.5 billion sport fishery One of top 10 sport fishing locations in the world The most valuable freshwater commercial fishery in the world Coastal county tourism value is over $11.5 billion
Lake Erie Poster child for pollution problems when Cuyahoga River burns in 1969 To “walleye capital of the world” in mid-1980s Best example of ecosystem recover in world
Climate Change Exacerbates HABs Warmer weather More frequent severe storms Greater loads of nutrients Leads to more HABs Must reduce our contribution to the problem
Blue-green Algae Bloom circa 1971, Lake Erie Photo: Forsythe and Reutter
Microcystis, Stone Lab, 8/10/10 Photos: Jeff Reutter
October 9, 2011 Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
Goals and Objectives Do our part to address climate change Reduce energy consumption with solar and solar thermal Assist managers and decision-makers and be an example for students and society Create research, education,and outreach opportunities
Contact information:Dr. Jeff Reutter, Director Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab Ohio State Univ. 1314 Kinnear Rd. Col, OH 43212 614-292-8949 Reutter.1@osu.edu ohioseagrant.osu.edu Stone Laboratory Ohio State Univ. Box 119 Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 614-247-6500
Stone Lab on Gibraltar and South Bass Islands Today
Results and Impact at Stone Laboratory Almost all hot water in Dining Hall, our biggest user, produced by solar thermal during summer 2012 Solar pavilion a huge success—New outdoor classroom Donors and visitors love the direction we are moving Over 7000 people visit the installation Visitation to solar website growing rapidly
Creates Momentum Leading to Other Green Projects Low-flow toilets Low-flow bathroom faucets Low-flow shower heads Three high efficiency furnaces Replace incandescent light bulbs Insulate 2 attics 4-cycle outboard motors Replacement windows planned
Special Visitors in 2012 • Lake Erie Commission Meeting—6 June • Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership—12 June • Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources—16 June • OSU President’s Club—22 & 23 June • LonzFoundation—13 July • Lakeside Community—3 August • Science Writers Workshop—20-21 August • Ohio Environmental Council, Congressional aids, and Agriculture Leaders—22 August • Charter Captains—23 August • Coastal County Commissioners and Mayors—24 August • Donor Dinner—25 August • NRCS and Agriculture Leaders—29-30 August • Open House and FOSL Annual Meeting—7-9 September • OSU Communicator—13-14 September • TNC Boards of Trustees from 3 states—20-21 September • Buckeye IHOP—28-30 September • Ecosummit—3 October
Gibraltar Island November 2012
Contact information:Dr. Jeff Reutter, Director Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab Ohio State Univ. 1314 Kinnear Rd. Col, OH 43212 614-292-8949 Reutter.1@osu.edu ohioseagrant.osu.edu Stone Laboratory Ohio State Univ. Box 119 Put-in-Bay, OH 43456 614-247-6500