Science and Ecosystem Support Division (SESD) Studies and Assistance to States and Tribes

1. Science and Ecosystem Support Division (SESD) Studies and Assistance to States and Tribes Mo Flexner, EPA Region 4, SESD, Athens, GA SWPBA Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama November 14, 2012

2. Acknowledgements • Chris Decker • Hunter Johnson • Phyllis Meyer • Don Norris • SESD Staff • Water Protection Division (WPD) Staff

3. HQ and 10 regions Labs & special Offices 17,000 + employees $10.5 billion budget (2009)*** Protect human health & the environment. Implement environmental policy Assessment, Research, Education United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency

6. Science and Ecosystem Support Division Workforce Breakdown

7. Organic and inorganic analyses State of the art equipment Large workload Analytical methods development Analytical Services Branch

8. Enforcement & Investigations Branch • Industrial Facilities, Treatment Plants, Hazardous Waste Sites, etc. • Superfund Investigations, Emergency Response • Criminal Investigations • Sampling and Analysis Methods Development • Waste Water Treatment Plant Audits and Assessments • Waste Identification, Sampling, Spill Cleanup • Groundwater Wells, drilling, monitoring • Soil and Sediment Sampling • Ecological Risk Assessment

9. Hazardous Waste Investigations

10. Waste Water Treatment Plants evaluate plant operations & ID problems monitor permits Intersection of science, law and industry Air Investigations monitor air toxins investigate spills and industry Law, human health, industrial processes

11. Ecological Assessment Branch • Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Estuaries, Wetlands, Riparian Zones • Water Quality and Quantity Investigations • Sampling and Analysis Methods Development • Biological Assessment (fish, invertebrates, algae) • Wetlands (identification and assessments) • Fisheries and Tissue Analysis • Toxicity Testing • Nutrient and Ecological Cycles • Pollutant Loading and Wasteload Allocation • Oxygen Dynamics • Hydrologic Studies • Sediment Studies • Ecological Data Analysis • GIS investigations

12. Where We Work

13. Biological Assessment Biological assessments assess the health of ecosystems using the inhabitants of the ecosystem as indicators. Organisms can integrate the overall effects from all stress factors. Fish, algae, macroinvertebrates are studied.

14. Water Quality Investigations Water Quality studies are conducted in freshwater and estuarine environments. Physical and chemical parameters are measured to assess the health of the ecosystem. Oxygen Dynamics studies assess ecosystem productivity by closely measuring the behavior of dissolved oxygen in water column, phytoplankotn, sediments, and the atmosphere.

15. Hydrology and Sediment Stream flow and channel parameters are measured to assess impacts from sedimentation. Sediment samples are analyzed for particle size and chemical contaminants. Excess sediment is a major problem in southeastern streams.

16. Wetland Studies Wetland studies are conducted in every type of wetland system to develop ecological functional assessments, and determine ecological value for wildlife habitat, flood control, etc. In large wetland systems, such as the Everglades or coastal salt marsh areas, helicopters are used as the only practical way to access remote sampling stations.

17. Ocean Surveys Ocean surveys characterize sites for disposal of dredge material by analyzing water chemistry, sediment particle size and macroinvertebrates. Coral reef studies are conducted to assess the health of offshore environments.

18. About the OSV Bold • First commissioned in October 1989 as the USNS Vigorous, a T-AGOS class vessel • Later renamed the USNS Bold and served on many surveillance (enemy sub) missions in the Pacific Ocean • Purchased by EPA from the Navy for $1 on March 31, 2004 to replace the Peter W. Anderson, EPA’s previous OSV • Operational for its first survey in August 2005 EPA's ODMDS Program and use of the OSV Bold, Flexner 2009

19. BOATS, BOATS, BOATS EAB utilizes a variety of watercraft for conducting freshwater, estuarine and marine studies.

20. Tribal Assistance - EAB 5 seasonal water quality/sediment sampling efforts since 2008 including 2 in FY12 on Lake Luftee in support of the Cherokee Tribes. ASB provided the analytical support. 2 seasonal water quality/sediment studies on Lake Pushmataha including 1 in FY 12 in support of the Choctaw Tribes to establish baseline conditions and evaluate community ponds used for subsistence fishing. ASB provided the analytical support.

21. Tribal Assistance - EAB In FY12, EAB and WPD held a joint 2-day monitoring training course in Athens to assist the Poarch Creek, Catawba and Cherokee tribes in monitoring and assessment strategies. In FY12, EAB and WPD scientists met with members of the Poarch Creek and Catawba nations and conducted a field reconnaissance of important water resources in anticipation of future assistance.

22. Tribal Assistance - EIB Enforcement staff provided technical assistance to the Cherokee in flow measurement for an NPDES permit and to assess modifications to a trout farm discharge outlet. Staff is also working on training related to new treatment system certification. Air staff conducted a technical systems audit and an independent audit of an ozone analyzer for the Cherokee.

23. Comprehensive Water Quality Study (WQS) Project Components • Water Sampling: • Nutrients, Metals, Inorganic, Long Term BOD • In Situ Water Quality Monitoring • Dissolve Oxygen, pH, Conductivity, Turbidity • Stage and Current Measurement • Reaeration Measurement • Sediment Oxygen Demand • Nutrient Exchange • Solar Radiation • Light Profiles • Water Column and Community Metabolism

24. Water Quality Water Sampling In Situ Water Quality Monitoring

25. Surface Water Sampling

26. In Situ Water Quality Monitoring

27. Sediment

28. Flow Measurement

29. Dye Tracer

30. Current Measurement

31. Stage and Current Results

32. Reaeration Measurement

33. Sediment Oxygen Demand and Nutrient Exchange

34. Productivity and Respiration

35. Hurricane Katrina

36. BP Oil Spill

37. BP Oil Spill

38. BP Oil Spill

39. EPA BLIMP CAMERA

43. Project Request Form

44. General Timeline

45. SESD Cooperation with States Weeks Bay Water Quality Study 2011 Alabama Department of Environmental Management Pearl River Water Quality Study 2012 Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

46. Weeks Bay

47. Weeks Bay WQS • Monitoring Design for Determining the Sources, Fate, Transport, and Effects of Nutrients (NSFTE) Study • Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MSDEQ) • Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) • Tetra Tech • OBJECTIVE • Collect field data for model calibration for use in NSFTE Study

48. Responsibilities SESD • Reaerationrates • Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) • Nutrient Exchange rates • Productivity and Respiration (P&R) rates • Chlorophyll a Concentrations • Algal Growth Potential (AGP) Concentrations / Limiting Nutrient • In-situWater Quality Data • Stage and Current/Flow Measurement ADEM • Water Quality Sampling • Current/Flow Measurement

49. Pearl River Program • Completed Work • 2 Comprehensive Studies • 100 River Miles • 10 Tributaries

50. Pearl River WQS • OBJECTIVE • Collect a complete water quality model calibration dataset