About Lake Erie…About Lake Erie…

The warmest, most productive of the Great The warmest, most productive of the Great LakesLakes

RED – SHALLOW, WARM

BLUE – DEEP, COLD24’

62’

200’

5’

10’

Lake Erie So Shallow

Erie

Lake Erie Water Quality TrendsLake Erie Water Quality Trends

•Before 1970 Getting WorseBefore 1970 Getting Worse

•1970-1975 Stable1970-1975 Stable

•1975-1990 Improving1975-1990 Improving

•1990/1995 to present – Getting Worse 1990/1995 to present – Getting Worse

Phosphorus Load Reduction Targets(metric tonnes per year)

Basin

EstimatedLoadingsat 1 mg/l

PhosphorusTargetLoad

Estimatesof Further

ReductionsRequired

Lake Erie 13,000 11,000 2,000

Lake Ontario 7,430 7,000 430

Lake Erie Total Phosphorous –

Target Level – IJC

D. Rockwell, US EPA - GLNPO

Lake Erie Disolved Phosphorus

Sources: Agriculture Runoff Dishwasher Detergent Zebra Mussels

Lower Lake Levels Lawn Fertilizers Mayfly Larvae

Maumee

0.0

0.4

0.8

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Sandusky

-0.2

0.2

0.6

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Cuyahoga

-0.1

0.4

0.9

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Grand

-0.3

0.0

0.3

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Source: P. Richards, Heidelberg College

Maumee

Sandusky

Cuyahoga

Grand

Western Lake Erie

Algae Blooms

Zoomed Cyanobacterial Bloom in Western Lake Erie on July 13, 2007: Stretched Natural Color Image (Left) and PC or Phycocyanin Content

Image (Right, Red is 5-14 µg/liter of PC).

Algae BloomsAlgae Blooms

2006 Lake Erie Green 2006 Lake Erie Green

Western Basin Maumee BayWestern Basin Maumee Bay

Phosphorous Loading

1969 29,000 tons

1985 11,000 tons(Target IJC # )

2004 15,000 tons

Soluble Reactive Phosphorous increasing since 1995

Why is Phosphorus increasing?

Major Stormwater ProblemTributary LoadingAISAIS——Zebra MusselsMayflies CSOs, SSOs Septic Systems

OSU Reutter

Nutrients and organic material in sewer discharges and CSOs contribute directly to HABs and the Dead Zone, but non point loading from agriculture is the predominant factor!

OSU Reutter

Global warming -Climate change Make problems worse!

There will be :Increased oxygen consumption More frequent &nd severe storms.

4-3-07 Maumee Bay

“It’s very resistant to freezing and cold weather. It’s tough stuff. Once it’s established, it’s hard to get rid of it,” said Tom Bridgeman, a Lake Erie researcher for the University of Toledo who said the algae has the texture of coarse hair.“It’s a new nuisance algae in western Lake Erie,” he said. “It might potentially impact swimming areas and shoreline use.”Picture and article from Toledo Balde 4-24-07

Western Lake Erie has a new form of toxic, blue-green algae — and this time, it’s a hardy one that hugs the shoreline.Called lyngbya wollei, it’s stringy stuff that balls up in the shape of marbles as it rises to the surface and forms thick mats along the shore. And unlike many other forms of algae, it doesn’t necessarily fade away as the water cools.

Blue-Green Algae – Lyngbya Wollei – Maumee Bay

First appearance, Fall 2006

Is on Northern shore of Maumee Bay in Luna Pier

And has moved nine miles down the southern shoreline.

Is massive in Maumee Bay – described as the size of a house

L. wollei is a freshwater benthic cyanobacterium found in lakes, rivers, springs, and water supply reservoirs throughout southeastern UScapable of forming thick nuisance blooms“nitrogen fixer” can convert N2 to a biologically available form of N (NH3) proliferates in eutrophying waters a potentially useful bioindicator of eutrophication

Phosphorous Sources(In alphabetical order as proportions unknown – too

much phosphorous is known)

• Agricultural Runoff• Dishwasher Detergent• Factory Farms• Lawn & other Fertilizers• Storm Water discharge• Wastewater discharge• Zebra Mussel ExcretionNote – Another reason for phosphorous increases

in Lake Erie is lower water levels

Reducing Phosphorous

• Studies in Maine show that 9-34% of the phosphorous discharged is from automatic dishwasher detergent

• Studies show that taking phosphorous out of mature lawn fertilizer has no impact on the quality of the grass – in Minnesota significant impacts on reduction

What Can We Do?????

• Get Phosphorous out of Dishwasher Detergent – get introduced in Ohio House

• Check off brand stores and make sure there is no phosphorous in laundry detergents

• Take phosphorous out of mature lawn fertilizers• Monitor runoff from factory farms and other

sources• Local Ordinance to ban phosphorous in mature

lawn fertilizer

Lawn Fertilizer BanMature Lawns

• State of Minnesota – statewide ban

• Ottawa County, Michigan

• Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Muskegon County

• McComb County – now under consideration

Green Lawns, Clean Lake The Connection Between Lawn Care & Water Quality

Sample Ordinance

• Effective one year after adopted

• For mature lawns

• Does not apply to farms, gardens etc.

Volunteer Monitoring

• Target nutrients, and maybe bacteria

• Need to test multiple stream locations at same time and then retest periodically

25

Successful ProgramsReport and Use Their Results

• Data are turned into a story• Results and the story are reviewed

by data users and resource people• Results are reported in various

ways tailored to the audience• Information is turned into action• Monitoring is used to assess

progress in meeting goals

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

4/1

8

5/2

5/1

6

5/3

0

6/1

3

7/6

7/1

2

7/2

4

8/1

5

8/2

9

9/1

0

9/2

6

10

/8

10

/26

11

/3

Depth (m)

Eutrophic

Mesotrophic

SECCHI DEPTH

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

4/21 5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 6/30 7/14 7/28 8/11 8/25 9/8 9/22 10/6 10/20 11/3

Mesotrophic

Eutrophic

ppbCHLOROPHYLL LEVELS

26

Gain interest of volunteers Raise awareness Provide information for

reductions Promote individual actions

for water quality protection Provide information on

places where no one else is looking

Identify & solve problems

locally

Successful ProgramsMake A Difference

27

Compiling InformationImportant Questions to Consider

• What stream? – where does it start/end – do other streams drain into it

• Data will be used to determine nutrient levels• The data and test are indicators and not quality

controlled• Variables monitored – temperature, dissolved

oxygen, phosphorous, nitrates, ammonia – ecoli should be taken to lab

• Need funding for supplies – about $25 for 8 samples

Modified from EPA Volunteer Stream Monitoring Methods

28

Goals and Objectives• Goal (Outcomes) – what do you want to

happen?• Want tp determine where nutrient levels are high

and look for ways to reduce the levels

• Objectives – Specific and measurable• Less algae in Western Lake Erie• To reduce the # of algal blooms • “Reduce phosphorus concentrations to IJC

recommended level

• Revise as needed

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World Water Monitoring DayOctober 18, 2006

www.worldwatermonitoringday.org

30

Resources Available for Monitoring Programs:

31

Volunteer Monitoring List Servs

• volmonlists@epa.gov

• csreesvolmon@lists.uwex.edu

• Post queries see who responds– Exchanges archived at

www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer

32

Consider Charging for Services

• Greater value often placed on things with a cost

• Supports the program

• Provides stability – which can attract additional funds

• Can be used for match

• Can enhance perception of credibility

Lake Erie Volunteer Monitoring

•Several Same Stream monitoring locations

•No QAPP

•No Training

•Basic Study Design

•Assigned Segments

•Assessment Tip Sheets

•Data Sheets standardized

90