Update on Lake Erie Nutrient
and Algal Issues
Gail Hesse
Ohio Lake Erie Commission
March 30, 2012
August 11 2011
1330 cfs
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
October 9, 2011
Photo: NOAA Satellite Image
Microcystis
near
Marblehead
October 9, 2011
Photo: Richard Kraus, United States Geological Survey
Algal Toxins
Microcystin
– World Health Organization benchmark criteria
1 ppb for drinking water
20 ppb for recreational contact
Anatoxin-a, Saxitoxin, Cylindrospermopsin
Public Water System Cyanotoxin
No detections in finished water
2011 Source (raw)
water detection in 9
PWS Systems:
–
–
–
–
–
Marblehead
Sandusky
Camp Patmos
Put In Bay
LE Utilities
–
–
–
–
Oregon
Toledo
Carroll Township
Ottawa County
Recent & Current Activities
Lake Erie P Task Force Phase I, Phase II
State of Ohio HAB Response Strategy
Lake Erie Millennium Network
Directors’ Agricultural Nutrients & Water
Quality Working Group
Directors’ Point Source/Urban Work Group
Nutrient Reduction Strategy Framework
for Ohio Waters - Draft
Key Findings
NW Ohio: commercial fertilizer dominates
land application
More fall preparation of seed beds, more
fall and winter application
Changing methods: more broadcast
application without incorporation
Unknown and uncertain use of soil tests
and adherence with recommendations
Changes in drainage, weather patterns
3 Categories of
Recommendations
Priority practices
– Key issues: amount, timing, incorporation,
management of field runoff
– No single practice will result in lower nutrient
runoff
Tools to quantify edge of field runoff
potential
Research
State of Ohio HAB Strategy
Monitoring protocols and advisories
Addresses:
– Beach advisories
– Public drinking water
Under revision for 2012
www.ohioalgaeinfo.com
Ohio State Park Beach
Algae Advisory Postings
No Contact
Advisory
Avoid all contact
Public Health
Advisory
Avoid direct contact with
water
Bloom
Advisory
Avoid ingestion, direct
contact with visible scum
2011 Lake Erie Advisories
Maumee Bay State Park: Public Health
Advisory
Lake Erie (Battery Park): Algal Bloom
Advisory
Sandusky: Algal Bloom Advisory
Directors’ Agricultural Nutrients and
Water Quality Working Group
Ohio EPA, Ohio DNR and ODA
Focus on voluntary actions: 4Rs
– Right fertilizer, Right rate, Right time, Right
placement
Coordinate funding, research
– Focus: edge of field, tile management
Develop/expand authorities
– Habitual bad actors
– Nutrient Management Plans
P Task Force Phase II
Build on lessons learned from Phase I
Incorporate findings of current research
– Millennium Synthesis Team Funded by Ohio Lake
Erie Commission and GLNPO
Report: 14 June 2011
Focus on:
– Management actions
– Recommendations from Directors’ Working Group
– Reduction goal/target
Lake Erie Protection Fund
Available on the web at: www.oplates.com
www.ohioalgaeinfo.com
Ohio Phosphorus Task Force Report:
www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/lakeerie/ptaskforce
Directors’ Ag Nutrients & WQ Working Group
Report:
dnr.ohio.gov/portals/12/docs/waterqualityreport.pdf