2015 SWPBA Newsletter – Kentucky - News from the BlueGreen Algae State
Currents – Comings and Goings
In 2015, there have been many changes in faces at Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW). There
were new managers hired to captain the Water Quality Branch (WQB), Andrea Keatley, and the
Watershed Management Branch (WMB), John Webb. Andrea came to WQB from the Division
of Air Quality, where she helped us breath easier as the air monitoring supervisor. John was
the supervisor of the Non-Point Source Section in the WMB and took over the helm of the
Branch when SWPBA alum, Paulette Akers, left KDOW for the Division of Compliance
Assistance. New to the WQB leadership ranks are Alicia Jacobs and Melanie Arnold. Alicia is
the new TMDL Section supervisor, after being coaxed to leave Ole Miss where she starred for
MDEQ. Melanie moved into the vacant Monitoring Section supervisor position and has hit the
water swimming with HAB issues and more. The Monitoring Section added four new biologists
to its lineup: Keith Bowlin, Becca Roberts, Michelle Cook and Rob Johnson. Each of these
biologists brings strong aquatic biology backgrounds to the WQB and are proving to be valuable
members of the monitoring team. Since the last newsletter, three SWPBA staples, Mark Vogel,
Sue Bruenderman and Susan Cohn, have retired. Mark, macroinvertebrate specialist, and Sue,
fish specialist, provided KDOW with great knowledge and experience in the years they wore the
KDOW jerseys. Susan transitioned from field biologist to GIS specialist and really excelled in
providing KDOW with the most current mapping information and GIS training. Each of these
retirees will be missed, but KDOW has a new set of biologists eager to leave their mark and
improve the quality of Kentucky’s waters.
Routine Stuff
Monitoring
Monitoring efforts were focused on the Upper and Lower Cumberland, Tennessee, Lower Ohio
and Mississippi River basins in 2015. 50 probabilistic stations were sampled for at least
macroinvertebrates, water chemistry and habitat with fish samples being collected at most of
the stations as well. Some Reference Reach stations within these basins were also revisited
with fish, bug, water chemistry and habitat data collected. Several species of rare fish were
collected in 2015 including southern brook lamprey, central mudminnow, Cumberland arrow
darter and gold-stripe darter. Water chemistry was monitored throughout the state by the
ambient network, the regional reference network and the Wild Rivers program.
Integrated Report and Triennial Review
The 2014 Integrated Report is currently being finalized. Throughout 2015, Randy Payne, the
standards coordinator, has been dealing with issues concerning the selenium standard
generated by KDOW in 2013 and questions about the narrative eutrophication standard which
was updated in 2014. During this triennial review process a few stream segments were added
to the Exceptional Waters list and others to the Outstanding State Resource Waters
list as a result of new federally listed species.
TMDL Development
TMDL in coordination with other Division of Water programs developed and submitted to US
EPA a Prioritization Framework in order to determine the future of TMDL development for the
Impaired Waters List of Kentucky. This Prioritization Framework is being used to develop a
priority list to focus efforts of the division in TMDL development through 2022.
In 2015 TMDLs were developed and submitted for approval by the USEPA for segments
impaired by pH and metals in Hopkins County. Other TMDLs under development during 2015
and anticipated to be completed this year include the Ohio River Bacteria TMDL and Pond
Creek Metals, pH, and Bacteria TMDL.
During 2015, TMDL monitored in Strodes Creek and Sulfur Creek Watersheds. Through the
Vision and in coordination with the Watershed Management Branch’s Non-Point Source
program future efforts will lead to TMDL or TMDL alternative development and implementation
of water quality BMPs. The TMDL section also monitored in Damon Creek watershed for
development of a Watershed Plan with the Four Rivers Basin Coordinator in the Non-Point
Source Section.
For more information, contact Alicia Jacobs (Alicia.jacobs@ky.gov).
New Stuff
Here are some of the 2015 highlights:
Harmful Algal Blooms (Well, not so new!)
Ohio River HAB near
West Point, KY
Ohio River HAB near
Cincinnati, OH
HAB at Lake Reba near Richmond, KY
In 2013, the Louisville office of the US Army Corps of Engineers began monitoring five reservoirs
in Kentucky for HABs, using cells counts of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. During that
same year, KDOW started monitoring for HABs in 14 susceptible, non-USACE lakes to determine
the condition of those lakes. Cell counts on all of these lakes were above the World Health
Organization guideline of 100,000 cells/mL and HAB advisories were issued. Conditions
remained the same through 2014. KDOW monitored 18 lakes for HAB in 2014 and again in
2015 using toxin analyses instead of cell counts for advisory criteria. By using microcystin
concentrations, KDOW was able to lift the HAB advisories for all of the lakes previously
identified as having HABs in July 2015.
Even though HAB advisories could be lifted for some water bodies in the state, HABs continued
to be an issue in August and September 2015. In August, a cyanobacteria bloom was reported
in the Ohio River near Wheeling, WV. By mid-September, blooms were visible in the Ohio River
in the Kentucky area from the West Virginia state line to the Cannelton Lock and Dam (almost
to Owensboro, KY). Microcystin concentrations varied widely thought the river ranging from
non-detect to over 3300 ug/L. A recreation HAB advisory for the Ohio River was issued from
the West Virginia state line to the Cannelton Lock and Dam. Results from regular sampling of
the finished drinking water from utilities that use the river for source water have all been below
the detection limit for microcystins.
For more information, contact Melanie Arnold (Melanie.arnold@ky.gov).
Kentucky Water Assessment Data for Environmental Monitoring (K-WADE)
After years of development, and despite an awkwardly translated acronym, KDOW finally
launched K-WADE this spring! The system manages projects, stations and data for KDOW’s
surface water monitoring programs, provides direct import of sample result data from the DEP
lab and flows data to WQX. Staff began entering 2015 projects into K-WADE this spring. The
first successful WQX flow occurred in April and included 2013 Lakes program and Ambient
streams network program data. Migration of the last 5 years of data from legacy systems is
underway. There is still much to do before the new system fully accommodates all data and all
reporting/querying functions, but we are well on our way! Kentucky was recently awarded a
wetland development program grant that will in part support enhancements to K-WADE to
accommodate wetland monitoring data. Other ongoing work will include building new features
for biology metrics and index scores storage and managing the WQX flow of biology data.
For more information, contact Lara Panayotoff (lara.panayotoff@ky.gov).
Monitoring Tidbits
Juvenile Mussel Growth/Survival Study tied with KDOW Ambient Monitoring Stations
In 2015, KDOW was part of a multi-agency effort to study the effects of multiple water and sediment
chemistry parameters on native freshwater mussels. The study went from May-September and juvenile
mussels housed in “silos” were placed in 23 rivers across the state. All locations of mussel silos were
located at or very near DOW Ambient Monitoring stations. During the time period mussels were in situ,
water chemistry was collected monthly as part of KDOW’s regular Ambient Monitoring Program. In
early September, all mussels were collected from sites, then length, weight, and survival data was
recorded.
In the weeks to come, KDOW will be involved in tissue processing and analysis of all mussel tissue. This,
along with growth and survival, will be correlated to water and sediment chemistry data from all
Ambient stations. From this, we hope to learn much more about what is driving the disappearance of
freshwater mussels from streams across KY.
Crayfish Population Studies
Biologists in the Monitoring Section have been involved with two separate, multi-agency
crayfish projects. The Big Sandy crayfish has been proposed for federal listing under the
Endangered Species Act. KDOW biologists have been involved in monitoring the distribution of
that species within its known Kentucky range. The Rusty crayfish, a non-native species to the
Cumberland River system, was recently observed in the lower portion of Roaring Paunch Creek,
a tributary to the South Fork Cumberland River. WQB biologists recently joined a multi-agency
effort to monitor Roaring Paunch Creek for this invasive. Efforts indicate that the crayfish has
not moved up into the creek at this time.
Spring Macroinvertebrate Study
In 2013, WQB biologists worked with Groundwater Section staff to monitor macroinvertebrates
in western Kentucky springs. Samples were collected using Hester-Dendy samplers and dip
nets. Data from this project is currently being processed and analyzed. Results should be
available in 2016.
Post Restoration Monitoring Project
In 2015, WQB biologists completed year three of post stream restoration monitoring in South
Fork Currys Fork, a Bluegrass headwater stream northeast of Louisville. The watershed is
dominated by high-density residential development. Stream channels have been extensively
altered. KDOW is documenting the changes that have resulted by restoring part of this
stream’s channel.
Training and Conferences
In October 2015, several biologists from the WQB will be attending a chironomid taxonomy
workshop in Florida instructed by Dr. John Epler. Four staff from the WQB branch will be
attending SWPBA this year. Three WQB staff will be attending the Water Quality Standards
Academy in November. One WQB staff member will be attending NALMS in November.
Wetlands Monitoring – we’re swamped!
In 2015, KY continued to develop a wetlands monitoring program, which included refinement of
a rapid assessment method (KY-WRAM), protocols for assessments, and planning for the
second round of the National Wetlands Condition Assessment in 2016. Currently, the functions
of constructed wetlands in the Daniel Boone National Forest are being evaluated.
For more information, contact Barb Scott (barb.scott@ky.gov).