OHIO RIVER MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

Program Overview

ORSANCO Established in 1948 Total Budget - $40,000 2 Employees – Executive Director,

Administrative Assistant Headquarters Office Support of Commissioner Travel Not enough $$ to do any monitoring

Monitoring in the 1950s: the Water Users Network ORSANCO requested data from utilities and

industries that monitored the river at their intakes.

Approximately 30 participants Mostly physical parameters: Temp, pH,

turbidity, hardness No cost to ORSANCO Parameters and monitoring frequency

varied No QC

Monitoring in the 1960s:Electronic Monitors Technology developed in the late 50s

with a Cincinnati electronics firm. 4 primary parameters (Temp, pH, DO,

Conductivity) Additional parameters at times –

chloride, sri, orp Network consisted of 24 sites at its peak

Monitoring in the 1970s:Increased federal support 106 grant nearly doubled Commission

resources. States decided to charge ORSANCO with

monitoring and assessment of the Ohio River and lower reaches of major tributaries

Monitoring Strategy Team: states, US EPA, USGS, US COE

Ambient network: 36 sites (22 Ohio River, 14 tributary)

Monitoring in the 1970s: Fish Studies Aquatic Life studies conducted in the

1960s, but not continued as routine program.

Lock Chamber studies begun in 1975 as ongoing effort.

Fish tissue analysis added in 1976.

Monitoring in the 1980s:Toxics Concerns Organics Detection System established

to monitor for unreported spills. Increased resources for fish tissue

analysis. Special studies of portions of the river

with high incidence of toxics.

Monitoring in the 1990s:Concern with Specific Use Protection Electrofishing and macroinvertebrate

sampling added to improve assessment of aquatic life support.

Bacteria monitoring redesigned to allow assessment of contact recreation support.

Wet weather studies in three urban areas Atrazine monitoring for drinking water

protection.

Monitoring in the 21st Century: Incorporatingnew technologies

High volume sampling Mobile lab – use of Colilert Additional pathogen analyses Studies of emerging contaminants with

US EPA, USGS

Current and Recent special studies Nutrients and Algae Total Dissolved Solid and Mineral

Constituents Mercury

Keys to Success

Commitment to good science Dedicated resources Collaboration