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