Preliminary Scoping Effort

Presentation Objectives Identify need for additional sources of future funding Provide background on how elements were identified Provide broad overview to Technical Committee of preliminary scoping effort to identify potential major program needs Secure preliminary feedback on concept

Ohio River HABs Program An overview will be presented under TEC Item 10d. Costs: $2.75M - $3M Capital $600K - $900K O&M per yr.

Mercury Study Some study to generate the information necessary to more effectively manage mercury in the Ohio River. Scope, costs, and schedule to be determined by Ad Hoc Committee.

NPDES Permits GIS Database and Modeling Application Understanding pollutant loadings is critical to developing strategies to meet WQ objectives Develop GIS database of NPDES permits Link database to DMR and other monitoring datasets to characterize inputs Couple GIS database with river-wide water quality model to simulate pollutant loadings. Helps manage discharge, velocity, climate and concentration data Costs: $300K - $500K Capital $50K per yr O&M

Update Historic Datasets Used in 305b Assessments for Dioxin & PCBs Some monitoring data sets may have become outdated. Dioxin/PCBs – 1997 to 2002 Bacteria – 2003 to 2007 (longitudinal surveys) Always need more current data to ensure 305b assessments reflect current conditions 1. Dioxin/PCBs Sampling Conduct 3 round of hi-vol sampling at 10 sites. Repeat every 5 years. 2. Bacteria Sampling Proposal still to be developed. Revisiting datasets at reasonable intervals is a good and appropriate business practice for ORSANCO Costs: $200K Capital $150K per yr O&M

Remote Sensing Applications Build capacity to utilize remote sensing techniques to enhance system-wide water quality monitoring and assessment. Facilitate interagency cooperation to avoid duplication of effort Technology used for ever expanding list of parameters Cyanobacteria, phosphorus, invasive aquatic vegetation, heavy metals, temperature, etc. Costs: $100K Capital $ 50K per yr O&M

Convert Bimonthly/Clean Metals Grab Samples to X-Sectional Sampling & Add Parameters More representative samples and monitoring of mass loads. Add Methylmercury, Dissolved Phosphorus. Extend metals to tributaries. Costs: $100K Capital $350K per yr O&M

Impacts of Emerging Contaminants Wide-range of emerging contaminants (ECs) has been detected in the surface waters and drinking water supplies. Research has shown biological responses to ECs. Study: Test a range of biological endpoints which can be used to screen for potential impacts from multiple stressors and rank relative risk to Ohio River biota. Test two areas (1 higher risk and 1 lower risk). Collect 3 rounds of water chemistry and fish data. Compare fish to water chemistry to evaluate relationships between ECs and biological endpoints. Costs: $300,000 for one study.

Enhanced Biological Pool Surveys Increases the value of ORSANCO’s probabilistic pool surveys by incorporating the following: Determine effects of various factors (flow, invasive species, etc.) on bio assessments Targeted sampling (8 sites/pool) to assess impact of point sources In-season revisit of 1 pool To provide better estimates of precision of indices Revisit 1 pool from previous year Determine effects of annual variation of assessments due to flows, temperature, etc Collect Bimonthly water quality parameters at all biological survey sites 4x/yr. Costs: $250K per yr.

Conduct Mussel Surveys & Develop Ohio River Mussel Database Understanding mussel distributions and mussel/habitat & mussel/WQ relationships would enable ORSANCO to: Develop more accurate WQ Standards (e.g., ammonia, chloride). Explore development of mussels as 3 rd indicator group for biological pool assessments. Help identify exposure pathways Costs: $25K Capital $100K per yr O&M