Harmful Algal Blooms 1 Agenda Items 7a: Revision of HABs Response and Communications Plan 7b: HABs Stressor Response Data Assessment Strategy

HAB Work Group New YorkDoug Conroe IllinoisGregg Good IndianaCyndi Wagner KentuckyMark Martin OhioMike Baker Pennsylvania Ron Lybrook Richard Spear Ron Schwartz West VirginiaJohn Wirts USEPA Tom Poy Frank Borsuk USGS Angie Crain Aubrey Bunch Mac Cherry USACEErich Emery WUACNicole Estes Roger Tucker

7a: Revision of Previous Plan Draft HAB Response and Communication Plan presented to Technical Committee June 2015 Goals and Introduction Algae/Toxin Standards HAB Determination and Monitoring Communication/Contacts Resources Original goal was to incorporate comments and re-submit in October 2015 Superseded by HAB event New plan is to revise in context of larger HAB problems and have a draft for June 2016 Tech meeting

Goals and Introduction Goals: Allow the States and local health departments to manage the Ohio River as a source of recreation Allow water utilities to use the Ohio River as a source of safe drinking water No proposed changes to the goal statement Introduction Provides general information regarding HABs and algae on the Ohio River Introduction will be revised to reflect new understanding of HABs on the Ohio River.

Algae/Toxin Standards Identifies Standards published by States, USEPA, WHO Reference revised State standards Contact Recreation standard expected from USEPA in This will be referenced when it is proposed. We will not “adopt” a standard Ohio EPA Finished Drinking Water Advisories for Algal Toxins Threshold (ug/L)MicrocystinAnatoxin a Cylindrospermops in Saxitoxin Drinking Water- Do Not Drink Drinking Water- Do Not Use

HAB Determination and Monitoring Sampling SOP Recommended analyte list Sample site selection Surface, near surface or intake depth Near shore, mid channel or “representative” Intake structures, access points, heavy growth areas, periodic Identification of sampling goals Initial identification, define extent, protect designated uses

HAB Determination and Monitoring When does the bloom end? WV-1 set of clean samples from the affected area OH-2 weeks of clean samples from affected area KY-2 weeks of clean samples from every location that had a hot sample These decisions will be determined in coordination with the involved agencies SituationActions Conditions are suitable for an algae bloom Communications: ORSANCO will inform the Ohio River water utilities of the conditions. Actions: Continue to monitor Potential algae bloom reported Communications: If a potential algae bloom is reported, ORSANCO will coordinate with the affected States for confirmation samples. Ohio River water utilities will be informed Actions: If the reporting entity is a water utility ORSANCO will provide sampling materials. If the reporting party is not a water utility ORSANCO will collect water samples for confirmation of algae concentration. A toxin test strip will be used as a presence/absence test.

Communications Needs Coordination of sampling crews Identification of laboratories Need for advisories Press releases Data dissemination Primary contact is identified. More can be added as required.

Primary Contacts Public InformationEmergency ResponseHealth Department IllinoisKim Biggs Spills List Gregg Good Tony Dulka Dave McMillan Justin Albertson IndianaAmy SmithCyndi WagnerJennifer O’Malley KentuckyLanny BrannockPeter Goodman OhioHeidi Greismer Craig Butler Mike Baker Gene Phillips PennsylvaniaJohn PoisterRon Schwartz West VirginiaKelley Gillenwater Scott Mandirola Walt Ivey Bill Toomey Allison Adler USEPATim Henry USGSAubrey Bunch USACEErich Emery

References Update to recognize new information Development of ORSANCO HAB web page

Revision to Previous Plan Final draft presented at June 2016 Technical Committee meeting And there was never a HAB on the Ohio River ever again. And they lived happily ever after. The End

7b: Data Assessment Strategy Goal: Develop an understanding of the causes of the 2015 HAB event and their implications for the future of HABs on the Ohio River.

Identification of Potential Stressors Precipitation Flow Water clarity Nutrient concentration, ratios and timing Temperature Other water quality factors Alkalinity Conductivity Herbicides Zebra mussels

Collect Available Data Internal routine monitoring (Bi-Monthly Program) Internal event monitoring Water utility data (requested) State data (requested) NWS/USGS gauge data Historical satellite imagery Provide data to other interested researchers (ORD)

Data Assessment Was 2015 fundamentally different than other years? Conditions prior to bloom Conditions at time of bloom Comparison to areas which did not have the bloom (both upstream and downstream) Are there clear causes identifiable

Recommendations for Future Sampling Identify data gaps Recommend future sampling to fill the gaps

Report Draft report distributed to Technical Committee for review