The Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter
Issue 4 | Volume 11 | November 2022
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Attending conferences is an opportunity for researchers to stay connected with others in their field, cultivate scientific ideas, and foster collaborations for current or future work. While national and international conferences can help promote research visibility for promotion, local events offer the chance to connect with stakeholders throughout the region and coordinate statewide efforts. Local networks can be key players in advancing research and is an important part of making the work done at the Ohio Water Resources Center (Ohio WRC) successful.
The Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) is a great way to connect locally. WMAO is dedicated to supporting the water resources of Ohio for all beneficial purposes and serves to represent the voice of water professionals in the determination of our research priorities. The Ohio WRC has a long-lasting partnership with WMAO, co-coordinating Luncheons with WMAO and assisting with the annual WMAO Conference. We encourage our funded researchers to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to interact with diverse stakeholders throughout the state.
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What role does nutrient cycling by zooplankton play in supporting HAB production in western Lake Erie? | |
Dr. Jim Hood from The Ohio State University completed an Ohio Water Resources Center funded project via the 104(b) USGS program. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have increased in severity in western Lake Erie, resulting in serious public health and economic consequences. Though spring P-loading from the Maumee River strongly predicts the summer algal bloom severity, it is not clear how the P is stored and cycled prior to and during bloom formation. The project aimed to determine the relative importance of zooplankton-mediated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recycling on harmful algal bloom (HAB) development, timing, and magnitude in the western basin of Lake Erie, identify the physicochemical and biological controls of zooplankton nutrient recycling rates and ratios, and understand zooplankton feeding on HABs and other phytoplankton groups.
Dr. Hood’s team completed measurements of zooplankton nutrient recycling (ZNR) and grazing on nine sampling events by quantifying N and P excretion rates by micro- and mesozooplankton regularly at one site in western Lake Erie near the Maumee River mouth. Preliminary results indicated that during cyanobacteria blooms, mesozooplankton grazed primarily on cyanobacteria, but also diatoms or cryptophytes. In contrast, microzooplankton did not have measurable grazing rates for any phytoplankton group during August and grazed only on green algae during September. Preliminary results also indicated measurable individual zooplankton P excretion on four of nine dates for total zooplankton excretion and on two of five dates for microzooplankton excretion. The team is working on analyzing the microzooplankton community samples, which will allow them to address ZNR rates and ratios to evaluate the relative importance of ZNR.
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New USGS Educational Tool Better Illustrates the Role Humans Play in Water Availability | |
The water cycle describes where water is stored on Earth and how it is circulated between the earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land. Historically, the water cycle has depicted only the natural aspects of the cycle. However, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected extensive amounts of water data in recent decades that has changed the perspective of the water cycle by demonstrating how human and natural components are interconnected. USGS experts consulted with more than 100 educators and more than 30 hydrologic experts to develop a new diagram that takes this into consideration and shows the bigger picture of water availability.
Understanding how anthropogenic practices influence the water cycle is critical for working toward the sustainable use of water. This new diagram replaces one used by educators and students internationally since 2000 and sets a new standard for how we visualize and communicate the water cycle.
To view the new water cycle diagram, click here.
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EPA loophole lets 600 toxic PFAS chemicals evade review, petition says
Via Reuters, Oct 13, 2022
USACE predictive software improving flood fights at home and abroad
Via IWR, Oct 13, 2022
Before and after: See how the Mississippi River and its tributaries have dropped to record lows
Via WTHI, Oct 22, 2022
Low-Water Woes Continue On Ohio, LMR
Via Waterways Journal, Oct 14, 2022
Report: Ohio River leads nation in toxic pollutants
Via WLWT, Oct 7, 2022
EPA draft review indicates chromium-6 is a carcinogen
Via Bloomberg, Oct 20, 2022
Ohio counties receive $90 million in financing for wastewater, drinking water improvement
Via Dayton Now, Oct 5, 2022
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GAO: PFAS contamination affects millions in 6 states
Via The Hill, Oct 20, 2022
CFPUA: No PFAS found in water treated by GAC filters
Via WECT, Oct 11, 2022
EPA administrator visits Cleveland to commemorate 50 years of the Clean Water Act
Via WKSU, Oct 19, 2022
Environmental groups petition federal government to revoke Ohio’s authority over injection wells
Via WOUB, Oct 16, 2022
EPA announces $30M to reduce lead in drinking water
Via WaterWorld, Oct 13, 2022
Michigan plans swamp to combat Lake Erie algal blooms
Via Daily Telegram, Oct 23, 2022
EPA office to review proposed regulations for PFOA, PFOS in drinking water
Via WaterWorld, Oct 7, 2022
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Ohio EPA DDAWG: Interested Party Review 'Amend' Rulemaking Governing Consumer Confidence Reports
The Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) is soliciting comments on rules within OAC 3745-96 of the Ohio Administrative Code. DDAGW has reviewed these rules to satisfy the five-year rule review requirements of section 106.03 and 106.031 of the Ohio Revised Code. These rules and associated documents are available here. Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected]. Comments should be received at the above address by the close of business, November 10th, 2022.
Ohio EPA DSW: Draft 2018-2019 Biological and Habitat Studies of the Rivers and Streams in Section 319(h) and GLRI Project Areas in Ohio
In 2018 and 2019, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Surface Water (DSW) conducted pre- and post-implementation monitoring for Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 (h) and GLRI projects. The Agency is releasing the results from this survey for review and comment. The draft report and appendices are available here. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 14, 2022 to [email protected].
Ohio EPA DSW: Early Stakeholder Outreach - two Surface Water rules packages
The Section 401 package includes three existing rules as well as a new rule(s). The federal Clean Water Act requires any applicant for a federal permit or license that may result in a discharge to a navigable water to obtain a water quality certification from Ohio EPA pursuant to Section 401. The Wetland Water Quality Standards package includes four existing rules that outline wetland water quality standards that apply to all wetlands within the state. More information on each package can be found here. Comments are due by 5 p.m., January 18, 2023 to [email protected].
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Call for Abstracts: Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference
The call for abstracts is open for 2023 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC23). Topics include per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), plastic debris and microplastics, algal toxins, agricultural chemicals, and other emerging contaminants. The deadline to submit is November 14, 2022. More information is available here.
Call for Abstracts: 2023 Ohio Stormwater Conference
The Ohio Stormwater Conference seeks abstracts for its annual conference. Abstracts can be submitted here until the November 22, 2022 deadline.
Call for Nominations: US EPA 2023 Green Chemistry Challenge Award
The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards promote the environmental and economic benefits of developing and using novel green chemistry. These annual awards recognize chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use. More information here. Entries are due by December 9, 2022.
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Competition: US EPA 20th Annual P3 Awards
Applications proposing to take a holistic approach, grounded in research and innovation, to develop and demonstrate solutions to real world challenges are sought for the U.S. EPA the People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program. More information is available here. The deadline to submit is February 1, 2023.
Call for Abstracts: 2023 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference
The UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference focuses on all water-related topics; including water resource management, water treatment, watershed restoration strategies, and more. Abstracts can be submitted here and the deadline to submit is January 30, 2023.
Call for Papers: MDPI Journal of Water Special Issue
The Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) is inviting paper contributions to the Special Issue of the Journal of Water titled “Green Water-Infrastructure Systems: Advances in Research and Technology.” The submission deadline is February 28, 2023. More information is available here.
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Special Session: Careers in Water Resources at WMAO Annual Conference
November 8, 2022 • Worthington, OH
This event will be held in conjunction with the Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) 51st annual conference. It will focus on the water profession through conversation with sector representatives from private companies, academia, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as local, state and federal governments. More information can be found here.
Webinar: Monitoring New Contaminants in Public Drinking Water Sources
November 15, 2022 • Virtual
Registration is open for a freshwater science webinar hosted by the Ohio Sea Grant, Stone Lab and the Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative. Dr. Jen Mou and Dr. Laura Leff at Kent State University will be speaking on their research focused on developing new methods to detect emerging contaminants in water samples.
Ohio River Basin Summit 2022
November 17-18, 2022 • Huntington, WV
Registration is open for the 2022 Ohio River Basin Summit hosted US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). It will include discussions on the progress that has been made regarding the Ohio River Basin 2020-2025 plan and the next steps to be taken in 2023.
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