Working to Meet Water Quality Standards for Olentangy Watershed
|
The Olentangy River watershed -- an 88-mile area stretching from Crawford County into downtown Columbus -- has been identified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most impaired water sources in the state.
Ohio State University researchers are teaming up with the Ohio EPA in a unique project that uses stream geomorphology to identify nonpoint sources of pollution. In other words, they are studying how biology, habitat, sedimentation, land use and water quality interact and how such interaction can be used to identify which sources of pollution might be impacting the watershed -- whether it’s soil erosion, agricultural run-off, urban litter, new development, or other factors.
“We are attempting to relate water quality to the physical characteristics of the water source,” said Jessica D’Ambrosio, program coordinator for the Olentangy River Watershed TMDL Study. “That’s never really been done before because of time constraints, budget issues and lack of manpower.”
The team will hold its first stakeholder meeting on May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Delaware County District Library located at 84 E. Winter St. in Delaware, Ohio. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the public to the project and what they can do to help.
“We want people to know what we are doing, why we are doing it and even invite them to participate in the process,” said Jon Witter, one of the study’s team members and a member of the Upper Olentangy Watershed Action Planning Team. “We hope to come up with different ways to approach these pollution problems that involve the public and stakeholders living in and around the Olentangy River Watershed area.”
The ultimate purpose of the study is to help the Ohio EPA meet the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) as required by the Clean Water Act. TMDL is the maximum amount of pollutants a water source can receive and still meet water quality standards.
“Fish, for example, are great indicators of water quality,” said D’Ambrosio. “If you look at the Scioto in Columbus and ask why there are carp but no bass, most likely it’s because carp are pollution tolerant and those other fish species are not. People are going to want to know this information because it gives an insight into water quality and assists those who like to fish or are just into the aesthetics of the river.”
Study participants will be tackling water sources as part of the Olentangy River watershed this summer, gathering and analyzing data and conducting stream surveys.
“We want people to understand that nature affects these water sources and these water sources affect nature and what they do on their land has an overall impact on that interaction,” said Cynthia Smith, an Ohio State research associate for the project.
The study is expected to continue through December 2005 and will involve recommendations submitted to the Ohio EPA regarding cleaning up the watershed based on the finds of the study.
For more information on the stakeholder meeting or for more information on the Olentangy River Watershed TMDL Study, contact Jon Witter, (614) 247-7876.
More Options
Email this story to a friend
