Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Development of a multi-scale management tool for predicting and mitigating HABs in Ohio River watersheds
EPA Grant Number: R839269Title: Development of a multi-scale management tool for predicting and mitigating HABs in Ohio River watersheds
Investigators: Sullivan, Mažeika , Pintor, Lauren , Zhao, Kaiguang
Institution: The Ohio State University
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 (Extended to December 31, 2024)
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2023 through December 31,2023
Project Amount: $681,343
RFA: Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (2017) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Water Quality , Watersheds
Objective:
The overarching objective of this project is to develop a watershed classification system to diagnose and manage harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the upper Ohio River basin. The goal is a multi-scale, hierarchical tool that links climate and land-use with river physicochemical gradients and ecological condition to predict and prevent HABs. Our overarching hypothesis is that the timing and magnitude of HABs are related to variability in anthropogenic and natural factors in watersheds. Our objectives are to: (1) Determine in-stream characteristics related to distribution, duration, and intensity of HABs, (2) Determine local climate and land-use features strongly linked with HABs, (3) Assess the ability of our system to scale up to large watersheds, and (4) Develop and validate a classification system for use by communities and local and state agencies to predict and prevent HABs.
Progress Summary:
Overall, we are making progress towards completing project goals. We were able to significantly advance field and laboratory work on the project after many delays and complications related to COVID-19 in previous years.
Throughout 2022, we continued to sample and exchange sensors at the core stream and reservoir sites located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These sites are composed of 55 stream sites and 22 reservoir sites and are situated in areas that encompass a range of land-cover types, including agricultural, forested, and urban/mixed-use areas. The sampling efforts were diverse and included taking photos to measure canopy cover, conducting additional surveys of large wood and streambed substrate, and measuring water-quality parameters. Continuous water-quality monitoring buoys containing multiparameter sondes were also deployed at Monroe and Barren River to collect environmental variables and algal responses at 30-min intervals. Furthermore, water samples for δ18O isotope analysis of PO4 were collected at potential point-sources including quarries, wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural or logging operations, with the samples currently being analyzed at an external laboratory.
In 2022, our efforts also focused on analyzing data generated in earlier years and preparing manuscripts. Leaf canopy cover was measured at 45 stream study reaches, and ranged from 10.9 to 79.6%, with the highest percentages found in Monroe (64.9%) and Patoka (49.9%) catchments. Percentage leaf canopy cover varied by catchment, and no differences were found when Barren River was compared to Indian Lake or Taylorsville, or between Burr Oak and both Patoka and Hoover. Wolman pebble counts were conducted in 2022, and median particle size (D50) was calculated to characterize streambed substrate. Burr Oak, Monroe, and Indian Lake had the smallest median particle size, while Taylorsville and Hoover had the largest particle size due to the presence of bedrock. Mean particle size was intermediate in Patoka and Barren River.
From our buoy data, we observed that chlorophyll values in Monroe varied by year, with concentrations below 50 ug/L for most of the deployments except mid-August to mid-September when values peaked to 150 ug/L. Chlorophyll concentrations in Burr Oak remained low, and in Barren River chlorophyll concentrations were stable throughout summer and autumn but experienced a slow, steady rise in October. Our analyses of the fluoroprobe data from major algal classes showed significant variability. In reservoirs, mean chlorophyll a concentration varied by catchment, with Indian Lake exhibiting higher values compared to all other catchments. Barren River and Hoover had higher chlorophyll a than Monroe. Cyanobacterial chlorophyll a was highest in Indian Lake and was significantly higher compared to other catchments. In streams, we found that Indian Lake had the highest chlorophyll concentrations compared to other catchments of low and intermediate agricultural land cover. Chlorophyte chlorophyll a was also highest in Indian Lake. Diatoms and cryptophytes varied significantly among catchments, with Indian Lake and Hoover showing the highest chlorophyll a from diatoms.
We continue to explore the use of satellite multispectral imaging to detect harmful algal blooms and develop alternative spectral indices for the predictive framework. In addition to multiple analyses related to the drivers of nutrient enrichment, we have begun to construct our global model using statistical modeling to seek predictive relationships from data, which will serve as the basis for our classification system.
Future Activities:
Geomorphic, physicochemical, and ecological data collection will conclude during the 2023 field season. Data buoys may be deployed during the spring, summer, and autumn of 2023 at Patoka, Taylorsville, and Indian Lakes/Reservoirs. Isotopic sampling and model building will continue across all catchments. An initial classification system will be developed and tested to predict elevanted nutrient and harmful algal-bloom regimes.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 15 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
catchments, cumulative effects, ecological condition, ecosystem, habitat, EPA Regions 4 and 5, Midwest, scaling, sediments, vulnerabilityRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- 2022 Progress Report
- 2021 Progress Report
- 2020 Progress Report
- 2019 Progress Report
- 2018 Progress Report
- Original Abstract