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How Small Stream Monitoring and a Benthic Algae DNA Metabarcoding Study has Informed TMDL Development in a SW Ohio Watershed
Citation:
Nietch, C., P. Gledhill, N. Smucker, Matthew Heberling, E. Pilgrim, R. Mitchell, A. Pollard, AND L. Yuan. How Small Stream Monitoring and a Benthic Algae DNA Metabarcoding Study has Informed TMDL Development in a SW Ohio Watershed. LAKELINE. North American Lake Management Society, Madison, WI, (Spring):45-49, (2023).
Impact/Purpose:
Linkages between aquatic life impairment in streams and excess nutrients are often difficult to establish. This report briefly describes how historical small stream monitoring and a periphyton DNA metabarcoding study informed this issue in a watershed in Southwestern Ohio.
Description:
EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) principal investigators Chris Nietch, Nate Smucker, Matt Heberling and Erik Pilgrim work with EPA Office of Water colleagues Richard Mitchell, Amina Pollard and Lester Yuan to advance the application of DNA metabarcoding methods in establishing nutrient reduction goals. Drs. Nietch, Smucker, and Heberling partnered with Paul Gledhill, Environmental Specialist, in Ohio EPA’s Central Office and who is chiefly responsible for TMDL development across the state, to help write a Loading Analysis Plan (LAP), that was published by the Ohio EPA in 2021 and is critical component of the state’s approach to TMDL development. This effort was a critical component of an overarching goal to understand the feasibility of water quality trading for nutrient reductions in watersheds.
