Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pittsburgh District

Transcription

1 Aquatic Ecosystems of the Pittsburgh District Carl Nim M.A. MEn. Biologist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District 4 May 2016 US Army Corps of Engineers

2 Outline District Overview Water Quality (WQ) Mission WQ (Physical, Biological, Chemical) Monitoring, Surveys and Studies Group Biological Survey Exercises

3 Pittsburgh District 26,000 miles 2 in 5 states 328 Miles of Navigable River 23 Locks and Dams 16 multipurpose headwater reservoirs Recreation/Lakes.aspx Congressional Authorizations Flood Control Low flow augmentation Water quality Navigation Fish and Wildlife conservation Water supply Recreation

4 Water Quality Mission Mandated by project specific congressional authorizations for water quality, pollution abatement, low flow augmentation, water supply, and fish and wildlife The 16 reservoir projects are operated for optimum water quality benefits to restore, maintain, and improve ambient physical, biological, and chemical integrity of the surface waters of the upper Ohio River basin. Objectives include: Incorporate environmental sustainability / nondegradation principles into Corps Environmental Operating practices. Operate in the interest of the American public by adhering to laws and regulations Work with partners (e.g. NOAA/NWS, USGS, PFBC, TNC, USDA etc.) and stakeholders to provide solutions for the challenging water resource needs of the country

5 Guiding Legislation Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 & amendments - Clean Water Act of 1977, Water Quality Act of 1987, FWPCA Amendment of 1972 (PL ) Restore & maintain the chemical, physical, radiological, & biological integrity of the nation's waters The Endangered Species Act: protect & preserve T&E species and their critical habitat Federal Facilities Compliance Act of 1990, EPA and/or States to inspect federally owned / operated facilities subject to the Clean Water Act Federal anti-degradation policy: maintain & protect existing water quality conditions Executive Order 12088, Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards, dated 13 October Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance

6 Reservoir Specific WQ Authority Allegheny River Basin PL Allegheny Reservoir PL Woodcock Creek Lake PL East Branch Clarion River Lake Beaver River Basin PL Berlin Lake PL Mosquito Creek Lake PL & PL Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir PL Shenango River Lake Monongahela River Basin PL Youghiogheny River Lake PL Stonewall Jackson Lake

7 Water Control Schedule Multi-Purpose

8 Water Control Schedule Flood Control

9 Water Quality Monitoring

10 USGS Real-Time Continuous WQ Monitoring Remote, continuously recording water quality monitoring for WT, ph, DO, Conductivity and /or TDG and turbidity at 39 sites (30 in PA, 2 in OH, 6 in WV and 1 in MD) Continuous, year-round water temperature monitoring at the inflow and outflow of all reservoirs and at some navigation dams.

11 Real-Time Continuous WQ Monitoring Water Temperature Buoys Lake Stratification Buoys Water Temperature every 3 feet, lake surface to bottom at 12 reservoirs. WQ Sondes at Stonewall Jackson, Youghiogheny, Mahoning, Kinzua, and Shenango reservoirs that measure water temperature, DO, ph, conductivity, turbidity, chlorophyll a, & bluegreen algae.

12 Water Quality Surveys and Studies Reservoir: Routine semi-monthly inflows and outflows. Reservoir/ watershed: Annual limnology survey at all reservoirs when stratified. Monthly reservoir/ watershed surveys: One or two reservoirs per year, 10 years between surveys at a minimum. Navigation System and major tributaries: Annual, take place in late summer (42 sampling stations Monongahela, 35 on the Allegheny, and 25 on the Ohio Rivers), vertical profiles and horizontal transects. Incident Response: Unusual foam, spills, fish kills, etc. Investigative / Special Studies: Conemaugh Sediment Survey, Shenango Dump Well Sampling Field WQ Data (WT, ph, Cond, turbidity, chlorophyll a, bluegreen algae, DO, % DO sat, ORP, TDS, Cl. >155 parameters, (as necessary) including metals, nutrients, alkalinity, acidity, ph, sulfate, chloride, bromide, hardness, conductivity, solids, organic compounds, radioisotopes, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, chlorophyll a, bluegreen algae, etc. Reservoir Sediment Quality Once every 10 years.

13 Biological Sampling Fish: (Partners PFBC, WV DNR, SNI, ANF, NYDEC) : Reservoir gill net Reservoir night electrofishing Reservoir Dam tailrace electrofishing Unassessed tributary electrofishing Macroinvertebrates Reservoir inflows and outflows, every 5 years minimum Downstream regulated river reaches Unassessed tributaries Algae, & Chlorophyll Zooplankton Mussels: Algae Blooms - HABs All sites sampled Reservoirs, once per Summer/ fall season minimum Navigation system irregular Assist resource agencies

14 BUILDING STRONG

15 BUILDING STRONG

16 BUILDING STRONG

17 BUILDING STRONG

18 Group Biological Survey Exercises Fish Group Macroinvertebrate Group

19 Fish Group Read the provided PFBC Reports and answer the following questions. What were the two primary methods of fish surveys the PFBC utilized? What is a CPUE, how does it differ with the two methodologies, and why do you think this is the case? How did the target species for each of these reservoir reports differ? Based on the reservoir locations and characteristics, why do you think these species were targeted?

20 Macroinvertebrate Group Look over the provided resources and answer the following questions. What are EPT macroinvertebrates and why are they important? What are OC macroinvertebrates and how do they differ from EPT taxa? What is the Hilsenhoff Index and how does it relate to EPT and OC taxa? How do you think the watersheds of these two reservoirs influence macroinvertebrate populations?

21 BUILDING STRONG

22 BUILDING STRONG

23 Macroinvertebrate Exercise

24 Regional USACE Reservoirs Berlin Lake 2030 Bonner Road Deerfield, OH (330) / (330) Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir 8657 Kestrel Way - Wayland, OH (330) Mosquito Creek Lake 2961 Warren Meadville Road Cortland, OH (330) Shenango River Lake 2442 Kelly Road Hermitage, PA (724)

25 Volunteer Opportunities In order to start the volunteer process, simply reach out to the lake or project that you are interested in. Use the link below to find contact information for the other lakes in the Pittsburgh District that were not listed on the previous slide. spx

26 Questions / Discussion Carl Nim, M.A., M.En. Biologist, Water Management U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District District Office (412) Carl.J.Nim@usace.army.mil