Degradation and Recovery of the Scioto River OWRC-WRMM March 22, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Degradation and Recovery of the Scioto River OWRC-WRMM March 22, 2018 Chris Yoder Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH

Scioto River Assessment ▪ Analysis of 23 yrs. of data over a 37 year period 1979- 2015 – Ohio EPA & MBI. ▪ Chapter in Fish Management Successes to be published by American Fisheries Society in 2018. ▪ Focus on fish assemblage ▪ Improvements related to CWA requirements for Columbus WWTPs. ▪ Includes historical perspective of water pollution dating to the 1880s when it was first officially documented.

ANNUAL REPORTS for 1886 MADE TO THE 67th GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO A vintage 1886 publication which shows REPORT ON THE POLLUTION OF WATER- that we have been well aware of water COURSES BY STRAW BOARD FACTORIES. pollution for more at least 130 years! BY H. J. SHARP, M. D. State Board of Health Complaints have been filed with this Board, calling attention to the pollution of certain rivers and streams in the State from the refuse and washings being drained into them from various straw-board factories, situated upon or near said streams.

THE POLLUTION OF SCIOTO RIVER. Below is given the report of Dr. W. H. Cretcher, President of this Board, upon the pollution of the Scioto river, for a distance of some miles in the vicinity and above and below the town of La Rue, Marion county. Dr. Cretcher visited the scenes of complaints in this case, and after a careful investigation of the causes and conditions affecting the water of this stream, and its effects upon the fish, livestock and upon persons residing along it, has submitted a very full report . . . On the evening. of August 10, 1886, I received a telegram, signed by the Hon. John J. Hopkins, of La Rue, Marion county, requesting me to come on the next train, and examine into the condition of the Scioto river, “the pollution of which is killing the fish and endangering health.”

1927:Extending the Mill Creek Interceptor While not about the Scioto River, it illustrates the attitudes & beliefs of the time – they just didn’t know any better. “The Mill Creek will again be in the state of sparkling purity of the times of the Indians and the pioneers.” Cincinnati Times-Star on May 24, 1930, upon learning that interceptor completion was guaranteed

https://www.columbus.gov/utilities/about/Historical-Milestones- for-Wastewater-Treatment-in-Columbus/ or “ OldSewerGuys ” Dealing with sewerage was more about whisking it away from homes – it also illustrates how difficult it was for the engineering practices of the day to catch up.

The status of wastewater treatment & water Jackson Pike WWTP June-September Mean BOD5 Loadings quality just prior to our study. 2.5 10 4 100 In 1977 the Scioto R. below Columbus was Columbus Southerly Online JP 001 %D.O. <4.0 mg/L at Shadeville JP Bypass 2 10 4 designated as Limited Warmwater Habitat & BOD 5 (Kg/Day) criteria that accommodated these loadings. 1.5 10 4 Serious doubts existed about achieving 1 10 4 treatment beyond secondary & attainment of 2016 Permitted Monthly CWA goals in an effluent dominated river. Loading (June-Oct.) 5000 160 MGD of treated sewage effluent 0 comprises 90-95% of the summer-fall base 0 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 YEAR flows.

Columbus Southerly WWTP June-September Mean BOD5 Loadings 2 10 4 U.S. EPA disapproved LWH insisting on the CS 001 equivalent of today’s Warmwater Habitat CS Bypass 1.5 10 4 (WWH) designation. BOD 5 (Kg/Day) Had LWH been left intact we would not have 1 10 4 achieved the degree of improvement 2016 Permitted Monthly Loading (June-Oct.) witnessed post-1988 through 2015. 5000 0 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 YEAR

60 Bypasses AWT Eliminated Completed Composting On-line 50 RITY (IBI) EW H The improvement since 1979 has been Biocriterion incremental with positive responses to INTEG W W H 40 Biocriterion intermediate abatement actions aimed TIC F BIO at WWH attainment. 30 EX O IND 20 12 38 43 45 50 38 36 57 51 57 56 62 41 60 22 49 20 13 9 7 8 52 9 54 20 8 11 14 36 1979 1980 1981 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2015 YEAR

1979 1988 1996 2015 60 2 3 A B C 1 4 5 EW H RITY (IBI) Criterion (IBI=48) 50 The Area of Attainment (AAV) and AAV TEG 40 W W H Degradation Values (ADV) help to normalize TIC IN Criterion (IBI=42) the “clutter” of the x -y line graphics. F BIO 30 ADV EX O In 2015 the IBI attained the Exceptional M W H Criterion IND 20 (IBI=24) Warmwater Habitat (EWH) biocriterion Dublin Formerly Rd. W TP Im pounded 12 G reenlawn D am below the Southerly WWTP. 230 220 210 200 190 180 170 160 150 R IVER KILO M ETER

300 Bypasses Composting Eliminated On-line AWT 200 Completed ADV/AAV (Units/Mi.) 100 0 The virtual elimination of WWH impairment was first documented in -100 1991, becoming complete after 2006, 18 Negative ADV/Mi. -200 years after WWTPs attained advanced Positive AAV/Mi. treatement. 38 43 45 50 38 36 57 51 57 56 62 41 60 22 49 20 13 9 7 8 52 9 54 20 8 11 14 36 -300 1979 1980 1981 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2015 YEAR

1981 1988 1991 2015 2 3 A B C EX (ICI) 1 4 5 60 EW H Criterion D (IC =46) ITY IN 50 40 UN Macroinvertebrates have also fully attained M W W H M 30 Criterion TEBRATE CO (IC I=36) EWH downstream from Columbus Southerly 20 M W H Criterion fulfilling the requirement for both groups to (IC I=22) 10 INVER show full attainment to designate EWH. 0 Dublin Formerly Rd. W TP Im pounded G reenlawn D am 230 220 210 200 190 180 170 160 150 R IVER KILO M ETER

Scioto R. Fish Species Richness Native Non-native Reach Description River Km (Mi.) Species Sp. Hybrids 225 to 160 Griggs Dam to Circleville 100 5 19 (140 to 99.5) 225 to 208 Griggs to Greenlawn Dam 73 3 15 (140 to 129.5) Greenlawn Dam to 208 to 160 99 5 18 Circleville (129.5 to 99.5) Absent Ust. Greenlawn 225 to 208 26 2 3 36 species are not Dam (140 to 129.5) yet able to become Absent Dst. Greenlawn 208 to 160 1 0 0 established Dam (129.5 to 99.5) upstream. Species with 1 individual 225 to 208 10 0 0 Ust. Greenlawn Dam (140 to 129.5)