` Ecosystem State of Condition Historical Altered Novel - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

July 29, 2014 CEER – New Orleans Presented by, Joseph Pfeiffer, PWS `

Ecosystem State of Condition  Historical  Altered  Novel *Seastedt, Hobbs, Suding: 2008

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly….  The Good Stable functioning ecosystems  The Bad Degraded ecosystems  The Ugly An ecosystem in a state that potentially creates direct threats to human health and well being

Altering the State of Condition Cyborg/Engineered Ecosystem  Cyborg System – An integrated man machine system that restores function and/or enhances the abilities of the augmented entity to function.  Ecosystem ICU  Going on Life Support  Engineered Ecosystem  Map ecosystem pathways  Identify limiting factors

Grand Lake St. Marys – Mercer County, OH  Grand Lake St. Marys  21 square mile man made lake in West Ohio  52 square mile watershed  425 million in agricultural production  125 million in tourism  Key issues  Excessive nutrient loading resulting in Hypo-trophic condition in lake and watershed  Blue Green algal blooms producing mycrosystin toxins

Grand Lake St. Marys – Mercer County, OH  Impacts  Algal blooms shut down all use of the lake in 2009/10  Estimated loss of $77 million to local economy  Loss in housing value of 25 million  No Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae funding for homes in proximity to lake  Identified public health threat

Grand Lake St. Marys Strategic Plan  Critical Response Actions  Conceptual Ecosystem Revitalization Model  Environmental  Economic

Grand Lake St. Marys Littoral Wetland Restoration  Critical Element in GLSM System  Historically over 2,500 acres  Lost due to;  Water quality degradation  Invasive species (carp)  Anthroprogenic activities  Restore by;  Increase water clarity  Reduce nutrient loading  Establishing substrate

Littoral Wetland Restoration Engineered Ecosystem – Treatment Train Prairie Creek Treatment Train  Engineered  Mechanical Pumping o 1.3 MGD  Chemical Dosing o Alum  Bio-Technical  Constructed Wetlands o 6 Acres  Natural  Restored Wetlands o 10 acres

Prairie Creek Treatment Train - PCTT MAID System  Controls pumping into system  Doses chemical as required  Tracks water quality  Ph  Turbidity  Flow rates  Allows remote monitoring and control

Prairie Creek Treatment Train - PCTT Constructed Wetland Cells  Five cells, alternating deep and shallow water

Prairie Creek Treatment Train - PCTT

Prairie Creek Treatment Train - PCTT Results  65% reduction in Total Phos  30% reduction in Total N  Trophic shift in embayment

Prairie Creek Littoral Wetland - PCLW Basic Design  Deep and shallow marsh system  Designed to improve Fish and Wildlife habitat  Will receive flow from PCTT  Encapsulation of nutrient laden sediment

Littoral Wetland Restoration Engineered Ecosystem – Treatment Train Cold Water Creek Treatment Train  Engineered  Mechanical Pumping o 6 MGD  Bio-Technical  Constructed Wetlands o 40 acres  Flow Diversion  Natural  Restored Wetlands o 250 acres

Conclusions Current  Engineered Ecosystems on GLSM have shown;  Observed and measured improvements in water quality  Observed expansion of existing littoral wetland system On-going  Ecosystem response to re-establishment in historic wetland zones still being monitored Future  Two more Treatment Trains in design, four more in planning

QUESTIONS