GREAT OUTDOORS: Ohio Sea Grant shares Lake Erie updates

The Ohio Sea Grant College Program, which runs F.T. Stone Laboratory on Put-in-Bay, used a recent webinar to update dozens of science writers about Lake Erie. Director Dr. Chris Winslow gave some program updates, including news about the expansion of Stone Lab's South Bass Island research laboratory. The first phase will begin with an array of mesocosms being installed next spring adjacent to the historic Put-in-Bay State Fish Hatchery. The first project will likely test uptake rates of the algal toxin microcystin into sport fish at various concentrations to help determine the risk of consuming fish during Harmful Algal Blooms. He also provided the first confirmation that the predicted Harmful Algal Bloom Severity Index of 4.5 turned out to be smaller than forecasted in July by NOAA. Winslow introduced Ohio Sea Grant's new extension agent Nicole Wright, who will be headquartered in Cleveland and oversee the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network (LEARN) and help with aquaculture development in Ohio. Other presenters briefly covered topics within their expertise or currently underway. The first was John Navarro, ODNR/Division of Wildlife (DOW) Special Projects Administrator. He explained the DOW's Asian carp containment efforts, including fitting Grass carp with transmitters to track schools; high numbers being seen in the Cuyahoga River; Silver and Bighead carp expansion into Ohio River tributaries; weak points for Asian carp entry into the Great Lakes; enforcement actions to intercept shipments into Ohio; and educational efforts for bait store owners to recognize Asian carp mixed in with bait shipments. Lake Erie Shores and Islands director Larry Fletcher summarized how the region's tourism industry was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While travel restrictions were in effect last spring they launched a "Plan Now-Visit Later" campaign. They saw a strong recovery mid-summer in camping equipment purchases, boat registrations, fishing license sales and other outdoor-related activities. He reminded the writers that the lake's nine counties generate one-third of all tourism revenues in Ohio. Dr. Timothy Fisher of the University of Toledo gave a presentation on how Great Lakes water levels are still being affected by rebounding bedrock.He predicts that water levels in the southwestern portion of the lakes will continue to deepen as the bedrock on the northeast shores continues to rise. Dr. Scott Hardy, extension agent for the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, reviewed some of the water quality improvements in the Cuyahoga River, helped by the removal of dams and wastewater treatment upgrades by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. He shared the list of goals that would determine when the river meets criteria necessary to be removed from the U.S. EPA's Area of Concern list. From NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, Marine Debris Great Lakes regional coordinator Sarah Lowe spoke how accumulated plastic waste in the Great Lakes ranks among the top regions to be impacted with plastic pollution. Microplastics from surface water sources have been detected in beer samples from Europe and North America. Her 4-R message is to Refuse (single-use plastic items), Reduce (the amount of waste), Reuse (by repurposing) and Recycle plastic to use less and keep more out of the environment. Dr. Sandra Kosek-Sills, environmental specialist of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, spoke of the status of Ohio's Domestic Action Plan 2020 and Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio Initiative. She referred the writers to their web site to view a summary of projects. Priorities include Agricultural Best Nutrient Management Practices; Wetland Restoration and Enhancements; community support for home sewage treatment system remediation; and Maumee River watershed load distribution planning. She pointed out that none of the projects had any impact on the smaller bloom observed this summer, since the nutrient management practices did not begin until after crop planting season and fertilization. Travis Hartman, Lake Erie program administrator for the ODNR Division of Wildlife, finished the speaker lineup by sharing the good news about western Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch populations with the virtually assembled writers. His take-home message is that for walleye fishing, "These are the good old days.''