Ohio River Research, Education, & Outreach at the

Thomas More College Biology Field Station

Chris Lorentz, Field Station Director

lorentc@thomasmore.edu

Emily Imhoff, Laboratory Manager

imhoffe@thomasmore.edu

The Field Station used to serve as Lock and Dam 35 one of many wicket dams on the Ohio River.

The former Lockhouse has been converted to The Center for Ohio River Research & Education

The College acquired the property in 1967 and renovated the Lockhouse in 1997.

River Pump

Weather Station

Classrooms & Labs

Constructed Wetland

Outdoor Classroom

Nature Trail

Field Station’s Reach

Environmental & Ecological Research Facility

Education Resource for K-16 Students & Teachers

Community Outreach

Program Development

Education Research

Research

•10-15 Undergrad Students, summer positions are paid with free housing provided. •Graduate Students •Faculty •EPA Researchers

Education •New ES Major •Several new courses, including Marine Biology track •Teacher Training •Community Workshops

Outreach

•Grade School Field Trips •Summer STEM Camps •Summer Seminars •Paddlefest, River Sweeps, etc.

Primary research programs

Ohio River Bioassessment

N. KY. Stream Bioassessment

Aquaculture (fish and freshwater mussels)

Research Area: Ohio River Bioassessment

Since 1971, students have been sampling and monitoring the Ohio River near two coal-burning power plants operated by DUKE Energy.

Bioassessment of the Ohio River near Zimmer Power Plant Moscow, Ohio (RM444)

Study Area

Three components: •Biological •Physiochemical •Habitat

Fish Collection Methods

Gill Nets

Hoop Nets

Electrofishing

Summer 2014 conclusions Ohio River around Zimmer power plant meets water quality standards to support

aquatic life. ORFin range 53.7 – 58.2 (possible range 13 – 65)

The four study sites were typically comparable across all datasets: physiochemical, habitat, and biological

A few notable exceptions:

- Higher abundance of fish collected with gill nets and hoop nets at our downstream sites

- Higher abundance of fish collected upstream through electrofishing

- Significantly higher conductivity, possibly from plant effluent, and turbidity, likely due to high barge traffic, at downstream sites.

Fish BOL – DNA barcoding project

White Bass

Morone chrysops

Striped

Bass

Morone saxatillis

Research Area: N. KY Stream Assessments

TMC Environmental Academy with Sanitation District 1 and

Boone County Conservation District

Biological assessment – macroinvertebrate sampling Physiochemical sampling - field chemistry including DO, Conductivity, Temperature, pH, and Turbidity Habitat analysis including riparian zone and hydromodification assessments.

Research Area: Aquaculture & Toxicology

Fathead minnows are the “white mice” of aquatic studies. Aquaculture lab produce eggs, larvae and adults to be used in toxicity studies at the Station and at the USEPA.

Pimephales promelas (Fathead minnows)

10 10

10 10

10

10

10

10

10 10

10 10

Toxicity testing Annual test of Zimmer Power Station effluent Day-old minnow fry grown in: •Ohio River water (above Zimmer) •Zimmer effluent •Field Station well water (control) Typically no difference is seen in growth or survival among groups.

New! Freshwater mussel propagation •Part of a cooperative grant with KY Dept of Fish & Wildlife Resources, funded by US FWS •Aim: increase populations of mussel species of Greatest Conservation Need in an area including KY, OH, and WV •Our role: primarily growing out juvenile mussels, can also maintain adult broodstock.

Benefits of our setting •Access to Ohio River water via river pump allows for a flow-through system. • Staff on-site to monitor mussels and system daily. • Located near sites with good mussel beds (OH, Licking). • Educational opportunities for students of all ages and community members.

Juvenile set-up Adult set-up

Current status •Mussels arrived in earlier this week. •Start with adults of common species while ensuring that system is working properly. •Adults and older juveniles collected during surveys in wake of diesel fuel spill at Beckjord Power Plant just downstream of Field Station.

The mussels arrive – adults and juveniles

Fish Host Experiments

Mussel Host Fish Research

STEM Outreach—K-8 Field Trips

“Science on the River” Each year, over 2500 school children from 30 schools visit the Station for

Hands-on science activities offered by our Education, Biology and ES Majors.

STEM Outreach- High School Summer Camps

Annual week-long summer camp – high school students stay on TMC campus and participate in hands-on lessons offered by our Education and Biology Majors.

High School STEM Campers 2013

New Phase

K-16 STEM Education Center

K-16 STEM Education Center

Community Outreach Summer seminar series

Citizen science workshops

Ohio River Sweeps

Paddlefest Kids’ Expo, Career Fairs, etc.

Government Agencies, Non-Profit Organizations and Business Partners

Thank you for your attention. Any questions?

ORFIn Metric Scores Metric Below

expectation

Meets expectation

Above expectation

Number of Native Species

1 3 5

Range <11 12-19 >19

Z1 = 20 5

Number of Sucker Species

1 3 5

Range <3 3-5 >5

Z1= 3 3

Percent of Nonative Individuals

1 3 5

Range >5% 3-5% 0%

Z1=0 5

Minimum 13

Maximum 65

Why FISH – BOL? a. Ambiguous morphology b. Early life stages (eggs, fry) c. Unrecognized species d. Environmental DNA (eDNA) e. Improved taxonomy