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GROSSE ILE LABORATORY
Quarterly Research Report
Ending December 1973
Grosse lie Laboratory
9311 Groh Road
Grosse lie, Michigan
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Development
Environmental Protection Agency
This report does not constitute publication but is for information only. All
data must be considered provisional.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. GENERAL ................ 1
II. RESEARCH 7
Heavy Industrial Sources Branch 7
Large Lakes Program 10
III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 24
IV. PUBLICATIONS 25
GPO 804—932—2
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INTERNATIONAL FIELD YEAR FOR THE GREAT LAKES
The International Field Year for the Great Lakes field program has been
successfully completed and most of the investigators are in the final phases
of data analysis and report preparation. Two major progress review meetings
have been held with the principal investigators. The first of these was an
interagency meeting to review the status of the Lake Ontario modeling efforts.
This included representatives of the Ontario Department of the Environment and
the Canada Centre for Inland Waters together with representatives of the NOAA
modeling groups and our own grantees. The meeting was expanded to include
representatives from the other Fresh Water and Marine Ecosystem Research
Groups within MERC-Corvalliss who were interested in ecosystem modeling. The
IBP Deciduous Forest Biome Group at Rensselaer Polytechnic was also represented.
Region II was also represented at the meeting by the Rochester Field Office and
Region II Headquarters staff. Significant discussion and some program changes
were made as a result of the meeting.
As a result of the high quality of the first annual reports of the individual
IFYGL projects funded by Environmental Protection Agency, and the demand for a
full progress report3 we have prepared an edited version of the progress reports
which will appear as a publication in the EPA Ecological Series, An Internation-
al State of the Lake report is being prepared as an intermediate review of the
International Field Year by the IFYGL Chemistry and Biology Panel.
The Rochester Field Office of Region II has been conducting the material
balance studies for IFYGL. They have completed the laboratory analysis and are
in the final stages of entering the chemical data into the STORE! System,
The eutrophication modeling of Lake Ontario is proceeding on schedule with
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model development using data gathered in earlier years. The model will be
verified during the final year of the project using IFYGL data*
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FIRST OM
As described In the last Grosse lie Progress Report, a conference of
Federal Agencies concerned with Great Lakes Research Development was held
in Ann Arbor, Michigan in December, 1972, As a result of a great deal of
effort by the Grosse lie Laboratory staff and the Great Lakes Basin Commis-
sion,, the proceedings of this conference was published in the early fall of
1973, Copies have been distributed widely and further copies can toe made
available through the Grosse lie Laboratory,
GPO 904—932^3
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INTERMATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Dr. Tudor Davies attended the conference on Warm Lakes held at the
Kinneret Limnologieal Institute in Israel in September, As a result of this
visit and further discussions with Dr. Colette Serruya,, the Institute Director,
during a visit to the Grosse lie Laboratory in November, a program of coopera-
tive research is being planned between the Large Lakes Program and the Kinneret
Limnologieal Institute. One of the immediate aims is to use the comprehensive
data base for Lake Kinneret to verify the Large Lakes Eutrophication Models.
Dr. Tudor Davies has been appointed U.S. Chairman, of the joint U.S.-Soviet
Group on the Protection and Management of Lake Estuaries. During August, this
group met in Moscow and visited Lake Baikal. During the meetings, preliminary
discussions were held on the methods of scientific investigations and environ-
mental protection used on the Great Lakes, Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal. These
will be continued and expanded during the second meeting of the joint group
which will be held in the fall of 1974 in the U.S.
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INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
The International Joint Commission was given the main responsibility
for the implementation of the mandates contained in the U.S.-Canada Agreement
on Great Lakes Water Quality. Two advisory boards have been established and
the Grosse lie staff has been involved in the action of these boards and the
various subcommittees that have developed.
Tudor Davies is secretary to the U.S. Section of the Research Advisory
Board and was involved in the development of a statement of research needs
for the International Joint Commission. The other major advisory group3 the
Water Quality Board supervises the Upper Lakes Reference Study and Nelson
Thomas and Tudor Davies are closely involved with the planning and development
of the program with the Great Lake States, Region II, the Ontario Ministery of
the Environment and the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. William Richardson
has been appointed to the Water Quality Board Surveillance Committees and Michael
Mullin is involved both in the Atmospheric Input of Pollutants Study Group and the
Quality Control Group for the Upper Lakes Reference Study.
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NEW INITIATIVES
The cooperative study of Lake Erie being conducted under Large Lakes
Grants to the University of Buffalo and Ohio State University has run through
a successful first season. Reports on the State-of-the-Lake are being prepared
with the Canada Centre for Inland Waters.
The Grosse lie staff have been deeply involved in the implementation of the
various activities specified in the U.S.-Canada Agreement on Great Lakes Water
Quality, One of the primary activities is the Upper Lakes Reference Study, for
which the laboratory is conducting some inhouse investigations and has issued a
number of grants. Studies on Saginaw Bay and Southern Lake Huron have been
initiated in collaboration with the Cranbrook Institute of Detroit and the Michi-
gan District Office of Region V. These studies will be extended in the next
field season. The project to evaluate the interchange between Lake Michigan and
Lake Huron conducted with the Lake Survey Centre of NOAA and the University of
Michigan is complete. Some basic investigations are also being conducted on the
chemistry of precipitation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
At this point, it appears that the cooperative effort with Region V to have the
decommissioned Coast Guard buoy tender Maple refitted and devoted to supporting
U.S. Open Lakes programs, will be successful. It is expected that in the spring
of 1974, there will be an expanded main lake effort by the Region and the Research
& Development program. The current research program on the lakes is being
conducted on the two 65 ft. T-boats leased from and supported by Environmental
Protection Agency, which are operated by the University of Buffalo and Ohio State
University, Ship support is also provided by the Blue Water, a 40 ft. research
vessel, operated by the Michigan District Office of Region ? and by the Coast
Guard.
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II. RESEARCH
Heavy Industrial SourcesJBmnch_
Chiefi^ Dr. Hugh B. Burham
Grant 12010 DRH - 2nd Yr. - New Membranes for Reverse Osmosis
Treatment of Metaj^JFinishlng Effluents. Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency - Sub-Contractor , North Star Research and Development Institute,
j*rg_l eg ^jOf f icejc , Hugh B^ Durham .
An Important new membrane has been developed for reverse osmosis
treatment of both highly alkaline and acidic (non-oxidizing) metal
finishing rinse waters. This membrane, designated NS-1, and originally
developed for seawater desalination, consists of the following; A micro-
porous support film (polysulfone) coated with polyethylenimines which is
cross linked with tolylene 2,4 - diisocyanate,
Preliminary engineering considerations indicated the feasibility
of applying the NS-1 membrane to reverse osmosis treatment and recycle
of nickel and zinc cyanide electroplating rinse waters .
The Grant Final Report has been accepted for publication under
report no. EPA-660/2-73-033,
Grant_S^802142^ - Regeneration of Hydrochloric ........... Acid Waste Pickle
Liquor . Toledo Pickling and Steel Service, Inc.3 Toledo , Ohio. Project
Officer, George F. Weesner.
The principal objective of this project is to demonstrate in a
plant-scale continuous operation the technical and commercial feasibility
of using the Environmental Technology, Inc., process and equipment for the
recovery and regeneration of waste hydrochloric acid pickle liquor in a
closed-loop system in which no noxious pollutants escape into the environ-
ment .
As of September 5, 1973, the project was proceeding approximately
on schedule, with installation of the system nearly completed and startup
scheduled for the end of September,
Grant 12070 JHEK - Regeneration of Chromated Aluminum Deoxidizers
Solutions -Phase 1 - The Boeing Commercial Airplane. Co. 9 Seattle a Washing-
ton.. P^o j,6C-t_ .Officer , Hugh B. Durham.
In the regeneration process for chromated aluminum deoxidizers
as conducted in Phase i of this project, it is necessary to use a chemical-
ly inert 3 electrically conductive diaphragm to separate the positive and
negative electrodes.
Although the regeneration has been shown to be economically
practical, the fabrication method for these early diaphragms is costly and
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life expectancy is short. The work to be conducted under Phase II of
this grant will be to improve on the cost and life of the diaphragms, in
order to make them commercially more attractive for general shop use.
The Phase I Report has been accepted for publication under
report no. EPA-660/2-73-023,
Grant S-801989 - Demonstration and Evaluation__gj_Cgjmtercurrent_
Rinsing^ jfqr Rgduj:jmg_ Po^^
National Steel Corporation; Weir too. Division, Weir ton, We_st_Virginia_.
Pr o j ec t Of f ic er , George F . Weesner .
This projects if fully successful will result in a completely
closed-loop system using a process which is straight forward in concept and
operation and which should be consistent in performance. While counter-
current rinsing is not in itself a new concept , it has never before been
applied to a high-speed plating line where the strip moves at speeds as
high as 2^200 feet per minute (25 mph) .
A potential problem could be sludge buildup in the plating tank,
requiring frequent shutdowns for cleaning. Even if it does turn out that
zero discharge is not achievable , the net discharge of pollutants should
nonetheless be substantially reduced.
The project period is March 24, 1973 to March 23 , 1975. The
grantee, in large part because of delays in internal financing arrange-
ments, is currently in the design stage, some 4-5 months behind schedule.
Grant ......... 800772 - Treatment of Coke Plant_Waste_Liquor . Alan Wood
jjteel ......... Co^_t Conarf^ckenij=JPeimsy_lvania.. Project Officer, Hugh B. Durham.
This treatment system combines stripping, evaporation , biological
oxidation and incineration to process 180 , 000 gpd of waste ammonia liquor.
The effluent is expected to be of high quality and suitable for discharge
to any stream. Alternately, it may be used as make-up in a cooling tower
or as boiler feed water. Incineration of the blowdown from the evaporation
produces neither air pollution nor solid waste for disposal. Rather, it
produces 12-15 percent strength hydrochloric acid which is useful for
pickling steel. Its value will partially offset the cost of operation and
result in a unit cost for treatment that is equal to or less than that for
existing, less effective processes.
Initial plant startup is scheduled for March 1, 1974.
Gr an t S -8 006 8 0 - Treatment of Fluoride
_ _
Wa3_tes_. Grumman Aerospace Corp. , Bethpage, New York. Proj ect Officer ,
Geor g e F . _ We esner .
During Phase I of this project fluoride treatment techniques of
SPO 8O4—932—4
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laboratory and pilot scale were conducted on selected aerospace and metal
working industry chemical processing solutions and rinse waters. Ion
exchange techniques were established for the treatment of fluoride con-
taining rinse waters to levels less than three parts per million.
Phase II of this project which is just beginning will have as
its objectives the development of comprehensive waste treatment technology
for the removal of nitrates from lime treatment effluents and the economics
of sludge re-use, water recycling and production scale-up. Also pilot
studies will be carried out to determine parameters for using ion exchange
as a means to remove fluorides and nitrates from metal treatment process
solution rinse waters.
The Phase I Report is in final draft preparation and will be
published under EPA-660/2-73-024.
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LargeLakesProgram
Chief, Nelson A. Thomas
The IFYGL Program
1, Complete Programs
Grant_1^120 HVR - Annotated Bibliography of Limnological j^tudles^on
Univeir^sj-tj _S_t_at e College , Buf f alp _g Hew York.
Investigator, Robert A. Sweeney.
The three volume bibliography has been published in the Environmental
Protection Agency Ecological Research Series. Copies of the report may be
obtained from the project officer,
2, On-Going IFYGL Programs^
Grant_800386_ - SUNY Albany. .^o^JRlank^TOj^o_duction ......... in Lake Ontario
aj_J[nJfjAienc£dJby_Em^^ Principal Investigator, Donald
McNaught_.
This grant is in the second year of funding. The field work and
sample collection has been completed. Approximately, fifty percent of the
samples have been counted. The first phase of the project which was to pro-
vide interpretation to the long term changes in the zooplankton populations
has been partially completed with a submission of a report outlining the pop-
ulation changes from 1939 to 1972.
The second objective of this project was to measure the production of
zooplankton communities. This has been accomplished through counts of
samples of zooplankton captured with nets and through accoustical sounding with
sonar equipment. The calibration of the sonar equipment appears to be going
very well and this should provide a new tool to large lakes research in
estimating zooplankton populations,
_Grant_800537_ - Algal Nutrients Availability and Limitations in
Lake Ontarjuj . University of Wisconsin . P£H!£iE2!i_i!!Z^
Project Officer., Nelson A. Thomas.
This project is in its second year of funding. The objectives
were to (1) determine the limiting nutrients or nutrients in the tributaries
and open waters of Lake Ontario, (2) determine the extent of nutrient
regeneration from C[ljidojDhora_, and (3) determine the availability of particulate-
phosphorus forms in input sources. The percent of cellular phosphorus
converted to dissolved reactive phosphorus was extremely variable, ranging
from 21 to 100 percent. Generally , the maximum extent of regeneration was
completed by 5 to 7 days with chloroform and 50 days without chloroform.
The conversion of cellular nitrogen to nitrate was somewhat less
variable with a range of 12 to 40 percent. The nitrogen mineralization
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relatively slow with increases in nitrate still occurring between 50 to 100
days. Only a limited amount of data is available on the nutrient limitations
studies on tributary waters. Thus far,, neither the nitrogen spikes or the
nitrogen plus micronutrient spikes significantly enhance the growth of
jjglgnastrum in the sample over' the unspiked control. In contrast, the phos-
phorus spike caused a significant growth response, indicating phosphorus
limitations. No conclusions about limitations in the rivers can be made,
however, until all the data have been compiled from the spring sampling trips.
Carbon assimilation rate measurements on Lake Ontario water collected before
February 1973, generally showed stimulation of phytoplankton only when spiked
with phosphorus and nitrogen or phosphorus and nitrogen micronutrients.
The third phase is the nitrogen mineralization in the New York
tributaries. The range of nitrogen availability is found to be 60-91
percent of the initial total nitrogen. In all cases the final ammonia levels
were not significant compared to the nitrate levels, so that the "readily
available" nitrogen was considered to be represented by the nitrate alone.
In the phosphorus availability studies in the tributary waters, it was found
that the autoclaved particulates release 26 to 57 percent of their phosphorus
which would be available for algal growth. It must be pointed out that the
results were highly variable, and the average for available total phosphorus
ranged from 33 to 64 percent.
Gr ant_ _8 0 0605 - Analysi sof_ Phy t oplank ton _ C omp o sit ion and Abund anc e
During IFYGL. University of Michigan. ££Jjjj£Jj>jjLJHv^.^j-.?ator'. ®T ° Eugene
Stoermer. Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
The objective of this project was to estimate the phytoplankton
standing-crop in Lake Ontario, This project is using two techniques,
direct microscope counts and electronic particle counting, to estimate the
phytoplankton. To date, the electronic particle counts are available and
indicate very low particle frequencies in the mid-lake region early in the
season, and considerably higher values in the near-shore region, particularly
in the far eastern and western segments of the lake. Later in the season,,
values tend to increase and become more irregular in the off-shore area.
Before thermal stratification in the lake particle frequencies
tend to be similar at all depths. After establishment of stratification,
values are uniformly higher in the mixed surface region than at depths
below the thermocline. Work is now progressing to compare chlorophyll
concentrations to particle counts and microscope cell counts, for the cruises
during 1972 and 1973.
jj][j|nt__800608_ - Exploration of Halogenated and Related Hazardous
Qiemicals in Lake Ontario. Principal Investigator, William Boyle, University
of__WJsconsin. Project Officer,, Michael P. Mttllin.
The objective of this project is to collect samples of various
types of organisms, sediments and water present in Lake Ontario and selected
tributaries and examine these samples for the presence of certain chlorinated
hydrocarbons using gas chromatbgraphic and mass spectrometric techniques.
Particular emphasis was to be devoted to examination of the samples for the
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chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and chlorodibenzo-furans because of the potential
significance of these compounds as environmental contaminants.
The bulk of the effort,, to date, has been directed toward collecting
and processing samples. Some preliminary psp'-DDE data on several Lake
Ontario fishes show the concentration to be approximately Img/g of psp'-DDE in
the fish.
Additional work on identifying other hazardous chemicals and their
concentrations is continuing.
Grant 800609 - Phosphorus Uptake and Release by Lake Ontario
Sediments. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Principal Investigator,
D.E. Armstrong and R.R. Harris. Project Officer, T.T. Davies.
The main objective of this project is to predict the uptake and the
release of the various forms of phosphorus by Lake Ontario sediments as a
function of the properties of the substrate and conditions in the overlying
water. Some experimental work is necessary to define the best extraction
proceedures for interstitial water from the sediments but initial data indicates
a significantly higher level of dissolved inorganic phosphorus in the inter-
stitial waters of the sediment than in the overlying water column. Current data
suggests that Ontario sediments contain sufficient loosely bound inorganic
phosphorus to maintain this higher dissolved inorganic phosphorus level in the
interstitial water. Nearshore sediments have less capacity for sorption of
inorganic phosphorus than the major basin sediments in Lake Ontario at inorganic
phosphorus concentrations levels detected in the lakes, probably because of
different .sediment composition in these respective areas. The investigations
are continuing to estimate the potential role of Ontario sediments on the
phosphorus status of the lake water at probable phosphorus concentrations.
Grant 800610 - Mathematical Modeling of Eutrophication of Larg_e_
Lakes. Manhattan College, Bronx, New York. Principal Investigator, Robert V.
Thomahn. Project Officer, William L. Richardson.
The objective of the project is to develop a mathematical modeling
framework of the major features of eutrophication in large lakes with Lake
Ontario as the focal point for model development.
Work has progressed from the study of transport and diffusion of chlorides
in the lake using a 40 segment (3 vertical layers) model to a simplified 1-
segment 3-layered model (lake-1) to study the interactive kinetics of major
components of the eutrophication phenomena. The systems included in this
analysis are shown in Figure 1.
The next phase of the project is to structure a more complex model
(Lake-2). The lake 2 model is structured with four vertical layers representing
one layer is the epilimnion, two the hypolirnnion and one the substrate. The
model is presently composed of twelve interactive biological and chemical
systems. The remaining systems are temperature and a conservative tracer.
GPO 804—932—5
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The biological systems are phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass.
The chemical systems include organic nitrogen, ammonia , nitrite, nitrate and
phosphate and organic phosphorous, total inorganic carbon, alkalinity and
organic carbon and dissolved oxygen. The temperature system is driven by a
boundary condition in the surface layer of the lake. The temperature of the
various lower layers is computed internally, and drives the stratification
and mixing phenomena of the lake. When the temperature of any two adjacent
vertical layers are the same, the layers are then completely mixed. The
conservative tracer system is used as an aid in analyzing the dispersion and
transport phenomena.
Verification runs were carried out for temperature, establishing
the dispersion transport regimes. Stratification and overturn, as illustrated
in the baseline temperature data compared well with the model computed results,
Preliminary runs were also carried out using all the systems in the Lake 2
phytoplankton model. An initial structuring of a sixty seven segment model has
been initiated (Lake 3) .
Grant_800646_ - Near Shore Study of Eastern Lake_J)n_tario_. .State
University College, Oswego, Mew York. Principal Investigator, Richard B.
Moore, Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
The nearshore program is mainly concerned with gathering basic
information on the changes in chemistry, biology, and to some extent , the
physical environment through the Field Year, All the basic trophic levels
will be studied in cooperation with the main lake phytoplankton, zooplankton
and benthic organism studies programs. In addition, routine analysis of
pesticides and PCB's will be made for samples from the main and nearshore
cruises. ^ladoj»hora_ mapping ground truths and benthos sampling coordination
is a major proposed activity of the project.
Samples will be collected for routine nutrients and chemistry,,
zooplankton arid phytoplankton. Seasonal samples will be collected for heavy
metals, pesticides and benthos. Special studies of the role of thermal bar
on nutrient C3fding in the nearshore zone and on the problematic £l§d£Ell££5.
growths will be made.
Sampling and analysis have been completed the data is presently
being reviewed with regard to satisfying project requirements,
Near-Shore Lake Ontario. £JUNY^Bufj£alo_. Principal Investigator, Dr. Rob_ert
Sweeney . Project Officer, William L. Richardson.
This project was to measure the various chemical and biological
parameters along the near-shore region. The results , to date, indicate that
during the spring season diatoms comprised 58 percent of the algae at each
station. In addition, during the spring the largest concentration of diatoms
by volume were observed inside the thermal bar. Data from vertical profiles
from the earlier cruises indicated that higher concentrations of algae were
found in the waters having temperatures higher than four degrees centigrade
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Inshore from the thermal bar. Phytoplankton counts throughout the spring
cruises were fairly uniform throughout a given depth profile.
During the summer, after the ttiermocline had been established, the
larger algal concentrations were found above the thermocllne.
Zooplankton counts from the spring cruise have been completed. This
collection consisted mainly of Nauplii. The distribution was quite uniform
throughout all the stations along the near-shore area. Much of the benthic-
organism information has been completed. The organisms at the stations furtherest
from the shore were mostly Mysls and Pontoporea. Oligochaetes and sphaerids
were also present, and the oligochaetes were dominant at the river mouth
benthic stations.
Another phase of this study was to map the distribution of the
attached alga, Cladophora. Cladophora was not found on sand or other uncon-
solidated strata. Development of the algae was limited in depths less than
one to two meters due to wave action which broke the filaments and the holdfast.
The dry weight was observed to increase through the spring, reach a maximum in
late July, early August and decrease again in. the fall.
Grant 800778 - A Remote Sensing Program for the Determination o_f
Cladophora Distribution in Lake Ontario. j^i^J£fLLJ-BZ§;i!iji^^
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan . Pr o j ec_t Off icer^ .Michj|gl_D •_
MulIiiiT
The objective of this program is to delineate the distribution of
Cladophora along the entire shore of Lake Ontario using remote sensing
techniques. Remote sensing data combined with ground truth data are expected
to provide information regarding the area coverage of Cladop_hgr a , as well as
estimates of Cladophora_ biomass.
Multispectral photography of the U.S. shoreline of Lake Ontario from
the ERIM aircraft on June 20 , 1972 and July 31, 1972 was collected. Preprocess-
ing of the scanner data has been initiated and computer processing of a section
of the New York shoreline is complete. The areal extent of Cladp_lp_hora_ has
been calculated within the area 75 percent of the bottom to a. distance of 470
meters from shore is covered by
It has not been possible to define the precise location of the ground
truth sampling stations on the scanner films. This has hindered the calibra-
tion of the remote sensing data.
Grant, 800946 - Occurr enc e and Tr_ansp_orJ^_of_ ^u^r^ent_sn ^nd_jla_zar_dpus
Polluting_ _S_ub_s tances In the Genessee River Basin. S ta t e _o f_ _N ew York .
^2^S2^£^L^^eS^j^^^I^-^S2-^^^5£.- P r oj e c t_ Officer , Wi 1 liam _L_._ _Richa_rds_on .
The primary objective of the project is to determine the rates of
transport, storage and decay of hazardous polluting substances and nutrients
in a selected Lake Ontario Watershed. This is being accomplished through a
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sampling program with monitoring stations located in areas of various land
use. The sampling program has been extended to December 1973, Twenty-four
hour sampling of three sewage treatment plants will be done in conjunction
with several in stream dye studies to determine time of travel.
Data evaluation will be done during the last quarter of the grant,
Grant 802474 - Llterature Review andDysteraIdentification for
IFYGL Microbenthos Program. University of Michigan. Pr incipal Investigator,_
Samuel C. Mozley. Project Officer, Helson A. Thomas.
This grant is a one year grant to perform a literature review and
determine the change in the benthic fauna of Lake Ontario. In addition, identi-
fications will be performed on the midge larvae that were collected during
the IFYGL cruises,
ROAP 21AKP _2.2 - IFYGL Data Management, William L. Richardson.
(Inhous_e Project).
One objective of the IFYGL program for Lake Ontario is to place
all biological and chemical data into the Environmental Protection Agency
ST01ET system. This will allow easy access of the data by current and
future researchers and managers and will assure maximum use of the information.
The Grosse lie Laboratory staff has devoted considerable effort in
coordinating this task with various agencies and grantees. Accomplishments
to date include:
1. Each IFYGL grantee has been provided with a STORET account,
2. A STORET Seminar was held in Ann Arbor.
3, Data flow was defined which includes keypunching arranged
by Grosse lie Laboratory, initial storage by Grosse lie
Laboratory and editing and correcting by grantees.
4, A CQPE-1200 medium speed terminal including card reader and
printer has been installed and is operational at Grosse lie
Laboratory.
5. The software contract for Biological Data was reviexred and
supported by the Grosse lie Laboratory.
6. A computer program was prepared by Ken Byrum, NERC, Corvallis
for computing chlorophyll concentration from spectrophotometer
readings and storing the results in STORET.
ROAP 21AKP 23 - Distribution of Benthic Organisms in Lake Ontario.
PjrincipalInvestigator, Melson A. Thomas. (InhouseProject).
A taxonomic workshop was held to insure uniformity in the identifi-
cation of benthic organisms. The sorting and identification of the benthic
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organisms is being performed by the National Field Investigation Center at
Cincinnati. Work on this phase is to be completed by January 1, 1974.
ROAP_2J1AKP_ - Sediment .Oxygen Demand Studies of Lake Ontario.
Principal Investigator, Nelson A. Thgmas_. (Inhouse Project) .
All rates have been calculated and are being correlated with the
chemical data. Extremely high sediment oxygen demand rates were observed
near the discharge of the Miagara River (Figure 2). Extremely low rates less than
0.1gmC)2/m2/day, were found along the north shore. The extreme eastern end
exhibited a modernly high SOD rate (.7gm02/m2/day).
LakeErie Program
As part of the U,S.-Canadian Agreement, a cooperative program has
been developed with Canada Centre for Inland Waters to measure the effect-
iveness of the Lake Erie Nutrient Control Program.
Grant 802706 - Lake Erie Nutrient ControlProgram: An Assessment
of its Effectiveness Controlling Eutrophication-.Eastern Basin. Principal
Investigator, Robert A. Sweeney, State University College at Buffalo. Proj ect
Officer^ Michael D. Mullln.
The principal objectives of the project are as follows:
a. Examine the effectiveness of measuring a limited number of
parameters to evaluate the processes of eutrophication of a
large lake.
b. Ascertain the eutrophlc stage of the Eastern Basin of Lake
Erie, as well as an ecological baseline for evaluating the
effectiveness of pollution abatement programs.
c. Evaluate the nature and extent of problems associated with
over—enrichment as well as the effectiveness of pollution
abatement programs on a large lake.
d. Provide aquatic transportation and technical aid to the Ohio
State University which proposes to do a similar survey in the
Central and Western Basins,
Six cruises were completed as of September 15, 1973 and five
additional cruises as scheduled through the end of calendar year 1973. As
this is a new projects no detailed analysis of field and laboratory results
has been completed. The majority of chemical analysis have been completed
and approximately twenty percent of the biological parameter have been
completed.
Ship-time and technical assistance were provided to the Ohio State
University project conducting a similar survey on the Central and Western
Basins of Lake Erie,
E3PO 804—932—6
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Grant 802543 - Lake Erie^ Nutrient Control Program: An Assessment
of its Effectiveness in Controlling Lake Eutrophication. Pr_inci£al_jp:ves_ti^
gator_, __Dr_. Charles Herdendorf^. Proj ect Offj.cer,_ Tudor T. Davies_.
This project will determine the effectiveness of Federal,, state and
local nutrient control programs on Lake Erie in reducing the over-enrichment
of this important body of water. The prime objectives of this research
will be the development of a system of indicators which will index the state
of eutrophication in the lake as a function of time. This objective will
be approached through a series of repetitive field surveys in the western
and central basins of Lake Erie to monitor various trophic levels in the
ecosystem of the lake and to analyze several physicochemical properties of
the water and the sediment.
This project is in its first year of a three year project period.
The project consists of performing a series of nine cruises in the central
and western basins of Lake Erie. Information will be collected on phyto-
plankton, algal nutrients and the dissolved oxygen conditions in the hypolimnion
of the lake. This project is in direct response to the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations were found again during
late summer 1973.
ROAP 21AKP 25 - Lake Erie Sediment _Studi_es_. ^E2^£lS^LJ^^^i£^2L±.
Nelson A. Thomas. (Inhouse_JProj_egjO_-
A buoy system was deployed in the Central Basin of Lake Erie for
determining the dissolved oxygen content and temperature at five levels
within the water column. Three of the sensors were placed in the hypolimnion
and two in the epilimnion. The results were recorded on tape which was housed
in a buoy beneath the surface of the water. During the final phase of the
project the readings were transmitted via ERTS Satellite. This phase of the
project was in cooperation with the NASA Lewis Research Center.
DredLg_e__Ef f ects Program
Gr_ant__803,06j - Future Dredging and Disposal in the Great Lakes.
Principal Investigator,_ C. Nicholas Raphael, Eastern Mlcj^gan_Unj.y_ejj^sj.ty_.
Project Officer, Michael D._Mu_l_lin.
The object of the study is to examine past, present and future
dredging and disposal methods in the Great Lakes. The principal objectives
are to determine the volume of spoil to be removed from harbors and waterways
in the next decade.
Preliminary conclusions indicate that for a number of reasons,
dredging volumes have been reduced during the past three years. Fewer
projects are being dredged; polluted spoil is currently being confined
rather than being dumped in open lake waters; dredging permits are becoming
increasingly more difficult to obtain; and strong competition by modes of
transport other than deep draft shipping are lessening the enthusiasms for deep-
ening the St. Lawrence Seaway and the expansion of harbor facilities.
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A final report ±s due shortly after the first of 1974 , which will
elaborate on the above and other considerations.
Grant 801112 - Wa_t_er_Qual_ity Impact of Sediment Dredging in Large
Lake _Sy s t ems . Principal Investigator 8 Walter C.
Project OffjLcer, MichaejL_D._ Mullin.
The major objective of this study is to elucidate the rates and
mechanisms of the exchange of chemical species between sediments and water
during the disposal of dredged spoil in open lake areas.
The project has provided valuable assistance to the American Section
Working Group on Dredging of the International Joint Commission, chaired by
Albert C, Printz of Environmental Protection Agency , Washington, by furnish-
ing the group with chemical data on harbor sediments in several Great Lakes
areas. This data is needed by the Working Group in order to make their recom-
mendations to the International Joint Commission concerning future dredging
on the Great Lakes .
Sediment samples have been collected from nine harbors on the Great
Lakes with the assistance of the International Joint Commission Working Group
on Dredging.
Preliminary total organic carbon determinations were done on Grand
River , Michigan, sediments. Significant variations in data was observed due
to the lack of homogeneity of the samples. It is planned to analyze these
samples for total organic carbon by size fraction to hopefully overcome this
problem.
Leachable metal exchange for copper, leads cadmium and zinc were
studied on the Grand River and Port Huron,, Michigan,, sediments after 360 hours
of contact between the sediment and leaching solution. Copper, lead and zinc
showed low (less than one percent) amounts of metal leached whereas cadmium
was leached from three to thirty times the amount of any of the other metals.
Initial funding date: September 6, 1972. Grant continuation from;
September 6, 1973 to September 5, 1974. First year annual report expected
in February, 1974.
Upper Lakes Reference Study
As part of the U.S .-Canadian Agreement the Grosse lie Laboratory is
participating in the International Joint Commission study of Lakes Huron and
Superior.
Grant 802721 - Interchange of Nutrients and Plankton in the Straits
of Mackinaw. University of Michigan. Principal Investigator, Claire Schelske.
Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
This project is to delineate the significance of the input of Lake
Michigan into Lake Huron. The flux of the more nutrient rich Lake Michigan
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water has been indicated as a possible source of nutrients to Lake Huron, This
study has been conducted in conjunction with Lakes Survey Center of NOAA,
The University of Michigan conducted studies of algal nutrients ,
phytoplankton and zooplankton. The Lakes Survey Center determined the water
movement and the flow of conservative ion from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.
Grant 80 2780 - Biological Resp_onses to the Eutrophication in Saginaw
Bay and Lake Huron. University of Michigan. Pr ing ip al_ JCnves t j-ga t _or , Eugene
_S_togrmer_. Project .iOfjicgr_jt__Nelsgn A. Thomas.
This study is being conducted in conjunction with Grant No, 802685.
Grant 802780 will provide the numeration of the phytoplankton, zooplankton and
benthos of Saginaw Bay the adjacent waters of Lake Huron. The Saginaw Bay
has some of the highest concentrations of chlorophyl!5 a primary production
of any of the Great Lakes, The microbenthos of the lake has undergone
extreme changes in the last 25 years,
These studies are being conducted as part of the U.S. -Canadian Upper
Great Lakes Study. The data will be used in the development of a math model
of Saginaw Bay. This model will be used to describe the expected changes of
phytoplankton and the result of nutrient removal.
Grant 80268_5 - Upper Lakes Reference Study; A Survey of Chemical and
Biological Factors in Saginaw Bay. Cranbrook Institute of S_cience^JBl.oom£ield
Hills 9_Mi£higan_. Principal Investigator; Elliott Smith. Pro j ect Officer ,,
Tftlliam L . Richardson .
This project involves an intensive two year study of Saginaw Bay as
part of the Upper Lakes Reference Study, The goals are to describe both
qualitatively and quantitatively the biological and chemical processes that
occur within the bay,, to develop a model of waste loadings and to predict the
effect of reduced loadings.
To dates two sampling cruises have been completed and laboratory
analysis are underway. A system to manage data involving a computer inter-
face to the Technicon Auto Analyzer is being implemented, A direct link to
STOEET will be made in the future.
^ - Saginaw Bay/Lake Hurona Principal Investigator, William L.
Richardson. (Inhouse Project).
Preliminary plans are being made for model development for Saginaw
Bay and Lake Huron. The water quality in Saginaw Bay is marginal and
chlorophyll levels are the highest recorded in the Great Lakes system. The
modeling of Saginaw Bay and the lower reaches of the Saginaw River will be
modeled in-house using concepts developed by Dr. Thomanns et al. under the
previous Environmental Protection Agency grants. The lake will be modeled
under grant.
Mr. Richardson who will be directing this work attended the Manhattan
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College Summer Institute on Mathematical Modeling of Natural Systems on May
21st to 25th, 1973.
Work has begun to formulate the model. From this preliminary
work monitoring priority needs will be established.
To facilitate the modeling effort, a Techtronix CRT terminal has
been procured for access to various computer systems including OSI and NYU.
Ecological Effects of PowerPlants
Grant 801188 - Mass Transportof Biological Materials. Michigan
State University. Principal Investigator, Dr. Robert Ball. Project Offleer_,
Nelson_A. Thomas_.
This is a three year study to look at the tansport of biological
materials through a once through cooling system on Western Lake Erie. After
one year of study, the results indicate that the total increase in organic carbon,
about 3 metric tons a days appears to be from net production of algae. This
net gain in algae was not ascertain through the analysis of primary productivity
which may have underestimated the actual productivities. Zooplankton
abundances which were only sampled in the winter were undoubtedly lowest at
that time of year. Even sos in November about 88 billion zooplankton,,
(20 kilograms as carbon) pass through the plant daily. There are indications
that a large number of parts (over 50 percent) of zooplankton were killed during
the passage because 50 to 80 percent of those entering from intake waters
apparantly disappeared before the water reached the far end of the discharge
channel about two hours later. Most of the organisms disappeared from the
water mass before it reached the upper and middle discharge. From the highly
variable larval data it appears that roughly a mean of 100,000 to 200,000 fish
larvae pass through the condenser daily during May and June. In a total for
those two months about 6 to 12 million larvae may have been destroyed, if a 100
percent mortality occurred. This may appear disastrous, but it is probably
not very significant when the total number of fish larvae in the western end of
Lake Erie are considered.
This study is being conducted in cooperation with the Detroit Edison
Company, Detroit Edison will be performing some of the water circulation
studies,
ROAP 25ADS 04 - Zooplankton Entrainment in Power Plant Cooling Syst-ems.
Principal Investigator, Nelson A. Thomas. (Iiiho'jse Project) .
A two year study of zooplankton entrainment at the Monroe Power Plant
(Lake Erie) has been completed. During the 1973 field season only on three
samplings did the mortality exceed the level caused by mechanical damage from
passing through the pumps. The mechanical zooplankton mortality averaged three
percent. It is unclear at this time,, whether the higher mortalities were caused
by the high temperature or chlorination.
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Nutrient_Control_^rograra
Grant 80p_965 - Use of Nutrient Bioassay Procedures in the jgreajt
Lakes_, UBiZ§££it2_of_Michlgan, Principal Investigator, Claire Sehelske.
£££J^££_-^f£^fZj-_liSl52S_Ai_J5!£ES£.*
This grant will investigate the use of various algal bioassays
procedures as they might be used on the Great Lakes. Studies will also be
conducted with ^elenastrum and natural algal populations while holding the
nutrient concentrations at a set level. It has been observed in the Great
Lakes that algal nutrient concentrations do not decrease significantly during
a ten day period , therefore, it is unrealistic to allow the nutrient concen-
tration in test chambers to decrease radically. This is a two year project
and is in its first year of funding.
Grant 802464 - Nutrition of Great Lakes Cladpphora. Uniy_§Z§ity__of_
Wiggo_nsin. Principal Investigator., Gerlad C. Gerloff and G. P_. Fitzgerald.
Projec_t Officers Nelson A. Thomas.
This grant is in its first of two years of funding. The objective
of this grant is to develop a synthetic culture technique or media that can
be used in determining the limiting nutrients for Cla.dophoT^ This is a
nuisance algal in the Great Lakes, particularily in the summer period, there-
fore, its nutrient requirements must be determined before algal nutrient
criteria are developed. To date, the Cladophora has been isolated and grown
on a sewage extract, however-, the synthetic media has not been found.
Grant 801229 - Evaluation of Detergent Phosphate ...,_
Water Quality - ErJ.e_County_2_New_york. State University College, Buffalo,
New York. Principal Investigator, R. A. Sweeney. Pr o j ec t Of f leer t Nelscm
A. Thomas.
The objective of 'the project is to study the water and sediment
chemistry and make a bioassay investigations in thirty (30) streams through-
out Erie County, New York during the summer of 1972 , and contrast these
findings with results from similar surveys conducted prior to limitation and
ban of phosphates in detergents used in that county. This project has been
completed and a final report has been received. Publication of the report is
delayed pending the completion of additional statistical analysis of the raw
data.
Dr. Sweeney noted a decrease of phosphate in the streams and a
resultant decrease in plankton biomass,
Grant 802647 - Determination of the Significance of Phosphorus
Inputs from the Atmosphere. DePaul University. Principal Investigator, Thomas
Project Officer, Nelson A. Thomas.
This is the first year of a two year grant to determine the forms and
significances of phosphorus carried in the rain and enter Lake Michigan, This
study will measure the amounts of phosphorus entering Lake Michigan from
precipation over urban and rural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.
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Grant O2359 - HeaSioreDiotudie. CaseWesteri
JJn^^ PrJjicl£a3;__In2estii£ato£1_Jf|^^
This research project involves numerical, observational and
experimental studies of the near-shore areas of the Great Lakes, specifically
Lake Erie in the Cleveland Harbor area. The output will be In the form of
general mathematical model of pollutant and transport and effect to be used
as an enforcement and management tool. Specifically, existing hydrodynatnic
models will be extended so as to be capable of describing in detail the
hydrodynamics of near-shore areas, general research and description of
diffusion of conservative and non-cons ervative substances will be undertaken
and diffusion model results will be compared to experimental results,
The models developed are or will be applied to several specific
problem areas. One being the discharge of the Cuyahoga River into Lake Erie.
Aerial photos taken by NASA will be used in conjunction with field measure-
ments to verify the model. Some preliminary work was done in cooperation with
the Corps of Engineers to study the effect of constructing an island or penin-
sula for a jet port in Lake Erie, Finally, plans are being made to verify the
model using data generated by a study at the Monroe Power Plant along the
western shore of Lake Erie,
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Dr. Davies edited the proceedings of the Interagency Committee on
Marine Science and Engineering conference on Great Lakes Research which was
published in late 1973. He reviewed the proceedings before the Interagency
Committee on Marine Science and Engineering in late December.
Region II - Coordination.ofthe International Field Year for the
great Lakes, Principa^J^nyejstigator, Tudor T. Davies and Nelson A.a Thomas.
Studies on the biology and chemistry of Lake Ontario are being
coordinated with the other panels that are providing the physical data for
the field year. Data from the studies are being analyzed and will be put
forth in a series of reports next spring,
A report containing the First Annual Reports of Environmental
Protection Agency Grants for IFYGL has been prepared through the participating
grantees.
International Association for Great Lakes Research.
Mr. Nelson Thomas has been named to the Editorial Board for the
International Association for Great Lakes Research.
Heavy Industrial Branch
Office of Air andWater Programs.
Dr. Durham served as a member of the Industrial Effluent Standards
and Guidelines Working Group Committee for the Iron and Steel and Ferroalloy
Industries during the period of June through August,
Office of Environmental Engineering.
Dr. Durham served as a member of the Industrial Technology Research
Task Force from May through October.
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III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Region_V - Lake Michigan Algal Nutrient Assay Studies.
_
Investigators^ Nelson A.__Thomas_,,_Katherine Hartwell and William Miller.
A report on nutrient limitation in Lake Michigan has been prepared
for the Phosphorus Committee of the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference.
The data indicated phosphorus limitation through most of the year. Nitrogen
was secondarily limiting to S e 1 ena s t r urn cap r ic or nu t urn . One near shore
station during July was limited equally by phosphorus and nitrogen.
Region V - Review of Draft Impact Statements. Principal Investiga-
tor A Nelson A. Thomas.
Review was made on the Perry Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2.
Regio_n_? — jjgPgj^LjikeaMRefer enc e S tudy .
Mr. Kelson Thomas serves as Co-Chairman of the Working Group D -
Local Effects for the Upper Great Lakes Study Group, Studies are being
coordinated for Lakes Superior and Huron with a report being due December
1975. Tudor T, Davies serves on Working Group D, Open Lake Studies,
Region ¥.
Region ¥ personnel has made extensive use of the computer facilities
at Grosse lie Laboratory and some instructional time has been contributed
by the staff.
International Joint Commission.
Mr, Thomas, Mr. Richardson, Dr. Davies and Dr. Mullin serve on
various committees of the Water Quality Board and the Research Advisory Board.
Mr. Richardson has given extensive service to the International Joint Commission
through computer services at Grosse lie Laboratory.
State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The computer facilities and consulting time from the staff has been
extensively used by the scientist of Department of Natural Resources.
International Activities .
Dr. Davies was asked to attend the External Affairs of Canada and
State Department and International Activities Branch of the Environmental
Protection Agency meeting in Ottawa in October , to review the progress of
governments in implementing the U.S. -Canada Agreement for Great Lakes Water
Quality.
Interagency ......Committee on_ Marine Science and Engineering.
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IV. PUBLICATIONS
Papers Presented and Published;
Davies, Tudor and N. A, Thomas: "The U.S. Chemistry-Biology Program in IFYGL'%
presented at
Thomas, Nelson, K. Hartwell arid W, Miller: "Great Lakes Hutrient Assessment",
presented at - Bios£imulat^iOTi_Works|iop_» CorwlJ;is_A_C)regon;i> Ocjtpjbgr_
16, 1973. Report forwarded to Region V.
Thomas, Nelson and K, Hartwell: "Zooplankton Entrainment at the Monroe Power
Plant (Michigan) . Working Paper Issued.
Davies, Tudor T., ed»; First Federal Conference on the Great Lakes,
Cgmmi 1 1 ee on Mar ine S c ien ce _and_ Engineer^ing^ pp_.
Davies, Tudor T.: Effect of Environmental Gradients in the Rappahannock
River Estuary on the Molluscan Fauna in
Society of America.
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