The Ohio River Channel
A Periodic Update from the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
July 2021
On the River Near You...Pools & PFAS!
ORSANCO's biologists and environmental scientists are back out on the river this summer! Our biologists and interns are sampling Ohio River pools for fish population data AND our environmental scientists are monitoring for PFAS, a group of chemicals that could adversely affect human health. We are working closely with our federal partners, US EPA, and USGS to sample and analyze these chemicals in the river. For more information about these programs and others, visit www.orsanco.org.
Ohio River Sweep...with a Mini-Twist!
Have you ever participated in the Ohio River Sweep to clean up litter? Now you can Mini-Sweep! The mini-concept was formed during the coronavirus pandemic to encourage small gatherings of litter cleanup events along the Ohio River and its tributaries. So far this year, over 25 groups have hosted cleanups and removed litter from the riverbanks! For more information on how to get involved, click here.


Our Newly Elected Chair & ORSANCO Staff Notes
ORSANCO elected Dr. Michael P. Wilson of Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York as the 69th Chair of ORSANCO at the Commission's June 2021 Virtual Commission meeting. He assumed office on July 1st. He is a licensed professional geologist with New York State and also taught various courses at State University of New York Fredonia in the Department of Geosciences. Dr. Wilson has served as a New York Commissioner to ORSANCO since 2011 and most recently served as Vice Chairman from July 2020 through June 2021. To learn more about our new Chair, click here.

ORSANCO also recently added two new staff members to our crew, Nick Guthier and Emilee Harmeling. Nick works with our financial programs to process invoices, checks, bank deposits, and timesheets...he basically helps keep all our figures straight! Emilee is an environmental scientist who first worked at ORSANCO as an intern, but she now works full-time, primarily managing our Harmful Algal Bloom monitoring stations. Welcome Nick and Emilee to the ORSANCO crew!
Dr. Michael P. Wilson
Nick Guthier
Emilee Harmeling