The Ohio River Channel
A Periodic Update From The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
January 2024
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Protecting Our Great Natural Resource, the Ohio River | |
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Happy New Year from ORSANCO and FORE!
We are truly grateful to each of our member states and all of our partner agencies, volunteers, friends, sponsors, and community members who work alongside us to protect the water quality of the Ohio River. We wish you a wonderful start to the new year and we hope to see you at one of our events this year! 2023 was another great year of protecting and promoting the vital uses of the Ohio River, read about our accomplishments in the graphic below!
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What Happens To Aquatic Life In Freezing Temperatures?
Most aquatic organisms in the Ohio River Basin are ectothermic, or cold blooded. As the surrounding water cools, fish simply avoid the shallows where temperatures can be more extreme, seeking deeper waters. Their activity begins to drop as their digestion slows and they wait for warmer temperatures.
Organisms most susceptible to extreme temperatures (cold or hot) are those that are more sedentary, residing in shallow shorelines or in smaller streams that lack the means to access thermal refugia. Freshwater mussels and aquatic insects can seek some refuge in protection of soft sediments.
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Foundation for Ohio River Education
Education empowers communities to value and protect their watersheds. The Foundation for Ohio River Education teaches people of all ages in the Ohio River Basin to become environmental stewards through hands-on programs that get people on the water and engaged in preserving the cultural, ecological, and economical value of our rivers.
Although FORE is affiliated with ORSANCO, it is responsible for sustaining itself through grants, corporate and foundation sponsorships, and through the support of individuals.
Our programs are fueled by the generosity of our volunteers and funders. Click here to learn more about our Foundation and consider making a contribution or donating your time this year.
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Rachel Toney
FORE Environmental Educator, full-time
Rachel joined as our full-time environmental Educator at FORE in December of 2023. Her career path has included several environmental education and activist positions in both the education and nonprofit sectors. She has experience building network and outreach programs for non-profits as well as spearheading lesson planning and classroom activities. Her background in biology assists in collaboration with our technical staff. Most recently, she was published in Tampa Bay Times and taught environmental science at Cincinnati Public Schools' Dater High School. Rachel is very passionate about environmental activism and is excited to be involved in grassroot-level work that can truly make a difference.
Elizabeth Burton
FORE Environmental Educator, part-time
Elizabeth joined as our part-time environmental educator at FORE in May of 2023. She is a recent graduate from the University of Louisville, and has a passion for the environment and a background in biology and field botany. She has experience with educating all ages from tutoring elementary and middle school students in all subjects, in addition to college students in Biology and Chemistry.
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Meet the rest of the FORE Team
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2024 Ohio River Basin Day on the Hill Event
May 16th, 2024
The 2024 Ohio River Basin Day on the Hill will be held at 8am in the Russell Senate Building in Washington D.C. Hosted by the Ohio River Basin Alliance, ORSANCO, and the Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus. This event is an opportunity to learn more about important issues, challenges, and opportunities within the Ohio River Basin and open to all who care about protecting natural resources, stimulating the economy, safeguarding public health, and enhancing the quality of life in the region.
We hope you will save the date and plan to join us, more details to come!
Registration is required.
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The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and the Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE) would like to extend our deep gratitude to all of our volunteers, site coordinators, and sponsors that supported the Ohio River Sweep program in 2023. Your efforts and funding helped make the events a regional success!
Our litter clean up work in the Ohio River Valley is not done! The Ohio River Sweep program is continuing with a seasonal format in 2024 that supports numerous cleanup events between the dates of March 1st - October 31st. In 2024, we anticipate reaching even further into the Ohio River Basin watershed to include more local creeks and tributaries, further extending the message that litter throughout the watershed can eventually end up in the Ohio River and beyond.
How to Participate:
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Plan a cleanup with a group or organization. There are many opportunities for a variety of groups including Scout groups, city and county parks & recreation, universities, rotary clubs, local businesses, and more!
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Find a cleanup near you using our online interactive map.
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Donate to support a cleanup event. Your contribution will provide t-shirts, gloves, and trash bags to volunteers.
*For all donation commitments received after February 15th, sponsor logos will be included on 2025 promotional materials.
Thank you 2024 Sponsors!
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Life Below the Waterline
A 2,200 gallon mobile freshwater aquarium showcasing Ohio River fish!
2024 Planned Events
Pending Events
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Environmental Education Programs | |
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FORE is currently partnering with BB Riverboats to use the River Queen as a floating classroom and educational laboratory. The River REACH program engages students in applied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines through hands on-water quality monitoring, habitat assessments, and studies of aquatic organisms, including fish and macroinvertebrates, that are used to study the health of the river system.
Enroll your class for Spring programming today! Currently, this program is only offered in the greater Cincinnati region. However, please let us know if you would like to see us in your area too! This program is also offered on canoes with a condensed curriculum! Grant funding through Ohio EPA's Ohio Environmental Education Fund will fully cover the cost of select schools in Ohio with a free and reduced lunch rate of 50% or higher.
Visit our website and contact our Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator, Nick Callahan to learn more about this program and other environmental education programs we offer for students, teachers, and the general public.
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Foundation for Ohio River Education Upcoming Public Events
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Ohio River Basin Alliance Discussion Series
The ORBA Discussion Series is an opportunity for communities to share their knowledge and passion for the Ohio River. This seasonal series of webinars features topics in Clean Water, Ecosystem Restoration, Research, Education, Transportation, Flood Control, and Recreation.
Sign up for the upcoming discussion on Wednesday, February 2024
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Full-Time Seasonal Biologist
ORSANCO Biological Programs is hiring for 2024! Join a dynamic team environment that works together to collect fish, macroinvertebrates, abiotic habitat, and water quality data along the Ohio River and its major tributaries.
Applications are due by March 15th!
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Finance & Accounting Manager
ORSANCO is seeking an experienced Accountant to direct all aspects of financial management. Read the full job description here.
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ORSANCO
Technical Programs Updates
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Watch the Proteus datasonde in action! | |
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ORSANCO was awarded a West Virginia 604b grant which will help to fund a special project this year. ORSANCO currently monitors bacteria annually, including Fecal Coliform and E. coli in the Ohio River during the Contact Recreation Season (April-October).
This grant has enabled us to purchase a real-time datasonde called the Proteus, which will help to determine bacteria counts in seconds rather than 18-24 hours. This season, ORSANCO staff will do a side by side comparison of the Proteus (real-time) and Colilert Method (incubated) to determine if this might be an instrument to utilize in the future.
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Hypoxia Task Force
Hypoxia, or low levels of dissolved oxygen (less than 2-3 milligrams of oxygen per liter of water), occurs in waters all over the world. A variety of factors including effects of excess nutrients and waterbody stratification due to saline or temperature gradients can create hypoxic conditions. These conditions have detrimental effects on ecosystems as well as the economic health of impacted areas.
The Hypoxia Task Force was established in the Fall of 1997 to understand the causes and effects of eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico; coordinate activities to reduce the size, severity, and duration of the hypoxic zone, and ameliorate the effects of hypoxia. ORSANCO attends the annual Task Force meeting and works with federal, state, and local agencies to address the causes and effects of excess nutrients both within the Ohio River Basin and in downstream waters.
The 2023 Hypoxia Task Force Report to Congress is out and includes updates from Kentucky, surrounding states, and federal partners.
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