Water quality analysis set for Mahoning River

Staff report

COLUMBUS

The state Controlling Board approved more than $670,000 Monday for water-quality analyses in northwest and Northeast Ohio as part of efforts to tackle algae issues.

The funds will go to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to cover contracts to monitor and analyze water quality and flow data in the Western Lake Erie Basin and the Mahoning River.

According to documents, Lake Erie and other inland lakes “have experienced significant harmful algal blooms,” and state officials secured federal grant funding to pinpoint potential pollution sources in the watershed.

OEPA will use surface water permitting fees to pay for a stream gauge in the Mahoning River “to measure and record water temperature, conductance and flow in order to help determine if Ohio and Pennsylvania water quality standards are being achieved,” according to documents.

The U.S. Geological Survey will handle the work through its National Water Information System.

In other business Monday, lawmakers approved an additional $240,000 in spending authority for geologic-mapping activities at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The studies are part of efforts to map and analyze the state’s shale-gas reserves “and assist with efforts to research the availability of aggregate supplies in eastern Ohio needed to construct shale-gas drilling pads and access roads,” according to documents.

The increased appropriation will be used to cover the costs of a high-resolution printer, scanner, shelving and related equipment.