They’ve been surveying the Great Miami River from Dayton down 80 miles to the mouth of the Ohio River.
“We have water quality standards and use designation for water supply, recreation and aquatic life,” said Hugh Trimble, of the Ohio EPA’s Southwest District Office.
Bob Miltner, environmental specialist, alongside Mark Rainieri, second-year intern, motored around a 500-meter area of the river Thursday electrofishing to determine the number of fish species in the river. Fish varieties found include silver redhorse, smallmouth buffalo, smallmouth redhorse and longnose gar.
Trimble said not only do they identify the fish but assess their condition, looking for deformities, eroding fins, lesions and tumors.
“Water quality models are used to determine pollution load,” Miltner said.
Trimble said after all the sampling is done, the data will be analyzed and a biological and water report will be published online. Trimble said 1995 was the last time the Great Miami River was thoroughly tested.
“If an area is not up to standards, or is nonattaining, then we develop a plan to bring those areas into attainment,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.
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