Formula Grant 06E01468

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO OHIO RIVER VALLEY WATER SANITATION COMMISSION (ORSANCO) TO CARRY OUT ITS PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN, PROTECT, AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF ITS RIVERS, LAKES, STREAMS, GROUNDWATER, AND OTHER WATERBODIES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE PREVENTING DEGRADATION OF UNIMPAIRED WATERBODIES AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF IMPAIRED WATERBODIES IN THE STATE. ACTIVITIES:ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WATER QUALITY MONITORING, BIOLOGICAL STUDIES, WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS. AND PUBLIC OUTREACH. THE WORKPLAN CONSISTS OF 13 PROGRAMS: QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL, CLEAN METALS SAMPLING, BIMONTHLY WATER QUALITY SAMPLING, ALGAE/NUTRIENTS MONITORING, CONTACT RECREATION/BACTERIA MONITORING, MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING, FISH TISSUE ANALYSIS, FISH POPULATION STUDIES, SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION, WATER QUALITY DATA ASSESSMENT AND DISTRIBUTION, PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION, WORK GROUPS, AND POLLUTION CONTROL STANDARDS ADMINISTRATION. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: VALID WATER QUALITY INFORMATION TO DETERMINE SUCCESS OF WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS AND NEED FOR ADDITIONAL POLLUTION ABATEMENT ACTIVITIES; DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES TO CHARACTERIZE THE CONDITION OF THE OHIO RIVER; CONSISTENT ASSESSMENT OF OHIO RIVER WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS WHICH ALLOWS BORDERING STATES TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO SOLVE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS; IMPROVED PROTECTIVE ACTIONS TO PREVENT POLLUTANTS FROM ENTERING THE OHIO RIVER AND DRINKING WATER UTILITIES; ESTABLISHED MINIMUM LEVEL OF TREATMENT FOR SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE; COORDINATED EFFORTS BY THE COMMISSION, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY. ALL FINAL DELIVERABLES WILL BE SUMMARIZED IN A FINAL REPORT AND SUBMITTED TO WQX. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT INCLUDE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN.