Lake Erie Science Series: Water Quality

On Tuesday, June 6, Amanda Kovach and Sarah Orlando will present on “Lake Erie Water Quality – Nonpoint Source Pollution, Lake Erie & You.” This Lake Erie Science program will take place at 1:30 p.m. in Orchestra Hall.

Lake Erie is a source of recreation, drinking water and tourism value for the state of Ohio. However, these uses are at risk due to land-based pollution traveling down tributaries (i.e., rivers and streams) and through other sources of runoff into the Lake. Join staff from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Management and the Ohio Clean Marinas Program as they co-present this session to discuss some of the issues with nonpoint source pollution on our Great Lake. Learn about why we should care, what is being done to address these issues, and ways you can help to become a part of the solution.

Amanda Kovach is the Coastal Management Specialist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Management. Her responsibilities include management of grant-funded projects and programs focused on benefits to the Lake Erie Coastal Area (e.g., habitat restoration, water quality improvement, coastal erosion control, and/or public access enhancement), as well as coordinating the Ohio Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. In this role, Kovach enjoys engaging with coastal community stakeholders toward the restoration and protection of the many resources Lake Erie provides. Kovach holds her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Texas, and her master’s degree in zoology (emphasis on aquatic toxicology) from Miami University (OH).

Sarah Orlando is an Extension Educator with Ohio Sea Grant based in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Management. She is the Program Manager for the Ohio Clean Marinas and Clean Boaters programs – voluntary, incentive-based programs to help maintain and improve Lake Erie water quality while preserving the economic activity and viability of the marine trades industry. Her primary responsibilities include conducting applied research and education programs regarding Clean Marinas, Clean Boaters, non-point source Lake Erie water quality and other Lake Erie issues.

Orlando also coordinates the Ohio Shrink-Wrap Recycling Program, a cost effective, eco-friendly alternative to disposing of shrink-wrap for Lake Erie marinas and boaters. Orlando holds her bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in marine science and English from Wittenberg University, and her master’s degree in marine resources management from Texas A&M University at Galveston.