EPRI Holds Annual Meeting of the Ohio River Ecological Research Program
The EPRI-managed Ohio River Ecological Research Program held its annual workshop at the American Electric Power Company’s Conference Center in Columbus, OH on Feb. 2–3.  Representatives from ten power companies operating 14 power plants on the river attended.  Program presentations focused on a review of 2008 and 2009 Ohio River monitoring results and analysis of long-term thermal impacts.  The program is now sponsoring graduate research, and two graduate presentations were made: (1) use of bioenergetic modeling to assess thermal impacts, by Purdue University; and (2) effects of fish community isolation on fish population genetics, by Marshall University. Presentations by the Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) reviewed ongoing fish population sampling results and water quality standards development.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reviewed the Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Plan, and a researcher at Ohio State reviewed the status of freshwater mussel populations and mussel biology in the Ohio River.  Day two of the meeting included a tour of the Columbus Zoo’s Mussel Research Laboratory.  For more information, contact Doug Dixon, (804) 642-1025, ddixon@epri.com.