By Jaime Ciavarra
The Ohio River Basin affects 25 million people every day and Taio Chang, professor of civil engineering, is committed to keeping it a clean resource. Chang recently was selected executive director of the Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education (ORBCRE), an association of universities, colleges, governmental agencies, industries and individuals whose goal is to promote research and education in water and environmental issues.
River research is important because it affects both the natural environment and the economy, as the river traffic transports 75 percent of the national coal reserves, Chang said.
One of ORBCRE's current issues is the effect of exotic species on the transportation of coal-using barges. They are particularly concerned with the zebra mussel which produces byssal threads, string-like material that attaches to hard surfaces and block water intakes and gates of locks. These threads ultimately create problems for the navigation of coal barges. Toxic chemicals such as chlorine can be used to kill the threads, but these chemical agents are also toxic to other water uses.
"They [zebra mussels] result in detrimental effects to the environment," Chang said. Zebra mussels have become a serious problem for industry on the Great Lakes and many rivers. The mollusks, a nonnative species, inhibit water flow in pipes because they multiply rapidly. Chang has found a way to alleviate the problem - without the use of chemicals - by making the environment in the pipes unsuitable for the mussels. His research has resulted in three United States patents for his method and the device itself. ORBCRE is also developing theories and methods to address these problems more safely.
In addition to water quality issues, the organization is concerned with homeland security. The Ohio River relies upon 19 locks and dams for navigation; damage to these would cripple navigation and shut down power plants along the river. Even more detrimental would be the destruction of dams, which could wipe out an entire downstream town.
"It sounds scary, but not much has been done," with security issues, Chang said. ORBCRE's research will be the first dealing with homeland security and the Ohio River Basin, which stretches across 14 states.
Jaime Ciavarra is a student writer with University Communications and Marketing.
