Lake Erie Programs
The Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water Lake Erie Unit participates in many Lake Erie and Great Lakes related issues and efforts. The two main programs are: the development and implementation of Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for the Maumee, Black, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula river areas of concern; and the development of a lakewide management plan (LaMP) for Lake Erie. Both of these efforts are focussed on reducing the loadings of pollutants and restoring all beneficial uses to these waterbodies. Both programs are described in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, and are mandated under the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act amendment to the Clean Water Act.
Recently, Ohio EPA formed the Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorus Task Force to review phosphorus loading data from Ohio tributaries to Lake Erie, to consider possible relationships between trends in dissolved reactive phosphorus loading and inlake conditions, to determine possible causes for increased soluble phosphorus loading, and to evaluate possible management options for reducing soluble phosphorus loading.
Programs
Remedial Action Plans (RAP)
- Delisting Targets for Ohio Areas of Concern - December 2008 [PDF 1,684K]. The document presents targets and potential milestones based on existing Ohio EPA programs, rules, regulations, policy and guidance. Ohio RAP groups are encouraged to use this document to adopt targets and milestones specific to their Area of Concern.
- Post-dredging Habitat Enhancement Plan Report for the Lower Ashtabula River, Ashtabula, Ohio. MBI Technical Report MBI/08-04-2. March 30, 2008 [PDF 287K]. Submitted by: Center for Applied Bioassessment & Biocriteria, Midwest Biodiversity Institute, Inc. Prepared under a grant from U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office to Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water.
Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP)
Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorus Task Force
Additional Information
For additional information on Lake Erie programs, contact:
Gail Hesse
Division of Surface Water
(614) 644-2146
gail.hesse@epa.state.oh.us