The Black River Watershed TMDL

Background

The Black River Watershed TMDL Report was approved by U.S. EPA on August 20, 2008. The report is the thirtieth Ohio TMDL project approved by U.S. EPA under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. TMDL reports identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment with water quality standards. The Black River watershed is located in Ashland, Huron, Medina, Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. The Black River drains into Lake Erie in the City of Lorain. The dominant land uses in the Black River watershed are 44% row crop, 25% deciduous forest, 16% residential, and 8% pasture. The watershed lies within the Erie/Ontario Lake Plain (EOLP) ecoregion. Point source pollution (discharged from pipes), runoff from urban areas and agricultural land, failing home sewage treatment and poor stream bank land management are degrading some stream segments. Among the most visible threats to the Black River is the conversion of farm, forest and stream bank acreage to suburban and commercial uses.

The Black River Watershed. Click on the map for a larger JPG (686K] image.

Some of the recommendations for improvement include restoring stream habitat in agricultural areas; eliminating pervasive bacteria problems; reducing impacts from permitted dischargers; and managing storm water quantity and quality in developing areas.

The Black River watershed is part of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Program. The Black River is the only river system in Ohio where the entire watershed has been designated as an Area of Concern. Contaminant loadings from point source dischargers (typically industries and waste water treatment facilities) within the Black River watershed have seen significant reductions within the last decade. The RAP now aims to combat nonpoint source impacts through precision farming techniques, the utilization of best management practices during construction, and the restoration, enhancement, and protection of the Black River riparian corridor. The Black River RAP projects and educational activities address a wide variety of these issues. More information about the RAP program is available at http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/rap/rap.aspx.

The TMDL Report

• TMDL Report without Appendices [PDF 2,597K]
  • Appendix A: Loading Duration Curves [PDF 209K]
  • Appendix B: SWAT Modeling Report [PDF 3,574K]
  • Appendix C: Allocation Approach for Sediment and Nutrient TMDLs [PDF 521K]
  • Appendix D: CE-QUAL-W2 Modeling Report [PDF 676K]
  • Appendix E: CE-QUAL-W2 Model Scenario Results [PDF 516K]
  • Appendix F: Black River Agricultural Nonpoint Source Plan [PDF 78K]
  • Appendix G: Public Comment Response Summary [PDF 237K]

Many of the documents referenced in the TMDL report can be found under Forms and Publications on the Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water Web page.

Further information

• Black River Fact Sheet [PDF 242K] – October 2008
• Biological and Water Quality Study of the Black River Basin: Lorain and Medina Counties. [PDF 2,817K] – March 31, 1999
• Cleanup efforts in the Black River watershed were recognized by Ohio’s governor and the Ohio EPA Director [PDF 15K] – April 22, 2004
• The East Branch of the Black River was recognized by the U.S. EPA as having recovered its benthic macroinvertebrate community [PDF 14K] – August 18, 2005

Groups Active in This Watershed

• Black River Watershed Project
• U.S. EPA Area of Concern Web site
• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency RAP Web site
• Firelands Land Conservancy

Ohio EPA Contact

Ted Conlin
Black River RAP Coordinator
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Northeast District Office
2110 East Aurora Road
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
Phone: (330) 963-1131
Fax: (330) 487-0769
E-mail: ted.conlin@epa.state.oh.us

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