Developing Rules to Reduce the Impacts of Nutrients in Surface Waters
Cultural eutrophication is the result of releasing large amounts of nutrients into rivers and lakes. If left unchecked, cultural eutrophication can result in harmful algal blooms, the depletion of dissolved oxygen and fish kills. Cultural eutrophication associated with high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen is one of the leading causes of impairment of aquatic life in Ohio's lakes, streams and rivers.
Ohio EPA has begun the process to adopt criteria to address cultural eutrophication. In this first step, Ohio EPA is requesting input from stakeholders prior to development of rule language. Please see the following fact sheet and supporting documentation for more information.
- Early Stakeholder Outreach Fact Sheet - Deadline for comments was May 22, 2013
Supporting Documents
Nutrients in General:
- Nutrient Reduction Strategy Framework for Ohio Waters
- Directors' Agricultural Nutrients and Water Quality Working Group - Final Report and Recommendations
- Ohio EPA Point Source and Urban Runoff Nutrient Workgroup - Final Report and Recommendations
- Ohio EPA's Association Between Nutrients, Habitat and the Aquatic Biota of Ohio Rivers and Streams (1999), Appendices
Nutrient Criteria for Lakes:
- 2010 Interested Party Review Draft Lake Habitat Criteria
- Technical Support Document: Nutrient Criteria for Inland Lakes in Ohio, March 2010
- Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water Inland Lakes program
- 2012 Integrated Report Section I, Consideration for Future Lists
Nutrient Criteria for Streams and Rivers:
- Miltner, R.J. 2010. A method and rationale for deriving nutrient criteria for small rivers and streams in Ohio. Environmental Management 45:842-855.
- Technical Support Document for Nutrient Water Quality Standards for Ohio Rivers and Streams. (Draft document prepared by Ohio EPA in cooperation with Tetra Tech and submitted to U.S. EPA on Dec. 5, 2011.)
- Trophic Index Criterion - Rationale and Scoring
Other Resources
- Nutrients and the Mississippi River Basin / Gulf of Mexico
- U.S. EPA - Nutrient Pollution Policy and Data
