Ohio Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program

Ohio EPA's update to the Ohio Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June 2014. This important update provides direction and strategic focus to Ohio EPA's programs and activities geared toward reducing the impacts of nonpoint source pollution such as hydromodification, habitat alteration, polluted runoff and adds other activities like Invasive Species management and innovative storm water management demonstrations. Management Practices listed in the update are now eligible for federal Section 319 grant funding and grants awarded from other sources. Since Ohio EPA is not altering the scope of the previously updated nonpoint source management plan, a full revision to the Management Plan was not required. As a result, Ohio EPA focused updated strategies and practices only on programming actions for which Ohio EPA is the primary implementer and/or facilitator.

Ohio's approved NPS Management Plan update incorporates large sections from Ohio's recently submitted Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This information was derived following collaboration and input from a large number of agricultural and urban stakeholders. Moving forward Ohio's NPS Management Plan will implement several provisions of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Ohio's updated plan also incorporates objectives for Ohio EPA's Lake Erie Program, as well as strategies for dealing with NPS issues in urban waters as well as protection activities critical to protecting high quality waters. For information about Ohio's updated NPS Management Plan, contact Rick Wilson at (614) 644-2032.

• Ohio's Nonpoint Source Management Plan

Targeted Agricultural Innovation Request for Proposals (RFP) ​

• Requests for Proposals
• Application Form
• Listing of Watersheds
• Map of Watersheds

FFY2018 -Project Application Deadline March 15, 2018

• FFY2018 Request for Proposals (RFPs) Section 319 Grants
• FFY2018 Section 319 Application Form

Nine-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategies (9-Element NPS-IS) in Ohio

• The 9-Element NPS-IS is a strategic plan that provides assurance to nonpoint source grant programs and institutions (i.e., U.S. EPA) that, as described, a proposed water quality project meets the 9 Essential Elements per U.S. EPA §319 Program Guidance (April 2013).
• For a project to be eligible for Ohio EPA Section 319 Funding, a proposed project must be described in a U.S. EPA-approved 9-Element NPS-IS for the HUC-12 watershed in which the project is located.
• The NPS-IS ensures that potentially funded projects are: rooted in the best science available; located in areas that will address the worst problems; and that have the administrative, evaluation, and educational components needed to ensure that the water resource will achieve as much long term benefit as possible.
• The NPS-IS is a living strategic planning document that summarizes causes and sources of impairment, established critical areas, identifies quantifiable objectives to address causes and sources of impairment, and describes projects designed to meet those objectives.
• Each NPS-IS is unique at the HUC-12 scale. The NPS-IS is designed to evolve as projects come and go. Likewise, every updated version (containing new projects and/or new data) must be reviewed and approved by Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA.

Assistance Documents for Developing 9-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic Plans & Approved 9-Element Plans

• FINAL Template with Descriptions for Ohio's Nonpoint Source Pollution Implementation Strategies (NPS-IS), 7/25/16 [PDF] [DOCX] 
• Example Ohio Nine-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic (NPS-IS) Plan (with Template references in margin), 8/30/16 
• Guide to Developing Nine-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic Plans in Ohio, 8/30/16 
• NEW! Critical Source Area Identification and BMP Selection: Supplement to Watershed Planning Handbook
• Ohio EPA Presentation on 9-Element Plan Development— WMAO 2017
• Historical References — Watershed Action Plans 
  These references are provided because the information included in them may be useful when developing 9-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategies and are not to be considered as equivalent to approved 9-Element Strategic Implementation Plans  

For More Information

Rick Wilson, (614) 644-2032

Sediment and Phosphorus Reduction in the Lye Creek Watershed, Hancock County

• Project Summary
• Study Plan
• Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District Project Sign-up
• Project Brochure

Additional Great Lakes Restoration Initiative project summaries are available in the Section 319 Program Annual Reports. 

• Analysis of Effectiveness of Ohio NRCS Practice Standards in Addressing Five Leading Causes of Water Quality Impairment, Rick Wilson Environmental Specialist, Ohio EPA -Division of Surface Water, March 1, 2010.
• 1997. A Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans - locally developed watershed action plans submitted to receive state endorsement must comply with this guidance.
• U.S. EPA's Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters - locally submitted watershed action plans submitted to receive state endorsement should meet the nine essential elements described in this guidance.
• Getting to the Point About Nonpoint (2005-2010 Ohio NPS Management Plan)
• NPS Related Definitions
• See the 319 Grant Documents tab for 319 Grant Documents.

John Mathews
Nonpoint Source Section Manager

Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water
50 W. Town St., Ste. 700
PO Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216-1049

(614) 265-6685 [voice]
(614) 644-2745 [fax]
email: john.mathews@epa.ohio.gov