Complete report - Partners for Clean Streams

and Q&A session to discuss logjams, erosion and septic system issues;
guided interpretive nature walk; water testing; and children’s games.
Suburban Swan Creek Days, Swan Creek Metropark - presentation and Q&A
session to exchange information on storm sewers, flooding, streambank
stabilization, water quality and stream monitoring. Residents also participated
in a guided nature walk and viewed the Maumee RAP’s streambank
stabilization project.
Urban Swan Creek Days, Oliver House/Maumee Bay Brewing Company -
presentation and Q&A session to exchange information on streambank
stabilization, recommended vegetation for streambank plantings, and storm
water management. Residents and business owners also participated in a
walk along the Swan Creek RiverWalk.
1999 (May) Activities
Rural Swan Creek Days, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark – presentation
and Q&A session to discuss storm water, flooding and septic system issues;
guided interpretive nature walk; water testing; and children’s games.
Urban Swan Creek Days, Highland Park Shelter House - presentation and
Q&A session to exchange information on storm water, floodplain/floodway
stabilization concerns. Residents and business owners also participated in a
guided nature walk.
2000 (March) Activities
Swan Creek Days 2000, Monclova Community Center - presentations by
Nature’s Nursery on wildlife preservation and rehabilitation, Swan Creek
Floodplain Study, Native Plant Species and children’s activities.
Swan Creek StreamKeepers Water Quality Monitoring Program (1998-2000)
This was a two-year study of possible biological contamination as a result of
uncontrolled point and nonpoint discharges to Swan Creek and its tributaries in Fulton
and Lucas counties. Water samples were collect and analyzed monthly from 33
stations on Swan Creek and its tributaries. The results were distributed to local
Health Departments and various other interested groups. This data will prove useful
for trend analyses and for follow up recommendations.
The objectives of this program were to raise awareness of regulators and the general
community of current fecal levels in the watershed and to promote actions to
decrease those levels. This data will assist health departments in narrowing their
focus to potential problem areas.
The results found that both fecal coliform and E. coli colonies often exceeded Ohio
EPA standards for human contact. Counts tended to be higher after significant rain
events, and were very high during drought conditions in 1999. This data suggests that
rain events saturate the leaching capacity in private treatment systems leading to
failures and discharge, or possible “slug” effects from livestock operations. It also
suggests that there are direct discharges of untreated sewage into streams. The
conclusion was the need for further, comprehensive investigations by local health
departments to identify sources of pollution and, with full support of the community, to
affect remedial activities that will return Swan Creek to a safe condition.
Activities and Accomplishments
in the Maumee Area of Concern
172
Issue 5: Increase Public
Participation and Awareness