Complete report - Partners for Clean Streams

Ottawa River Geographic Initiative
1999-2001
Description:
This project was conducted to continue the hot spot delineation and remedial options
evaluation of the Ottawa River. Work performed during this project addressed the
chemical and biological data needs for a baseline ecological and human health risk
assessment. (see - Ottawa River Hot Spot Delineation and Risk Assessment Project)
A total of 19 sediment, 19 surface water, and 11 soil samples were collected between
river miles 0.0 and 8.8 on June 26-27, 2000. They were analyzed for semi-volatile
organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides, and (PCBs), Target Analyte List (TAL)
metals and cyanide were conducted by the US EPA Contract Laboratory Program
(CLP). Sediment samples for total organic carbon and grain size were collected and
sent to the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental Services for analysis. At the request
of the Ohio Department of Health risk assessors, sediment samples for acid volatile
sulfide and simulated extracted metals were collected and sent to Heidelberg College
for analysis.
Also as part of this investigation, Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water completed a
biological integrity assessment of the Ottawa River. This involved the collection of
fish tissue and macro invertebrates in seven sites between river miles 0.0 and 12.0.
Lead Organization:
Collaborator(s):
Ohio EPA -DERR (fund in part by a grant from USEPA)
TMACOG, ORR-Team
Ohio EPA TMDL Program
1999-Present
Description:
The US EPA Total Maximum Daily Load program started in 1999. The Ohio EPA is
responsible for its implementation in Ohio. This program analyzes water quality by
calculating the amount of pollutants needing to be reduced in order to meet water
quality standards. The program intends to identify and restore polluted rivers,
streams, lakes, and surface water bodies across the country in four steps. The
program contains four phases that overlap over the course of the water body
restoration:
1. Assess water body health: biological, chemical, habitat
2. Develop a restoration target and viable scenario
3. Implement the solution: inside/outside the Ohio EPA
4. Validate to monitor progress: de-list or re-list
These four phases comprise a 12-step program which the Ohio EPA Division of
Surface Water is using to improve Ohio’s waterways. Ohio EPA has a schedule to
complete these TMDLs for each watershed, the lower Maumee River is tentatively
scheduled for 2011.
Lead Organization:
US EPA, Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water
Ohio EPA Sampling Activities in the AOC
Ongoing
Activities and Accomplishments
in the Maumee Area of Concern
237
Issue 23: Long Term
Monitoring of the AOC