Clients
Board of Lucas County Commissioners
Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District
Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District
Location
Maumee Watershed, OH
CEC Services
- Watershed Assessment and Planning
- GIS Mapping and Analysis
- Stakeholder Involvement and Outreach
- Stream and Wetland Restoration Design
Owner Objective
In 2017, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to subgrant with local partners in targeted subwatersheds of the Maumee Area of Concern for the development of Habitat Restoration Plans, equivalent to Nonpoint Source-Implementation Strategic (NPS-IS) plans. CEC assisted Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Ottawa SWCD, and the Board of Lucas County Commissioners with their applications to prepare habitat-focused NPS-IS plans for a total of eight targeted watersheds under this grant. CEC also assisted these clients in the preparation of their plans.
CEC Approach
NPS-IS plans focus on smaller watersheds at the hydrologic unit code (HUC)-12 level. CEC compiled and reviewed a summary of watershed characteristics (land use, regulated point sources, land preservation, historical information, etc.) and analyzed current available water quality data to link causes and sources of impairment in waterways throughout the watershed. CEC coordinated efforts with key stakeholders throughout the watersheds to identify critical areas to focus restorative efforts for reduction in nonpoint source pollution and improvement of habitat. These stakeholders provided input into goals and objectives for each critical area, and CEC worked collaboratively with them to develop projects that meet the nine elements required by the U.S. EPA.
Projects that meet the nine required elements are eligible for federal and state Clean Water Act – Section 319 funding through both competitive and noncompetitive means. Both Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA have approved the eight watershed plans, with projects already earmarked for future funding. Projects within these plans may contribute to meeting the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for phosphorus load reduction to Lake Erie to reduce the impact of Harmful Algal Blooms.
