EPA Water Quality Study

ODNR Wild and Scenic Study

EPA Water Quality Study
Continuous monitoring has been essential to the process of identifying problems and improving the water quality conditions in the Black River and its tributaries. The EPA conducted the most recent survey during the summer of 1997 and released the results in 1999. Water chemistry was analyzed at 28 sites for priority pollutants and organic compounds. Sediment chemistry was studied at 12 locations and 36 biological monitoring sites were examined. This number of monitoring sites was less than the number examined in the 1992 Intensive Survey due to state budgets constraints for the Ohio EPA. Under these circumstances, the Ohio EPA was forced to focus the 1997 survey, with local input, to meet limited specific objectives:

1.   Evaluation of impacts to water quality and aquatic life from the following point source dischargers: USS/Kobe Steel, Grafton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), Elyria WWTP, Lodi WWTP, North Ridgeville WWTP, Oberlin WWTP, Lorain Eastside WWTP, Amherst WWTP, and Eaton Estates WWTP;
2.   Evaluation of non-point pollution impacts from the following sources: Elyria combined sewer overflows (CSOs), USS/Kobe’s D2 landfill, and the fly-ash disposal site adjacent to French Creek;
3.   Determination of attainment status of aquatic life and non-aquatic life use designations, and recommended changes where appropriate; and
4.   Comparison of results from this survey with previous surveys in 1982 and 1992 to assess changes in water quality and biological integrity, especially for the lower Black River mainstem following removal of contaminated sediments.

The findings included:

1.   Biological indicators and chemical water quality have improved significantly in the Black River mainstem upstream of the estuary (where Lake Erie water mixes with the Black River) as the result of improvements made to the Elyria WWTP.
2.   Loadings from upstream sources (both watershed and wastewater treatment facilities) to the estuary portion of the Black River result in severe dissolved oxygen depletion. This continuing trend, even with significant improvement in upstream water quality, indicates that the capacity of the estuary to tolerate pollutants continues to be exceeded. A comprehensive evaluation of the dynamics of this system must be investigated to determine if the estuary is capable of meeting the water quality criteria, and if so, what steps are necessary to achieve this goal.
3.   PAH concentrations in the lower Black River have been significantly reduced following the remedial dredging of the river in 1990.
4.   Studies conducted by Paul Baumann have found that tumor frequencies in the Black River have been reduced.
5.   A study by Wright State University found that significant sediment toxicity exists in the lower Black River. Low concentrations of PAH’s may result in photo-induced toxicity, especially under low flow conditions when in-stream turbidity decreases.
6.   High concentrations of heavy metals continue to be a problem in the sediments of the lower Black River and have not been significantly reduced over time.
7.   Pervasive non-point pollution continues to impact biological community performance throughout the watershed, resulting in few differences as compared to the results of the 1992 Ohio EPA Intensive Survey.
8.   Violations of the fecal coliform bacteria standards are common throughout the watershed.

The study team was formed again in the Spring of 2000 to review the findings of this report and to gather any other information that has been produced regarding the condition of the watershed since the release of the Stage I document. The Study Team expects to have its report ready in September 2000 and will include additional information on fish populations, the state of algae and zooplankton populations, and bacteria levels.

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ODNR Wild and Scenic Study
In 1997-98, the Black River was studied by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to determine its eligibility for designation as a Scenic River. The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves of the ODNR is charged with administering natural areas and scenic rivers by identifying, inventorying, protecting, and managing the best remaining examples of Ohio’s natural diversity. In fact, Ohio pioneered the river preservation movement in 1968 with the enactment of Senate Bill 345 by the 107th General Assembly. The Ohio Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Law was the first of its kind and predated the National Wild and Scenic River Act. Ohio’s law provides for three different categories of designation. Wild Rivers are rivers that are generally inaccessible, the floodplain is undeveloped, the river is free-flowing and 75% of the adjacent corridor is forested to a depth of at least 300 feet. Scenic Rivers include rivers that have much of its natural character for the majority of its length. Although signs of disturbance by humans may be present, the shorelines are undeveloped and the river corridor must be forested to a minimum depth of 300 feet for 25% of the stream’s length. Recreational Rivers are those rivers which warrant protection due to cultural and /or historical attributes of statewide significance even though they do not possess the same natural quality as the Wild or Scenic Rivers.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources uses the following criteria to evaluate a river:

• The integrity of the riparian corridor
• Water quality
• The integrity of the biological communities
• Impoundment or other human alterations to the stream’s flow
• The length of the stream
• Bridge crossings

The two most important factors for grading a river system are the integrity of the riparian corridors and the quality of aquatic ecosystems. At least one continuous ten-mile segment of the stream must meet all criteria in order for the stream or portions of it to be considered for designation as an Ohio Scenic River.

Russel Gibson, NW Ohio Scenic River Coordinator, was the ODNR staff member responsible for completing a river study of the Black River by reviewing available data and completing field assessments. According to Gibson, the Scenic River study was an interpretive study, not a scientific study, although specific criteria were used in evaluating the Ohio EPA Intensive Survey data regarding fish and benthic macroinvertebrate populations. Gibson drafted a preliminary report in August, 1997 that was presented to the Black River RAP Steering Committee and included the following conclusions:

• Mainstem: Despite recent improvements, the severely degraded conditions of the Black River’s mainstem included poor biological conditions. The highly urban character of the mainstem does not meet the warm water habitat minimum standards and precludes the mainstem from scenic river consideration.
  
• West Branch: The West Branch of the Black River continues to exhibit negative impacts of human activities. Its natural systems and functions are impaired by excess siltation and continued loss of the riparian forest corridor. Biological performance within the river is stressed and fails to meet warm water habitat standards except at one isolated upstream location which is far less than ten miles in length.
  
• East Branch: The East Branch possesses several important characteristics, but poor fish community performance and continuing problems with non-point pollution are significant concerns. There are no ten-mile continuous segments of the East Branch meeting warm water habitat water quality standards.

With continued riparian and aquatic improvements, the East Branch may be reconsidered in the future.

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