The Blanchard River Watershed TMDL

Background

The Blanchard River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by U.S. EPA on July 2, 2009. TMDL reports identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment with water quality standards.

Blanchard River is a tributary to the Auglaize River in the Maumee basin, draining over 770 square miles in northwestern Ohio. The river originates in Hardin County and flows northward to the City of Findlay, where it abruptly changes direction to flow due west. The dominant land use in the watershed is small-grained row crop production, accounting for more than 80% of the land area.

Ohio EPA conducted a comprehensive physical, chemical and biological survey of the Blanchard River watershed in 2005, and several problems were identified. The survey results were published in 2007 (see below). Primary causes of impairment are nutrients, sediment, poor habitat quality, organic substances and high stream temperatures. TMDLs are calculated for total phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria, and habitat quality and sedimentation, and scenarios were developed to address water temperature issues. TMDL recommendations include:

• lower phosphorus limits and/or phosphorus monitoring for point source dischargers
• agricultural conservation practices to abate sediment, nutrient and manure pollution
• local health departments identify and address septic system failures and provide educational opportunities for system owners
• stream setbacks, controls for subsurface drainage, less damaging channel maintenance, and stream and riparian restoration to improve or protect habitat quality.

The TMDL Report

• TMDL Report without appendices [PDF 2,931K]
  • Appendix A: TMDL Aquatic Life Use Attainment and Assessment Unit Scores [PDF 80K]
  • Appendix B: Blanchard Watershed Total Phosphorus Loading Based on Land Use and Other Sources [PDF 151K]
  • Appendix C: TMDL Modeling Information [PDF 2,864K]

Many of the documents referenced in the TMDL report can be found under Forms and Publications on the Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water Web page.

Supplemental information

• Fact Sheet [PDF 240K]
• Ohio EPA 2007. Biological and Water Quality Study of the Blanchard River and Selected Tributaries 2005. Putnam, Hancock, Seneca, Allen, Wyandot, and Hardin Counties, Ohio. EAS/2007-6-2.
  • Report [PDF 6,919K]
  • Appendices [PDF 869K]

For more information contact:

Katie McKibben
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Northwest District Office
347 North Dunbridge Road
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
e-mail: katie.mckibben@epa.state.oh.us

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