The Bokes Creek Watershed TMDL
Background
The Bokes Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by U.S. EPA on September 27, 2002. It is the fourth TMDL report approved by U.S. EPA Region 5 under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. TMDLs identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment.
Bokes Creek is located in Union, Delaware, and Logan counties in central Ohio and drains to the Ohio River via the Scioto River. Bokes Creek was identified as a priority impaired water on Ohio's 1998 303(d) list. The goal of the TMDL is full attainment of the Warmwater Habitat Aquatic Life Use; Ohio’s warmwater habitat biocriteria will be used to evaluate progress towards this goal.
Biological and chemical stream surveys indicate that the primary causes of impairment of the Aquatic Life Use in the watershed include nutrients, low dissolved oxygen, and habitat alterations. The main sources of impairment are agricultural runoff, failing septic systems, and habitat alteration. The recommended actions include agricultural runoff controls and habitat protection and restoration. Phosphorus loadings are targeted to address impairments associated with excessive nutrient loads. In addition, a habitat analysis was included to help address widespread habitat degradation in the basin.
The TMDL report was public noticed and open for public review and comment from May 6, 2002 to June 5, 2002. A summary of the comments received and Ohio EPA’s responses are included in the final report.
The TMDL in Brief
The TMDL Report
- Final Report with Appendix A (September 2002, PDF 895K]
- Appendix B – Phosphorus Target Development for the Bokes Creek Basin [PDF 80K]
- Appendix C – Model Development for Bokes Creek [PDF 103K]
- Appendix D – Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) Scores for the Bokes Creek Basin [PDF 1,113K]
- Appendix E – Responsiveness Summary to Public Comments [PDF 13K]
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.
For more information contact:
Mike Gallaway
Ohio EPA
Central District Office
50 West Town Street, Suite 700
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
e-mail: mike.gallaway@epa.state.oh.us
telephone: (614) 728-3843
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