The Sugar Creek Watershed TMDLs
Ohio EPA has completed two TMDL projects for the Sugar Creek watershed:
Sugar Creek is primarily a north-to-south-flowing tributary to the Tuscarawas River in the Ohio River drainage basin. The Sugar Creek watershed drains 365 square miles in portions of Wayne, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Stark and Coshocton counties. Sugar Creek begins near Smithville and also contains portions of the towns of Orrville, Sugarcreek, Dalton, Brewster, Strasburg, and Dover within its watershed boundaries.
The northern glaciated portion of the watershed is characterized by rolling hills and valleys whereas the non-glaciated portion has steeper topography with coal and clay deposits. Forty-nine percent of the land cover is row crop agriculture while 18% and 28% constitute pasture and forest covers, respectively. The remaining 5% includes urban, commercial, residential and open water and wetland. Farms within Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties that incorporate the Sugar Creek watershed account for nearly 25% of the total milk production and 26% of the total number of dairy cows within the State of Ohio.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders in this watershed include small package wastewater treatment plants, operations related to livestock production and processing, and industrial discharges. There are one major and 25 minor dischargers holding NPDES permits in the watershed.
Back to Total Maximum Daily Load Program page.