The Swan Creek Watershed TMDL

Background

The Swan Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by U.S. EPA on January 6, 2010. 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.

The Swan Creek watershed drains 204 square miles of northwest Ohio. Swan Creek is a subwatershed of the Maumee River and covers portions of Lucas, Fulton and Henry counties. The watershed overlaps the southwestern portion of Toledo; smaller municipalities include Swanton, Whitehouse and Holland.

Ohio EPA conducted a comprehensive physical, chemical and biological survey of the Swan Creek watershed in 2006, and several problems were identified. The survey results were published in March 2009 (see below). Major causes of impairment are nutrients, sedimentation / siltation and degraded habitats. Major sources of impairment include nonpoint source pollution and habitat degradation associated with farming practices and drainage improvements as well as urban land uses. Sources of bacteria include failing home sewage treatment systems, combined sewer overflows and wastewater treatment plants, in addition to nonpoint sources related to agricultural land uses.

TMDLs were prepared for nitrate-nitrite, total suspended solids, E. coli, total phosphorus, total copper, total aluminum, benzo[a]pyrene, ammonia, dissolved solids, strontium and dieldrin.

Potential solutions include habitat improvement and stream restoration, reduction of nutrients through agricultural best management practices, fixing and replacing failing home sewage treatment systems, and implementation of the CSO long term control plan in Toledo. 

News Release

The TMDL Report

• Final TMDL Report without appendices [PDF 10,122K]
  • Appendix A: Load Duration Curves [PDF 1,026K]
  • Appendix B: Alternative TSS TMDLs [PDF 285K]
  • Appendix C: Additional Sugguested TP Reductions [PDF 119K]
  • Appendix D: Implementation and Reasonable Assurances [PDF 198K]
  • Appendix E: Public Comment Response Summary [PDF 101K]

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.

Supplementation Information

The following documents provide background information on the Swan Creek watershed.

• Fact Sheet. Swan Creek Watershed TMDL Report. January 2010. [PDF 232K]
• Biological and Water Quality Study of Swan Creek and Selected Tributaries 2006. Fulton and Lucas Counties, Ohio. March 20, 2009. Ohio EPA Technical Report EAS/2008-12-11.
  • Report [PDF 3,518K]
  • Appendices [PDF 557K]

Groups Active in the Watershed

• Partners for Clean Streams and Maumee Remedial Action Plan
• American Rivers
• City of Toledo
• Lake Erie Commission
• Lucas County
• National Resource Conservation Service
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• The Nature Conservancy
• Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
• Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership

For more information contact:

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

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