The White Oak Creek Watershed TMDL

Background

The White Oak Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by U.S. EPA on February 25, 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 White Oak Creek watershed drains 234 square miles of southwest Ohio. White Oak Creek drains directly into the Ohio River and covers portions of Highland and Brown counties. Larger municipalities include Mount Orab, Georgetown, Mowrystown and Sardinia.

Ohio EPA conducted a comprehensive physical, chemical and biological survey of the White Oak Creek watershed in 2006, and several problems were identified. The survey results were published in December 2008 (see below). Major causes of impairment are nutrients, sedimentation/ siltation, degraded habitats, bacteria and atrazine. Major sources of impairment include nonpoint source pollution and habitat degradation associated with farming practices and drainage improvements; urban land uses; and failing home sewage treatment systems.

TMDLs were prepared for fecal coliform, nitrate+nitrite, total suspended solids, total phosphorus, ammonia, and atrazine. This is Ohio’s first TMDL for a public drinking water supply.

Potential solutions include:

• habitat improvement and stream restoration
• reduction of nutrients through agricultural best management practices
• reduction of bacteria through repairing or replacing failing home sewage treatment systems and reducing manure applications
• reduction of atrazine through wider stream buffers and better education of product label instructions.

The TMDL Report

• Final TMDL Report without appendices [PDF 4,913K]
  • Appendix A: Streamflow Estimation Techniques [PDF 2,124K]
  • Appendix B: Load Duration Curves [PDF 2,085K]
  • Appendix C: Linear Extrapolation of Flow Duration Curves and Linear Interpolation of Load Duration Curves [PDF 597K]
  • Appendix D: Ohio EPA Sample Stations [PDF 27K]
  • Appendix E: Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) Data [PDF 63K]
  • Appendix F: Additional Atrazine Analyses [PDF 789K]
  • Appendix G: Implementation and Reasonable Assurances [PDF 135K]
  • Appendix H: Town Run: Justification for a 4B Alternative [PDF 15K] 

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

The following documents provide background information on the White Oak Creek watershed.

• Fact Sheet. White Oak Creek Watershed TMDL Report. February 2010 [PDF 436K]
• Biological and Water Quality Study of the White Oak Creek Watershed, 2006. Highland and Brown Counties, Ohio. EAS/2008-12-12.
  • Report [PDF 2,044K]
  • Appendices [PDF 991K]
• The White Oak Creek Watershed Advisory Board produced a watershed action plan that was endorsed by the State of Ohio in 2004. Click here to view it [PDF 18.77MB]. 

Groups Active in the Watershed

• White Oak Creek Watershed Group
• Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Highland County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Brown County Health Department
• Highland County Health Department

For more information contact:

Beth Risley
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Division of Surface Water
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
beth.risley@epa.state.oh.us 

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