Fact Sheet State of Environmental Protection Agency

January 2005 Euclid Creek Watershed TMDL

The Watershed In 2002 and 2003, 30 percent of the Restoring the Watershed samples collected by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District were Euclid Creek is a small Erie Several methods are used to restore above the target. tributary flowing through Cuyahoga a watershed to meet standards for County and a small part of Lake bacteria, chemicals, and biological Aquatic Life County. Approximately 43 miles of communities. are included in the 23 square Ohio EPA also evaluates Control of industrial and sanitary mile watershed. The watershed is based on the organisms living in them. wastewater discharges, including septic dominated by urban and suburban land By analyzing fish communities and tank elimination, will improve water use. macroinvertebrates (bugs, and quality. Septic tank elimination is an Within Euclid Creek’s watershed other creatures without backbones) we ongoing project. In the case of Euclid live 68,000 people. can determine compliance with water Creek, control and elimination of these Originating in the communities of quality standards and identify potential discharges has not resulted in Beachwood, Pepper Pike and sources and causes of stream complete restoration of water quality. Willoughby Hills, Euclid Creek changes impairment. Other human induced influences are elevation from 1,200 feet above sea Euclid Creek currently does not meet impacting the stream. level to 570 feet above sea level at Ohio EPA’s standards for aquatic life. Development and loss of streamside . At a gradient of 55 feet per Fish populations appear to be more habitat can be a major source and mile, Euclid Creek is considered a very impacted than the macroinvertebrates. cause of problems. Runoff contained Fish found above the dam near East high-gradient stream. Much of the th in storm water can contain many of the stream flows over bedrock and has 185 Street in our surveys were mostly same pollutants found in industrial and steep valley walls. pollution-tolerant minnows. sanitary wastewater. Addressing Below the dam additional fish issues such as habitat alteration and species were found including rainbow Water Quality land use patterns requires local trout and bass. government support. The aquatic macroinvertebrates have Watershed Action Plans and the Water quality in Euclid Creek has improved to a point that they generally Total Maximum Daily Load process are shown improvements during the time meet Ohio EPA standards. able to achieve restoration, when Ohio EPA has been monitoring the supported and implemented at a local stream. level. Bacteria Discharges from septic tanks, wastewater treatment plants, overflows, and urban runoff contribute bacteria to the watershed. Violations of the water quality standard were common in the 1970s and into the 1980s. Recently, detections of fecal coliform violations have decreased.

Phosphorus Current data indicate that in the stream is above target goals. In Ohio EPA’s 2000 watershed survey, 60 percent of the samples were above the target level.

Division of Surface Water, Northeast District Office, 2110 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087 (330)963-1200 www.epa.state.oh.us