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Total Maximum Daily Loads for the Rocky River Basin Final Report Prepared by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Surface Water October 2001 TMDL at a Glance Basin: Rocky River Study Area: Fifteen stream segments or lakes within the basin Goal: Attainment of Warmwater Habitat Aquatic Life Use Causes: Nutrients, organic enrichment/DO, flow alteration, pathogens, ammonia, siltation, thermal modification, habitat alteration, chlorine, priority organics, non-priority organics, metals, turbidity, salinity/TDS/chloride, and other organics. Sources: Municipal point sources, industrial point sources, urban runoff/storm sewers, CSOs, hydromodification, marinas, channelization, streambank destabilization, construction, suburbanization, and septic systems Measure: Warmwater Habitat Biocriteria Recommendations: Point source controls, nonpoint source controls, habitat restoration, wetlands protection, and CSO controls. Contents Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Waterbody Overview .........................................................................................................7 2.1 Description of the Study Area .................................................................................... 7 2.2 Water Quality Assessment ......................................................................................... 10 2.3 Causes and Sources of Impairment ............................................................................ 14 3.0 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 21 3.1 Target Identification ................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Identification of Deviation from Target ..................................................................... 23 3.3 Source Identification .................................................................................................. 23 4.0 Total Maximum Daily Loads .............................................................................................. 26 4.1 Method of Calculation ............................................................................................... 26 4.2 Critical Conditions and Seasonality ........................................................................... 26 4.3 Margin of Safety ........................................................................................................ 27 4.4 TMDL Discussion/Calculations ................................................................................. 28 4.4.1 Rocky River Mainstem from the East Branch to Lake Erie ........................... 28 4.4.2 Abram Creek .................................................................................................. 32 4.4.3 Baldwin Lake ................................................................................................. 36 4.4.4 East Branch Rocky River (Healy Creek to Mainstem) .................................. 36 4.4.5 Hinckley Lake ................................................................................................ 37 4.4.6 Coe Lake ......................................................................................................... 38 4.4.7 Baldwin Creek ................................................................................................ 38 4.4.8 North Royalton “A” Tributary ....................................................................... 42 4.4.9 East Branch Rocky River (Headwaters to Healy Creek) ................................ 42 4.4.10 West Branch Rocky River (Plum Creek to East Branch) ............................... 43 4.4.11 Plum Creek ..................................................................................................... 44 4.4.12 West Branch Rocky River (Cossett Creek to Plum Creek) ............................ 46 4.4.13 Strongsville “A” Tributary ............................................................................. 46 4.4.14 Baker Creek .................................................................................................... 46 4.4.15 Mallet Creek ................................................................................................... 47 5.0 Public Participation ............................................................................................................. 48 6.0 Implementation and Monitoring Recommendations ........................................................... 49 6.1 Implementation Strategies ......................................................................................... 49 6.2 Reasonable Assurances ............................................................................................... 51 6.3 Process for Monitoring and Revision ......................................................................... 52 References ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 57 A. QHEI Attributes for Baldwin Creek- Cuyahoga County Health Department’s QHEI Data for Baldwin Creek B. SWCD /Ohio EPA Agreements C. Public Comments and Responsiveness Summary D. GWLF Model - Development of Watershed Loading Model E. Phosphorus Target Development Tables Table 1. Summary of Ohio’s Water Quality Standards components and examples ................. 2 Table 2. Causes and sources of impairment in 303(d) list segments in the Rocky River basin ................................................................................................. 5 Table 3. Land uses in the Rocky River basin ........................................................................... 8 Table 4. Aquatic life use attainment status for the streams sampled in the Rocky River basin ................................................................................................. 11 Table 5. Significant dischargers in the Rocky River basin ....................................................... 16 Table 6. WWTPs abandoned or with process changes in the Rocky River basin between 1992 and 1997 ..................................................................................... 18 Table 7. Rocky River nutrient TMDL targets ........................................................................... 22 Table 8. Comparison of NO3+NO2 targets and 1997 summer concentrations .......................... 23 Table 9. Comparison of total phosphorus targets and 1997 summer concentrations ............... 23 Table 10. Recommended final effluent limits and monitoring requirements for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport .............................................................. 35 Figures Figure 1. Rocky River Basin schematic Figure 2. Use attainment in the Rocky River basin, 1992 ......................................................... 3 Figure 3. Use attainment in the Rocky River basin, 1997 ......................................................... 4 Figure 4. Land use in the Rocky River basin ............................................................................. 9 ROCKY RIVER WATERSHED TMDLS Executive Summary Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires States to identify waters for which technology- based effluent limitations do not result in attainment of applicable water quality standards. States are to list and prioritize these impaired waters (the “303(d) list”). Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are to be developed for the listed waters. The Rocky River basin is located in Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, and Lorain Counties in northeastern Ohio. Ohio’s 1998 303(d) list included the Rocky River basin, with fifteen stream segments or lakes identified as impaired. The impairments cited include nutrients, organic enrichment, ammonia, pathogens, flow alteration, and other causes. A major biological and chemical stream survey of the basin conducted in 1992 formed the basis for the 1998 listing. Many changes occurred in the basin following the 1992 survey. Multiple wastewater treatment plants were abandoned or upgraded, some discharge permit limits became more restrictive, and efforts are underway to implement home sewage system inspection and maintenance programs. A 1997 survey indicated that some of the segments had achieved attainment, and others are expected to as a result of these changes. This information has been documented in the March 1999 Rocky River Technical Support Document (TSD) and Ohio’s most recent 305(b) report (2000) and will be documented in the next update of the 303(d) list (2002). The applicable numeric biocriteria targets for the TMDLs are found in Ohio’s water quality standards at OAC 3745-1. The success of the implementation actions resulting from the TMDLs will therefore be evaluated by observed improvements in biological scores. This report includes TMDLs for nutrients for one water body, recommendations for de-listing four waters, and recommendations for additional monitoring for the remaining listed waters before TMDLs for other parameters can be done. Nutrient TMDLs Nutrient TMDLs are being submitted for Plum Creek. Recommended actions include: • institute the Stormwater Phase 2 program within the watershed • any 401 mitigation or restoration activity for an approved 401 in one of these segments occurs in the affected segment