Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic Plan (NPS-IS plan) Portage Lakes-Tuscarawas River (HUC 05040001-01-05) (Ohio’s Nine-Element Plans) Cover Photo: Wonder Lake Creek (photo Maia Peck) Created for: City of Green 1755 Town Park Boulevard Green, OH 44685 Created by: Environmental Design Group 450 Grant St Akron, Ohio 44311 Version 1.0 – Approved: May 6, 2020 Table of Contents Figures and Tables ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Report Background ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Watershed Profile & History .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Public Participation and Involvement ............................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2: HUC-12 Watershed Characterization and Assessment Summary ...................................................................... 8 2.1 Summary of HUC-12 Watershed Characterization ........................................................................................................ 8 2.1.1 Physical and Natural Features .................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Land Use and Protection ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Summary of HUC-12 Biological Trends ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.3 Summary of HUC-12 Pollution Causes and Associated Sources .................................................................................. 22 2.4 Additional Information for Determining Critical Areas and Developing Implementation Strategies .......................... 25 Upper Tuscarawas River Watershed Action Plan ............................................................................................ 25 Portage Lakes Management Study (Draft) ...................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 3: Critical Area Conditions & Restoration Strategies ........................................................................................... 26 3.1 Overview of Critical Areas ........................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Critical Area 1: Tuscarawas River Downstream of Long Lake Outlet .......................................................................... 27 3.2.1 Detailed Characterization ....................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 Detailed Biological Conditions ................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources ................................................................................................ 29 3.2.4 Goals and Objectives for the Critical Area .............................................................................................. 30 3.3 Critical Area 2: Portage Lakes Drainage System ......................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Detailed Characterization ....................................................................................................................... 32 3.2.2 Detailed Biological Conditions ................................................................................................................ 34 3.2.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources ................................................................................................ 35 3.2.4 Goals and Objectives for the Critical Area .............................................................................................. 36 Chapter 4: Projects and Implementation Strategy ............................................................................................................ 38 4.1 Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table .............................................................................................. 38 4.2 Project Summary Sheet(s) ........................................................................................................................................... 39 References ......................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ 43 Figures and Tables Figure 1: Muskingum River watershed........................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: HUC-12 Aerial Map .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 3: Hydrologic Soil Groups .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Figure 4: Septic tank absorption capacity .................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 5: FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area ............................................................................................................... 12 Figure 6: Land Cover Distribution ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 7: Protected Areas ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 2 | P a g e Figure 8: Firestone MetroPark, photo credit Summit MetroParks .............................................................................................. 14 Figure 9: Wetland type and distribution ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 10: Portage Lakes in the HUC-12 ....................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 11: Monitoring Locations and Attainment Status ............................................................................................................. 20 Figure 12: Tuscarawas River segment with low dissolved oxygen levels (in red), from the TMDL .............................................. 23 Figure 13: Critical Areas ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 14: Land Use, Critical Area 1 ............................................................................................................................................. 27 Figure 15: Land Cover, Critical Area 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Figure 16: Tuscarawas River (upstream) at Snyder Avenue ......................................................................................................... 28 Figure 17: Critical Area 2 .............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Figure 18: Land Cover, Critical Area 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 19: NEFCO Riparian Corridor Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 20: Breached dam at former Wonder Lake site (photo Maia Peck) .................................................................................. 34 Table 1: Soils in the HUC-12 ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Table 2: Land Cover Percentage ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Table 3: Rare, threatened and endangered species..................................................................................................................... 15 Table 4: Biocriteria Monitoring ...................................................................................................................................................