Ohio EPA issues 2018 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, identifying the open water of the Western Basin of Lake Erie as impaired

On March 22, 2018, Ohio EPA issued for public comment its 2018 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, which includes Ohio’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) priority list for 2018, as required by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The report identifies the procedures that Ohio EPA used to develop the list and indicates which areas have been selected for TMDL development from 2018-2020. The TMDL priority list (Section L4 of the Report) identifies waters in Ohio that are currently impaired and may require development of a TMDL in order to meet water quality standards. Significantly, for the first time, Ohio EPA has listed the open water of the Western Basin of Lake Erie as impaired. Ohio EPA will host a webinar on April 25, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. to present information about the list and is accepting comments through May 4, 2018.  After reviewing the comments received, it will submit the final report to U.S. EPA for approval.