ET-3C (8/8/06 version)
Environmental Targets And Priorities Overview: TMDL/Watershed Action Planning Status

The key implementation mechanism for achieving non-regulated NPS related TMDL targets is locally-led watershed action planning and implementation. Table 1 Summary Comparison of TMDL status with Watershed Action Planning (WAP) Status (August 2006), is a watershed-by-watershed summary of current status of TMDL and watershed action plan (WAP) development, highlighting in pink shading those TMDLs that have been approved by USEPA.

Also available:

• A statewide summary map of all TMDLs in progress;
• A list of all known watershed groups in Ohio, regardless of whether they overlap with a TMDL in progress;
• A list of NPS-related causes of impairment by Watershed Assessment Unit (WAU);
• A list of NPS-related causes of impairment by Large River Assessment Unit (LRAU);
• A description of the WAP endorsement process and a list of state endorsed WAPs
• State Of Ohio Watershed Organizations

Please read the following notes clarifying Table 1 content:

¹TMDL Recommendations

Federal Regulations REQUIRE quantitative TMDL targets for WQ impairment causes that can be translated into a loading reduction. However, the ultimate goal of a TMDL is to provide a roadmap for achieving aquatic life use attainment. Therefore, quantitative water quality targets that are not strictly related to loads are necessary to address NPS causes of water quality impairment. For example:

• A target QHEI score to achieve WWH (60) or EWH (75+) is often used as a proxy indicator of needed habitat improvements;
• 1000 counts/100 ml is often used as a proxy indicator for needed reductions in bacteria; and
• a 6.5 pH level is often used as a proxy indicator for needed reductions in acidity in areas affected by AMD.

²WAP Status

Information in this column is intended to characterize the status of local watershed action planning and implementation in relation to the continuum illustrated in Figure 1 . Therefore the following "WAP Status Codes" have been used: 0= Watershed group NOT identified, 1=Watershed group identified, 2=Watershed group has committed to development of a state endorsed WAP, 3=WAP is fully or conditionally state endorsed, 4= fully or conditionally state endorsed WAP is being implemented.

Table 1. Summary Comparison of TMDL status with Watershed Action Planning Status (August 2006)