ET-2 (6/23/05 version)
Purpose: Environmental Targets And Priorities

State of Ohio Targets: Environmental priorities and targets drive NPS implementation in Ohio, so that by 2010:

• 80% attainment of aquatic life uses occurs;
• Maintaining and restoring self-sustaining stream channels is a state priority for contributing to water quality attainment;
• 30% of known acid mine impaired streams are in attainment with warmwater habitat aquatic life uses;
• NPS contaminant concentrations in Ohio drinking water supplies are below Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs);
• All streams currently classified as Outstanding State Waters, based on exceptional ecological values as outlined in OAC 3745-1-05, are attaining water quality standards;
• 85% of Ohio watersheds have sustainable watershed groups with water quality restoration or protection as central to their missions.

The purpose of this component of the plan:

• Summarize relevant established international, national, and regional targets or "desired" states for NPS issues and classify using environmental indicators hierarchy;
• Define baseline data ("as is" state) for existing targets; define baseline for proposed targets wherever possible;
• Establish items that Ohio NPS partners will be tracking and reporting to USEPA;
• Provide state-wide primary causes and sources of NPS-related surface water non-attainment and threats to drinking and ground waters in Ohio;
• Identify current and potential future priority areas for action;
• Identify gaps in current targets and make recommendations to fill them;
• Identify statewide research and environmental data analysis needs;
• Provide an organized, central location for the above-mentioned information that can serve as a basis for aligning limited funding and technical assistance where the most environmental benefit will occur due to NPS implementation;