SI-3A (3/15/05 version)
Overview, "As Is" Stream Integrity Situation: Existing Targets

State, Federal And International Targets

Similar to the chemical integrity section, the purpose of this component of the plan is to summarize existing stream integrity targets and performance indicators. However, there are significant differences including the following:

  • There are very few existing targets;
  • All of the targets are program driven versus watershed-based;
  • All of the targets focus on habitat outcomes that demonstrate the achievement of water quality or wildlife/natural area management goals, but do not include targets for addressing the limiting factors that control habitat quality; and
  • Some of the targets are quantitative in terms of a target achievement date, but do not quantify the baseline and/or what the outcomes will be by the target date.

Table 1. Existing Targets To Address Habitat Modification and Hydromodification.

Target/Source/Indicator Level
Target 1: Per the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Strategy, by 2020, implement Lake Erie Marshes Focus Plan as part of the North American Waterfowl Plan (Level 1).
Baseline: Unknown
Target 2: Per the Lake Erie Quality Index (PDF 292kb), achieve an average QHEI score of 55 or greater for Lake Erie shoreline and lacustuaries (lake effect zones) (Level 6).
Baseline: Lacustuary QHEI scores range from 28 in the Cuyahoga River to 60 in Conneaut Creel; Lake Erie shoreline QHEI scores range from 40 in Sandusky Bay to 71 at Kelleys Island.
Target 3: Per the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Strategy, by 2025, assess environmental/economic benefit of each Lake Erie tributary dam, encourage removal of non-beneficial dams, or modify existing dams with fish passage structures where appropriate (Level 1).
Baseline: Unknown
Target 4: Per USEPA GLNPO, by 2010, restore, enhance, or rehabilitate 100,000 acres of coastal and inland wetlands in the Great Lakes Basin, using existing Federal, State, and Tribal programs (Level 1).
Baseline: Unknown. Target is not partitioned by Great Lakes jurisdiction.
Target 5: Per the ODNR, Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, by 2010, increase by 20 miles or ca. 727 acres, the amount of protected riparian cover (via conservation easements/deed restrictions, and/or land acquisition), along state designated scenic rivers (Level 2).
Baseline: Approximately 3,600 acres of riparian zone along state designated scenic rivers are protected through ownership or management by the ODNR Scenic Rivers Program; the quantity of scenic river riparian zone protected by others is unknown.
Target 6: Per the ODNR, Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, by 2010, protect 3 additional rivers or streams through designation as state, wild, scenic or recreational rivers, adding ca. 150 river miles to the scenic river system in Ohio (Level 1).
Baseline: Currently, Ohio has 11 river systems included as components of the State Scenic Rivers Program, totaling 20 individual stream segments and approximately 700 river miles.

Other Links

  • In addition to the above-mentioned targets, target implementation areas for habitat preservation, restoration, creation or enhancement have been identified by various NPS partner programs. This information can be accessed by going to the priority areas section of each watershed component assessment section;
  • USGS GAP Analysis Gap analysis is a method for identifying the degree to which native aquatic and terrestrial animal species and natural communities are represented in our present-day mix of conservation lands. Those species and communities not adequately represented in the existing network of conservation lands constitute conservation gaps.

Local Targets

In contrast to the above-mentioned existing state, federal and international targets, local stream integrity targets are watershed-based. These targets are highlighted here to recognize the efforts of local watershed groups to support water quality attainment. These watershed-based targets reflect the emphasis on watershed plans that address the causes and sources of impairment and local watershed actions that lead to quantifiable water quality results.