Black River Area of Concern

Background 

The Black River is located in north-central Ohio and drains over 467 square miles (1,210 km2) of land. Although flowing primarily in Lorain County the watershed does include drainage from Medina, Ashland, Huron and Cuyahoga Counties. Fifty-one percent of the land within the AoC is used for agriculture, while only 1% is truly industrial. Between these two extremes are rural (38%), urban residential (7%) and commercial land (3%). Over the past few decades, water and sediment quality have improved in the Black River. The contaminated sediments were remedially dredged and impacts from point sources (factories, waste water treatment plants, etc.) have been significantly reduced. Now, the Black River, like many major rivers across the country, is being threatened by major nonpoint source impacts coming from the entire watershed. These impacts are caused by the way the landscape is used for urban, suburban and rural activities. Land disturbances associated with high residential growth rate and intensive agricultural practices are a particular problem. The predominately agricultural sub-basins in the upper Black River watershed are witnessing more than 20% of their land eroding at a rate of 5 tons/acre/year or more. Over 17,000 acres are eroding at "excessive" levels in these areas with cropland accounting for 82% of this number.

Properly managing urban, suburban and rural land use practices throughout the Black River Area of Concern including the enhancement and protection of the riparian corridors and wetlands will improve the quality and productivity of this valuable natural resource.

Originally, the Black River Area of Concern (AoC) only included the lower mainstem. This stretch was designated an AoC because discharges from the many industrial operations on the lower river had contaminated the river sediments with heavy metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs came from a steel mill coking operation that had closed a decade earlier and had severely impacted the health of the resident fish communities. Around the Great Lakes, the Black River was known as the “River of Fish Tumors.”

During development of the RAP Coordinating Committee, a decision was made to expand the Area of Concern to include the entire watershed in order to address the impacts and pollutant loads coming from the upstream areas. Of the four RAP areas located in the State of Ohio, the Black River is the only Area of Concern (AoC) that encompasses an entire watershed.

Beneficial Use Impairments 

In the Black River Remedial Action Plan Stage 1 Report, the RAP Coordinating Committee identified several beneficial use impairments in the Black River AoC. The Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems use impairment was listed as Unknown because of a lack of available local data concerning this beneficial use. The Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations was listed as Unknown because the RAP felt there was insufficient protocol for the determination of impairment status for this beneficial use.

For further information and details on all of the BUIs, see a corresponding Black River AoC Beneficial Use Impairments (PDF 83Kb 3 pages) document and the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) documents listed in the Significant RAP Milestones section below.

Delisting Targets 

The Black River RAP has adopted the Delisting Targets for Ohio Areas of Concern (PDF 1.08Mb 85 pages) (PDF Ohio EPA, June, 2005).

RAP Development and Status

In September 1991, the Ohio EPA director appointed a local planning group to assist the Ohio EPA in the preparation of the Black River RAP. This local planning group, named the Black River Remedial Action Plan Coordinating Committee (PDF 29Kb 1 page), (BRCC), includes members representing local public agencies, state and federal agencies, industries and private commercial groups and citizen representatives. The BRCC was to develop the Black River RAP and submit it to the Ohio EPA for subsequent submittal to the International Joint Commission. The BRCC was given a plan development role, not simply a public advisory role. The Black River RAP Stage One Report was completed in April 1994. The Black River RAP Strategic Long Range Plan (Stage Two Plan) was completed in March 1997. Preparation of the Black River RAP Annual Reports are done by the BRCC noted above, with assistance from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), which provides secretariat and planning support to the RAP. The Ohio EPA also provides planning support to the RAP. The RAP chair resides with the Lorain County General Health District. Technical and implementation work is conducted through various work groups established around specific issue areas. The Black River RAP has been identified by the International Joint Commission as a Great Lakes Area of Concern “Beacon” where notable achievements resulted in real progress.

Significant RAP Milestones

• 2005: The Black River RAP submits A Request for the Delisting of the Degradation of Benthos Beneficial Use Impairment in the East Branch of the Black River (PDF 159Kb 3 pages)  to the US EPA and receives approval for the delisting. The RAP requested this delisting in order to protect the gains made in the rapidly developing East Branch.
• 2004: The Black River RAP is the first RAP organization in Ohio to demonstrate significant improvement by redesignating the Fish Tumors and Other Deformities use impairment from Impaired to in Recovery Phase (PDF 40Kb 1 page).
• 2004: A 21-year Contact Advisory (PDF 36Kb 1 page)  for the lower mainstem of the Black River is lifted by the Ohio Department of Health. The Contact Advisory was posted in 1983 due to the high incidence of fish tumors due to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. The PAH contamination was a legacy of an old steel mill coking operation. The river sediments in that stretch of the river were remedially dredged in 1989-1990.
• 1997: Black River RAP Long Range Plan (Stage Two) adopted.
• 1996: Black River RAP Riparian Corridor Resolution adopted.
• 1994: Black River RAP Stage One Report completed.
• 1991: Black River RAP Coordinating Committee formed.
• 1990: The Black River is identified as a Great Lakes Area of Concern

RAP Implementation

Recent Progress and Achievements

• 2004: The Black River RAP, through funding from the Lorain County General Health District, begins development of a new video entitled A Hidden Treasure: Rediscovering the Black River. This video is an update to an earlier RAP video, Black River, A Future as Dark as its Name?
• 2003: Through assistance in securing funding from the Black River RAP, the City of Elyria waste water treatment plant started a Mercury Reduction Program  that has been expanded to include all of Lorain County.
• 2002: The Black River RAP launches a web based Virtual Tour of the Black River Watershed
• 2002: An innovative Fish Habitat Shelf is constructed on the Black River mainstem at the Lorain Port Authority’s Black River Landing Site, an old brownfield site. The habitat shelf was developed by the Port Authority with help from the Black River RAP and shows immediate success in luring fish to the location by providing in-stream habitat, spawning areas and shelter for young-of-year fish.
• 2001: The Black River RAP partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Buffalo District Office to conduct an extensive habitat survey, www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/rap/blackdocs.html, of the French Creek subwatershed. A French Creek specific watershed guide, Living Along French Creek, A User’s Guide (PDF 762Kb 24 pages) is produced and sent to subwatershed landowners and decision-makers.
• 1998: The Black River RAP and the International Joint Commission co-sponsored a public symposium in Lorain entitled "Protecting What's Been Gained in the Black River."

The Black River RAP Awards:

• 2004: The Black River RAP receives the Lake Erie Award from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission for “its outstanding contributions towards the restoration of its waterway and protecting Ohio’s Great Lake.”
• 1998: The Black River RAP received a RAP Achievement Award from the International Joint Commission.
• 1998: The Black River RAP was awarded a Merit of Honorable Mention in the Natural Resource Category at the Northern Ohio Live Awards of Achievement Reception.

Current Projects and Outlook

Properly managing urban, suburban and rural land use practices along the Black River through protection of the riparian corridor will improve the quality and productivity of this valuable natural resource. Recognizing that land use practices differ in each area of the watershed, the Black River RAP has been attempting to establish small sub-watershed groups. The Black River RAP/U.S. Army Corps partnership have completed a French Creek sub-watershed habitat survey and produced a French Creek specific handbook that was mailed to landowners and decision-makers. In 2003, a similar project has started in the northern East Branch sub-watershed. Currently, the entire Black River AoC suffers from bacterial contamination, especially after storm events. The City of Elyria has been working to relieve the effects from discharges from combined sewer overflows and the Lorain County General Health District has started an inspection, operations and maintenance program to address impacts from old, failing and failed home sewage treatment systems (HSTS).

The Black River RAP and its community partners have been making a difference. Through the support of the Riparian Corridor Resolution and through various education programs, the Black River RAP and its community partners have fostered a new and heightened awareness to protect this area.

RAP-Related Publications

• 2004: French Creek Watershed Survey: Lorain County, Ohio (PDF 1.94Mb 26 pages) . U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Buffalo District. Main report and appendices also available for download at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/rap/blackdocs.html.
• 2000: Explorations of a Watershed: The Natural History of the Black River. Environmental Studies Program of Oberlin College. (Edited by Black River RAP member Brad Masi and features sections written by other RAP members.)
• 1999: 1999 Biological and Water Quality Report of the Black River Basin (PDF 2.75Mb 176 pages), The Ohio EPA.
• 1999: Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District: Streambank Guide for Homeowners. (Developed through a grant from the Great Lakes Commission.) Guidebook is intended to help homeowners learn more about protecting streambanks from erosion utilizing bioengineering techniques.
• 1994: 1994 Biological and Water Quality Report of the Black River Basin (PDF 685Kb 135 pages), The Ohio EPA.

Community/Local RAP Group Involvement 

This eroded bank (top photo) of the East Fork of the East Branch of the Black River was sloped and lowered to allow connection to the floodplain (bottom photo) to prevent further sedimentation and enhance habitat. The changes for the ecosystem here were quite dramatic.

The Black River RAP is a unique community based public/private initiative involving participation from local citizens, township, municipal and county officials to state and federal agencies. The Black River RAP motto is “Our River, Our Responsibility” and each RAP member has taken responsibility to help affect the many changes that has made this organization so successful.

Recognizing that land uses and proper stream stewardship are better directed at a local level, the Black River RAP has been directing considerable effort toward the development of small sub-watershed groups. These groups can affect more changes in the neighborhoods and communities of their subwatershed. Through the efforts of the Lorain County Community Development Department, a group of concerned individuals has been formed in the predominately agricultural West Branch subwatershed. The Black River RAP is trying to form another group in the rapidly developing French Creek subwatershed.

Partners and Stakeholders

• Building Industries Association of Lorain County
• City of Elyria 
• City of Lorain
• Lorain County Chamber of Commerce
• Lorain County Commissioners
• Lorain County Farm Bureau
• Lorain County General Health District
• Lorain County Metro Parks 
• Lorain County Municipalities
• Lorain County Port Authority 
• Lorain County Townships
• Lorain Soil & Water Conservation District
• Lorain County Engineer
• LTV Steel 
• Medina Soil & Water Conservation District
• Medina County Commission
• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency 
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources 
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Ohio State University Sea Grant 
• Republic Technologies International
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service 
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Black River AoC Contacts

U.S. EPA RAP Liaison:
Anne Marie Vincent
U.S. EPA Region 5
Cleveland Office
25086 Center Ridge Road (ME-W)
Westlake, OH 44145
Tel:  (440) 250-1720
Fax: (440) 250-1750
Email: vincent.annemarie@epa.gov

State RAP Contact:
Ted Conlin, Black River RAP Coordinator
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Northeast District Office
2110 East Aurora Road
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
Tel:  (330) 963-1131
Fax: (330) 487-0769
Email: ted.conlin@epa.state.oh.us
Web Page: www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/rap/blk_home.html

Local Coordinators:
Ken Pearce, RAP Chair
Lorain County General Health District
9880 South Murray Ridge Road
Elyria, Ohio 44035
Tel:  (440) 322-6367
Email: kpearce@loraincountyhealth.com

Andy Vidra, RAP Secretary
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
668 Euclid Avenue
4th Floor, Atrium Office Plaza
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-3000
Tel:  (216) 241-2414 ext. 254
Email: andy.vidra@mpo.noaca.org
Web Page: www.noaca.org