PROTECTING WHAT HAS BEEN GAINED IN THE BLACK RIVER

Based on a Public Symposium convened by the Black River Remedial Action Plan Coordinating Committee and the International Joint Commission's Great Lakes Water Quality Board on October 8, 1998 in Lorain, Ohio

March, 1999

ISBN 1-894280-06-7

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

• What is the Black River RAP?
• What is the International Joint Commission?
• Structure of the Symposium

STATUS OF AND PERSPECTIVES ON THE BLACK RIVER

• Protecting what's been gained in the Black River, Don Schregardus, Ohio EPA
• Fish communities and habitat status in the Black River watershed, Roger Thoma, Ohio EPA
• Ship channel water quality and causative factors, Paul Anderson, Ohio EPA
• Improvement in the health of brown bullhead from the Black River, Paul Baumann, U.S. Geological Survey and Ohio State University
• Assessment of sediment quality in the Black River watershed, Allen Burton, Wright State University
• Understanding the characteristics and criteria for the designation of a Scenic River, Russ Gibson, Ohio DNR
• Citizen role in river protection, David Orr, Oberlin College

BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSIONS OF WATERSHED ISSUES

• The role of the agricultural community in river protection
• The role of home owners in river protection
• The role of local government officials in river protection
• The role of river/riparian land owners in river restoration
• Sustaining public involvement in the Remedial Action Plan process
• Sustaining environmental monitoring to measure progress
• Stormwater management issues

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

APPENDIX I - Symposium Program
APPENDIX II - List of Symposium Participants
APPENDIX III - International Joint Commission Student Forum. Oberlin College

Black River RAP Contacts and Web Sites

Ken Pearce, RAP Chair
c/o Lorain County General Health District
9880 South Murray Ridge Road
Elyria, Ohio 44035
Telephone: 440-322-6367

John Beeker, RAP Secretary
c/o Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
1299 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Telephone: 216-241-2414

George Espy
c/o Seventh Generation
25 Lake Avenue
Elyria, Ohio 44035
Telephone: 440-322-4187

Ted Conlin, RAP Coordinator
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Northeast District Office
2110 East Aurora Road
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
Telephone: 330-963-1131

Key web sites:

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/blackriver.html
http://chagrin.epa.state.oh.us/
http://oberlin.edu/
http://www.noaca.org
http:/www.ijc.org/conseil_board/water_greatlakes/en/glwqb_home_accueil.htm