EPA Research Partner Support Story: Managing excessive nutrient runoff causing HABs

Partner: Clermont and Brown County (OH) Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality, Clermont County Water Division, Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Agriculture/National Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Challenge: Managing excessive nutrient runoff into East Fork Lake (Lake Harsha), which is causing harmful algal blooms
Resource: East Fork Watershed Cooperative―a collaboration between local, state and federal entities including the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service―and The Nature Conservancy
Project Period: 2010 – Present

Excessive nutrient runoff in East Fork Lake in southwestern Ohio causes harmful algal blooms (HABs). These HABs in turn can produce cyanotoxins, which are harmful to human health and can compromise drinking water safety. EPA ORD along with several federal, state and local agencies collaborated to form the East Fork Watershed Cooperative to address this issue.

“This partnership has made a huge difference in what we’ve been able to do at the local level. The research and expertise involved in the Cooperative has made things possible that we would never have been able to do on our own.” – Clermont County Soil and Water District Administrator John McManus

This multiagency cooperative, led by EPA ORD staff, leverages resources to help demonstrate how to better protect water quality in the watershed. EPA provides technical support and guidance, runs watershed simulation models, provides expert review, assists USACE in monitoring water quality, participates in statewide HAB modeling efforts with USGS, and supports the state of Ohio on nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation in the East Fork.

The short-term goal of the cooperative is to provide early warning and efficient treatment plans for the toxic algae problem in Lake Harsha. Their long-term goal is to eliminate the algae problem by reducing runoff from nonpoint sources.

More information on the East Fork Watershed Cooperative (EFWCoop) webpage.