The Lower Grand River Watershed Plan
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In 2000, Grand River Partners, Inc. was awarded a Watershed Coordinator Grant, which provided the organization the ability to hire a Watershed Coordinator to develop a comprehensive plan for the Lower Grand River and its surrounding watershed. Knowing the size and the number of different ecological areas of the watershed, it was decided to break the watershed into two separate sections for the planning process; the Upper and Lower Grand River Watersheds.
The goal of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan is to address causes and sources of water quality impairments and habitat degradation within the watershed, and to recommend restoration and protection goals. The outcome of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan is an itemization of problems, priorities, and action items identified and supported by local Grand River Watershed communities.
The purpose of this plan is to reduce water resource impairment in all water bodies within the Lower Grand River Watershed that do not currently meet water quality standards. It is also to identify areas that are meeting standards, and protect these areas. However, the main goal of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water bodies within the watershed.
Watershed plans come together in basically two major steps. First, the watershed coordinator helps stakeholders gather what is known about the watershed. This “watershed inventory” includes information about land use, water quality, high value resources and other information stakeholders need for good decision-making. The second step is a social process of engaging local stakeholders in defining specific steps necessary to improve or protect the watershed.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is currently working on an Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) document for the Lower Grand River Watershed, which provide key chemical and physical indicators of the overall health of the river and its tributaries. Upon its completion, the comments, suggestions, and data will be incorporated into the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan. The endorsed Lower Grand River Watershed Plan will help Grand River Partners with the planning and more importantly the funding to fulfill the mission of preserving the water quality, the open space, the natural, recreational, agricultural and scenic resources of the Grand River and in the permanent protection of the Grand River Watershed.
Click on the map above to see the Upper and Lower Grand River Watersheds
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan, please contact Vicki Domonkos at 440-375-7315.