Final impairment removed as Black River moves closer to delisting
The Black River is one step closer to being removed from U.S. EPA’s list of Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC).
After years of cleanup and restoration work, U.S. EPA has approved the removal of the river’s final Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), known as Degradation of Benthos. This marks the last environmental milestone needed before the Black River AOC can be officially delisted.
“This is a major milestone for the Black River and the communities that have worked for years to restore it,” said Governor DeWine. “Today’s announcement shows that long-term investments in water quality and habitat restoration make a real difference. Together, we’ve transformed the river into a healthier place for wildlife, recreation, and the people who call this region home.”
The Black River was once significantly impacted by historic pollution and habitat degradation. Over the years, local, state, and federal partners worked together to clean up contaminated areas, restore habitat, and improve infrastructure and water quality.
Projects included cleaning up a former industrial site and building 1.5 miles of fish shelves, underwater structures that provide habitat for underwater bugs, insects, and other small invertebrates, called benthos. These underwater organisms spend most of their lives in the sediment or water, and their populations can take years to show signs of sustained recovery.
“The installation of 1.5 miles of fish shelves, upstream habitat restoration, and restoration of a former steel mill site have significantly bolstered areas in the Black River that support macroinvertebrates and the fish that depend on them,” said Don Romancek, Black River AOC Advisory Committee Chairman. “These improvements reflect the type of long-term work that made the final BUI removal possible.”
Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested approximately $26 million in projects to help evaluate and improve conditions in the Black River AOC. The Black River AOC Advisory Committee and its partners played a critical role in identifying and implementing key projects to improve habitat that supports the recovery of benthic communities.
“The Black River is a great example of the rejuvenation that can happen at industrial sites. The restoration of underwater habitat alongside changes in the landscape to improve water quality allowed the invertebrate insect populations to bounce back," said Joy Mulinex, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “The Commission appreciates the hard work of all of the parties engaged in this work that will provide a healthier, more enjoyable Black River for the community.”
The Black River AOC Advisory Committee originally identified nine BUIs that needed to be addressed. With the final impairment now removed, the Black River has met all the environmental goals needed to proceed with the delisting process. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA will continue to work with local, state, federal, Tribal, and Canadian partners to complete the remaining steps of formal delisting.
There will be another public comment period later this year as part of the formal delisting process.
About the Ohio Lake Erie Commission
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie’s natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promote economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio EPA serves as the Commission’s chairperson. Additional members include directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture, Natural Resources and seven additional members appointed by the Governor.
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