Swan Creek watershed improving, EPA reports

3/15/2010

State and federal environmental regulators have approved a report documenting improvements to the Swan Creek watershed in Fulton and Lucas counties over the past 20 years.

Some areas remain impaired by channelization, sedimentation, and excessive bacteria and nutrient levels, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said.

The report, available online at www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/tmdl/SwanCreekTMDL.aspx, calls for restoring more stream habitat, reducing nutrient runoff and sedimentation from fields through better farming techniques, fixing or replacing failing home septic systems, improving small wastewater treatment plants discharging in the watershed, and continuing work to control combined sewer overflows from Toledo. The watershed includes the southwestern portion of Toledo and smaller towns including Swanton, Whitehouse, Waterville, Holland and Maumee.