Reference Library: Topics

Watershed Related Policies

General Water Policy and Law

Recommended! Basic Laws Related to Water, by U. S. EPA's Watershed Information Network.  Find links to summaries and full text of some of the key federal statutes governing water resources in the U. S., including Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Water Resources Development Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
http://www.epa.gov/win/law.html

Recommended! Ohio Law and the Division of Water, By Ohio DNR's Division of Water.  Provides a listing of links to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) related to the ODNR Division of Water, including: Canal Lakes, Dam Safety, Floodplains, Mapping and Technical Services, Water Inventory, and Water Planning.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/orclaw/
default.htm

Recommended! Permit Checklist for Stream Modification Projects , by Ohio DNR's Division of Water. Guide No. 6 in the Ohio Stream Management Guide series.  Describes what types of stream modification projects require permitting, which agency has jurisdiction, and the proper process for obtaining a permit.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/pubs/fs_st/stfs06.htm

Recommended! Who Owns Ohio's Streams? by Ohio DNR, Division of Water. Guide No.2 in the Ohio Stream Management Guide series.  This guide covers a variety of topics related to the ownership of land adjacent to and under streams, including landowner's rights and responsibilities related to dam construction on streams and drainage into streams. 
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/pubs/fs_st/stfs02.htm

The Clean Water Action Plan Web-site.  The Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP) was developed by various federal agencies in response to President Clinton's request for a comprehensive plan to revitalize the nation's commitment to protect and restore our water resources.  This site provides links to a variety of information about the CWAP, including a factsheet and slide show about the Act, accomplishments to date, budget initiatives, and a list of partner agencies. 
http://cleanwater.gov/

TMDLs

Recommended! Atlas of America's Polluted Waters, by U. S. EPA's Office of Water.  View maps on-line that depict the waters within each state that do not meet state water quality standards.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/atlas/index.html

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program: Introduction to TMDLs, by U. S. EPA's Office of Water.  Get the official definition of a TMDL, read the overview of the current TMDL program and regulations, get state-by-state information about causes of impairment, and download a slide presentation on TMDLs.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/intro.html

Total Maximum Daily Load Program, by Ohio EPA's Division of Surface Water.  Provides a brief description of the TMDL program and lists TMDL watersheds for 2001 and 2002.  Also provides links to Ohio EPA's comments on the TMDL Program and the full report on the Middle Cuyahoga River TMDL (approved by U.S. EPA in October, 2000).
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/tmdl/index.html

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), OSU Extension Factsheet.  Covers the basics, including What is a TMDL?; Why develop TMDLs?; How are TMDLs being developed in Ohio?; and How will TMDLs affect farmers?
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/ae-fact/0007.html

References

Elder, D., G. Killam, & P. Koberstein. (1999). The Clean Water Act: An Owner's Manual. Portland, OR: River Network Press.  Written for the concerned citizen in mind, this book explains sections of the Clean Water Act relevant to river protection work, explains how to get involved in regulatory decisions, and provides case studies, references, Web sites, and other resources.  You can order and purchase the book from River Network's Web-site at:
http://www.rivernetwork.org/marketplace/index.cfm

Ohio EPA's 319 Program: What You Should Know, Appendix 9 (pp. 72-73) in: A Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio, by Ohio EPA, by Ohio EPA. (1997).  This guide can be viewed on-line or downloaded in PDF format at:
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/watershed/guide/guide.html

(In 2002, OEPA and ODNR released an update to Appendix 8 of this guide. It is available as a pdf document at http://ohiodnr.com/soilandwater/docs/watershedprograms/
Appendix8update.pdf.)