Division of Surface Water, 122 South Front St., PO Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 644-2001 

# Fact Sheet State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 

# Nonpoint Source Impacts on Primary

January 2003 

# Headwater Streams

Why Protect Primary
Headwater Streams?

Ohio EPA, as the State's lead water quality agency, monitors the conditions of Ohio lakes, rivers and streams. The findings are conclusive that negative impacts from nonpoint source pollution, especially sediment, nutrients and habitat disruptions, are problems that need to be addressed if
we are to achieve the level of water quality set forth in the Clean Water Act and Ohio's water quality standards regulations. The majority of impacts occur in the upper parts of watersheds of larger streams where
the headwaters are located. The
headwater streams referred to in this
fact sheet are those with a watershed generally less than a square mile. These are referred to as primary headwater streams. On average, for every mile of named larger stream there are more than 5 miles of mostly unnamed, primary headwater streams
in Ohio. Nonpoint source impacts to a few streams in a watershed may cause little cumulative harm, but when many headwaters in a watershed are polluted or impacted it presents a problem on a much larger scale.



### Economic Reasons to Improve Primary Headwater Stream Management

Common sense tells us that water flows downhill, and thus when water is polluted near its origin, in the headwaters, the effects are felt downstream. Negative water quality impacts include contaminants reaching public drinking water supplies, sediment accumulation in
lakes and reservoirs and less desirable fishing and swimming in lakes and
rivers.

Another economically significant impact caused by the alteration of primary headwater streams and their drainage areas (catchments) is flood damage. The modifications made to remove water quickly from the catchments of primary headwater streams puts too much water and energy in larger streams. This causes more frequent and more damaging floods for neighbors downstream, excessive scouring of natural stream channels and damage to bridges and
other structures.

More holistic management of primary
headwater streams and their watersheds designed to reduce these impacts makes economic sense. 

### Ohio's Section 319 Program and Improved Primary Headwater Stream Management

The Clean Water Act Section 319 grant program is the main tool that Ohio EPA has to direct nonpoint
source abatement efforts.

The focus of Ohio's nonpoint source program is upon identifying best management practices (BMPs) which reduce pollution from nonpoint sources and improve water quality. Ohio EPA's approach to nonpoint source pollution control is evolving. It recognizes the importance of nonpoint source impacts in relation to headwater streams and larger
waterbodies within watersheds.

Presently Ohio relies heavily on watershed management plans to identify and correct water quality problems caused by nonpoint source pollution. Those plans emphasize: identification of the nature, extent, and cause of water quality problems; development and implementation of plans to correct those problems; education; and evaluation.

In view of the vulnerability of primary headwater streams to nonpoint source impacts, Ohio EPA strongly encourages local governments and organizations who apply for and administer Clean Water Act Section 319 grant monies to give proper consideration to the principles of good headwater stream management in the watershed management plans submitted to Ohio
EPA and in other areas of all funded projects.Page 2 

# Nonpoint Source Impacts on Primary Headwater

January 2003 

# Streams

Division of Surface Water, 122 South Front St., PO Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 644-2001 

### Examples of Local Soil and
Water Conservation District (SWCD) Related Initiatives that Promote Good Primary
Headwater Stream Management

Resource protection ordinances Resource protection ordinances can
be used to establish stream setbacks and control the development and land
use within a selected distance from
stream channels. The Summit County SWCD recently helped establish a county-wide ordinance
that established setbacks from all steam channels in Summit County. Sugar Creek TMDL Farmers and landowners, in cooperation with the Holmes and Wayne County SWCDs and Ohio State University Researchers, are working to protect the headwaters of the upper Sugar Creek watershed. This is a local, voluntary effort that helps fulfill the "implementation" aspect of Ohio EPA's regulatory obligation to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in nonpoint source impacted
watersheds.

Lake County SWCD The Lake County SWCD is inventorying all headwater streams in the county using the methodology developed by Ohio EPA. The information provides guidance for how to best protect the resources of the County in the face of on-going development.



### For More Information

Visit the Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water web page: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/ or contact Bill Schumacher at (614) 644-2137 or by e-mail at bill.schumacher@epa.state.oh.us