U.S. Department of the Interior a U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey

Programs in Ohio 

 For more than 100 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided the information needed to manage the Nation’s earth 

resources, to mitigate geologic hazards, and to 

understand the environment. In Ohio, the 

USGS works cooperatively with local, State, 

and other Federal agencies, as well as with 

universities, to study earth science.

Water Resources

Much of Ohio’s social and economic development is determined by the availability of 

usable water. Surface water is abundant in 

Ohio’s streams and lakes, which include parts 

of the Ohio River and Lake Erie. In addition, 

unconsolidated aquifers (sand and gravel 

deposits) and sedimentary bedrock aquifers 

(sandstone or dolomite deposits) throughout 

Ohio provide a source of ground water. However, water quality is a concern. Geologic processes, such as fracturing and mineral 

concentrations, and human activities, such as 

agriculture, mining, industry, and urbanization, 

affect water quality and the health and wellbeing of the people, the economy, and the environment of Ohio. Point-source contaminants of 

water can include organic substances from 

sewage and industrial waste discharges and 

minerals from mining activities, and nonpointsource contaminants can include herbicides 

and fertilizers used in agriculture and lawn 

care.

Collection of Water-Quality Data

The USGS has collected and analyzed 

water-quality data in Ohio since 1946 to support national, State, and local water-resources 

managers in their efforts to conserve, protect, 

and provide safe and usable water for the public (fig. 1). Partners in this effort include the 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources 

(ODNR), and other Federal, State, and local 

agencies.

The USGS maintains and operates a monitoring network of ground- and surface-water 

stations throughout Ohio to collect short- and 

long-term water-quality data. The data from 

this monitoring network are made available 

through computer data bases and as published reports and maps. The USGS also provides “realtime” data as part of its monitoring 

network. Realtime data allow the USGS and 

others to have immediate access to timely, 

up-to-date information on water-quality 

conditions throughout the State.

National Water-Quality 

Assessment Program

In 1991, the USGS began the National 

Water-Quality Assessment Program 

(NAWQA) to describe the status and trends of 

large, representative parts of the Nation’s 

ground and surface waters and to identify and 

describe the natural and human factors that 

affect their quality. USGS scientists are studying the occurrence and distribution of pesticides, fertilizers, sediment, and trace organic 

and inorganic contaminants by using data 

from the USGS monitoring network and other 

agencies and academic institutions. 

The Lake Erie–Lake St. Clair Basin study 

unit of NAWQA (fig. 2) drains an area of 

about 22,300 square miles that includes northern Ohio, southeastern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, the northern tip of Pennsylvania, 

and southwestern New York. Water resources 

in the study unit are central to the economy 

and culture of the region. In 1988, the value of 

Lake Erie and its tributaries with respect to 

sport fishing and related commerce was estimated to exceed $850 million.

The study unit contains about 300 public 

recreational areas and about 90,000 acres of 

inland waters for public use. Lake Erie supports the largest freshwater fishery in the Great 

Lakes (an estimated 50 million–60 million 

pounds of fish are caught per year) and is 

widely considered to be the best walleye fishery in the world. Lakes Erie and St. Clair and 

the St. Clair, the Detroit, and the Niagara Rivers are vital shipping links that connect the 

upper Great Lakes to Lake Ontario and the 

St. Lawrence Seaway. 

Index of Subjects

Water Resources 

Collection of Water-Quality Data

National Water-Quality Assessment Program

Big Darby Project

Metzger Marsh Restoration

Energy-Resource Assessments

Disposing of Byproducts of Coal Burning

Geologic Mapping

Topographic Mapping and Digital Line Graph 

Data Production

Shoreline Erosion on Lake Erie

Landslide Hazards and Mitigation

Earth Science Information

Educational Activities

Cooperative Programs

Biological Research

Figure 1. USGS staff collecting water-quality data in Ohio.

Earth Science in the Public Service
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 Although much progress has been made 

in the Lake Erie Basin to control contamination and to improve water quality since the 

early 1970’s, water-quality managers often 

must regulate certain contaminants on the 

basis of incomplete or conflicting information. More study is needed on the following 

major water-quality issues in the Lake Erie–

Lake St. Clair Basin study unit:

• Reproductive impairment in fish and 

wildlife as a result of exposure to and 

bioaccumulation of contaminants, 

such as PCB’s, pesticides, methylmercury, and other trace-element and 

trace-organic compounds.

• Elevated concentration of PCB’s and 

other substances in fish tissue, which 

affect the suitability of fish for human 

consumption.

• Decrease in water quality owing to the 

discharge of nutrients, pesticides, 

trace elements, synthetic organic 

compounds, and pathogens to streams 

and lakes by storm runoff.

• Declines in biological diversity of 

aquatic communities, which result 

from habitat disturbance and 

alteration.

• Water-supply and ecosystem management problems caused by the proliferation of nonnative species, such as the 

zebra mussel.

Communication and coordination between 

the USGS and other scientific and watermanagement organizations are critical components of the NAWQA Program. Each 

study-unit investigation has a local liaison 

committee that consists of representatives 

of Federal, State, and local agencies; universities; and the private sector. Each liaison 

committee exchanges information on waterquality issues of regional and local interest, 

identifies sources of data and information, 

assists in the design and scope of project 

elements, and reviews project-planning documents and reports. 

Big Darby Project

Big Darby and Little Darby Creeks have 

recently been designated National Scenic 

Rivers because of their unusual diversity of 

fish (86 species) and freshwater mussels (40 

species). This watershed (fig. 3) has received 

attention nationally as one of The Nature 

Conservancy’s Last Great Places, one of the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service’s 

Hydrologic Units, and one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Ecological 

Risk Assessment Case Studies. The USGS 

has been studying the washout and recolonization of algae and macroinvertebrates in the 

Big Darby Creek Watershed to clarify how 

its biological diversity is affected by the 

hydrology, water chemistry, and physical 

disturbance associated with runoff during 

storms. During the study, the USGS collected comprehensive data on sediments, 

nutrients, and pesticides carried by storm 

runoff. Data and interpretive reports from the 

study assist water-resources managers who 

oversee the watershed and benefit residents 

of the watershed by providing insight into 

the probable consequences of land-use practices in the Big Darby Creek Watershed.

Metzger Marsh Restoration

The lacustrine wetlands of Ohio, as well 

as other wetlands around the Nation, have 

been greatly reduced in extent and function. 

The USGS, in cooperation with the ODNR, 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is 

actively involved in a restoration program for 

Metzger Marsh within the Ottawa National 

Wildlife Refuge.

Wetlands act as a natural water filter and 

thus improve water quality, as well as provide habitat for waterfowl and large and 

small mammals and serve as nursery 

grounds for major lake fisheries. Increased 

development has virtually eliminated fully 

functioning wetlands along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie.

The Metzger Marsh restoration project 

represents a novel approach to wetlands restoration that seeks to provide the widest 

possible range of functionality. Follow-up 

monitoring will determine the success of this 

project, which has the potential to provide a 

model for wetland restoration projects 

throughout the Nation.

Energy-Resource Assessments

Coal is used to produce about 20 to 25 

percent of the total energy and more than 50 

percent of the electricity generated in the 

United States. Even with substantial 

increases in energy conservation and the use 

of other energy sources, coal will continue to 

be a major energy source into the next century. In the National Coal Assessment, the 

Figure 3. Location of the Big Darby Creek 

Watershed in Ohio.

Figure 2. The Lake Erie—Lake St. Clair Basin study unit of the National Water-Quality Assessment 

Program.
USGS is working with the ODNR to identify the location of coal resources, which 

include coal potentially suitable for the 

export market, on public and private lands.

A key issue of interest to future coal users 

is the quality of coal that will be mined in the 

next 20 years, particularly in the Appalachian 

Basin, which includes southeastern Ohio. 

Investigators are compiling information on 

the quality of various major coal beds. This 

information allows planners and industry to 

identify areas that can sustain production of 

coal of specific quality for various uses, 

which include clean coal combustion and 

synfuel production.

Disposing of Byproducts of Coal 

Burning

The USGS, in cooperation with several 

Federal and State agencies, is evaluating a 

beneficial use for the byproducts of scrubbers 

on coal-burning powerplants that are 

designed to reduce sulfur emissions. Many 

tons of scrubber byproducts are produced 

daily, and disposal costs are high. Use of the 

byproducts in the reclamation of abandoned 

coal mines has been proposed as a cost-effective and beneficial means of disposal. At a test 

site in an abandoned mine in Tuscarawas 

County, the USGS is studying how the application of scrubber byproduct affects the quality of ground water beneath the site.

Geologic Mapping

Important geologic mapping in Ohio is 

funded by the National Cooperative 

Geologic Mapping Program. This statewide 

geologic mapping effort is necessary to 

improve the definition of important 

resources, such as coal, boiling gas, and 

ground water. The mapping also delineates 

areas that have a high potential for indoor 

radon and zones of landsliding. 

Topographic Mapping and Digital 

Line Graph Data Production

The USGS strives to ensure that map and 

digital data are available to the general public through timely and effective data-collection and revision procedures. Among the 

most popular and versatile products of the 

USGS are its 1:24,000-scale topographic 

quadrangle maps (1 inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the ground). These maps 

depict natural and cultural features of the 

landscape, such as lakes and streams, highways and railroads, boundaries, and geographic names. Ohio is covered by 788 

quadrangle maps at this scale. These maps 

have long been favorites with the general 

public for outdoor uses, as well as scientists 

and engineers for technical applications.

The USGS has a cooperative agreement 

for digital map production with the Ohio 

State University Center for Mapping (CFM). 

The USGS provides base materials and other 

assistance to the CFM to support preparation 

of digital line graph (DLG) data from 

1:24,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangle maps. DLG data layers that are being collected include the Public Land Survey 

System, boundaries, hydrography, transportation routes, and contours. A consortium of 

State agencies, which also supports this 

project, uses the data for planning and 

resource-management applications and 

transportation and utilities studies. The CFM 

has developed an innovative DLG production 

scheme that uses “work-at-home” contractors to perform key production functions. 

The CFM performs quality control, then 

sends the completed DLG files to the USGS 

via the Internet for final review and public 

domain archiving. Through 1995, this collaboration has resulted in DLG coverage for 

more than 300 maps, or 40 percent of the 

State.

Shoreline Erosion on Lake Erie

The shoreline along Lake Erie is eroding 

rapidly, which is resulting in damage to public and private property. The USGS, working 

in cooperation with the ODNR, is in the final 

year of a 5-year study to document historic 

erosion of Ohio’s shoreline bluffs (fig. 4) and 

to determine what natural processes and 

human activities are contributing to the erosion of the shoreline. Because the Ohio 

shoreline is similar to other eroding areas 

throughout the Nation, the results of this 

study of erosion potential could have wide 

applications. Losses owing to coastal erosion 

in Ohio exceed $40,000,000 per year. The 

research conducted under this cooperative 

program enables prediction and mitigation of 

this severe geologic hazard.

Landslide Hazards and Mitigation

The Cincinnati metropolitan area has one 

of the highest per capita costs of landslide 

damage of any metropolitan area in the 

Nation. Landslides in this area damage or 

destroy buildings, roads, and public utilities 

and cost millions of dollars annually in lost 

productivity and repairs. USGS scientists, in 

cooperation with the University of Cincinnati, have identified some of the main causes 

of landslides and have helped lay the technical groundwork for the landslide-mitigation 

efforts now underway.

Additionally, USGS scientists have developed a method to compare the benefits and 

costs of programs designed to mitigate landslide damage. Use of the method, which was 

developed in cooperation with the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, Hamilton 

County, and the city of Cincinnati, identified 

a mitigation program that could produce 

annual benefits of $3.1 million at a cost of 

$1.4 million.

Figure 4. A section of Ohio’s shoreline along Lake Erie has eroded several hundred meters since 1876. 

(Labeled time lines show position of shoreline for years given.)
For More

Information

Nationally, the USGS National Landslide 

Information Center in Golden, Colorado, is 

the focal point for collection and dissemination of information on significant landslide 

events, critical research results, and public 

policy issues that relate to landslides. The 

Center collects and distributes a vast amount 

of information related to landslides to users 

throughout the world.

Earth Science Information

The USGS Earth Science Information 

Centers (ESIC) provide information to the 

public about USGS programs, products, and 

technological developments. The ESIC in 

Columbus was established under a cooperative agreement between the USGS and the 

ODNR. As part of the national ESIC network, the ODNR office provides information 

on aerial photography and remote-sensing 

data. In addition, the USGS and the ODNR 

provide geological, geochemical, geohydrologic, geophysical, and hydrological information to the general public. The ODNR also 

serves as the contact point for USGS topographic quadrangle maps for the State.

Educational Activities

As part of its outreach effort, the USGS 

participates in numerous educational activities. For example, interested children from 

Millcreek Elementary School (Perry County) 

and adults living in the Monday Creek Watershed have been invited to help scientists write 

a new book for children and teachers called 

“Hands-On Acidic Mine Drainage—Science 

Experiments for Kids Living Where Creeks 

Are Red and Yellow.” The Monday Creek 

Watershed is one of many Ohio waterways 

affected by acid drainage from mineral 

resources and abandoned mining operations. 

Creeks can be colored red, yellow, and 

orange from the combination of acids and 

iron precipitates. Children play in these 

creeks and are even known to use red crayons 

when asked to draw pictures of waterways. 

Scientists from the USGS, the U.S. Forest 

Service, the ODNR, and Ohio University 

have teamed up with Rural Action’s Monday 

Creek Restoration Program for this activity.

The USGS also participates in the Partners 

In Education Program with the Grandview 

Heights School District (Franklin County). 

USGS personnel have demonstrated and 

explained methods of collecting water-quality data to students who represented the District’s Middle School Science Olympiad 

team. During the Spring Olympics (1995) 

for Ohio schools, the team placed in the 

top five in the water-quality data-collection 

competition.

Cooperative Programs

USGS activities in Ohio are conducted in 

partnership with numerous Federal and State 

agencies, local governments and organizations, and colleges and universities. For 

example, water-resources studies in the State 

are funded through a combination of Federal, 

State, and local government monies. More 

than 50 percent of the 1995 water-resources 

studies were financed through matching-fund 

agreements with State and local governments. 

The remaining studies were funded through 

Federal sources, which include other Federal 

agencies.

Another example of cooperative studies is 

a geologic mapping program by the USGS 

and the ODNR to develop a new statewide 

bedrock map to replace the existing 75-yearold one. As of August 1995, all 1:24,000 

bedrock-quadrangle maps west of 82o longitude were available as open-file editions at the 

ODNR. Full-color, 1:100,000-scale versions 

of three 30- x 60-minute quadrangles in 

western Ohio have been published. These new 

geologic mapping products are popular with 

those engaged in mineral, fossil-fuel, and 

ground-water exploration.

Biological Research

The USGS Biological Resources Division 

(formerly the National Biological Service) 

seeks to improve the understanding and management of exotic and invasive species, commercial and recreational fisheries, and 

contaminants in aquatic ecosystems in Ohio.

Studies are being conducted through the 

Great Lakes Science Center in collaboration 

with the ODNR and others that focus on population dynamics of walleye, yellow perch, 

lake trout, and other key predator, forage, 

commercial, and recreational species and 

gathering important fish stock data in the 

region. Biologists also are evaluating the 

effects of invasive zebra mussels, ruffe, and 

sea lampreys in the Great Lakes and are 

developing methods to stop the spread of 

these species. Other studies include monitoring contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, 

restoration of diked wetlands, and restoration 

of polluted watersheds affected by acidic 

mine drainage.

The Ohio Cooperative Fish and Wildlife 

Research Unit, which is located on the 

campus of The Ohio State University, is a 

cooperative effort supported by the USGS. 

Unit scientists conduct research throughout 

the State on fishery issues, habitat modification, bird community dynamics, and endangered species in conjunction with State and 

Federal agencies.

USGS State representative

975 West Third Avenue

Columbus, OH 43212-3192

(614) 469-5553

Fax: (614) 469-5626

E-mail: dc_oh@usgs.gov

Additional earth science

information can be found by

accessing the USGS Home Page

on the World Wide Web at

http://www.usgs.gov/

For more information on

all USGS reports and products

(including maps, images,

and computerized data), call

1-800-USA-MAPS

The USGS provides maps,

reports, and information to help

others meet their needs to manage,

 develop, and protect America’s water,

energy, mineral, biological and land

resources. We help find the natural

resources needed to build tomorrow,

and supply the scientific understanding needed to help minimize or mitigate the effects of natural hazards

and environmental damage caused

by natural and human activities. The

results of our efforts touch the daily

 life of almost every American.

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet FS-035-96