0 30 60 MILES

0 30 60 KILOMETERS

Sandusky River

Mahoning River

Ohio River

Rocky River

Black River

Scioto River

Cuyahoga

Maumee River

Huron River

Muskingum River

Hocking River

Little Miami River

Great Miami River

GrandRiver

Chagrin R.

Portage River

Grand 

Lake 

St Marys

LAKE ERIE

OHIO

INDIANA

KENTUCKY

MICHIGAN

CANADA

UNITED STATES

WEST VIRGINIA

PENNSYLVANIA

KNOX

STARK

DARKE

LICKING

SCIOTO

ADAMS

WAYNE

SENECA

HURON

LOGAN

GALLIA

ROSS

PIKE

WOOD

LORAIN

MEIGS

PERRY

UNION

ALLEN

ATHENS

HENRY

BROWN

CLARK

BUTLER

MIAMI

NOBLE

HARDIN

ASHTABULA

ERIE

TRUMBULL

MERCER

PREBLE

PORTAGE

BELMONT

FRANKLIN

PUTNAM

WARREN

MORGAN

COSHOCTON

WASHINGTON

CARROLL

JACKSON

ASHLAND

MORROW

DEFIANCE CUYAHOGA

DELAWARE

CLERMONT

WILLIAMS

LAWRENCE

PAULDING

AUGLAIZE

TUSCARAWAS

WYANDOT

HARRISON

VAN WERT

COLUMBIANA

HAMILTON

SANDUSKY

MAHONING

JEFFERSON

CRAWFORD

CHAMPAIGN

HANCOCK

SHELBY

FULTON

VINTON

LUCAS

HIGHLAND

GREENE FAIRFIELD

MUSKINGUM

MONROE

MEDINA

HOLMES

FAYETTE

GUERNSEY

SUMMIT

RICHLAND

GEAUGA

PICKAWAY

MARION

MADISON

LAKE

CLINTON

HOCKING

MONTGOMERY

OTTAWA

40°0'N

84°0'W

82°0'W

42°0'N

Science to Support the Understanding of Ohio’s 

Water Resources, 2014–15

Major watersheds within the Ohio River 

 and Lake Erie Basins.

Science to Support the Understanding of Ohio’s 

Water Resources, 2014–15

Printed on recycled paper

Introduction

Ohio’s water resources support a complex 

web of human activities and nature—clean and 

abundant water is needed for drinking, recreation, 

farming, and industry, as well as for fish and 

wildlife needs. Although rainfall in normal years 

can support these activities and needs, occasional floods and droughts can disrupt streamflow, 

groundwater, water availability, water quality, 

recreation, and aquatic habitats. Ohio is bordered 

by the Ohio River and Lake Erie; it has over 44,000 

miles of streams and more than 60,000 lakes and 

ponds (State of Ohio, 1994). Nearly all the rural 

population obtain drinking water from groundwater sources. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) works in 

cooperation with local, State, and other Federal 

agencies, as well as universities, to furnish decision makers, policy makers, USGS scientists, and 

the general public with reliable scientific information and tools to assist them in management, 

stewardship, and use of Ohio’s natural resources. 

The diversity of scientific expertise among USGS 

personnel enables them to carry out large- and 

small-scale multidisciplinary studies. The USGS is 

unique among government organizations because 

it has neither regulatory nor developmental 

authority—its sole product is impartial, credible, 

relevant, and timely scientific information, equally 

accessible and available to everyone. The USGS 

Ohio Water Science Center provides reliable 

hydrologic and water-related ecological information to aid in the understanding of the use and 

management of the Nation’s water resources, in 

general, and Ohio’s water resources, in particular. 

This fact sheet provides an overview of current 

(2014) or recently completed USGS studies and 

data activities pertaining to water resources in 

Ohio. More information regarding projects of the 

USGS Ohio Water Science Center is available at 

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/.

EXPLANATION

Major watershed

Watershed boundary

Ohio River Basin

Lake Erie Basin

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey 

1:24,000 scale digital data.

Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 17 

North American Datum of 1983

Major watersheds within the Ohio River 

 and Lake Erie Basins.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2014–3097

November 2014
USGS Water-Resource Activities in Ohio Data

Streamflow Data Available Online

The USGS in Ohio—in cooperation with local, State, and Federal partners—operates about 

240 streamgages, about 160 of which are used to compute streamflow. There are about 7,400 

USGS streamgages nationwide; many of these gages provide real-time data in 15- to 60-minute increments and typically transmit the data to the Web every hour via satellite. These 

streamgages provide streamflow information for a wide variety of uses including flood prediction, water management and allocation, engineering design, research, operation of locks and 

dams, and recreational safety and enjoyment. In addition to these data, field-measurement data, 

streamflow statistics, and annual peak streamflows from each station are available on the Web 

through the National Water Information System (NWIS). 

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/oh/nwis/rt

For more information, contact Thomas Harris, tharris@usgs.gov.

Groundwater Data Available Online

State and local agencies in Ohio (and to a limited extent, the USGS) collect, research, interpret, 

and disseminate groundwater data to characterize the groundwater resources of the State. To 

address these needs, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Miami Conservancy District (MCD) monitor groundwater levels for more than 140 wells throughout Ohio. 

Personnel from the USGS Ohio Water Science Center and ODNR compile and publish water 

levels on the Groundwater Watch and NWIS Web sites.

http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/statemap.asp?sc=39&sa=OH

For more information, contact Robert Darner, radarner@usgs.gov.

Water-Quality Monitoring Network in Ohio

The USGS operates a network of near-real-time water-quality monitoring stations that provide 

data for temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity of surface 

water; the data are collected in 15- to 60-minute increments and typically are transmitted to 

the Web every hour via satellite. These data are needed for decision making regarding drinking 

water, water treatment, regulatory programs, recreation, healthy ecosystems, and public safety. 

Data are stored in the NWIS.

http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/oh/nwis/current/?type=quality

For more information, contact Kimberly Shaffer, kshaffer@usgs.gov. 

Nowcast—Water-Quality Conditions at Beaches and a Recreational River

Local agencies monitor water to measure the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli)—an 

indicator bacterium found in sewage and other animal wastes—to determine whether the 

water is safe for contact recreation such as swimming or canoeing. Conventional analytical 

methods can take 18 to 24 hours to yield results. To improve the timeliness and accuracy of 

recreational water-quality assessments, quick measurements, such as rainfall or water clarity, 

can be used to estimate the probability that E. coli exceeds safe levels. For example, the Ohio 

Nowcast is a system that provides near-real-time beach advisories to the public through use 

of quick measurements and predictive models; during 2014, Ohio Nowcast water-quality 

information was available for eight Lake Erie beaches and one recreational river site. In a 

study at 49 Great Lakes beaches, the USGS, in cooperation with many local and State agencies, 

found that predictive models overall performed better than the conventional methods to assess 

recreational water quality.

http://www.ohionowcast.info/index.asp; see also report at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5166/

For more information, contact Donna Francy, dsfrancy@usgs.gov. 

Ohio Water-Use Program

Every 5 years since 1950, water-use data have been compiled and disseminated in Ohio as part 

of the USGS National Water-Use Information program. Current water-use categories include 

public supply, domestic, irrigation, livestock, aquaculture, industry, mining, and thermoelectric 

power. Water-use data are available by county and 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/water_use.html

For more information, contact Kimberly Shaffer, kshaffer@usgs.gov. 
USGS Water-Resource Activities in Ohio Surface Water

Crest-Stage Streamgage Network in Ohio

Historically, small streams with drainage areas less than 100 square miles have been under 

represented in regional peak-flow analyses. To help fill this data gap, crest-stage gages were 

installed during 2001 at 18 sites throughout Ohio to augment the peak-flow record for smalldrainage-area streams. After enough peak-flow measurements have been collected at these 

sites, the statewide flood-frequency analysis can be updated to improve the estimation of peak 

flows.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/crest-stage.html

For more information, contact Branden Vonins, blvonins@usgs.gov. 

Flood-Studies and Flood-Warning Systems Program

This program employs hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to determine water-surface elevations associated with specific flood magnitudes at several points along a stream channel. The 

water-surface elevation data are used together with land-surface elevation data to determine 

and map the corresponding spatial extent of flood inundation. In some cases, libraries of 

flood-inundation maps are prepared for stream channels near USGS streamgages at which the 

National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts flood levels. In those cases, the NWS forecasts can 

be used in advance via map-based Web applications (for example, see http://wim.usgs.gov/

FIMI) to determine areas that are likely to flood at the forecasted levels. These studies and 

tools serve as a foundation for making science-based decisions to better manage flood risk and 

efforts to mitigate flood impacts. 

http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/

For more information, contact Dave Straub, destraub@usgs.gov. 

StreamStats

Ohio StreamStats is a Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) application that 

allows users to easily obtain a variety of low-flow and peak-flow statistics; daily, monthly, and 

annual streamflow statistics; basin characteristics; and other information for ungaged stream 

sites in Ohio. Published statistics for gaged sites in the NWIS also are provided through the 

StreamStats map application. The StreamStats interface includes an assortment of analytical 

tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management.

http://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/ohio.html

For more information, contact Greg Koltun, gfkoltun@usgs.gov.

Assessing the Hydrological Effects of Potential Changes in Climate and 

Water Use in the Upper Scioto River Basin 

The central Ohio region is projected to grow by 450,000 people between 2005 and 2030 (Ohio 

Department of Development, 2003). The USGS is developing a rainfall-runoff model of the 

Upper Scioto River Basin to help water managers and planners assess whether existing and 

planned water-supply systems will be adequate to meet the region’s future demand for water. 

This model will be used to estimate potential hydrologic effects of climate-change outcomes 

predicted by several climate-change models, and it will be instrumental for evaluating potential 

future alternative water-management practices.

For more information, contact Chad Ostheimer, ostheime@usgs.gov. 

Low-Flow Streamgage Network in Ohio

Data on low-flow characteristics are used by water-resource managers for a variety of purposes, 

including water-supply planning, making decisions about wastewater-discharge and waterwithdrawal permits, and evaluating instream-flow requirements. The Ohio Water Science Center collects low-flow data throughout Ohio to expand the base of available information. The 

Ohio low-flow network consists of both continuous-record streamflow sites and sites where 

streamflow is measured only during low-flow periods.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/low-flow_network.html

For more information, contact Joel Metzker, jmetzker@usgs.gov. 
USGS Water-Resource Activities in Ohio Water Quality

Microbial Source Tracking

The USGS Water Microbiology Laboratory in Columbus has been working with numerous 

agencies and USGS Water Science Centers to analyze water samples for microbial source 

tracking (MST) markers using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. 

Results from MST analyses help to characterize the effects of various sources of fecal contamination in a watershed. Currently, water samples can be analyzed for DNA markers that are 

associated with humans, cows and other ruminants, dogs, and waterfowl. In addition to MST

marker analyses, other steps are generally taken as part of a multi-tiered approach to source 

tracking. These steps include conducting sanitary surveys, determining the distributions of 

bacterial indicators in the watershed, and understanding how hydrologic and meteorological 

processes affect the distributions of indicators and MST markers.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/micro_index.htm

For more information, contact Chris Kephart, ckephart@usgs.gov. 

Testing Rapid Detection Methods for Drinking Water and Recreational Waters

Rapid water-quality tests for microorganisms are needed to quickly ensure that water is safe for 

consumption or recreation. The USGS is testing and optimizing a rapid viability polymerase 

chain reaction (RV-PCR) method for the detection of viable (living) microorganisms that are 

potential biological warfare agents. Using a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis (the bacterium 

that causes anthrax), the results from the RV-PCR method are being compared to traditional 

culture methods. The USGS also has been developing and testing an immunomagnetic method 

that can provide E. coli and enterococci results in 2 hours rather than the conventional 18–24 

hours for recreational waters. 

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/micro_index.htm

For more information, contact Rebecca Bushon, rnbushon@usgs.gov. 

Modeling Aquatic Species Distributions on the Basis of Physical Habitat and 

Climate Change

Gap analysis is a coarse-scale assessment of aquatic biodiversity and conservation, the results 

of which can be used to guide biological field studies and monitoring programs. Potential species distribution models were developed for 130 fish, 70 bivalve, and 17 native crayfish species 

on the basis of a physical habitat-based classification of the perennial streams in Ohio. 

A more recent study has integrated fish-habitat classifications and associated fish-community 

data with downscaled (regional) climate predictions under different climate-change scenarios 

to identify vulnerable river systems and to project likely climate-driven changes to important 

fish species.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/ohgap.htm

For more information, contact Alex Covert, sacovert@usgs.gov. 

Cyanobacteria and Toxins—Lake Erie and Ohio Inland Lakes

In Ohio, local health officials and state agencies have identified the presence toxins associated 

with harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria during the summer and early fall 

seasons at recreational and water-supply lakes. The USGS, in cooperation with partner organizations, is monitoring recreational beaches and swimming areas in Ohio to better understand 

the link between cyanobacteria community structure, environmental and water-quality factors, 

and bloom toxicity. Samples are analyzed for physical water-quality characteristics, concentrations of nutrients and cyanotoxins, and phytoplankton abundance and community structure. 

Two new analytical methods will be tested for possible inclusion in an early warning system 

for toxin production: (1) chlorophyll and phycocyanin concentration measured by optical sensors and (2) cyanobacterial genetic structure, including the presence of toxin genes, determined 

with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/micro_projects_D5W86.htm

For more information, contact Donna Francy, dsfrancy@usgs.gov.
USGS Water-Resource Activities in Ohio Stormwater and Groundwater

Low-Impact Development and Stormwater Best Management Practices

Low-impact development (LID) is an approach to managing stormwater as near to its source as 

possible; this is accomplished by minimizing impervious surfaces and promoting more natural 

infiltration and evapotranspiration than is typically associated with developed areas. Stormwater best 

management practices (BMPs) are engineered attempts to decrease stormwater runoff and associated 

problems such as increased pollution and flooding in urban areas.

Chagrin River Watershed in Northeastern Ohio: Long-term hydrologic data were collected at 

two LID sites in northeastern Ohio to document their hydraulic characteristics. 

Slavic Village, Cleveland: A groundwater network (20 wells) and weather stations are 

being used to gather data about two neighborhood block areas to better guide future green 

infrastructure.

Griggs Reservoir, Columbus: Hydrologic data are being collected to determine the effectiveness 

of recently installed BMPs to reduce stormwater runoff near Griggs Reservoir.

St. Francis, Cincinnati: A pilot project is ongoing to determine the effectiveness and viability of 

a pair of stepped rain gardens to reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff and improve water 

quality of parking lot runoff.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati: Hydrologic data are being collected for three stormwater BMPs to determine their effectiveness and viability for minimizing 

stormwater discharge to combined-sewer pipes.

http://oh.water.usgs.gov/bmps.html

For more information, contact Robert Darner, radarner@usgs.gov. 

Arsenic in Groundwater of Ohio

Arsenic is odorless and tasteless and can enter drinking-water supplies from natural deposits in 

rock and soil. In some parts of Ohio, arsenic concentrations in groundwater have exceeded the 

arsenic drinking-water standard of 10 parts per billion that the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency has set to protect consumers from the effects of long-term, chronic exposure to arsenic 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). 

The USGS is investigating arsenic concentrations in water from domestic wells in southwestern and central Ohio as part of a broader effort to understand which areas in Ohio are most 

vulnerable to contamination from naturally occurring arsenic, as well as methane (a colorless, 

tasteless, and odorless gas that can be flammable and can displace oxygen in a confined space, 

causing asphyxiation). The USGS has also investigated the effectiveness of arsenic treatment 

methods in domestic wells.

http://arsenicinohiogroundwater.info/

For more information, contact Mary Ann Thomas, mathomas@usgs.gov.

Long-Term Water-Level Monitoring Network, Geauga County, Ohio

Residents of Geauga County rely almost exclusively on domestic and public-supply wells tapping groundwater as their source of drinking water. County planners are concerned that steady 

population growth, in combination with the predominance of groundwater use in the county, 

will result in water being withdrawn faster than it is recharged.This study involves monitoring 

groundwater levels in 31 wells across the county that are in four widely used aquifers. Knowledge of the magnitude and locations of groundwater declines in the county are needed to assist 

in planning for continued growth and conservation of groundwater resources.

Another project, which monitors water levels from a network in the vicinity of South Russell 

Village, Geauga County, is used to evaluate whether variations in groundwater levels are caused 

by annual variations in precipitation or residential and commercial development.

http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/countymap.asp?sa=OH&cc=055

For more information, contact Martha Jagucki, mjagucki@usgs.gov.
USGS Water-Resource Activities in Ohio

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program 

The program was established in 1991 to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; 

whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human 

activities affect those conditions. Regional and national assessments are possible because of 

a consistent study design and uniform methods of data collection and analysis. Monitoring 

data are integrated with geographic information on hydrological characteristics, land use, and 

other landscape features in models to extend water-quality understanding to unmonitored areas. 

Local, State, Tribal, and national stakeholders use NAWQA information to design and implement strategies for managing, protecting, and monitoring water resources in many different 

hydrologic and land-use settings across the Nation.

Current NAWQA activities at the Ohio Water Science Center

Surface-Water Status and Monitoring Assessment: Long-term data collection at fixed 

(long-term) sites supports NAWQA’s efforts to identify and understand water-quality 

trends, estimate loads, and develop large-scale transport models. Ohio surface-water 

activities include the collection of sediment and water-quality samples from the Maumee 

River at Waterville (USGS station 04193500). Periodically since 1994, samples have been 

collected from selected rivers in the Lake Erie Basin and the Great and Little Miami River 

Basins for the NAWQA Program.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov

For more information, contact Dennis Finnegan, dpfinneg@usgs.gov.

Ecological studies: include the collection of habitat, fish, algae, and macroinvertebratecommunity data. This type of data for Ohio can be found in the USGS ecological database 

BioData.

https://aquatic.biodata.usgs.gov/

For more information, contact Stephanie Janosy, sjanosy@usgs.gov.

Regional Stream-Quality Assessments: target water-resource issues specific to particular 

areas of the Nation, with a focus on water quality and ecological stressors. 

During summer 2013, the Midwest Stream-Quality Assessment (MSQA) characterized 

contaminants, nutrients, suspended sediment, and ecological conditions at perennial-stream 

sites throughout the Corn Belt, including western Ohio. These results will be incorporated into 

statistical models to determine the effects of stressors on ecological communities and to allow 

prediction of water-quality conditions in other streams across the region.

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/msqa/objectives.html

For more information, contact Daniel Button, dtbutton@usgs.gov.

NAWQA groundwater studies: in Ohio include collecting groundwater water-quality 

samples, measuring water levels, and assessing trends in a glacial aquifer. Three well 

networks in the glacial aquifer (consisting of both monitoring wells and domestic wells) 

are being used to collect data in urban areas, agricultural areas, and areas relatively 

undisturbed by human activities. 

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/praq/

For more information, contact Donna Runkle, dlrunkle@usgs.gov, or 

Mary Ann Thomas, mathomas@usgs.gov.

References Cited

Ohio Department of Development, 2003, Office of Policy Research and Strategic 

Planning, Population projections for Ohio and counties by age and sex, 2000 to 2030, 

accessed July 23, 2012, at http://www.development.ohio.gov/research/

Reports_in_population_and_housing-Population_Projections.htm.

State of Ohio, 1994, Ohio’s water Ohio’s future—1994 Final report: Governor’s Blue Ribbon 

Task Force on Water Resources Planning and Development, 31 p., accessed July 23, 2012, at 

http://www2.ohiodnr.com/portals/soilwater/pdf/groundwater/Ohiowaterfuture.pdf.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012, Arsenic in drinking water, 

accessed June 15, 2012, at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/.

Other USGS Resources

Climate and Land-Use Change 

http://www.usgs.gov/climate_landuse/

Core Science Systems (Mapping)

http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/

Ecosystems 

http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/

Energy and Minerals 

http://www.usgs.gov/energy_minerals/

Environmental Health 

http://www.usgs.gov/envirohealth/

Natural Hazards 

http://www.usgs.gov/natural_hazards/

Water

http://www.usgs.gov/water/

NAWQA

Compiled by Kimberly H. Shaffer and Stephanie P. Kula

ISSN 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN 2327-6916 (print)

http://dx.doi/10.3133/fs20143097