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Western Lake Erie Basin
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Satellite Image of Maumee Bay. Note the sediment transport from
the Maumee River Channel into Maumee Bay (lower left).
Photo: NASA/Landsat 7, Courtesy of T. Bridgeman,
Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo
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Watershed Authorization
Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) 1999, Section 441. W. Lake Erie Basin, Ohio, Indiana & Michigan
"... to improve flood control, navigation, water quality, recreation and fish and wildlife habitat in a comprehensive manner... including watersheds of the Maumee, Ottawa and Portage Rivers."
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WLEB Watershed Meetings
You are invited to share your vision for the Western Lake Erie Basin to benefit its environment, economy and quality of life.
The Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership, a consortium of federal, state, local public agencies and citizen interests, is seeking input into its development of watershed assessments to document issues and opportunities and recommended actions for recreation, navigation, flood control and water supply, water quality, and fish and wildlife enhancement.
We ask that you come prepared to discuss problems and possible solutions that you, the stakeholder, would like to see considered to improve the quality of your watershed. It would also be beneficial to inform us of any similar studies currently underway, or recently completed that involve your watershed. We also ask that you help spread the word regarding the watershed meetings. Please feel free to contact others that you believe would be beneficial to this meeting. More information will ensure a more productive study.
Regional Watershed Public Workshop Locations
Project Needs Request Form
Fill out this form and send it in to add to comments provided at a public meeting or if you were unable to attend a public meeting but wish to contribute.
Basin
The Maumee River - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - MS PowerPoint presentation (20 MB)
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Description
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Tugboat assisting a ship along the Maumee River navigation channel with Toledo in the background. Courtesy ODNR. |
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Unstable, eroding banks along the Maumee River are a major contributor of sediment which eventually makes its way to Maumee Bay. |
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A dense wooded buffer strip adjacent to the headwaters of the Maumee River help to retain sediment on the land while providing shade and cover for aquatic species. |
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Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invited 14 Federal, State, and regional partners to attend the first meeting of a Leadership Group designed to create a comprehensive watershed management partnership and framework for the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Study on November 7, 2005 in Defiance, Ohio. This is an appropriate location as Defiance is the geographic center of the WLEB watershed.
The WLEB Charter was agreed to on 29 March 2006, and the signatories agreed to develop a consensus-based Partnership to pursue the following principles:
- The Partnership is committed to collaboration and consensus building - sharing resources and knowledge to link land use to water quality, support ongoing efforts and identify new opportunities to enhance and improve the watershed.
- The Partnership will apply watershed-based solutions to local problems and apply local solutions to watershed problems - inclusively empowering and building the capacity of local watershed groups and supporting ongoing efforts.
- The Partnership is results oriented - it will define the baseline status of the basin, identify and prioritize science based solutions, responsibly support the implementation of innovative and cooperative projects, monitor and evaluate its actions and support an adaptive management approach.
- The Partnership will speak with one voice, promote transparency, encourage participation, be responsive, create awareness, educate and inform.
- The Partnership will provide the structure necessary to coordinate public and private resources across political boundaries to accelerate achievement of environmental goals and support for local conservation initiatives.
The Leadership Committee for the WLEB Partnership is comprised of senior members of their respective organizations. This group oversees the efforts of an Operational Committee and Coordination Teams in four areas: Project Coordination Team, Outreach/Public Education Coordination Team, Resource Coordination Team, and Research & Data Coordination Team. A proposed organizational chart of this structure is being evaluated by the partners.
Partners
USACE
Organizational Chart
By Laws
Contact Information for the Leadership Committee
Contact Information for the Operational Committee
Members
Members Agreement
Would you like to Volunteer for Coordination Team?
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held in March 2008 in Michigan.
Agenda - To be developed
Partner Authorities
Partners will be sharing information about existing authorities.
Partner Projects
Partners will be sharing information about ongoing projects.
USACE Project Fact Sheets and Maps
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The Ongoing WLEB Study:
Fact Sheet - general project information
Project Management Plan and Peer Review Plan - Current Working Version
Upper Auglaize Watershed AGNPS Modeling Project - Final Report, 14 Feb 2005,
Prepared for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Buffalo District
Prepared by: Toledo Harbor AGNPS Project Team
Events
Planned and Past WLEB events:
Watershed & Stream Investigation, Stabilization & Restoration Workshop (With an emphasis on how to get started, grant writing, and Aquatic & Riparian Rehabilitation) 9-11 May 2006
Western lake Erie Basin Convening Meeting - 9 MAY 2005
Maumee River Basin Partnership of Local Governments - 21 NOV 2002
Project Meeting with Congresswoman Kaptur - Defiance, OH - 16 SEP 2002
Links
Links to websites related to the Western Lake Erie Basin Study:
- Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments - Design and coordinate the improvement of the environmental quality in the TMACOG region by providing technical expertise and a regional forum for our members and stakeholders
- Maumee River Basin Partnership of Local Governments - Function as a regional network of local governments and other partners within the Maumee River Basin that evaluates policies and supports and promotes issues, programs and activities that will benefit water quality within the tri-state region
- Maumee River Basin Commission - Provide regional leadership and promotion of flood control soil and water conservation and related resource management through a coordinated and comprehensive planning and implementing approach
- Maumee River Remedial Action Plan Program - Cooperative effort of citizens, businesses, and industry working together with governments to restore the areas waters to “fishable and swimmable” condition
- Fact sheet about "Fate of a River" shown on the local PBS station aka Maumee River Watershed: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Federal Partners
State Partners
OHIO
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Protect, enhance and restore all waters of the state for the health, safety and welfare of present and future generations. OEPA accomplishes this mission by monitoring the aquatic environment, permitting, enforcing environmental laws, using and refining scientifically sound methods and regulations, planning, coordinating, educating, providing technical assistance and encouraging pollution prevention practices
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Provide leadership and services that enable Ohioans to conserve, protect and enhance soil, water, and land resources
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Soil & Water Conservation - including "A Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio"
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Soil & Water Conservation - including "A Guide to Developing Local Watershed Action Plans in Ohio"
INDIANA
- IDEM Office of Water Quality
Educational Institutions
Other Watershed Partnerships Maumeeology - Science from the Maumee Basin
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Comments or Questions?
Anthony Friona
US Army Corps of Engineers
Buffalo District
716-879-4215
1776 Niagara Street
Buffalo, New York 14207
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