Water Quality

2015A storm-driven systemWhen it rains, it drains; and these storm events move pollutants through the watershed. When Pipe Creek’s flow is low to normal, we often find little nutrient and sediment pollution. However, during and after a storm, the creek will turn light brown from sediment and often carries excess nutrients that contribute to algal blooms in Lake Erie. Storms are more intense and frequent in the spring and fall, leading to higher pollutant concentrations than in the summer.

Watershed at a glance

If you would like to learn more about the development of this report card or watersheds in the Firelands area, visit the following websites:

Learn moreWe could use your help to improve our watershed. If you are interested in being a volunteer, contact Breann Hohman, watershed coordinator for the Erie Conservation District at 419-626-5211 or bhohman@eriecounty.oh.gov

Get involved

• 48.5-square-mile watershed made up of three main streams: Pipe Creek, Hemminger Ditch, and Plum Brook

• Karst geological region, makes this watershed at higher risk for groundwater contamination

• Shoreline is a mix of coastal marsh and heavily altered land use for shipping, boating, and erosion control.

Natural

Urban

Agriculture

Current Land Use

Financial support for this publication was provided fully by a grant under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD

Published:March 2016

Printed on post-consumer recycled paper

Types of inputs

Bacteria

Nutrients

Sediments

Key features

Storm-driven system

Sandusky

Benthic community

Bacteria

P

N

Indicators of healthSoluble reactive phosphorus

Nitrate

Turbidity

Grass buffers

Flooding

P

N

Lake Erie

Quarries

Pollution Sources

Row-crop agriculture

Broken and/or leakingseptic systems

Animal agriculture

Urban stormwater and combined sewer overflows

Construction and development

Lawn fertilizer runoff

Sandusky Bay

Pipe CreekReport Card

erieconserves.org wildlife.ohio.dnr.gov/oldwomancreek ian.umces.edu eriecohealthohio.org

Initial Report card analysis and design in collaboration with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Integration & Application Network

100%

SanduskyToledoCleveland

Huron County

Erie County

0 2 4Kilometers

0 2 4Miles

Lake EriePipe Creek

Hemminger Ditch Plum Brook Sub-basin

Pipe Creek received an overall C- grade, which almost no overall change from 2014.

RoadsCity of Sandusky

Pipe Creek watershedHemminger Ditch Plum Brook sub-basin

Macroinvertebrate monitoring sites

Volunteer monitoring sites

Vital Signs Indicators

Fail Pass

Monthly water samples are analyzed by volunteer stream monitors and Old Woman Creek Reserve Staff from April through November. Annual benthic macroinvertebrate (aquatic worms and insect larvae) sampling is performed in the summer by staff, volunteers, and a summer research intern. These indicators are combined to develop the overall scores of individual sites and the overall watershed score.

Nitrogen, monitored as nitrate, is found in fertilizer and untreated waste. In excess this chemical can lead to algal blooms.

Phosphorus, monitored as soluble reactive phosphorus, is found in fertilizer and untreated waste. In excess this chemical can lead to algal blooms.

Turbidity is a measure of cloudiness of the water typically caused by sediment-laden runoff. Excessive sediment in the water can clog fish gills, and cover macroinvertebrate habitat and fish eggs.

Bacteria, measured as E. coli, are microorganisms commonly found in untreated waste. Many bacteria are harmful to human health and can restrict our drinking and recreational water uses.

Collecting Data Pipe Creek 2015 Report Card

What you can do

Leave a natural area along a stream or ditch

Remember to inspect and pump out your septic system every 3–5 years

Help your community develop a plan that supports low impact development

Follow the “4Rs” of fertilizer use: Right source, Right amount, Right place, Right time

Plant cover crops

Plant a rain garden or install a rain barrel

Install a drainage management system

Properly manage livestock & pet waste

You can help!WHAT can be REDUCED

Working together for clean water

In 2015, the City of Sandusky undertook a large project to disconnect the sewer system on the east end. Combined sewer overflow systems (CSOs) are a type of gray infrastructure that uses one pipe for both sewage and storm water. When there is no, or little rain all the flow is directed to the waste water treatment system. When there is a significant rain; however, the system over flows, discharging untreated sewage with storm water into our waterways.

The City’s project is an example of how urban communities are upgrading their infrastructure to reduce negative impacts on Lake Erie.

Weather during our sampling period

2015 Beach health and safety Two lake sites located on the public/private barrier beach (see map) of Pipe Creek are monitored by the Erie County Health Department. In 2015, Battery Park scored 94% and the Pipe Creek Canoe Launch scored 63% meaning most of swimming season presented less risk of illness from contact with water. Note that the bacteria scoring scale is more stringent than water quality indicators because of the high variability and importance to human health and safety.

What do these grades mean?

Indicators of stream health

Indicator of human safety

Number of days with rainfall totals greater than 3/4”

Number of sampling events

impacted by storms

Largest storm event: Total inches in 48 hour period fell at the end of June

Separation of the storm sewer from the sanitary sewer will help keep untreated waste from entering our lake in heavy storms.

Lush native swithcgrass protecting the banks of an old ship slip at Shoreline Park.

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0April May June July August September October November

80-100% 60-80%very good very poorgood moderate poor

40-60% 0-20%20-40%

Slowing sewer discharges

0 0.50.25

Miles

Battery Park

Pipe Creek Canoe Launch

Percentage of time sample was below the swimming risk threshold

(235 MPN 100 ml¹)

<60%60–<70%70–<80%

80–<90%90–<100%100%

2012 2013 2014 2015

SR Phosphorus

Turbidity

Benthic Macroinvertebrate

Nitrate

Indicator

Softening the shorelineRocks and other hard amoring techniques cover most of Ohio’s shoreline; however, there is room for more natural approaches to erosion control, especially areas with minimal wave action. Volunteers helped to plant over 7,000 native grasses on the coast of Shoreline Park in downtown Sandusky, Ohio. The grasses help to improve over 600 feet of shoreline from erosion, unsightly weeds, and Canada geese.

The grasses planted include switchgrass, little bluestem, and prairie cordgrass. The planting, called a “living shoreline”, is an example of soft or bio-engineering practices that can be used to strengthen our banks while creating habitat for native wildlife and is pleasing to the eye.

Prec

ipita

tion,

inch

es

Daily rainfall data collected in 2015 from 3 COCORAHs stations in Pipe Creek

DONH4

+

Benthic macroinvertebrates are aquatic organisms with no backbone and are visible to the naked eye. Some are very intolerant to pollution, therefore make great indicators of water health.

Vital Sign Indicators are a collection of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia. Like our blood pressure, these parameters can identify if a serious problem is present.