Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan (A Tributary to the Mahoning River)

Photo: Justin Rogers

Alliance for Watershed Action and Riparian Easements Watershed Plan Contact Information Mill Creek MetroParks 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road P.O. Box 596 Canfield, Ohio 44406 (330) 702-3000 (Phone) (330) 702-3010 (Fax) Erin M. McCracken, Environmental Planner [email protected]

April 2007

Table of Contents A. List of Tables.......................................................................................................... 5 B. List of Figures ........................................................................................................ 7 C. List of Appendices ................................................................................................. 8 D. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 9 E. Distribution List................................................................................................... 10 F. Enforcement of Plan by Watershed Stakeholders .............................................. 11 1.0 Introduction ....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.0 Mill Creek Watershed ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1 Demographics .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2 Phase 2 Storm Water Communities .................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.0 Watershed Plan Development ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1 Watershed Group History ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.1 Mission Statement: ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.2 Vision Statement: ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.3 Active AWARE Partners.............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.4 Past Partners and Project Specific Cooperators ........... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.0 Description of the Watershed ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.1 Geology ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.1. 1 Topography.................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.1. 2 Soils ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.1.3 Glacial History ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2 Biological Features ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.1 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species ... Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Fish .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Mussels ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Invertebrates .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Mammals ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Birds ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. f. Reptiles & Amphibians .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. g. Plants ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2. 2 Non-native Invasive Species ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3 Water Resources ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3.1 Climate and Precipitation ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3.2 Surface Waters ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Wetlands .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Streams ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Low Flow ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Lakes and Reservoirs ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Ground Water .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. f. Aquifers ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. g. Groundwater Sensitivity................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0 Land Use ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.1 Urban ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan a. Impervious surface ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Home Sewage Treatment Systems (HSTS) Locations .... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.2 Forest ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.3 Agriculture ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Crop Type ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Tillage ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Rotations.......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Livestock inventory ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Grazing ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. f. Chemical Use Patterns ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. g. Irrigation .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.4 Water ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.5 Non-forested Wetlands ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.0.6 Barren .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.1 Protected Lands ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. a. City, County, District State or National Public Forests and/or Parks ........ Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Private Foundations or Land ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2 Status and Trends .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3 Cultural Resources ............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1 Sites of Historical, cultural or recreational significance .... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Historic Districts .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Historic Sites ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4 Previous and Complementary Efforts............... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.1 History of Watershed Efforts ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.2 Current Watershed Efforts............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Agricultural Programs ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Wetlands Reserve Program .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Rural Abandoned Mine Program ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Mine Drainage Programs ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Urban Water Pollution Control Programs ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.0 Physical Attributes of Mill Creek and Tributaries ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.1 Early Settlement Conditions.............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2 Channel and Floodplain Conditions ................. Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Forested Riparian Corridor Assessment............ Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Miles of Riparian Corridor with Forested Natural Riparian Buffer .......... Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Number of Miles with Permanent Protection .... Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Miles with Natural Channel ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Miles and Location of Modified Channel ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.3 Dams ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.4 Channelization ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.5 Streams with Unrestricted Livestock Access .... Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10

Eroding Banks ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Floodplain Connectivity..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Riparian Levees ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Entrenched Miles ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Status and Trends .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Residential and Commercial Development ....... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Road, Highway and Bridge Construction ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.0 Water Resource Quality .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1 Use Designations and Attainment ..................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.0 Number of Waterbodies/Miles in Partial Attainment .. Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1.1 Number of Threatened Miles ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Number of Segments/Miles in Partial and in Non-Attainment ................. Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Number of Streams Designated but not Monitored ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2 Lakes/Quality ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.3 Wetlands/Quality ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.4 Groundwater Quality ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.5 Causes and Sources of Impairment ................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.5.1 Point Sources ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Permitted Discharges ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Spills and Illicit Discharges .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.5.2 Non-point Sources........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Home Sewage Systems/Projected Failing Systems ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Number of New Homes Being Built ................. Error! Bookmark not defined. c. Number and Size of Animal Feeding Operations ............ Error! Bookmark not defined. d. Acres of Highly Erodible Land and Potential Soil Loss .. Error! Bookmark not defined. e. Culverted and Channelized Stream................... Error! Bookmark not defined. f. Levied .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. g. Exhibiting Little Human Impact ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined. h. Effluent ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. i. Impounded Stream Miles ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. j. Officially Classified and/or Unofficially Maintained as Petition Ditches . Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.5.3 Status and Trends ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Section 208 Water Quality Plan ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.0 Watershed Impairments .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.1 Pollutant Loading .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.2 Habitat Conditions/Monitoring ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.3 Problem Statements ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. a. Original Problem Statements ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. b. Updated Problem Statements ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan 9.0 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 11.0

Watershed Restoration and Protection Goals .. Error! Bookmark not defined. Implementation .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Objectives ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Proposed Tasks .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Education/Information/Marketing Strategy ..... Error! Bookmark not defined. Funding Strategy ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Evaluation .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Plan Update/Revision......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

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A. List of Tables

Table 1. Table 2. Table 3. Table 4. Table 5. Table 6. Table 7. Table 8. Table 9. Table 10. Table 11. Table 12. Table 13. Table 14. Table 15. Table 16. Table 17. Table 18. Table 19. Table 20. Table 21. Table 22. Table 23. Table 24. Table 25. Table 26. Table 27. Table 28. Table 29. Table 30. Table 31. Table 32. Table 33. Table 34.

Population and Demographics for Mill Creek Watershed Generalized Pleistocene Stratigraphy of Mahoning County, Ohio Macroinvertebrate Collection 09-13-04-09-14-04 Hydric Soils and Non-Hydric Soils with Hydric Inclusions Found in Mahoning County U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Plant Indicator Status Classification System Mill Creek Watershed Wetlands Magnitude and Frequency of Low Flows for Indicated Peroids Duration of Daily Flows for Indicated Peroids Lakes and Reservoirs in Mill Creek Watershed Groundwater Pollution Potential Acreage for Mill Creek Watershed Land Use for Mill Creek Watershed Land Cover for Mill Creek Watershed Transient Non-Community Water Systems Mahoning County Water Systems Water Supplies for Mahoning County Schools Riparian Cooridoor Areas Identified as a Priority for Land Preservation, Easement or Restoration Stream Miles with Forested Riparian Buffer within the Mill Creek Watershed Conservation Easements as of 2006 within the Mill Creek Watershed Low-head Dams within the Mill Creek Watershed Census Data for Mill Creek Watershed Ohio Wetlands Inventory for Mill Creek Watershed Facilities Holding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits Superfund Facilities Toxic Release Inventory List of Federal EPA-Regulated Facilities Spills Reported to Ohio EPA in the Mill Creek Watershed from 19782007 New Homes and Development Permits Issued Through the Mahoning County Builders Inspection Department Bare Soil Erosion Potential for the Mill Creek Watershed Cultivated Crops Soil Erosion Potential for Mill Creek Watershed Culverted and Channelized Streams in the Mill Creek Watershed Effluent Volumes for NPDES Permits within the Mill Creek Watershed Fecal Coliform TMDL Summary for the Mahoning River Watershed Load Allocations Summary Table for Mill Creek (Assessment Unit 0503103-080) Identified Issues, Causes and Sources. Produced October-December 2003, AWARE Ad Hoc Committee Goal 1. - Education

Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan Table 35. Table 36. Table 37. Table 38. Table 39. Table 40.

Goal 2. - Land Preservation/Protection Goal 3. - Restoration of Streams, Floodplains and Wetlands Goal 4. - Reduction of Bacterial Levels Goal 5. - Reduction of Sedimentation and Storm Water Goal 6. - Data Collection Goal 7. - Model Ordinances

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B.

Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Figure 8. Figure 9. Figure 10. Figure 11. Figure 12. Figure 13. Figure 14. Figure 15. Figure 16. Figure 17. Figure 18. Figure 19. Figure 20. Figure 21. Figure 22. Figure 23. Figure 24. Figure 25. Figure 26. Figure 27. Figure 28. Figure 29. Figure 30. Figure 31. Figure 32.

List of Figures

Location of Mill Creek Watershed in Relation to Mahoning River Watershed 10 Foot Contours for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 10 Foot Contours for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 10 Foot Contours for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 Streams Detail for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 Streams Detail for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 Streams Detail for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 Aquifers for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 Aquifers for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 Aquifers for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 DRASTIC Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 DRASTIC Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 DRASTIC Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 Mahoning County HSTS Areas of Concern Proposed Wastewater Treatment Options with 201 Facility Planning Areas Youngstown 201 Facility Planning Areas Boardman 201 Facility Planning Areas Meander 201 Facility Planning Areas Forested Riparian Buffer for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 Forested Riparian Buffer for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 Forested Riparian Buffer for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 ODOT Based Roadway and Bridge Projects QHEI Scores for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 QHEI Scores for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 QHEI Scores for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 Mahoning River Watershed Stream Attainment Status Ohio Wetlands Inventory Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 Ohio Wetlands Inventory Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 Ohio Wetlands Inventory Map for Sub-watershed 05030103080010 Acres of Highly Erodible Soil for Sub-watershed 05030103080030 Acres of Highly Erodible Soil for Sub-watershed 05030103080020 Acres of Highly Erodible Soil for Sub-watershed 05030103080010

C.

List of Appendices

Appendices may have maps, tables or other information associated with the subject listed in the Appendix name. Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. Appendix D. Appendix E. Appendix F. Appendix G. Appendix H. Appendix I. Appendix J.

Basic Watershed Maps Land Use and Land Cover Streams Wetlands Groundwater and Aquifers Soils Demographics Bridge and Highway Projects Load Reduction Estimates from Original Proposed Projects Original Mill Creek Watershed Ad Hoc Committee Identified Issues, Causes and Sources from Original Plan Submittal. Appendix K. Mill Creek Watershed Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation for Projects, Policy, Research and Education from Original Plan Submission in 2004 Appendix L. Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Data Appendix M. Original Agency Comments to Plan Submission in 2004 for Full Endorsement

D.

Acknowledgements

Prepared and written by: Erin M. McCracken Environmental Planner Mill Creek MetroParks 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road P.O.Box 596 Canfield, Ohio 44406 330-702-3000(Phone) 330-702-3010 (Fax) [email protected] Heather M. Moser Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District 850 Industrial Road Youngstown, Ohio 44509 330-740-7995 (Phone) 330-259-1075 (Fax) www.mahoningswcd.org Maps and Statistics: John D. Bralich Senior GIS Analyst Center for Urban and Regional Studies Youngstown State University One University Plaza Youngstown, OH 44555 330-941-2302 (Phone) 330-941-1527 (Fax) [email protected] In cooperation with and/or writing contributions by: Stephanie Dyer, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments AWARE Committee members and working partners John M. Woolard, Mahoning County Engineers Wesley J. Vins, Mahoning County District Board of Health John D. Bralich, YSU Center for Urban Studies The watershed planning process in the Mill Creek Watershed is being undertaken as a cooperative effort between Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown State University, Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District and AWARE, The Alliance for Watershed Action and Riparian Easements and its many partners.

E.

Distribution List

The draft of Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan has been provided to the following organizations and is available at the AWARE website http://www.watershed.cboss.com/, and the YSU http://cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/psi/psi_maps_mill_creek.htm. Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District Mill Creek MetroParks Youngstown State University Mahoning County District Board of Health AquaOhio(Consumers Ohio Water Company) Eastgate Regional Council of Governments Ohio EPA ~ Division of Surface Water Mahoning County Engineers Beaver Township Canfield Township Fairfield Township Austintown Township Parks Recycling Division of Mahoning County/The Green Team Mahoning River Consortium Audubon Society of the Mahoning Valley League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown Mahoning County Emergency Management Boardman Township Mahoning County GIS Department Mahoning Valley Sanitary District Ohio State University Extension City of Youngstown City of Canfield City of Columbiana Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer Mahoning County Commissioners Mahoning County Planning Department Main Branch Youngstown/Mahoning County Library

Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan

F.

Enforcement of Plan by Watershed Stakeholders

This plan was financed through a grant from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, under the “Agreement for the establishment of a Watershed Coordinator Partnership Project” with Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District. Upon endorsement by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Department of Natural Resources, AWARE members, identified stakeholders, and local public officials will be asked to provide signatures for the acceptance and to pursue the implementation of the Watershed Action Plan. The Mahoning County Engineer will provide copies of the Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan to the stakeholders for their endorsement along with sample legislation. The following is a list of government stakeholders: Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Mahoning County Commissioners Mahoning County District Board of Health Eastgate Regional Council of Governments Austintown Township Beaver Township Boardman Township Canfield Township Green Township City of Youngstown Fairfield Township City of Columbiana Mill Creek MetroParks Youngstown State University City of Canfield Mahoning Valley Sanitay Engineer

The Watershed Action Plan will be submitted to the government stakeholders by Fall 2007 and it is expected that endorsement will be granted by Spring 2008. After the Watershed Action Plan has been endorsed by the government stakeholders, a thirty day public comment period will be advertised and any comments will be addressed.

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Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan

Resolution R-XX-07 A Resolution in Support of the Endorsement of the Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan

WHEREAS, the Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan is a dynamic document, reflective of the extensive coordination and collaboration between various local, state and federal agencies, that addresses non-point source pollution and water quality issues within the Mill Creek Watershed; and WHEREAS, the Plan provides strategies to efficiently and effectively restore the health of the watershed and provide the greatest environmental benefits to its residents by: Identifying locally-based water quality problems and solutions Preventing further degradation of our area’s water resources Linking financial resources to environmentally effective actions Matching appropriate actions to known causes of non-point source pollution impairments Educating residents and public officials on proper watershed management techniques Providing a resource and reference guide for agencies and organizations concerned with improving the environmental status of the watershed WHEREAS, the desired environmental outcomes through implementation of the identified programs and projects in the Plan include the restoration of impaired waters, protection of existing high quality waters, and measures to prevent non-point source pollution from ever reaching the waters of the Mill Creek Watershed; and WHEREAS, the Plan has been submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, where upon review by a professional committee representing each agency, the Plan has received full statewide endorsement. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY __________________________________: The ____________________________________________ hereby expresses its support for the endorsement of the Mill Creek Watershed Action Plan. We acknowledge that the Plan will provide environmental benefits to our local communities situated within the Mill Creek Watershed by providing guidance to resolve the current and pending issues affecting the watershed.

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