About the MAAC
The Maumee RAP (Remedial Action Plan) Committee, set up originally under TMACOG (Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments), was made up of government officials, businesses and industries, universities, and other interested individuals with a passion for cleaner water. The group was charged with developing a Remedial Action Plan and today, with a slightly different name, the committee continues to works towards fishable and swimmable water within the greater Toledo-area through projects to improve the Beneficial Use Impairments. The committee is now a stand-alone committee, reformed and re-named the Maumee AOC Advisory Committee (MAAC). The committee works on collaboration and planning with partners, working closely with state and federal agencies, identifying and recommending key projects needed to improve the Area of Concern, and public education and volunteer opportunities through Partners for Clean Streams. Partners for Clean Streams serves as the Facilitating Organization so the MAAC and PCS are still very much connected in their goals of delisting the Maumee Area of Concern.
The Maumee Area of Concern was established in 1987 in accordance with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, overseen by the International Joint Commission, which defined areas of concern. US EPA and Ohio EPA set the policy and program direction and oversee the Areas of Concern. The work of the Maumee RAP and its partners occurs in three stages aiming to permanently improve water quality of the rivers and streams in the AOC by correcting and removing biological or chemical issues, also known as Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs). As of 2022, Maumee AOC has 8 of the 14 identified BUIs. Two previously designated BUIs have been removed. The three stages include identification of environmental problems and sources (completed in 1992), elimination of pollution source to improve water quality (currently in progress), and monitoring to confirm the impairments are removed and an Area of Concern can be delisted.
The MAAC meets quarterly, and all meetings are open to the public. Be sure to read our next quarterly newsletter for information about how you can join the conversation.