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Maumee River Water Quality Cruise

2019 Water Quality Boat CruiseOn August 4th, approximately 45 Toledo-area residents boarded the Sandpiper boat near downtown Toledo to enjoy a scenic river cruise and learn more about local water quality issues and related solutions. Local experts were on hand to discuss many topics, including several projects being done in the Maumee AOC. Jenny Carter-Cornell (MAAC Chair), of Hull and Associates, Inc., spoke about a number of upcoming projects being planned to improve the lower Maumee River (e.g., alternative uses of dredged material). More AOC-related project work was discussed when Bill Hintz, an assistant professor at Bowling Green State University, shared information about work being done with USGS to identify potential habitat and fish restoration projects in the lower Maumee River. All speakers took questions throughout their presentations and the guests seemed to really appreciate the thorough explanations provided. Many thanks to all of the speakers!

New and Improved DMDS 4.0 Ready for Use

DMDS 4.0DMDS 4.0 has officially been launched and is ready for use! This newest Data Management and Delisting System version provides additional enhancements to system functionality, specifically in three modules; Projects, BUI Status, and BUI Data Sources. The upgrades make it easier for users to search the database and tailor exported data tables (i.e. grids). Click here to visit DMDS 4.0 and see how much is happening in the AOC and what the latest BUI status is. Please feel free to send questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

New features include:

  • A pop-out/customizable data grid
    • new data grid layout allows for larger viewing areas for both the data grid and the map
    • data grid can be sorted, filtered, and arranged to each user’s needs/preferences
  • Video tutorial
    • available on the Home page
    • brief tutorial walks users through the DMDS basics and how to customize the new data grid
  • Updated DMDS Help Guide
    • available on Home page
    • downloadable pdf resource

MAAC Summer Tour Series: Project Videos

In case you missed it this summer, the MAAC has posted two videos from its eastern and western Maumee AOC tours in 2018.  Both tours focused on habitat restoration projects that were fast-tracked for funding through the MAAC.  Tim Schetter with Metroparks of the Toledo Area gave an overview of the Howard Marsh Phase II plans and took MAAC members on a walking tour of the property.  Patrick Baranowski with ODNR and Russ Terry with Ducks Unlimited showcased the habitat restoration improvements going on at the Toussaint Wildlife Area.  Both projects directly address BUI 14b – loss of fish and wildlife habitat.  Visit the Maumee AOC Facebook page or click here directly to watch some of tours!

Maumee AOC Tour Series

OctAOCtourThe Maumee Area of Concern Advisory Committee was invited on three tours this summer, highlighting restoration projects with different partners.  In August, MAAC members went on an Eastern Maumee AOC tour of projects focusing on addressing BUI 14b (loss of wildlife habitat).  This area is comprised of critical coastal wetlands and adjacent upland ecosystems.  There were four site visits including: Howard Marsh Phase II, Toussaint Marsh State Wildlife Area Phase II and III, Toussaint Parcels West and East, and the Navarre Unit at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.  In September, MAAC members went aboard the Sandpiper to tour several Maumee River restoration projects in the downtown area.  Presenters included the Toledo Metroparks who talked about recent and future Metropark projects along the river, The Mannik & Smith Group highlighted several brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects along the river, and Hull Inc. discussed the Great Lakes Dredge Material Center for Innovation. Cherie Blair with Ohio EPA and Kris Patterson with Partners for Clean Streams facilitated discussion on the importance of the work and partnerships in the AOC and within the region to improve environmental conditions.  The third and final tour showcased restoration sites in the western portion of the Maumee AOC, specifically the Oak Openings region and Maumee State Forest areas at nine site visits.  Irwin Prairie, Sandhill Crane Wetland Restoration Project, Irwin Prairie PCA Acquisition and Restoration sites, and Maumee State Forest new Site 1 and 2 were all featured on the Western AOC tour.  Thank you to those who presented their restoration projects and for those who attended the tours that exhibited the ongoing work within the Maumee AOC to address BUIs and improve local environmental conditions.

AOCmap14b

 

EPA’s Great Lakes AOC Conference

In late spring, several MAAC committee members attended the EPA’s Great Lakes AOC Conference in Sheboygan, Wisconsin held on May 16th and 17th.  Attendees got a tour of the past and ongoing restoration activities of the Sheboygan River AOC.  Later, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program update was announced during the conference along with several Great Lakes AOC success stories. Cherie Blair with the Ohio EPA presented “Two Successful River Cleanups: Contributions from the AOC Program,” which showcased the Ottawa River Cleanup and the BUI improvements that have been made within the Maumee River AOC.  It was inspiring to see the collective progress made in the Great Lake’s Areas of Concern and the work that has been done through collaborative efforts to address water quality issues facing this region. The next US EPA AOC Conference is tentatively scheduled for September 2019 in Cleveland!

The Maumee AOC Committee works toward fishable and swimmable waters in the Maumee Area of Concern and delisting the beneficial use impairments. The Committee is working towards all major restoration projects being completed by 2025, through collaboration of partners and volunteer opportunities by its facilitating organization, Partners for Clean Streams. The committee is made up of representatives from various organizations, citizens, businesses and non-government agencies to build long term solutions to the area’s water quality issues.