From staff and wire reports
COLUMBUS — Ohio officials say a study of the state’s largest rivers indicates great improvement in water quality over the past few decades.
Gov. Mike DeWine and state environmental protection officials the first-of-its-kind comprehensive large rivers study begun in 2020 concluded that 86% of the miles of Ohio’s large rivers surveyed, including the Scioto River and its main tributaries, were in good to excellent condition, compared to only 18% in the 1980s.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency called the reversal the result of improved wastewater infrastructure and treatment as well as agricultural soil conservation measures.
The Mohican River was the only river to show a significant decline in condition, due to “over-enrichment and sediment,” according to the report. Over-enrichment is characterized by high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, and high biological oxygen demand.
The Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and Big Darby Creek, Paint Creek and Salt Creek all attained acceptable standards, based on the health of macroinvertebrates and fish in the waterways.
Ohio’s large rivers are getting warmer, according to the study.
The average water temperature in the 2020-2021 survey was 73.8 degrees Fahrenheit, up from 68.9 degrees in the 1980s.