Announcements (click here for more)

​​​

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Black River Area of Concern Shows Significant Improvement

CLEVELAND, OH (September 18, 2025) – After many years of improvements to the Black River and its watershed, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has approved the removal of the Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations and Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) from the Black River Area of Concern (AOC).

 

The decision is a result of significant local, state, and federal investments to create and enhance fish habitat, address contaminated riparian sediment, and improve infrastructure and water quality within the Black River. Projects such as the Black River heron rockery, remediation and restoration of the reclamation site, and nearby fish shelf construction have allowed the fish and wildlife in the area to recover. The identification of water quality sources, as well as habitat and biological impairments, has supported the removal of BUIs.

 

Since 2010, approximately $26 million from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded projects to help evaluate and improve conditions in the Black River AOC. The Black River AOC Advisory Committee and its partners played a critical role in identifying and implementing key projects to improve fish populations and habitat.

 

“Balancing the critical needs of a federal navigation channel with the importance of conservation involves a multi-faceted approach, recognizing that both navigation and healthy ecosystems are vital to our area and our economy,” said Don Romancak, Black River AOC Advisory Committee Chairman. “The installation of 1.5 miles of fish shelves, upstream habitat restoration, and restoration of a former steel mill site have significantly bolstered native fish populations in the Black River continuing the transformation from an ignored infrastructure to a productive community asset.”

 

“The Black River is a great example of the rejuvenation that can happen at industrial sites. The restoration of fish habitat alongside changes on the landscape to improve water quality allowed the native fish populations to bounce back,” said Joy Mulinex, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “The Commission appreciates the hard work of all of the parties engaged in this work that will provide a healthier, more enjoyable Black River for the community.”

 

The Black River AOC Advisory Committee originally identified nine BUIs that needed to be addressed. The Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations and Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat impairments are the seventh and eighth BUIs that have been removed due to investments and improvements made in the AOC. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA continue to work towards the removal of the remaining BUI with local AOC partners.

 

More information about the improvements and remaining impairments in the Black River AOC is available online.

 

###

 

For more information, contact:
Kris Patterson, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
kristina.pattterson@lakeerie.ohio.gov

(419) 601-5894

 

About the Ohio Lake Erie Commission
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development Services, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and seven additional members of the public appointed by the governor.

 

About Ohio EPA
Ohio EPA was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent, large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent, and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.

​​​​

*********************************************​

Public input meetings for NPS-IS watershed plans for 3 sub-watersheds of the Black River: 

 

Jackson Ditch-East Branch of the Black River: Wednesday, September 10th, 5:00 - 7:30pm at the Lorain County Agricultural Center Conference Room, 42110 Russia Rd., Elyria, OH 44035

​

Main Stem of the Black River: Wednesday, October 15th 5:00-7:30pm at Amy H. Levin Center, 1165 North Ridge Rd., Lorain, OH 44055

​

Lower West Branch of the Black River: Monday, October 27th, 5:00-7:30pm at Grafton-Midview Public Library, 983 Main Street, Grafton, OH 44044

​

Contact Black River AOC Advisory Committee Facilitator Patti Donnellan for more information: pdonnellan@loraincounty.us

​

*************************************************************

The 2023-2024 Annual Report is now available for download!  Check it out here or visit the Resources page.

*************************************************************

Billboards to be displayed in the Black River Area of Concern in 2025

The Black River Advisory Committee has approved another billboard campaign to bring awareness of the Black River & the strides that have been made toward delisting. Look for 4 key messages beginning early June & running through early July 2025. We're very proud of the work being done to improve the Black River watershed & want to share the news far & wide! Expected impressions (number of people driving past these billboards) is estimated at more than 1.6 million for the 4 week duration of the campaign! We are grateful to Ohio EPA & the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program for providing funds for this project. Here are the 4 messages to look for:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

 

**************************************************************

​​Quarterly Meetings
All of our meetings have the option to join in person or virtually via Zoom. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 2:00pm at the Lorain County Public Health building, Community Room, 9880 Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH 44035.
Please Click here for our current schedule of meetings coming up. You will also find an archived list of past meetings and minutes.