The early August water emergency in the Toledo area has brought
attention to the way local experts protect water quality in this region.
TMACOG’s four-person Environmental Planning staff is part of the region’s web
of professionals who work full-time to research and address water quality
issues.
TMACOG does not manage any water treatment plants or clean
up chemical spills. The staff of the Environmental Planning department does facilitate
coordination between waste water treatment facilities through the Areawide
Water Quality Management Plan (the 208 Plan), shows municipal employees how to
prevent and respond to spills, and identifies and expedites projects that
improve water quality in watersheds throughout the region. All staff efforts
are directed toward protecting and improving water quality in rivers and
ultimately in Lake Erie.
The Environmental Planning department includes Kurt
Erichsen, P.E., vice president; Kari Gerwin, stormwater planner; Matt Horvat,
Maumee River coordinator, and Joy Minarcin, department secretary. As they work
on issues of water quality over a six-county area and in several watersheds, they
must also find ways to fund their work and find creative ways to support the
work of TMACOG members. Many projects are funded through state and federal
grants. Most grants are project-limited and they usually do not pay for much TMACOG
staff time.
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| Registered Sanitarian Brandon Tester made a presentation to the Stormwater Coalition on the improved GIS system at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department that was made possible through a grant from the Ohio EPA. |
Sometimes TMACOG is successful in getting the type of grant
that allows staff to put their expertise directly to work on practical problems
that they have identified.
Stormwater Planner Kari Gerwin spends most of her time
helping jurisdictions meet regulations for National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System permits. She works with officials who are responsible for
producing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and she can provide annually
required training. She reviews a city’s or county’s standard operating
procedures and makes recommendations. That work is paid for through Stormwater
Coalition dues. When TMACOG secured an Ohio EPA grant for water quality
planning, Gerwin developed a resource that tells communities in urbanized areas
of the Swan Creek watershed what steps they can take to reduce phosphorus
loading. “One great thing about this project,” said Gerwin, “is that most of
the communities are members of TMACOG and the Stormwater Coalition. Our staff
will be able to provide ongoing support as they implement strategies we
outlined.”
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| Kari Gerwin, TMACOG stormwater planner, explained how pollution reduction targets were determined for a project she completed in the Swan Creek watershed. Her work was made possible through the same Ohio EPA grant program. |
Using the same grant sources, Maumee River Coordinator Matt
Horvat recently completed a training program with the Toledo-Lucas County
Health Department. Horvat said, “They had the personnel and the data, they just
needed a little training on how to put Geographic Information Systems to work
for them. Now they organize and speed up their field work with interactive GIS maps.”
Registered Sanitarian Brandon Tester said that the training made data more
accessible and useful. “We’ve only scratched the surface of what the system can
do for us,” Tester said. He can now overlay the 208 Plan boundaries on his street
maps. He can identify property that falls in critical sewage areas and see where
lots are close enough to tie into a sewer line. He can identify the oldest
systems in the area and ensure that they are inspected.
Vice President Kurt Erichsen is a 30-year veteran of TMACOG
and manages the department. He takes leadership of the Areawide Water Quality
Management Plan (the 208 Plan), the Portage River Basin Council, and the Wolf
Creek Committee. He also leads the Natural Resources Assistance Counsel which
evaluates applications for Clean Ohio Funds in Lucas County. Erichsen serves on
the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology which
provides recommendations on the federal level. “Kurt is recognized not only in
this region but also at the state level with his experience and knowledge,”
said Jerry Greiner, president of Northwestern Water & Sewer District.
Greiner added, “The region has greatly benefitted by Kurt’s direction in his
role with TMACOG as they have led these discussions for over 20 years.”
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