Ottawa River (Lake Erie)
North Tenmile Creek rises in extreme southeastern Michigan, southwest of Ottawa Lake, approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of the Ohio-Michigan state line. The creek flows south across the state line to Sylvania, where it is joined by Tenmile Creek to form the Ottawa River, approximately 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Toledo. The river then flows southeast into western Toledo, where it turns northeast. For its lower 5 miles (8 km) it flows along the north side of Toledo roughly parallel to the Maumee River, separated from it by approximately 2 miles (3 km). It crosses the Michigan state line for its final 1 mile (1.6 km), entering Little Maumee Bay on Lake Erie.
Pollutants
The water quality assessment of the lower section of the Ottawa River found many chemicals in the water with a hazard quotient greater than 1 (from highest to lowest concentration): lead, aluminum, PCBs, manganese, iron, DDT, thallium, selenium, chromium, nickel, cadmium, cyanide, and zinc.
The poor water quality results primarily from the river's form and structure, since it has a slow flow, and, secondly, from urban runoff and discharge from landfills and sewers. The City of Toledo has made it a priority to clean up the river. It has taken action to clear landfills and tributaries.
Dam removal
In 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the removal of a long-standing dam in the Ottawa Hills stretch of the river to return the waterway to its natural flow and promote fish migration. It was also mentioned that the dam was a liability for the village. One dam was removed in 2007 and another in 2020.
See also
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 19, 2011
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ottawa River
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Tenmile Creek
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tenmile Creek
- ^ "Parametrix Report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-10-14. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
- ^ "Landfill Cleanup Progress on the Ottawa River" (Press release). Toledo, Ohio: toledo.oh.gov. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
- ^ "toledoblade.com - Ottawa Hills: Public hearing discusses future of dam". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ "Microsoft Word - 1002.doc" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
- ^ "Dam removal and mussel relocation to help improve Ottawa River quality". Aug 27, 2020. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
External links
- University of Toledo Presidents Commission on the River, a commission of University of Toledo faculty, staff, and students working to clean up the Ottawa River.