Ditches and Water Quality

Ditch and channelization projects deepen, widen, alter, or otherwise change the course or location of rivers, streams, or other waterways. These projects denude protective streamside vegetation, destroy wildlife habitat, and degrade water quality. Under Ohio’s "drainage laws," one landowner along a creek can not only ask the county to ditch a stream in the name of "improved drainage," but also can make their neighbors pay for the destruction.

Millions of state and federal tax-payer dollars are being invested in efforts to restore Ohio rivers and streams. Ditch and channelization projects, however, conflict with these objectives and threaten to undermine progress made to improve water quality. Read more about Ohio’s ditch laws.

By highlighting bad local projects and working with scientists and lawyers to develop environmentally-friendly alternatives, the OEC is building support to change Ohio’s antiquated ditch laws.

Bee Run is a naturally occurring waterway that drains into the Olentangy River in Marion County. Bee Run was channelized several times between 1893 and 1951. Since that time, however, segments of Bee Run have recovered from these past activities and is home to a variety of fish and other wildlife. Citing incomplete drainage of some farm fields, landowners in the Bee Run watershed used Ohio’s Single County Ditch laws (PDF) (ORC § 6131), to petition Marion County to improve agricultural drainage.

The Marion County Engineer has proposed to remove all trees and vegetation along both banks of Bee Run to create over four miles of open ditch. The OEC filed a verified complaint with the Ohio EPA over violations of Ohio antidegradation, and to require Clean Water Act permits for the project.  Despite decades of agency inaction toward environmentally detrimental ditching projects, the Ohio EPA investigated the Bee Run Project and ordered Marion County to obtain all the necessary permits before channelizing the stream.  While, Marion County has asserted that the state does not have jurisdiction over Bee Run, the Ohio EPA has expressed to OEC the intention to protect this quality of this water of the state.  OEC will continue in its work with to protect this and other headwater streams from an unnecessary Ditch Sentence.

By bringing the water quality issues surrounding Ohio’s drainage ditches to the forefront, Ohio’s state environmental and conservation agencies have been forced into action.  OEC is also working collectively with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the Ohio EPA, County Soil Water Conservation Districts, Farm Bureau, and the Nature Conservancy on ODNR’s Rural Drainage Advisory Committee to develop environmentally friendly Best Management Practices for drainage maintenance and construction.  OEC is working with these groups and agencies to find workable solutions to provide the drainage necessary for Ohio’s farmers and landowners while at the same time protecting the quality of the waters of the state of Ohio. Read OEC's draft comments and remember to check back for final comments.

Ohio’s Primary Headwater Habitat Streams (Ohio EPA)

Large Woody Debris in Streams (ODNR)

Riparian Forest Buffers: Function and Design for Protection

Enhancement of Water Resources (USDA Forest Service)

Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Water Quality (Virginia Cooperative Extension)