Hazardous Algae Bloom is the common term for what is actually bacteria. Cyanobacteria has different forms, from grass clippings to spilled paint, growing in lakes and ponds, increasingly common as the water temperature increases and nutrients are in excess. HABs are capable of producing dangerous compounds, which is why we monitor and test. Important to note, toxins can be present in the water when the bloom itself is no longer visible.

Bacterial Contamination Alerts – symbolized on Ohio BeachGuard with a yellow flag.

High levels of e.coli are associated with intestinal illness. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and County Health monitor e.coli contamination on public beaches, posting alerts when the levels are above the safe threshold. While the advisory is posted, the beach remains open, however, the public is advised to stay out of the water.

Recreational Public Health Alerts are symbolized with a red flag on Ohio BeachGuard. Alerts from the BeachGuard site are reported here in the watershed area, listing the County, the water body impacted, including bacterial contamination and algal toxin sample test results, location details. If you see a bloom, fill out the report on Ohio EPA https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/ac459f1f0b344bfa93c0486b028fbba6

email reports to HABmailbox@epa.ohio.gov

Southern Lake Erie Watersheds

1a Grand River Watershed (0)

Draining northeast Ohio north to Lake Erie, including parts of Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Trumbull Counties

1b Ashtabula River - Chagrin River Watershed (1)

Draining northeast Ohio, including parts of Ashtabula, Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Portage Counties north into Lake Erie.

Lake Erie – Noble Beach (Cuyahoga County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory

July 14 E-coli 365 cfu/100ml (Colilert- 18 hr)
July 12 E-coli 649 cfu/100ml (Colilert- 18 hr)

For more information: Phone (216) 731-6988

Location 41.614941/-81.527519

1c Cuyahoga River Watershed (1)

Draining a portion of northeast Ohio including parts of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, Geauga, Medina Counties out to Lake Erie.

Lake Erie - Edgecliff Beach (Cuyahoga County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory

July 12, 10:30 am Advisory issued for high bacterial level, ongoing, day 5 (updated July 17, 2022)
July 14 sample: e-coli 1120 cfu/100 ml lab test
Monitoring by Cuyahoga County Health District: 1 test per week until Sept 5

Tel: (216) 469-8793

Location: 41.610222/-81.535728

1d Black River - Rocky River Watershed (2)

Draining part of north central Ohio, including parts of Lorain, Ashland, Huron, Cuyahoga, Medina Counties to Lake Erie.

Lake Erie - Century Beach (Lorain County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory (recently lifted)

July 13, 2022 Advisory issued for high bacteria level;
July 14 Advisory lifted
July 14: e-coli 579 cfu/100ml

Location 41.477936/-82.154121

Lake Erie – Community Park Beach (Lorain County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory

July 14 coli 1553.3 cfu/100ml (Colilert 2000)
July 13 coli 344.8 cfu/100ml (Colilert 2000)

Monitoring: Lorain County Health District 4 times a week

Location: 41.49064/-82.1123updated

2 Western Lake Erie Watersheds

2a Huron River/Vermillion River (3)

Draining parts of north central Ohio, including parts of Erie, Huron, and Lorain Counties north to Lake Erie.

Lake Erie – Nokomis (Erie County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

July 15 Advisory Issued for high bacteria levels, ongoing, day 2 (updated Jul 17, 2022)
July 15 e.coli 1119.9 cfu/100ml (Colilert-18 hr, 2000)
July 14 coli 275.5 cfu/100ml (Colilert-18 hr, 2000)
Jul 7 e.coli 3 cfu/100ml (Colilert-18 hr)

Monitoring by Erie County Health District, 5 times a week

Location 41.42728/-82.352638

Lake Erie – Lakefront Park (Erie County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory

July 14 Advisory issued for high bacteria levels, ongoing, day 3 (updated Jul 17, 2022)
July 15 e.coli 648.8cfu/100ml
July 14 e.coli 547.5 cfu/100ml
July 13 coli 248.1 cfu/100ml

Monitored by Erie County Health District, 5 times per week

Location: 41.398251/-82.553787

Lake Erie – Sawmill Creek (Erie County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory

July 12 Advisory Issued for high bacteria level, ongoing, day 5 (updated July 17, 2022)
July 15 e.coli 1299.7 cfu/100 ml (Colilert-18 hr, 2000)
July 11 e.coli 261 cfu/100ml (Colilert-18 hr, 2000)

Monitoring by Erie County Community Health 2 times per week

Location: 41.413715/-82.588402

2b Sandusky River Watershed (1)

Drains parts of central interior Ohio including Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford (4 Main) also parts of Erie, Ottawa, Wood, Huron, Hancock, Hardin, Marion, and Richland counties

Lake Erie – Lions Park (Erie County)

Bacterial Contamination Advisory – ongoing, day 15

July 2, 2022 – advisory issued for high bacteria levels

Monitoring: testing bacteria levels weekly

July 15 e-coli 517.2 cfu/100 ml (lab results by Colilert 18 hour 2000)

July 8 e-coli 1732.9 cfu/100 ml (lab results by Colilert 18 hour 2000)

July 1 e-coli 1299.7 cfu/100 ml (lab results by Colilert 18 hour 2000)

Pollution source: unknown

2c Blanchard River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Hardin, Hancock, Putnam, Seneca, Allen, and Wyandot Counties north of the divide/height to Lake Erie.

2d Cedar River-Portage River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Hancock, Wood, Seneca, Sandusky, Ottawa Counties to Lake Erie.

2e Auglaize River Watershed (0)

Draining an area of northwest Ohio including parts of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Williams, Wood and Allen Counties to Lake Erie.

2f - Lower Maumee River Watershed (0)

Drainage an area of northwest Ohio, including parts of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Williams, and Wood Counties to Lake Erie.

2g Upper Wabash River Watershed (0)

Draining an area of northwest Ohio, including parts of Mercer, Darke Counties west to Indiana. The flows eventually reach Lake Erie.

2h St. Mary’s River Watershed (2)

Draining a portion of northwest Ohio west to Indiana, including parts of Mercer, Van Wert, and Auglaize, eventually reaching Lake Erie.

Grand Lake - St. Mary’s Camp, Windy Point (Auglaize County)

Algal Bloom/Toxin alert - Recreational Public Health Advisory

Advisory issued May 19, 2022 ongoing for the 59th day (updated 07-17-22)
July 12: microcystin 5 µg/l (lab test results, ELISA method)
July 6: microcystin 50 µg/l (lab test results, ELISA method)
July 3 e-coli 44.8 cfu/100ml (lab test results (method not specified)
Monitoring is done by testing every two weeks if e-coli under 235 cfu
Please contact 419-394-3611 for more info St. Marys State Park

Grand Lake, St. Marys Main West (Auglaize County)

Algal Bloom/Toxin alert - Recreational Public Health Advisory

Advisory issued July 11 for an algal bloom toxin alert remains active for the 6^th day
Jul 12: Microcystin 2.7 µg/L (ELISA)
July 6: Microcystin 17.2 µg/L (ELISA)
July 3: E-coli 19.9 cfu/100ml (method not specified)
Monitoring for algae toxin “as needed” by Ohio Dept of Natural Resources
Monitoring for e-coli once every two weeks if e-coli under 235 colony forming units (cfu)

2i Upper Maumee River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Paulding and Defiance Counties in a north-east flow direction to Lake Erie. Reporting the Lower Maumee section separately under the heading 2f

2j Tiffin River (1)

Draining northwest Ohio, parts of Williams, Defiance Counties, flowing southwest into Indiana, looping back north to Lake Erie in Indiana.

Harrison Lake – Harrison (Fulton County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

July 5, e.coli 1203.3 cfu/100ml (method not specified)
Monitored by Ohio DNR as needed for algae, every 2 weeks for e.coli under 235 cfu

Contact Harrison Lake State Park at 419-237-1503 for more info.

Location 41.639809/-84.361618

2k St. Joseph River (0)

Draining a small corner of northwest Ohio, parts of Williams, Defiance, and Lucas counties, southwest direction into Indiana.

3 Ohio River Tributaries

3a Shenango River Watershed (0)

Draining a portion of northeast Ohio including parts of Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties, generally flows east into Pennsylvania, turning south and eventually joining Ohio River on the Penn side. Note the Shenango River itself does not flow in Ohio state.

3b Mahoning River (0)

Draining parts of Stark, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties, the Mahoning River draws in the run-off from a large area, flow starts in the south part of the basin, flows north and turns east at Youngstown, exits Ohio, picks up flow from Penn state before joining the Ohio River.

3c Little Beaver Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Jefferson, Carroll, Columbiana, and Harrison Counties to the Ohio River.

3d Wheeling Creek Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Belmont, and Monroe Counties to the Ohio River.

3e Shade River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Meigs County to the Ohio River.

3f Hocking River Watershed (0)

Draining a large section of south-central Ohio, including parts of Athens, Hocking, and Fairfield Counties to the Ohio River.

3g Raccoon Creek – Symmes Creek Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Hocking, Athens, Meigs, Vinton, Jackson, and Gallia Counties

3h Middle Ohio – White Oak Watershed (0)

Draining a portion of southern Ohio, parts of Brown County to the Ohio River.

3i Middle Ohio – Laughery Watershed (2)

Draining central Butler and Hamilton Counties, including Cincinnati, to the Ohio River.

Grand Lake, St. Marys Main West (Auglaize County)

Algal Bloom/Toxin alert - Recreational Public Health Advisory

Advisory issued July 11 for an algal bloom toxin alert remains active for the 6^th day
Jul 12: Microcystin 2.7 µg/L (ELISA)
July 6: Microcystin 17.2 µg/L (ELISA)
July 3: E-coli 19.9 cfu/100ml (method not specified)
Monitoring for algae toxin “as needed” by Ohio Dept of Natural Resources
Monitoring for e-coli once every two weeks if e-coli under 235 colony forming units (cfu)

East Fork Lake, East Fork Campground

Recreational Public Health Advisory algal toxin alert

June 24, Advisory issued, day 23 (updated July 17, 2022)
June 27 microcystin level detected by ELISA test, 1.15 µg/l
June 14 microcystin levels detected by ELISA test, 8.59µg/l
July 6 e-coli 20 cfu/100 ml
For more information, contact 513-734-4323 East Fork State Park

4 Muskingum River Watersheds

4a Tuscarawas River Watershed (0)

Draining a large area of east-central interior Ohio generally south, including parts of Tuscarawas, Stark, Wayne, Carroll, and Harrison Counties

4b Wills Creek Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Licking, Guernsey, and Tuscarawas Counties. Starting at the southeast corner of the basin, Wills Creek flows north and westward, catching up with the Muskingum River system.

4c Little Muskingum River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Washington, Noble, Monroe, Guernsey southeast to meet the Ohio River.

4d Mohican River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Richland and Ashland Counties, gathering run-off in a southeast flow direction, joining the Muskingum River.

4e Walhonding River Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Knox, Morrow, Ashland, Richland, Coshocton, and Holmes Counties, gathering run-off from a strip of north interior state and a strip in the centre of the state, draining these areas together and into the Muskingum system.

4f Licking River Watershed (0)

Gathering run-off from parts of Licking County flowing east to the Muskingum channel.

4g Muskingum River Watershed (0)

Having gathered the flows of the subregions listed above, the Muskingum River continues to clear run-off from parts of Morgan, Washington, Noble, Muskingum, and Coshocton Counties south to the Ohio River.

5 Scioto River Watersheds

5a Upper Scioto Watershed (1)

Draining parts of Madison, Union, Franklin, Pickaway, Champaign, Logan, Marion, Delaware, Morrow, Crawford, Licking, Knox, Fairfield Counties

Madison Lake – Madison Lake Park (Madison County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

D June 10 Advisory issued for high bacteria levels, ongoing, day 37 (updated Jul 17, 2022
July 6 e.coli 24200cfu/100ml (coliform/E.coli enzyme substrate test ONPG-MUG test)
June 23 e.coli 1080cfu/100ml (coliform/E.coli enzyme substrate test ONPG-MUG test)

Monitoring Ohio DNR – algae as needed, bacteria every 2 weeks if e.coli under 235 cfu

Please contact 740-869-3124 for more info

Location: 39.869549/-83.37429

5b Paint Creek Watershed (1)

Draining parts of Clinton, Ross and Highland Counties

Deer Creek – Deer Creek State Park (Fayette County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

July 11 Advisory Issued for high bacterial levels, ongoing, Day 6 (updated Jul 17, 2022)
July 6: E-coli 3879 cfu/100ml (coliform/E.Coli enzyme substrate test) IDEXX method

Monitored for algae as needed, monitored for bacteria every 2 weeks when e.coli under 235 cfu

Contact 740-869-3124 for more info

Location 39.619339/-83.228554

5c Lower Scioto Watershed (0)

Draining parts of Madison, Highland, Franklin, Pickaway, Ross and Pike counties

5d Little Scioto Watershed (0)

Draining the south-most part of Ohio state to the Ohio River.

6 Miami River Watersheds

6a Upper Great Miami Watershed (2)

Draining a large area in the northwest interior of Ohio, including parts of Hardin, Logan, Shelby, Miami, Darke, Clark and Montgomery Counties. After Dayton, we refer to Lower Great Miami River, continuing south to the Ohio River.

Kiser Lake – Kiser Lake (Champaign County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

July 11 - e.coli 279 cfu/100ml
July 6 - coli 435 cfu/100ml

Please call 937-322-5284 for more info

Location 40.184662/-83.951401

Ohio DNR Monitors for algae as needed, tests e-coli every 2 weeks under 235 cfu

CJ Brown Reservoir – Buck Creek Main (Clark County)

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

July 12 coli 15500 cfu/100ml (Coliform/E. coli Enzyme substrate test; ONPG-MUG)
July 5 coli 529 cfu/100ml

Please contact 937-322-5284 for more info

Location 39.94939/-83.735451

Ohio DNR Monitors for algae as needed, tests e-coli every 2 weeks under 235 cfu

6b Lower Great Miami Watersheds (0)

Draining a large area of interior southwest Ohio, including Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble and Butler Counties to the Ohio River.

6c Little Miami Watershed (2)

Draining an area of south interior Ohio east of the Great Miami channel, to flow south and west to meet the Lower Great Miami River and on to the Ohio River, draining parts of Clark, Clermont, Warren and Greene Counties

Little Miami River, Camp Dennison Municipal Park, Clermont County

Bacteria Contamination Advisory

Advisory issued June 28 2:34 pm ongoing, day 19 (updated Jul 17, 2022)

July 11: E-coli 360 cfu/100ml (m-ColiBlue24 Method)
July 6: E-coli 110 cfu/100ml (m-ColiBlue24 Method)
Jun 13: E-coli 1106 cfu/100 ml (m-ColiBlue24 Method)
Note: this is not a beach
location 39.19379/-84.282707

Little Miami River – Isaak Walton League, Loveland (Clermont County)

Recreational Public Health Advisory

◆ July 12 Advisory issued for high bacteria levels, ongoing, day 5 (updated Jul 17, 2022)

- July 11 e.coli 440 cfu/100ml (mColiBlue24 Method)

- June 27 e.coli 170 cfu/100ml (mColiBlue24 Method)

Monitored by Clermont County Health District

Location: 39.253994/-84.27906

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