WATER QUANTITY

A thorough understanding of the quantity of water required for various uses is critical for developing sustained use of Ohio's water resources.  Sufficient quantities of fresh water are necessary, not only for economic development, agriculture, and recreation, but also for supporting ecosystems.  Many programs in government agencies and other organizations use water quantity data and information. 

Improving water quantity data and characterization, strengthening cooperation between water management programs, and preparing now for future water quantity issues have been identified as a strategic issue. Many types of water use place quantity demands on Ohio's available water supplies.  These uses include natural uses such as stream flows needed to sustain fish and wildlife or infiltration of rainfall needed to recharge aquifers. 

Water quantity is also linked to water quality with regards to issues such as pollutant concentration levels, wastewater discharge requirements, and anthropogenic impacts associated with rainfall/recharge events.  Environmental and climatic conditions play a major role in the demands for and the availability of water supplies.  Effective decisionmaking relies on water quantity data and information from both naturally occurring events and human activities.  Tracking data and information on droughts, floods, storm water runoff, instream flows, ground water recharge, water withdrawals, developmentrelated storm drainage, and water diversions is critical.  Managing Ohio's water resources for sustained use cannot be successful without the knowledge and understanding of the hydrologic cycle, the myriad of demands on the resource and fluctuation in ground and surface water supplies. 

As growth and development continue, more water quantity conflicts will occur and more sophisticated analyses and information will be needed to ensure equitable use and sustainability of the resource.

Objectives:

  1. Improved water quantity data and characterization.
    Improved capacity for data collection and analysis
    Water budgets for Ohio watersheds
    Characterized ground water – surface water interactions
    Characterization of zones of ground water recharge
    Improved data and information on existing water users
  2. Integration and leverage of water quantity management programs and resources.
    Collaboration between programs for an inventory of the water quantity data and information
    Assessment of water quantity needs to support environmental sustainability
    Data and information delivery system on a watershed basis for local planning and management efforts
    A web-based water portal
  3. Prepare for midterm and longterm water quantity issues.
    Implement Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact
    Framework that allows for equitable use of the resource
    Tools to support decisionmaking relative to water quantity issues
    Improved integration of water quantity and water quality management
Objs. Action (Program / Initiative) Indicator / Measure Agencies
Lead* and Supporting 		Resources
1. complete with existing
2. develop/identify to complete
3. new needed
1 Develop methods to characterize, base flows, surface water/ground water interaction, water budgets and land use impacts for small watersheds through completion of pilot watershed studies (i.e. Maumee subwatershed, Upper Mad River, Darby Creek, Grand R.) Tools developed for statewide application   ODNR Water* All 2
2 Develop list of areas/watersheds where tools from Objective 1 may be applied based on program and resource needs. List of areas/watersheds ODNR*, OEPA, USGS 1) Anticipate completion with existing resources
3 Enact Great Lakes Charter Annex compact legislation in Ohio. Legislation enacted ODNR Water* All 1) Anticipate completion with existing resources
3 Develop Ohio water conservation guidance as template for Great Lakes basin level efficiency objectives required by the Great Lakes Charter Annex. Ohio conservation guidance developed ODNR Water* All 2) Need to develop/identify resources to complete
2 *Enhance OWRC web site with links to existing water resource data sets Number of links, agencies providing data, and databases
Web traffic including: hits, downloads, and secondary page hits		 ODNR* All Assistance from Wrkgrp for Water Resources Monitoring (WWRM) 2) Need to develop/identify resources to complete
2 *Move metadata to OWRC web site Metadata on OWRC site ODNR, USGS 1) Anticipate completion with existing resources
2 *Develop a better understanding and optimize water data collection systems in the Great Miami River Watershed   Complete MCD Pilot Project
GIS coverage of all major water monitoring networks available
Willingness of data collectors to implement strategy
Willingness of data collectors to explore the funding ideas further		 ODNR Water*, Miami Conservancy District, WWRM 1) Anticipate completion with existing resources