The Maumee RAP is striving for abundant open space and a high quality natural environment; adequate floodwater storage capacities and flourishing wildlife; citizens who take local ownership in their resources, and river, streams, and lakes that are clean, clear, and safe for recreational use. This will stimulate economic growth, secure jobs, and assure quality of life.

The Maumee RAP Committee makes the official decisions for the organization and provides general program oversight.  The Maumee RAP Committee has eight action groups which are integral to the progress of the Maumee RAP. These action groups are further classified as Issue, Watershed, and Support Action Groups. The Issue Action Groups address specific issues that effect the Maumee AOC. Watershed Action Groups focus on a comprehensive watershed approach to cleaning up a specific watershed. The Support Action Groups assist the other Maumee RAP action groups and the Maumee RAP Committee to more effectively accomplish their goals in manner consistent with Maumee RAP guidelines and objectives.

The partners involved in the Maumee RAP all share a common goal of taking the remedial action plan beyond words and a plan, and putting it into action for the benefit of all who live, work and play in our watersheds. More information about the Maumee RAP partners, projects, research, meetings and needs are available throughout this website.

The Maumee RAP is a partnership of citizens, government agencies, businesses and industries working to restore the health of our area’s streams. However, the Maumee RAP is more than just a local organization, it is founded on an international philosophy, process and program established more than 15 years ago.

As a binational organization, the International Joint Commission (IJC) recognizes that no single individual, organization or activity intentionally damaged the Great Lakes. So in 1985 they designated the Maumee Area of Concern (AOC) as one of the 43 international "areas of concern" due to degraded water quality. The original philosophy for restoring these areas is still the same today, an ecosystem approach. This approach considers all pollution sources and their impacts on the whole environment.

The process established by the International Joint Commission for cleaning up these "areas of concern" included the development of "remedial action plans". Communities were encouraged to create comprehensive plans for water quality improvements. The Maumee RAP organization formed in 1987 as a community effort to restore our area’s waterways to "fishable and swimmable" conditions.

The Maumee River begins in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and travels more than 130 river miles, 105 miles of which are located in Ohio. The boundaries of the Maumee AOC were initially defined as the area from the Bowling Green water intake (River Mile 22.8) downstream to the Maumee Bay and Lake Erie, including Duck Creek, Otter Creek, Cedar Creek, Grassy Creek, Crane Creek, Swan Creek and the Ottawa River. In 1992, the AOC was expanded to include Packer Creek, Turtle Creek, Rusha Creek and the Toussaint River. The drainage area for the AOC covers all of Lucas County and parts of Wood, Ottawa and Sandusky counties. The Maumee has the largest drainage area of any Great Lakes river with 3,942 stream miles draining into the Maumee River.

BENEFICIAL USE IMPAIRMENTS

When the Maumee AOC was first designated, it was primarily due to issues associated with agricultural runoff. Upon further investigation, it was realized that the Maumee AOC had many more issues that needed to be addressed to allow for the restoration of our area to fishable and swimmable conditions. As part of the process to develop remedial action plans, the IJC established beneficial impairments to assist communities in defining their problems. The Maumee RAP has identified that 10 of the 14 beneficial use impairments need to be addressed in the Maumee AOC:

These environmental problems are caused by toxic substances, bacterial contamination, nutrient enrichment, and landfill leachate. Sources of these pollutants include urban storm water runoff, commercial and residential development, municipal and industrial discharges, combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, wastewater treatment plant bypasses, hazardous waste disposal sites, and agricultural runoff. The Maumee RAP continues to advocate or sponsor programs and activities to address these issues.  Additional information about the Maumee AOC's beneficial use impairments is available on the US EPA-GLNPO Maumee RAP web site.