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Vermilion River

intro-watershedNE Ohio Watershed Map

The Vermilion River watershed is located in north-central Ohio in portions of Ashland, Erie, Huron, Lorain and Richland counties. The watershed flows 59 miles on its way north to Lake Erie draining approximately 268 square miles of land. Three short tributaries are known as branches or forks of the Vermilion River. The Southwest Branch Vermilion River and the East Branch Vermilion River join the Vermilion in Huron County. The East Fork Vermilion River originates in Lorain County and joins the Vermilion in Erie County.

 









 

The river is named for its reddish (or vermilion)-colored shale cliffs that are exposed in the Lorain Metro Parks’ Vermilion River Reservation. The topography of the area ranges from flat to rolling terrain in the upper section of the watershed to very rolling terrain in the lower portion of the watershed. Both the main stem and east branch both flow through wooded corridors with steep hills.

Land use in the Vermilion River Watershed is mostly cropland, with some forest and urban land. Farms in this watershed grow soybeans, corn and small grains. Also important to the economy are vegetable and greenhouse crops. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in housing development in the area.

Preserved lands in the Vermilion River watershed include local and county parks. Lorain Metroparks manages the Vermilion River Reservation. In the upper part of the watershed is Ashland County Parks’ Crall Woods in Ruggles. Recreational opportunities on the Vermilion River include canoeing and fishing. Steelhead fishing is popular as the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks steelhead in the Vermilion River.

  

   
Dredging in the Vermilion Harbor by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers occurs every five to ten years to keep the harbor safe for recreational boating. Some sediments are disposed in the open lake while others are contaminated and need to be contained in a Contained Disposal Facility.

Since agriculture occupies about 71% of the land area in the Vermilion River Watershed, agricultural land uses are responsible for much of the non-point source pollution in area streams. Agricultural land use is a source of non-point source pollution as it may increase habitat alteration, nutrient enrichment, siltation, pathogens and flow alteration/channelized streams. Headwater streams and habitat quality in the upper reaches of the Vermilion River are poor due to the preceding reasons in the agricultural areas.

Additional non-point source pollution includes areas in the watershed that are more developed. One major non-point source pollutant originates from leaky or failing septic systems. Additional problems occur from contaminated storm water runoff and impervious surfaces that cause accelerated runoff volume to the river.


  




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Sources: http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp_2/huron.html, OEPA Vermilion River Watershed Draft TMDL (http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/tmdl/Vermilion_PNdraft.pdf)
 
   
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