Surface-Water Hydrology: Swamps, and Other Wetlands

SURFACE-WATER HYDROLOGY
The surface-water resources of the Maumee River An historical overview provides a broad perspective
basin include the Maumee, St. Marys, and St. Joseph for assessing potential constraints and impacts of
Rivers; Cedar, Little Cedar, Blue, Fish, and Spy Run future water and land development. The most exten-
Creeks; an extensive network of smaller tributary sive changes which have occurred in the basin include
streams and ditches; two man-made reservoirs; natur- logging, ditching and urbanization.
al lakes; ponds; and scattered remnants of marshes, As ancestral Lake Maumee receded from the basin,
swamps, and other wetlands. the drainage networks developed. The course of the
These surface-water features comprise a significant Maumee River generally follows the route of an earli-
part of the hydrologic cycle (figure 2), a continual er subglacial channel, but the modern eastbound
movement of water between the atmosphere and earth. drainage system did not become established until
The hydrology of lakes, streams, and wetlands is headward erosion by the river captured the St. Joseph
closely related not only to precipitation, but also to and St. Marys Rivers (for additional information, see
topographic, geomorphic, and hydrogeologic Geology Section of the Physical Environment chap-
conditions. ter of this report).
The greater Maumee River watershed, which The “Three Rivers” occupied a vast wetland lake
encompasses areas in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio is plain, and much of the area was covered by dense
the largest watershed in the United States portion of forests. This forest-covered, water-laden land
the Great Lakes Basin (figure 4). The Maumee River stretched for more than 120 miles from Fort Wayne to
is Lake Erie’s largest tributary (Great Lakes Basin Lake Erie. Early settlers called this area many names
Commission, 1977). including: the Great Black Swamp, Maumee Swamp,
The Maumee River begins at the confluence of the The Big Swamp, The Swamps, the Lake Plains, or the
St. Joseph and St. Marys Rivers. From the present-day Dismal Swamp. The extensive swamp and the hostile
urban setting of Fort Wayne, the Maumee River flows Indians prevented early settlement of the Maumee
eastward as a large river for about 134 miles until it region.
discharges into Maumee Bay at Toledo, Ohio. The 15- The “Three Rivers” however, were destined to be
square mile embayment of western Lake Erie, which important trade routes because of an eight-mile
forms Maumee Bay, allows more than 100 foreign portage connecting the Maumee River and the Wabash
ships to anchor at Toledo each year. Thus, the inland River. For many years the Maumee River provided the
Maumee River ends as a transit point for ocean cargo. shortest water route between the Quebec and New
This link to the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway has Orleans colonial centers.
played an important role in the development of Fort The streams, which nourished the hardwood forests
Wayne and Indiana’s Maumee River basin. by cycles of flooding and soil deposition, became
The major tributaries of the Maumee River, the St. frontier highways that brought Europeans to Indiana
Joseph River and the St. Marys River, are mature and accelerated settlement of Fort Wayne. Growing
streams in their own right. The St. Joseph River, the towns and cities needed vast quantities of wood; and
larger of the two, originates from a lake region near the streams provided easy transportation of logs to the
Hillsdale, Michigan, flows southwest, and enters mills and power for sawmills. The timber industry
Indiana from Ohio; whereas, the St. Marys River became the first to harvest natural resources in the
originates from western Ohio’s flat prairies. Maumee region.
The floodplains were rapidly cleared after the set-
tlers learned that the soils which supported the finest
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE trees would also grow the best corn. Intensive ditching
and tiling turned the former swamps into productive
The present surface-water hydrology of the farmland.
Maumee River basin is different from the natural By 1819, when the last garrison was withdrawn
drainage conditions that existed prior to permanent from Fort Wayne, the surrounding village had begun
settlement of the area. to take on the character of a regional commercial and
Surface-water Hydrology, Historical Perspective 59

manufacturing center. Wetlands Table 12. Estimated number and area of basin wetlands by primary class
The completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal in Values were determined from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory.
1843 improved the transportation infrastructure. This Wetlands are an important hydrologic feature in Wetland Classification: Classification follows the system described by Cowardin and others(1979).
canal grew to become the continent’s longest artificial many parts of the Maumee River basin. Generally
waterway, and Fort Wayne one of its major ports. wetlands occur where the ground-water table is nor- System Primary Class Frequency Acreage Square Miles
Stretching about 464 miles, it connected Toledo, Ohio mally at or near the land surface, or where an area is
and Evansville, Indiana. In conjunction with the periodically covered by shallow water. Cowardin and Total All Classes 11,428 32,829.904 51.297
Miami and Erie Canal in Ohio, the Wabash and Erie others (1979) define wetlands as having one or more
Lacustrine Total 45 3,243.025 5.067
Canal allowed boats to travel from Lake Erie at Toledo of the following three attributes: (1) at least periodi- aquatic bed 6 282.242 0.441
via Fort Wayne to the Ohio River at Evansville. The cally, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes, emergent 3 13.910 0.022
emergence of the canal also led to the nickname (2) the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric Unconsolidated Bottom 36 2,946.873 4.604
Summit City as Fort Wayne was the highest point soil, (3) the substrate is nonsoil and is saturated with
along the canal. water or covered by shallow water at some time dur- Palustrine Total 11,369 28,155.883 43.994
The St. Joseph River played an important role in ing the growing season of each year. Aquatic Bed 142 197.521 0.309
operation of the Wabash and Erie Canal and in devel- Wetlands within Indiana can be organized accord- Emergent 4,942 7,711.331 12.049
opment of Fort Wayne. It supplied water for the cen- ing to the classification scheme used by the U.S. Fish Forested 3,813 16,181.119 25.283
tral section of the Canal; when streamflow was not and Wildlife Service and published in 1979 as Scrub Shrub 549 1,175.435 1.837
adequate to operate the Canal. A feeder canal was “Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats Unconsolidated Bottom 1,900 2,846.233 4.447
Unconsolidated Shore 23 44.244 0.069
excavated and a dam was constructed about 7 miles of the United States” (Cowardin and others, 1979).
upstream from Fort Wayne. The dam was constructed This classification involves a hierarchical approach Riverine Total 14 1,430.996 2.236
on dry land and the St. Joseph River rerouted behind analogous to the taxonomic system used to identify Unconsolidated Bottom 14 1,430.996 2.236
it. The river helped keep the canal operating for near- plants and animals. It progresses from the general lev-
ly 50 years. els of systems and subsystems, to the more rigorous
Another canal was planned that would have con- levels of classes and subclasses. The latter two levels
nected Fort Wayne with Coldwater, Michigan, by way in the hierarchy can be further subdivided according History of basin wetlands Inventory of basin wetlands
of Noble County. Preliminary work on the canal to water regime (duration and frequency of flooding),
resulted in the creation of Sylvan Lake, which was water chemistry, soil type, and dominant plants or The Maumee River basin in Indiana historically A comprehensive inventory of Indiana’s wetlands
intended as a reservoir to supply water to the canal. animals. contained a section of the ancient Lake Maumee, a was initiated in 1981 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
However, a few years later, work on the project was Wetlands in Indiana belong to three of the five predecessor to modern Lake Erie. As the lake reced- Service as part of its National Wetlands Inventory.
abandoned due to its high cost. Sylvan Lake, located major wetland systems identified by Cowardin and ed, it left an area of poorly drained soils which early The inventory process involves identifying and classi-
just outside the basin boundary, remains (Maumee others (1979). Lacustrine systems include perma- settlers referred to as the Black Swamp (Homoya and fying wetlands from high-altitude aerial photographs,
River Basin Commission, 1993). nently flooded lakes and reservoirs of at least 20 acres, others, 1985). This area extended from Toledo, Ohio defining wetland boundaries using photointerpretation
and smaller impoundments where maximum depth to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Swamp once covered and field reconnaissance, and then transforming the
equals or exceeds 6.6 feet at low water. Riverine wet- approximately 134 sq. mi., or 85,760 acres within the photographs into detailed maps (1:24,000 scale). The
SURFACE-WATER RESOURCES lands are contained within natural or artificial chan- Maumee basin. It consisted mainly of swamp forest location and classification of each wetland is then dig-
nels which continuously or periodically contain mov- dominated by American Elm, Swamp White Oak, Pin itized and electronically stored. This computerized
The larger streams in the basin provide water for ing water, or which connect two bodies of standing Oak, and Shagbark Hickory. Because farmers quick- data is now accessible for Indiana and available for
withdrawal purposes such as public supply, industrial water. Palustrine wetlands are associated with areas ly recognized the value of the rich organic soils for analysis through the use of a geographic information
use, and energy production in northeastern Indiana. and/or bodies of water which usually are dominated farming, the draining of the Black Swamp was the ear- system (GIS).
The St. Joseph River is the source of public water sup- by wetland plants. Palustrine wetlands include not liest large drainage program undertaken in the United Analysis of the GIS data indicates that the Maumee
ply for Fort Wayne. Water for non-withdrawal uses only vegetated wetlands commonly called marshes, States. By 1890, most of the swamp had been drained River basin contains 11,428 wetlands covering
such as instream recreation is provided by St. Joseph, swamps, bogs, sloughs, or fens, but also isolated (U.S. Geological Survey, 1994). approximately 51.3 square miles or 32,830 acres
Maumee, and St. Marys Rivers and the other tributary catchments, small ponds, islands in lakes or rivers, Other wetland communities that were present in the (table 12). This is roughly 4 percent of the basin’s
streams. Wetlands and the smaller lakes in the basin and parts of river floodplains. Palustrine wetlands Maumee basin include: floodplain forests, till plain land area (figure 23). Palustrine wetlands constitute
are not considered potential water supply sources, but also may include farmland that would support flatwoods, wet prairies, marshes, seeps, and fens. 99.5 percent of the region’s total number of wetlands,
their occurrence and regulation directly affect land use hydrophytes if the land were not tilled, planted to These and other natural communities are virtually and nearly 86 percent of the total wetland area within
and its associated water-resources development. crops, or partially drained. non-existent today with present land use roughly the basin. Riverine and lacustrine wetland coverage
divided into the following three categories: 88 percent accounts for approximately 4 and 10 percent, respec-
agricultural land, 7 percent urban, and 5 percent tively (table 12).
forested or other classifications. As previously discussed, wetland systems are divid-
60 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Water Resources 61
ed into several different classes. Palustrine Forested ly or indirectly afforded some protection for wetlands.
(PFO) and Palustrine Emergent (PEM) are two of the Water regime of wetlands in the These state and federal programs generally are
Maumee basin
classes which Indiana Department of Natural designed to balance the need for wetland protection
Resources staff have preliminarily identified as state Seasonally flooded wetlands contain surface water for with developmental and drainage needs. Appendix 6
priority wetland types (Indiana Department of Natural extended periods, especially early in the frost-free growing sea- summarizes programs having good potential for pro-
son, but usually become dry by season’s end. When surface
Resources, 1988c). Fifty-seven percent of the water is absent, the ground water table is often near the land
tecting the wetlands of northern Indiana.
Palustrine wetlands in the Maumee basin are classi- surface. Because the number and extent of wetlands protect-
fied as forested, and 27 percent are classified as In temporarily flooded wetlands, surface water is present ed through regulatory programs are limited, non-regu-
for brief periods during the growing season, but the ground
emergent. water table usually lies well below the land surface for most of
latory programs involving land acquisition and volun-
Palustrine Forested wetlands are characterized by the season. Plants that grow both in uplands and wetlands are tary measures often are major factors in wetland pro-
woody vegetation 6 meters (19.7 feet) high or higher. characteristic of the temporarily flooded regime. tection. Many state agencies and private trusts are
Semi-permanently flooded wetland contain surface water
They are common in the eastern United States and in throughout the growing season in most years. When surface
involved in acquisition of prime wetland habitat for
moist areas of the West, particularly along rivers and water is absent, the ground water table is usually at or near the preservation.
in the mountains. Scattered remnants of PFO wetland surface. The region’s semi-permanently flooded wetlands Indiana’s Wetland Conservation Program is one
typically are found along river corridors or adjacent to the larger
lands are present throughout the Maumee basin, but lakes.
method by which wetland tracts are being purchased
the majority are found within the northern regions. In intermittently exposed wetlands, surface water is pre- and protected. At present there are 29 specific wet-
Major concentrations of PFO wetlands are located sent throughout the year except in times of extreme drought. land conservation areas (Indiana Department of
In saturated wetlands, such as fens, ground water is at the
along Fish Creek and its west branch, Cedar Creek, land surface for extended periods during the growing season,
Natural Resources, written commun., 1995). Four of
Little Cedar Creek, and the St. Joseph River. Forested but surface water is seldom present. these areas lie within Steuben County, however, none
wetlands play a role in maintaining water quality In permanently flooded wetlands, water covers the land are located in the Maumee basin.
surface throughout the year in all years. Riverine and lacustrine
(Winger, 1986), and the locations of these PFO’s cor- systems constitute the majority of permanently flooded
Indiana’s Dedicated Nature Preserves protect wet-
relate well with the high quality surface waters found wetlands. lands that are contained within their borders. There
in these rivers (see discussion under Surface Water are presently eight dedicated nature preserves within
Quality). There are a few PFOs along the St. Marys the Maumee River basin. Four of these sites incorpo-
River, but they are extremely rare throughout the rate wetlands. One significant site just outside of the
southern part of the Maumee basin. basin boundary is the 270 acre Fox Island Nature
Palustrine Emergent wetlands are characterized by than one acre in size, 44 percent are from 1 to 10 Preserve located in Allen County. Within this pre-
erect, rooted herbaceous hydrophilic vegetation acres, 26 percent are from 10 to 40 acres, and the serve, marshes and swamps border a dune which was
(except mosses or lichens). Scattered remnants are remaining 21 percent are greater than 40 acres. created after the recession of the last glacier. The
located in the northern part of the basin in Steuben, diverse land and water habitats present in this preserve
DeKalb, and Noble Counties, but are extremely rare in support a wide variety of plant and animal life. A pri-
Allen and Adams counties. Wetland protection programs vate nonprofit organization is presently working to
Wetlands in the Maumee River basin can be further extend the boundaries of this preserve which would
characterized by the duration and timing of surface Once considered “wastelands”, Indiana’s wetlands include area within the Maumee basin.
inundation (see sidebar titled Water regime of wet- have been ditched, dredged, tiled or filled to allow for Another important area within the basin is the
lands in the Maumee River basin). Approximately agricultural production and other economic develop- Albert D. Rodenbeck Nature Preserve. This preserve
45 percent are seasonally flooded, 31 percent tem- ment. Although this perception of wetlands as barren is dominated by bottomland forest which borders
porarily flooded, 12 percent semi-permanently flood- or useless land still persists, there is a growing aware- Cedar Creek, a waterway designated as an
ed or intermittently exposed, and 8 percent are either ness of the valuable functions of wetlands. Wetlands Outstanding State Resource. (Cedar Creek is dis-
saturated or permanently flooded. The remaining 4 not only play a role in the hydrologic cycle (figure 2), cussed further in the section titled Surface Water
percent is unclassified (U.S. Fish and Wildlife com- but also provide a wide range of benefits including Quality.)
puterized data base). floodwater retention, water-quality protection, erosion
In addition, wetlands can be described by compar- control, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational and aes-
ative size. Size classification is important when eval- thetic opportunities, and possibilities for education Indiana Wetlands Conservation Plan
uating different functions and values of a given wet- and research. In addition, wetlands may be significant
land. For example, for flood prevention a large wet- contributors to certain global chemical cycles (See In recent years, wetland systems have been recog-
land would provide increased water storage potential, sidebar titled Wetland values and benefits). nized as one of the most productive and beneficial
whereas many species of waterfowl prefer smaller In general , these wetland values have largely been ecosystems on earth, yet wetland losses continue.
Figure 23. Wetlands of 5 or more acres wetland areas for nesting and raising their young. In overlooked until recent years, when state and federal Indiana presently has lost an estimated 87 percent of
(adapted from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wetlands
the Maumee basin, 9 percent of the wetlands are less agencies developed or expanded programs that direct- the wetlands that existed in pre-settlement times
inventory)
Wetlands values and benefits Eighty percent of America’s breeding bird populations and more Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment designed as subsurface systems for several reasons: odor and mos-
than 50 percent of the 800 species of protected migratory birds rely on quito problems are avoided, freezing weather has less impact on this
Wetlands provide water storage functions in river basins by tem- wetlands (Wharton and others., 1982). Hamilton Lake in Steuben In recent history, regulations specifying increased wastewater treat- type of wetland, and subsurface systems require less area than sur-
porarily retaining water in upstream reaches and slowing its release to County has historically been an important area for waterfowl and con- ment standards and heightened concern over environmental issues face flow systems to treat a given amount of wastewater. Several of
downstream reaches. During periods of flood, the storage capacity of tinues to serve this purpose today. In addition, Fox Island Nature and the safety of our water supplies have led to an increased interest these wetland septic systems have been installed throughout northern
the low-lying areas characteristic of wetlands helps decrease floodwa- Preserve in Allen County contains a variety of wetland habitats, and in the application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. Indiana, including the Maumee River basin.
ter velocity and increase the duration of flow thus decreasing flood has provided resources for 190 different species of birds (Indiana Wetland systems have been found to be efficient at treating a wide These systems generally consist of three stages. First a septic tank
peaks. During dry periods, stored water may discharge into the main Department of Natural Resources, 1995b). variety of pollutants including excess nutrients, toxic substances and is used for primary settling. This results in removal of the majority of
river channel, thereby helping to maintain streamflow. Flooding in the Wetlands provide the natural habitat necessary for the survival of pathogenic organisms. Wetlands act as sinks for these substances the solids. Second, the effluent flows from the septic tank into the con-
Maumee River basin has been a continuing problem, especially in the many endangered species. In Indiana more than 120 plant species through various physical and chemical processes such as sedimenta- structed wetland. To help comply with State Board of Health regula-
Ft. Wayne area. The Maumee basin has experienced flood damages and 60 animal species considered as either endangered, threatened, tion, nutrient uptake, absorption, adsorption, ion exchange, and the tions and recommendations, the wetland portion of the system is lined
totaling nearly $50 million in recent floods (Maumee River Basin rare or of special concern depend on wetlands (Indiana Department of dissimulation of harmful bacteria. with an impermeable membrane to avoid potential ground-water cont-
Commission, 1993). Although most of this damage is a result of devel- Natural Resources, 1988c). Of these, 17 plant species, and 36 animal Because of their ability to deal with a wide variety of pollutants, wet- amination. From the wetland, treated water enters a small leach field.
opments being located within the floodplain, damages may have been species have been documented within the Maumee River basin. lands have been used to treat both point and nonpoint sources of pol- This leach field provides treatment while the wetland plants are being
reduced if the upstream water storage capacity had not been signifi- Many recreational activities take place in and around wetlands. lution. In southern Indiana, wetlands are being used in the reclama- established and serves as an area for further treatment once the wet-
cantly altered due to wetland destruction. Because of the aesthetic quality of wetlands, these lands are key fea- tion of streams impacted by acid mine drainage. In other areas of the land is fully functioning.
Under certain conditions, water from wetlands supplements tures of many public parks and outdoor recreation areas providing state, they enhance the quality of downstream lakes by functioning as To achieve proper wastewater treatment during the winter, wetlands
ground-water recharge. Rates of recharge depend on wetland soil opportunities for hiking, picnicking, birdwatching and a variety of other filters for nonpoint source runoff from agricultural areas. In addition to in temperate zones need to be roughly twice the size of systems in
permeability. Wetlands also function as ground-water discharge activities. Hunting is another value associated with wetlands. Many these nonpoint source applications, wetlands are increasingly being warmer climates. A conservative estimate for Indiana is to allow one
points. Discharge wetlands typically form where the ground surface small game and big game species have been identified by state game used to treat sewage from a variety of sources. square foot area of wetland for each gallon treated per day. A single
intersects the water table. Wetlands are most likely to serve as managers as being associated with wetlands. Various furbearers also Organic matter is one of the major components of wastewater from family residence typically uses 500 to 600 gallons of water per day.
ground-water discharge points at depressional lakes and along major depend on wetland resources including the mink, beaver, raccoon, human activities. Wetland plants use this organic matter as an ener- Therefore, 600 square feet of wetland (an area 30’ X 20’) would be
river systems where regional ground-water flow patterns are toward and fox. In addition, the popularity of waterfowl hunting relates direct- gy and nutrient source, thereby removing excess nutrients and other appropriate. As more is learned from careful monitoring and evalua-
the main channels. ly to the importance of wetlands as feeding, nesting, resting, and win- materials from the water column. These plants also provide sites for tion of these systems, the area considered to supply adequate treat-
Wetlands also play an important role in water-quality mainte- tering grounds for waterfowl (appendix 7). microorganisms which aid in the purification process. ment will probably be reduced.
nance and improvement by functioning as natural filters to trap sedi- Wetlands have educational and cultural significance as well. In There are two basic types of constructed wetlands, surface flow Monitoring indicates that these low maintenance systems are per-
ment, recycle nutrients, and remove or immobilize pollutants, including education, wetlands are used for field trips, nature study, and teaching and subsurface flow systems. Surface flow systems have a shallow forming well in Indiana. Effluent from the wetland portion of the sys-
toxic substances that would otherwise enter adjoining lakes and a variety of the biological, chemical and physical sciences. Rare and bed or channel with water exposed to the atmosphere, and contain the tem often meets Indiana water-quality standards for recreational use
streams. In the Maumee basin, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is unique plants associated with wetlands are valuable for research and appropriate emergent and/or submergent aquatic vegetation. A sub- (table 19). E. coli. bacteria (an indicator for pathogenic organisms)
restoring wetlands along Fish Creek. This effort is an attempt to may be vital in the development of future pharmaceutical products. surface flow wetland consists of a foot or more of permeable media have been reduced by as much as 99.9 percent. Removal rates are
improve water quality to protect the White Cat’s Paw Pearlymussel, a Many wetlands also have cultural relevance as areas that were once (rock, gravel, sand, or soil) which supports the root systems for emer- also very good for total suspended solids and biological oxygen
federally-endangered species that resides in these waters. Since this refuges for American Indians, scenes of inspiration for artists and writ- gent vegetation. The water level is kept below the ground surface. demand. They do, however, have difficulty removing ammonia, espe-
program began, two other endangered mussels, the Northern ers, or sites of colonial campaigns (Reimold, 1979). Which ever type is used, it is recommended that at least primary treat- cially in winter (Ditzler, written commun., 1995). These systems have
Riffleshell and Clubshell have been found in Fish Creek (Indiana Wetlands may significantly impact global cycles of nitrogen, sulfur, ment precede the use of a wetland for wastewater treatment. great potential for areas where soil conditions are not suitable for con-
Department of Natural Resources, 1995a). In other areas of the state, methane and carbon dioxide (Mitsch and others, 1993). Many plants One relatively new application in Indiana is the use of wetlands for ventional septic systems.
wetland creation/restoration is being used for lake enhancement pro- and microorganisms within the wetland environment “fix”or transform single family residence septic systems. These systems have been
grams, and although natural wetlands in Indiana cannot be used for inorganic forms of nitrogen to organic, ecologically useful forms. Also,
wastewater treatment, a few artificial wetlands have been created for because of nutrient loading to wetlands from agricultural runoff, many
this purpose. wetlands may be important in returning excess organic nitrogen to the
Wetlands play a role in erosion control along lakeshores and atmosphere through denitrification.
streambanks by stabilizing substrates, dissipating wave and current Sulfates released by the burning of fossil fuels are washed out of
managing Indiana’s wetland resources during the next wetlands where opportunities exist to increase the
energy, and trapping sediments. Lakeshores frequently subjected to the air by rain and can acidify lakes and streams. The anaerobic envi-
wave action generated by heavy boat traffic can particularly benefit ronment present in wetland systems can alleviate this problem by decade” (Hansen, 1992). quality and quantity of wetland resources”. This goal
from the stabilizing effect of adjoining wetlands. reducing these sulfates to sulfides. Most of these sulfides then form Recognizing the value of wetlands and the need to does not imply a “hands off” policy, as fairness and a
The value of wetlands as fish and wildlife habitat has long been insoluble complexes with phosphate and metal ions and precipitate out
protect them, IDNR is in the process of developing the recognition of private property rights is inherent in the
recognized. Many species of fish and shellfish, and virtually all impor- of the water column, thus more or less removing them permanently
tant game fish rely on wetlands. They are considered wetland-depen- from circulation. Indiana Wetland Conservation Plan (IWCP). The plan plan.
dant because many species: 1) spawn in aquatic portions of wetlands, Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing due to burning of development is being accomplished through the input One of the major undertakings has been the prioriti-
2) use wetlands as nursery grounds, and/or 3) feed in wetlands or fossil fuels, destruction of rainforests and other oxidation processes
of two key groups; a Technical Advisory Team com- zation of wetlands, a step that has not been accom-
upon wetland-based food. involving organic matter. Draining and oxidation of peat deposits with-
Hundreds of vertebrate species found in Indiana utilize wetlands. in wetland systems result in a net release of carbon dioxide into the prised of specialists from state and federal programs plished by any other state in their conservation plans
Furthermore, species that originally used wetlands in rare circum- atmosphere. Therefore, wetlands may be shifting from a net sink of directly related to wetland protection and manage- (Case, oral commun., 1995). This prioritization is
stances, have come to rely increasingly on these resources due to carbon to a net source. Carbon is also released from wetlands in the
ment, and a Wetlands Advisory Group which includes being generated so that limited money and resources
other habitat destruction. Muskrats, beavers, and river otters are form of methane. Aselmann and others (1989) estimate emissions of
examples of Indiana furbearers that are totally dependent on wetland methane from natural wetlands at 40-160 x 106 mt/yr. representatives of major interest groups such as devel- can be spent in the most efficient and beneficial ways.
environments. opers and environmental agencies. As drafts of the Prioritization is being developed in two distinct areas:
plan are updated, they are sent out to additional the physical/chemical benefits of wetlands such as
reviewers representing various interests throughout flood protection and water-quality enhancement, and
(Dahl, 1990), and continues to lose this valuable Consequently, the Indiana Department of Natural the state. In addition, drafts are available for public the biological benefits including biodiversity and
resource at an estimated rate of 1 to 3 percent of exist- Resources began in July of 1992 “to review the cur- comment. wildlife habitat. In addition, inherent in the conserva-
ing wetlands annually (Hansen, 1992). rent programs and activities involving wetlands in the The goal of the plan to date is to “conserve tion of any wetland system for the above reasons are
Conservation of wetland habitat is an important part Department of Natural Resources[,] and to provide Indiana’s remaining wetland resources, as defined by the recreational and educational benefits derived
of maintaining the health of the environment. recommendations on the direction and structure for acreage, type, and function, and to restore and create from these unique ecosystems.
At the heart of the Indiana Wetlands Conservation up the Maumee Lacustrine Plain and Tipton Till Plain aging or eutrophication. This normally slow accumu- Inventory of basin lakes
Plan is the Hoosier Wetlands Conservation Initiative. (figure 15). Within these regions some small, shallow lation of sediments decreases lake depth. Eventually,
This initiative focuses on several strategic components oxbow lakes remain scattered along the lengths of the a lake may become a wetland and finally may convert Table 13 presents information on eight natural and
for conserving wetlands that have broad support St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee Rivers. Because to land that can support terrestrial vegetation. three artificial lakes in the Maumee basin having an
among interests throughout the state. These compo- most oxbow lakes are only temporarily, seasonally, or A young lake typically contains low nutrient levels area of at least 25 acres. Saddle Lake (24 acres) is
nents are as follows: 1) developing “focus areas” or semi-permanently flooded, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and numbers of organisms, but a wide variety of included because it borders the size limit, and some
pilot projects where conservation efforts can be built Service and the Division of Fish and Wildlife of the species. The dissolved oxygen content of the data are available. The eight natural lakes tabulated in
around partnerships which utilize strategies developed Indiana Department of Natural Resources typically hypolimnion remains relatively constant throughout table 13 occupy a total of about 1980 acres, or just
in the IWCP, 2) increasing scientific information on classify these lakes as palustrine wetlands. In one the year. Lakes with low nutrient levels, high biodi- over three square miles. Two lakes in Steuben County,
wetland resources to better guide conservation efforts, sense, the remnant lakes (wetlands) are artificial versity, and a stable dissolved oxygen content are con- Clear Lake and Hamilton Lake, are 800 and 802 acres,
3) providing positive incentives for wetland conserva- because they were formed when the rivers were sidered oligotrophic. Added nutrients from surface respectively. These two lakes account for approxi-
tion and restoration, 4) educating technical staff, dredged and straightened. In another sense, they are runoff into lakes and streams augment phytoplankton mately 80 percent of the total acreage of the natural
farmers, school children, and others on our wetland considered natural because oxbow lakes commonly production. As this biomass dies and settles to the lakes listed in table 13.
resources, 5) targeting wetlands for permanent acqui- form along meandering rivers. Altogether, shallow lake bottom, decomposition rates increase resulting in Clear Lake and Hamilton Lake have the largest
sition from willing owners, 6) continuing the work of remnant oxbows probably account for the majority of a reduced dissolved oxygen content. This reduced capacities of the natural lakes in the basin. These two
the Technical Advisory Team and Wetlands Advisory small lakes remaining in the lower Maumee River oxygen content affects aquatic species composition. natural lakes and Hurshtown Reservoir account for
Group to address additional issues such as creating a basin. The more desirable fish species are replaced by toler- about 84 percent of the known total capacity of near-
clearly-defined mitigation program that addresses mit- An unknown number of lakes in the basin may have ant varieties that thrive in the diminished water-quali- ly 18 billion gallons for basin lakes.
igation banking, and improving coordination, efficien- disappeared due to natural cataclysmic events. Some ty conditions of a eutrophic lake (Clark and others, At maximum pool level, the three reservoirs in the
cy and consistency of local, state, and federal lakes gradually filled in because of natural or cultur- 1977). basin occupy about 703 acres or 1.1 square miles.
regulations. al eutrophication, and others were destroyed or great- Humankind influences this process of lake eutroph- Fort Wayne Utilities constructed the Cedarville and
Upon its completion, it is hoped that the Indiana ly diminished by artificial or natural drainage. ication by means of point and non-point sources of Hurshtown Reservoirs primarily for water supply, but
Wetlands Conservation Plan will be the guiding docu- pollution. This culturally-induced increase in nutrient these water bodies subsequently became recreational
ment for wetland conservation in Indiana, and that levels results in premature degeneration of lakes. areas also. According to the Division of Fish and
open interaction of the state with interested public and Ancestral Lake Maumee Wildlife’s 1995 Indiana Fishing Guide, Hurshtown
private parties will be inherent in all future conserva- Reservoir is now the best fishing area for smallmouth
tion projects. In the relatively flat expanse of the Maumee Drainage Projects bass in Allen County.
Lacustrine Plain lies the remains of ancestral Lake The Cedarville Reservoir, also in Allen County, is a
Maumee. Lake Maumee, the most recent stage of Another way in which humans have altered the shallow 408 acre in-stream impoundment located east
Lakes ancestral Lake Erie (a predecessor to modern Lake lakes in the Maumee basin is through dredging, tiling, and northeast of the city of Cedarville. Constructed
Erie), formed between the retreating Erie Ice Lobe and drainage. The quest for more arable soil led to the on the St. Joseph River, it acts as a supplementary
The physiographic features within the Maumee and the Fort Wayne Moraine. The lake’s former extensive drainage projects of the early nineteenth water supply for the greater Fort Wayne area.
River basin create the unique distribution of natural power remains evident in the widely scattered sand century. Thirteen special drainage Acts were enacted Additional information about the Cedarville and
freshwater lakes. The Steuben Morainal Lake Area bars, spits, and wave-scoured terraces near the ancient between 1799 and 1852. Hurshtown Reservoirs may be found in this chapter
(figure 15) at the northern extreme of the study area shorelines. On the lakeward side of the Fort Wayne The Federal Swamplands Act of 1850 greatly under the heading of Reservoirs.
contains many of the basin’s natural lakes. Moraine, a complex of prominent beach ridges was affected lakes adjacent to swamps. This Act trans- The St. Joseph Reservoir is a widening of the St.
Hummocky ridges and uplands with thick, unconsoli- deposited atop till benches. ferred 1,378,000 acres of undrained lands from the Joseph River upstream from a flood control structure
dated glacial deposits differentiate this area from the An event of debated origin destroyed ancestral Lake federal government to the state. Indiana then spent within the Fort Wayne city limits. It is included in this
southern regions. Most of the natural lakes within this Maumee. When the Fort Wayne Moraine was over one million dollars attempting to create more report because of its public use and the amount of
area probably formed in depressions left by the irreg- breached, the rapidly draining waters scoured the profitable land. Legislation to promote the drainage information available. The public boat launch at
ular deposition of glacial drift. Other lakes, known as Wabash-Erie Channel and drained Lake Maumee (for activities involved at least 34 laws and six resolutions Johnny Appleseed Park provides access to this 30-acre
kettle-hole lakes, were created by the melting of iso- more information see the Geology section of Physical spanning 54 years. A historic atlas from 1882 lists 65 body of water known for its good carp, channel cat,
lated masses of buried glacial ice. Clear Lake, having Environment). ditches in Whitley County alone. According to the and sucker fishing.
a maximum depth of 107 feet, is an example of a deep History of Indiana Lakes, it is probable that just as
kettle-hole lake located in northeastern Steuben many drainage ditches existed in the adjoining coun-
County. Eutrophication ties of the Maumee River basin. Drainage projects Lake-level fluctuations
In contrast to the morainal area, the southern section affected nearly all lakes in the basin, and this influ-
of the Maumee basin consists mainly of very low- “A lake of small size, like those in Indiana, begins ence did not diminish until the first lake-level protec- Since 1942, the U.S. Geological Survey, through a
relief regions with thin deposits of glacial till. These to die the moment it is born.” This quote by W. S. tion law passed in 1905. cooperative agreement with the Indiana Department
tills, which overlie karstic limestone bedrock, make Blatchley (1901) refers to a lake’s natural processes of of Natural Resources (IDNR), has collected records of
Lake regulations Department of Natural Resources. Such approval typically is granted
Class 1 – high-quality lakes assigned a total of 0-25 eutrophy points; class 2 – intermediate-quality lakes assigned a total of 26-50 eutrophy points; class 3 – poor-quality lakes assigned a
Trophic
Class 2
only for shoreline improvements or lake restoration procedures.
Because water-level fluctuation in lakes can restrict their usefulness A related lake law (I.C. 14-26-2) enacted in 1947, with major
2
2
2
—
3
2
—
1
1
2
1
for recreation, residential development, flood control and water supply amendments in 1982 and 1995, requires prior approval from the
purposes, state and local organizations have attempted to maintain Department of Natural Resources for any alteration of the bed or
average water levels on many lakes. In accordance with a state law shoreline of a public freshwater lake of natural origin. Permits are
passed in 1947 (I.C. 13-2-11.1) and recodified in 1995 (I.C. 14-26-2), required not only for large projects such as channel or lakebed dredg-
Groups of similar lake types were derived from cluster analysis based on lake morphometry and trophic state. Groups applicable to lake size are summarized as follows:
the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (formerly the Indiana ing, boat-ramp construction, and boat-well construction, but also for
Management
Department of Conservation) is authorized to have normal lake levels minor projects such as the construction of seawalls or sand beaches.
Group 1
established by appropriate legal action. The Department also has the In addition, a permit is required to pump water from a public freshwa-
VII C
VII C
VII C
VII C
VII A
VI C
VI A
II C
II B
Surface area: Acreage at established level; only lakes having a surface area of at least 25 acres are tabulated (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1993a).
—
—
authority to initiate and supervise the installation of dams, spillways, or ter lake.
other control structures needed to maintain the established levels. Under a law passed in 1947 and amended in 1987 (I.C. 14-26-5), a
Established lake levels typically represent the average water-sur- permit is required for the construction, reconstruction, repair or
face elevation that has prevailed for several years. Once an average recleaning of a ditch or drain that has a bottom elevation lower than the
normal water level is established by a local circuit court, the average normal average water level of a freshwater lake of 10 acres or more,
lake level is to be maintained at that elevation. Temporary lowering of and that is located within half mile of the lake.
a lake level below its designated level requires prior approval from the
Period of
1943-56
1961-63
Record
1961-
1943-
1943-
1943-
—
—
—
1957
Management group and trophic class: Data from Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 1986a and 305(b) report, [1995].
Period of record: Refers to lake-level data collected by the USGS under cooperative agreement with the IDNR, Division of Water.
the water-surface elevations of many Indiana lakes. greatly affected the basin’s natural lakes. Ditching
Established level: Average normal water level, area determined by local courts; expressed in feet above mean sea level (fmsl).
Lake stations generally are equipped with a staff gage near a lake may intercept or divert surface drainage
Established
Level (fmsl)
836.00
896.76
894.76
1037.38
898.83
1039.70
1037.38
that is read once daily by a local observer. Automatic that normally enters the lake basin, thus reducing the
Eutrophy Points
none
none
none digital water-stage recorders have been installed at a drainage area contributing to the lake. A ditch con-
18-41
13-39
18-37
33-46
3-25
few lake stations in the Maumee River basin (table structed down gradient of a lake may induce ground-
31
13). water leakage from the lake to the ditch. Moreover,
Today lake-level data are used primarily to monitor lowering the local water table by surface or subsurface
maximum and minimum levels, determine the loca- drainage or ground-water pumping may reduce the
Maximum
Depth (ft)
tion of shoreline contours for lakeshore construction amount of ground-water inflow to lakes.
22
35
10
16
52
66
90
70
36
25
projects, and to investigate water-quality and flooding State laws enacted since the 1940s protect public
problems. Gage records are also used to establish freshwater lakes of natural origin from detrimental
Mean Depth
31.2-45.0
32.7-40.5
15.0-27.0
5.0-13.2
5.5-14.4
normal water-surface elevations, as described in development and excessive water-level fluctuations
20.7
Indiana law (I.C. 14-26-2). At present, legal levels (see sidebar Lake Regulations).
have been established at six of the eight natural lakes
Area (acres)
total of 51-75 eutrophy points; class 4 – remnant lakes and oxbow lakes.
Surface
in the basin. Although Indian Lake has a gage, no

408
265
30
24
40
56
87
800
802
154
30
legal level has been established; Saddle Lake has nei- Streams
Maximum depth: (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1993a)
ther a gage nor a legal level (table 13).

Between 1954 and 1968, the U.S. Geological The Maumee River basin in Indiana consists of the
Surface Area
40-1034
37-388
25-421
25-828
25-424
Survey in cooperation with the IDNR mapped more drainage basins of the St. Joseph River, the Upper
802
than 200 natural and artificial lakes in Indiana, includ- Maumee River, the St. Marys River, and the Auglaize
Area (sq. mi.)
Selected data for major lakes
Drainage
ing seven lakes in the Maumee River basin. Although River which drains into Ohio before entering the
764.00
0.40
23.40
3.76
11.60
6.86
16.50
2.80
7.25
originally intended for use in the establishment of nor- Maumee River.

—
—
mal water-surface elevations, these depth contour The principal drainage network in the Maumee
maps have since been used for many purposes, includ- River basin is formed by the “Three Rivers”: the St.
ing fisheries studies, water-quality analysis, and recre- Joseph River, the St. Marys River, and the Maumee
ational planning. Depth contour maps of Ball, Cedar, River. The St. Joseph River originates near Hillsdale,
Group
VII C
VII A
VI C
VI A
II C
II B
Clear, Hamilton, Indian, Long, and Round lakes are Michigan, and enters Indiana from Ohio, northeast of
Hurshtown Res.
available from the IDNR Division of Water. In addi- Fort Wayne. The St. Marys River originates near New
St. Joseph Res.
Cedarville Res.
Lake Name
tion, a hydrographic survey of Cedarville Reservoir Bremen, Ohio and flows northwest to Fort Wayne. At
Steuben Co.
was completed in 1988 by the Surveying and Mapping Fort Wayne, these two rivers join to form the Maumee
DeKalb Co.
Hamilton
Adams Co.
Saddle
Table 13.
Allen Co.
Section of the Division of Water, IDNR. River. The Maumee then travels approximately 134
Round
Cedar
Indian
Clear
Long
The historic drainage projects conducted through- miles to Maumee Bay, a 15 square mile embayment of
Ball
out the Maumee River basin since the 1800s have western Lake Erie.
1
Other streams in the Maumee River basin in Table 14. Stream gaging stations
MICHIGAN
CLEAR
LAKE
Indiana, listed in order of decreasing drainage areas Map number: Station locations are shown in figure 24.
include Cedar Creek, Blue Creek, Little Cedar Creek,
Station number: Numbers are U.S. Geological Survey downstream-order identification numbers; Letter abbreviation T: Refers to telemetered station or
Flat Rock Creek, Hoffman Creek, Fish Creek, data collection platform.
80
Holthouse Ditch, Nickelsen Creek, Bear Creek, 90
Contributing drainage area: Portion of watershed that contributes directly to surface runoff; Period of record: Refers to calender year, whether or not
Harber Ditch, Willow Creek, Big Run, Houk Ditch, data encompasses entire year.
Spy Run Creek, and Dibbling Ditch. 20
1
Map Station Station name Contributing Period of Record
OHIO
HAMILTON
LAKE
no. no. drainage area (sq.mi.) Dates
Sources of stream-flow data STEUBEN CO.
Active1
HAMILTON
DEKALB CO.
Stream gages in the Maumee River basin monitor 127

327
427 1 04177720 Fish Creek at Hamilton 37.5 1969-
the spatial and temporal variations in stream flow in KENDALLVILLE 1
2 04178000T St. Joseph River near Newville* 610 1946-
the major watercourses of the basin. Hydrologic para- 6 3 04180000 Cedar Creek near Cedarville 270 1946-
meters derived from stream-flow records can be used 4 04180500 St. Joseph River near Fort Wayne 1060 1983-2
NOBLE CO.
to evaluate the water-supply potential of streams. 8
5 04181500T St. Marys River at Decatur 621 1946-
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), in coopera- AUBURN NEW-
VILLE
6 04182000 St. Marys River near Fort Wayne 762 1930-
tion with other government agencies has maintained 8
7 04182810 Spy Run Creek at Fort Wayne 14 1983-
1 8 04183000T Maumee River at New Haven 1967 1946-3
daily records of stream flow in the Maumee River 205
basin since 1930. Cooperators that participate in the Discontinued

program include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 101
ALLEN CO.
(USACE), and the Indiana Department of Natural 69 R 9 04182590 Harber Ditch at Fort Wayne 21.9 1964-19914
VE
Resources. 327 RI 10 04179000 St. Joseph River at Cedarville 763 1955-19815
Presently, records of daily mean discharge are col- 27 CEDARVILLE
RESERVOIR
11 04179500 Cedar Creek at Auburn 87.3 1943-19736
lected at 8 continuous-record stations in the basin PH
37
JO
SE
R Low-flow partial-record stations7
(figure 24 and table 14). Of the eight stations, four are . RI
VE
33 ST
located on the St. Joseph River and its tributaries,
INDIANA
24
12 04177800 Fish Creek near Artic 96.8
OHIO
30
EE
M
three on the St. Marys River mainstem and its tribu- AU
24 FORT
WAYNE
M 13 04177900 Big Run at Butler 16.7
tary Spy Run, and one on the Maumee River. 14 24
NEW 14 04178400 Bear Creek near Saint Joe 23.9
HAVEN
Data from most stations in the Maumee River basin 15 04178500 St. Joe River near Hursh 734 Daily values 1950-54
N
are used primarily for flood hydrology and river fore- 16 04179308 Dibbling Ditch near Waterloo 12.9
1 27
17 04179310 Cedar Creek near Waterloo 48.8
casting. Three of the gaging stations, one each on the 469
30
18 04179560 John Diehl Ditch at Auburn 37.5
St. Marys, St. Joseph, and the Maumee, are equipped 19 04179800 Little Cedar Creek near Garrett 72.3
with telemetering devices for automatic reporting of 33
20 04179900 Willow Creek near Huntertown 19
current river stages (table 14). The telemetered sta- 1
21 04181100 Blue Creek near Pleasant Mills 78.5
tions are part of an “Early Warning System” for WELLS CO. ADAMS CO. 22 04181600 Holthouse Ditch near Decatur 34
flooding near the city of Fort Wayne. Explanation 23 04181800 Nickelsen Creek near Poe 25.6
Table 14 also lists active, discontinued, and partial- Active stations in blue, 24 04181900 Houk Ditch near Hessen Cassel 16.3
Discontinued stations in black
25 04191340 Flatrock Creek near Townley 47.1
record stations. The partial-record station at Cecil Site numbers correspond to 224
26 04191360 Hoffman Creek at Townley 41.7
stations listed in table 14.
Metcalf Ditch near Auburn has served as a crest-stage DECATUR
station. A crest-stage gage registers the peak stream Continuous record

33
101 Crest-stage partial-record station8
stage occurring between inspections of the gage. Equipped with telemetry device
Stage readings can later be converted to discharge val- Discontinued station

124
27 04179510 Cecil Metcalf Ditch near Auburn 0.78
ues, and flood frequency characteristics can be deter- Low-flow partial record
1
Crest-stage partial record
Information on Active stations is obtained from: Stewart and others, 1994
mined. Table 14 lists the only partial-record station in 27
2 July 1941 to September 1995 gage located 1.3 miles downstream at Ely Bridge
3 From December 1946 to September 1956 only high-water records are available
the basin for which flood frequency data have been BERNE
218
4 Discharge measurements available from October 1960 to May 1964 and gage heights from January 1961 to May 1964 at site 0.7 miles down
reported by Glatfelter (1984). stream (Stewart and Deiwert, 1992)
5 Discharge measurements are also available from 1931 to May 1932 (U.S.Geological Survey, 1982b)
The other partial-record sites are low-flow stations. 6 Discontinued as a continuous-record station, converted to a crest-stage and low-flow partial-record station (U.S.Geological Survey, 1974)
A series of low-flow discharge measurements collect- 7 Obtained from Kathy Fowler, U.S.Geological Survey (written communication, 1995)
8 Obtained from Don Arvin, U.S.Geological Survey (personal communication, 1995)
ed at a partial-record site can be correlated with simul-
Figure 24. Location of stream gaging stations * Located about 600 feet east of Indiana/Ohio State Line
taneous daily mean discharges at a nearby continuous- during late summer and early fall when warm temper- 100 10,000 A steeply sloping flow-duration curve indicates a
record gage on a stream draining a nearby basin of atures cause high evapotranspiration rates. Hence, stream draining a basin with little surface and/or sub-
similar hydrologic characteristics. Using this correla- most of the precipitation that would otherwise be surface storage. Flood peaks on this type of stream are
tion, low-flow frequency characteristics of the partial available to streams is lost to the atmosphere. high and rapid because most excess precipitation runs
DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND PER SQUARE MILE

record site can be estimated using frequency charac- Moreover, ground-water levels are at or near their sea- off the land surface and enters the stream. During dry
teristics of the discharges collected at the continuous- sonal low, and base flow may be limited. 10 1000 periods when overland flow has ceased, this type of
record gage. Small differences between precipitation and runoff stream may cease flowing because the amount of base
DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

indicate low evapotranspiration rates, which occur in flow is negligible.
late winter and early spring when temperatures are Duration curves for the St. Marys River and Fish
Factors affecting stream flow cool and plants are dormant or very young. In addi- Creek illustrate the effect of topography and geology
tion, the ground often is either frozen or saturated, and 1 100
on stream-flow characteristics (figure 26). A common
Stream flow varies in response to available precipi- may be covered by melting snow. As a result of these period of record was used for the duration analysis to
tation, topographic features, soil conditions, land factors, more of the total precipitation is available to minimize flow differences that may be attributed to
cover, hydrogeologic characteristics, and channel streams in the form of overland flow and base flow. differences in local precipitation from short-term
geometry. Changes in land use, drainage patterns, The geographic variation in stream flow within a events. Flow duration curves were also analyzed on a
stream geometry, and ground-water levels also pro- drainage basin can be illustrated by comparing runoff 10
per-square-mile basis, known as unit discharge, to
0.1
duce variations in stream flow. characteristics along the same stream and among dif- minimize the effect of unequal basin sizes on stream-
Time variation in stream flow and its relation to ferent streams. Of the many stream-flow parameters flow characteristics (figure 26, in red).
temperature and precipitation can be illustrated by a that can be used to compare runoff characteristics, The duration curve for the St. Marys River is fairly
graph of mean monthly values (figure 25). The differ- flow-duration analysis offers the advantage of not steep in relation to the Fish Creek curve. The higher
ence between precipitation and runoff, which varies being influenced by the chronological sequence of unit discharges on the St. Marys River at durations
0.01 1
considerably during the year, can be attributed pri- daily flows. 0.01 0.1 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.9 99.99 less than 17 percent (high flows) indicate a higher
marily to the seasonal differences in evapotranspira- Flow-duration curves of daily mean discharges, as PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED
runoff rate per square mile of drainage basin during
tion rates, although soil and ground-water conditions presented in figure 26, show the percent of time that periods of heavy rainfall. The runoff coefficient or the
can also play an important role. specified daily discharges are equaled or exceeded FISH CREEK AT HAMILTON fraction of total precipitation that runs off the land sur-
Differences in precipitation and runoff are greatest during a given period of record. For example, daily ST. MARYS RIVER NEAR FORT WAYNE face in the St. Marys watershed is 0.8, which is dou-
(1970-1993) Water Years ble the runoff in Fish Creek (0.4) (Glatfelter, 1984).
The higher unit flows on the St. Marys River pri-
Figure 26. Duration curves of daily mean stream flow
marily reflect a limited amount of floodplain storage.
for Fish Creek at Hamilton and the St. Marys River
4 80 near Fort Wayne
The river is confined to a relatively narrow channel
and most of its drainage network is developed on fine-
Runoff grained tills. The steep lower end of the unit duration
Precipitation curve for the St. Marys indicates a limited amount of
3
mean flows of the St. Marys River near Fort Wayne base flow, hence ground water contribution is
Temperature 60
were at least 26.1 cfs (cubic feet per second) on 95 minimal.
Precipitation, Runoff (in.)
percent of the days during the period 1970-1993 (fig- Whereas, in Fish Creek significant storage is pro-
Temperature ( 0F)
ure 26, in black). Daily flows for this period exceeded vided by valley deposits of permeable sands and grav-
3250 cfs five percent of the time. els and by upstream lakes. The high base flow at Fish
2 40
The overall slope and shape of the duration curve Creek is evident in figure 26, by the sustained unit low
are related to the storage characteristics of the flows at durations greater than 85 percent.
drainage basin, which in turn are related to the topog-
raphy and hydrogeology of the basin.
1 20 A duration curve that is gently sloping indicates a SURFACE-WATER DEVELOPMENT
stream draining an area with substantial surface and/or POTENTIAL
subsurface storage. Flood peaks on this type of stream
are attenuated because much of the excess precipita- The development potential of the surface-water sys-
0 0 tion is stored in surface depressions, permeable soils, tems for water supply purposes can have a great
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec or surficial geologic deposits. During dry periods, impact on several economic activities. The Maumee
stream flow is sustained by the slow release of water River basin will continue to utilize surface water for
from these surface and/or underground sources. most of its water use. Further development of streams
Figure 25. Variation of mean monthly runoff, precipitation, and temperature
72 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Development Potential 73
for potential water supply may be possible in some parameters derived from stream-flow records. In this 10,000
dle portion of the flow-duration curve (figure 26). As
cases. Other surface-water systems such as ponds, report, average and low-flow characteristics were described previously, the flow-duration ratio (slope)
lakes, and wetlands, however, are not considered as defined at gaged sites using flow-duration curves, fre- Q = .98 x DA 0.98 reflects not only the presence of flood-attenuating fac-
significant water supply sources because of their lim- quency analysis, and hydrograph separation tech- tors in a watershed, but also the relative component of

ited storage capacity, water-quality considerations, niques. These methods, which are described below, stream flow due to base flow.
1000
and in some cases regulatory and environmental also can be used in other applications, including the The St. Marys River near Fort Wayne has a flow-
constraints. design and operation of water-supply facilities, waste- duration ratio of approximately 20, whereas Cedar
treatment plants, reservoirs, and hydroelectric power Creek near Cedarville has a ratio of nearly 10
plants; water-quality studies; waste-discharge regula- (Arihood and Glatfelter, 1986). The lower flow-dura-
Lakes tion; and management of fish and wildlife habitat. 100
tion ratio of Cedar Creek indicates the higher amount
of base flow and the existence of more sustained
Despite the large storage capacity of some public stream flows during dry weather.
freshwater lakes in the Maumee River basin, few are Methods of analysis
used as water supply sources. Both direct and indirect
pumping from natural lakes may have detrimental Average flow 10
Low flows
effects on local ecosystems, and may be cause for con- 10 100 1000 10,000
DRAINAGE AREA IN SQUARE MILES

cern among local residents. Existing state laws effec- Average flow is the arithmetic mean of individual Low-flow frequency data can be used to estimate
tively preclude significant pumping from natural daily mean discharges for a selected time period, such how often, on average, minimum mean flows are
lakes. Most notably, I.C. 14-26-2 requires that lakes as a week, month, season, year, or period of several Figure 27. Relation of average discharge at expected to be less than selected values. Low-flow
having a legally established water level are to be main- years. However, average flow is commonly used to continous-record gaging stations to total characteristics are commonly described by points on
tained at that level. In accordance with this law, six of refer to the long-term mean annual discharge, which is drainage area low-flow frequency curves prepared from daily dis-
the eight natural lakes within the basin have estab- the arithmetic mean of the annual mean discharges for charge records collected at continuous-record gaging
lished levels. Even temporary changes in lake levels the period of data record. stations. At stations where short-term records and/or
from their designated elevation requires prior approval Recently, the U. S. Geological Survey replaced the base-flow measurements are available, correlation
from a local circuit court and the Natural Resources term average flow with annual mean. However, in if the average discharge for a given time period were techniques can be used to estimate curves, or selected
Commission. The authorities typically grant approval this report the term average flow is used because its uniformly distributed upon the land surface of that points on curves.
only for shoreline improvements or lake restoration. common meaning is widely known. basin. Low-flow frequency curves show the probability of
Even if state laws were amended to allow lowering Because the statistical distribution of stream flows minimum mean flows being equal or less than given
of lakes levels for water-supply purposes, treatment is skewed, average discharge usually is greater than values for a specified number of consecutive days.
and distribution costs probably would limit uses to the median discharge, which is the flow equaled or Flow duration Figures 28 and 29 show the relation of annual mini-
irrigation, livestock watering, or fire protection. exceeded 50 percent of the time. mum mean discharges for 1-day and 7-day periods for
Lowering water levels can have harmful affects on The relation between average flow and drainage Flow-duration curves, as described in a previous Fish Creek at Hamilton, the St. Marys River near Fort
water-quality, fisheries habitat, and adjacent wetlands. area is commonly used in hydrologic applications. section, show the percent of time that specified daily Wayne, the St. Marys River at Decatur, Cedar Creek at
Moreover, even minor alterations of lake levels would Figure 27 illustrates a relation derived from long-term discharges are equaled or exceeded during a given Cedarville, the Maumee River at New Haven, and the
be objectionable to most lakeside property owners. flows for selected continuous-record gages in the period of record. By incorporating the entire range of St. Joseph River near Newville.
Amending current laws to increase lake storage has Maumee River basin. The mathematical relation stream flows, duration curves are useful for indicating In this report, the following points on the 1-day and
drawbacks beyond the possible public nuisance. New shown in figure 27 may be used to estimate average overall flow characteristics and identifying differences 7-day curves have been selected as indices of low
control structures at potential sites might need to be flows at ungaged sites on streams in the Maumee in stream-flow variability. Duration curves also can be flow: the minimum daily (1-day mean) flow having a
constructed, and existing structures would potentially River basin that drain areas of at least 37 square miles. used to estimate the percent of time that a given 30-year recurrence interval, and the annual minimum
need modification. Few lake-level control structures Because average flow encompasses the amount of demand for stream flow can be satisfied, on average, 7-day mean flow having a 10-year recurrence interval.
are designed to store water at elevations above the water leaving a basin as both surface-water runoff and over a long period of time. However, curves cannot be The 1-day, 30-year low flow is the annual lowest 1-
legal level. The actual cost of either option might ground-water discharge to streams, this flow can be used to determine the sequence, statistical frequency, day mean flow that can be expected to occur once
exceed feasible benefits. considered as the theoretical upper limit of the long- or duration of either adequate or deficient flows. every 30 years, on the average. In other words, it is the
term yield that can be developed from a stream. If it Flow ratio is a general term that can apply to many annual lowest daily mean flow having a 1-in-30
were possible to store, in a single hypothetical reser- stream-flow parameters. In this report, the maximum- chance of occurrence in any given year. In this report,
Streams voir, all the water that flows from a watershed during to-minimum ratio of annual mean flows and the ratio the 1-day, 30-year low flow indicates the dependable
a specified period and then release the water at a uni- of 20-percent-duration to 90-percent-duration flows supply of water without artificial storage in reservoirs
The water supply potential of streams can be evalu- form rate over the same period, that rate would be the are used to indicate the variability of stream flow. or other impoundments. In many cases, the 1-day, 30-
ated on the basis of selected stream-flow characteris- average flow. Average runoff is defined as the depth The 20-to-90-percent flow-duration ratio is a year low flow equals or closely approximates the min-
tics, which are defined as statistical or mathematical to which a drainage basin would be covered by water numerical index that represents the slope of the mid- imum daily discharge of record for streams in the
Maumee River basin.
The 7-day, 10-year low flow is the annual lowest
mean flow for 7 consecutive days that can be expect-
ed to occur, through a long period, on the average of
once every 10 years. There is a 1-in-10 chance that the
annual minimum 7-day mean flow in any given year
will be less than this value.
In Indiana, the 7-day, 10-year low flow (7Q10) is
the index for water-quality standards. The flow is used
for siting, design, and operation of wastewater treat-
ment plants; for evaluating wastewater discharge
applications and assigning wasteload limits to indus-
trial and municipal discharges; and as an aid in setting
minimum water-release requirements below impound-
ments. In the future, the 7Q10 or other low-flow para-
meters may be used by the Indiana Department of
Natural Resources to establish minimum flows of
selected streams.
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a
Figure 28. Frequency curves of annual lowest mean method for estimating the 7Q10 on ungaged streams
discharge for indicated number of consecutive days in Indiana (Arihood and Glatfelter, 1986). Regression
for Fish Creek at Hamilton, Cedar Creek near analysis was used to derive an equation which is most
Cedarville, and the St. Marys River near Fort Wayne accurately applied to unregulated streams in northern
and central Indiana which drain areas between 10 and
1000 square miles, and have 7Q10s greater than zero. Figure 30. Example of stream-flow hydrographs
The equation determined by Arihood and Glatfelter
(1986) is as follows:
7Q10 = 1.66 x DA1.03 x RATIO-1.51 planning purposes. Site-specific design flows should graph of daily stream flows is composed of peaks and
be determined according to local watershed conditions valleys which often are quite sharp. The peaks repre-
where and more detailed analyses. sent the quick response of stream flow to storm runoff
received as overland flow and interflow, and occasion-
DA = the contributing drainage area, in square miles; ally as ground-water flow from hillslopes adjacent to
and Hydrograph separation the stream. The base level to which the peaks return
represents the base flow which continues to occur
RATIO = The 20-to-90 percent flow duration ratio. Hydrograph separation is a technique used to divide after overland flow has ceased. The base-flow hydro-
stream flow (total runoff) into its component parts of graph therefore can be approximated by eliminating
In the Maumee River basin, regionalized flow-dura- surface runoff, interflow and base flow. Surface runoff the sharp hydrograph peaks and drawing a smooth
tion ratios mapped by Arihood and Glatfelter (1986) is the combination of precipitation falling directly curve (figure 30).
for small streams are summarized as follows: upon the stream and water flowing over the land sur- The volume of total runoff for a given water year is
face toward the stream (overland flow). Interflow computed by converting each daily discharge to a
* St. Joseph River basin —5-20 to undefined occurs when precipitation that has infiltrated the soil daily volume, then summing these values over the
* Upper Maumee basin — 20 to undefined moves laterally through the soil toward the stream. For year in question. The total runoff can then be convert-
* Auglaize basin — undefined convenience, interflow and surface runoff can be com- ed to inches by dividing it by drainage area. A similar
Figure 29. Frequency curves of annual lowest mean
* St. Marys basin — 25 to undefined bined into one category called direct runoff. Base flow technique can be used to compute the total annual
discharge for indicated number of consecutive days
for the Maumee River at New Haven and the St. is the portion of stream flow that is derived largely or base-flow volume.
Joseph River near Newville Although 7Q10s estimated from the equation and entirely from ground-water discharge. The ratio of base flow to total runoff is one measure
flow-duration ratios shown above may differ from val- A graphical technique can be used to separate the of the degree to which stream flow is sustained by
ues based on other regionalization techniques or par- base-flow hydrograph from a stream-flow hydrograph ground-water discharge. This ratio therefore is
tial-record data, the estimates are suitable for broad of daily discharges. As figure 30 shows, the hydro- an indicator of the dependability of a stream for
Table 15. Average monthly runoff of the Maumee from 1957-81 was considered in estimating the aver-
River basin age runoff. The 1982 data was not used because severe
{Values were approximated for a total drainage area of 2097.3 sq.
floods had occurred in the basin during 1982 and pro-
mi. which includes the upstream drainage areas from Michigan and duced very high flows.
Ohio}
Table 15 shows that water availability in the form of
stream flow generally is greatest in spring and least in
Month Volume Runoff
(BG) (in)
late summer and early fall. In any given year, howev-
er, water availability may vary greatly from the tabu-
October 7.3 0.20 lated values. Moreover, future developments which
November 17.7 0.49 cause increased consumptive use could potentially
December 41.6 1.14 reduce the amount and temporal distribution of avail-
January 34.2 0.93 able water.
February 48.6 1.33
March 77.0 2.10
April 68.6 1.89 Supply potential of streams
May 36.4 1.00
June 28.4 0.78
The potential of individual streams in the basin for
July 15.8 0.44
August 10.8 0.30
water-supply development is discussed in the follow-
September 9.1 0.25 ing pages. Water-supply potential is discussed by sub-
basin including the Auglaize, St. Marys, St. Joseph,
Total 395.5 10.85 and Upper Maumee. It should be emphasized that
stream flows are assessed without regard to the poten-
tial construction of impounding reservoirs (either in-
channel or off-channel) that could greatly improve the
water supply. water-supply potential of some streams. Variations in
stream-flow characteristics are interpreted primarily
on the basis of geologic, soil, and topographic differ-
Average runoff of Maumee River basin ences among and within drainage basins.
Table 16 lists selected stream-flow characteristics
The total water-supply potential of a basin is the for active and inactive continuous-record gaging sta-
average precipitation that falls on the land surface and tions having at least 24 years of data as of water year
is not lost to evapotranspiration or used consumptive- 1993. Average and low-flow values for these stations
ly, such as incorporation into a manufactured product. and low-flow values for partial-record stations are
The theoretical maximum supply potential of a plotted in figure 31 to facilitate an assessment of the
drainage basin as a whole can be defined as the long geographic variation in flows.
term average runoff, which includes both surface Streams that have relatively high sustained flows
runoff and ground-water discharge to streams. are more reliable than streams of low sustained flows,
Table 15 shows the mean monthly stream flow leav- and thus are preferred for water-supply development.
ing the Indiana portion of the Maumee River basin.
These values represent a major portion of water leav-
ing the basin as stream flow into Ohio. Discharges Auglaize River basin
were modified to represent flows at the Indiana-Ohio
State Line by using drainage-area adjustments. The The Auglaize River basin comprises only 99.8
drainage area at the Indiana-Ohio State Line is 2097.3 square miles within Indiana. Its largest tributaries in
sq. mi. The average runoff estimations at the state line Indiana include Flatrock Creek and Hoffman Creek
were made based upon the data available at the New which drain into the Auglaize River in Ohio, thence
Haven, Indiana stream gaging station and Antwerp, into the Maumee River. Estimated average flow
Ohio stream gaging station. The New Haven station (annual mean) for these two small tributaries is
has data from 1957 to present, whereas Antwerp has approximately 43 cfs and 38 cfs, respectively (figure
data from 1957 to 1982. A uniform period of record 31); 7Q10 is zero.
78 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin

LAKE
MICHIGAN MICHIGAN
STATE OF INDIANA
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER
120
OHIO MAUMEE RIVER BASIN
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
80
90
20
KENTUCKY
127
327
427
1
1
205
101
327
27
37
33
24
30
24
14 24
N
27
Figure 31. Selected stream flow characteristics

1 469
30
33
A - Stream gaging station or wastewater

discharge point.
04181500 U.S. Geological Survey stream
gaging station number
224
POTW - Publicly Owned Treatment Works
33
Note: Municipal and Industrial wastewater 101
discharges regulated under The National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
permit program with discharges over
124
approximately 1MGD are mapped
B - Drainage area in square miles

a
a
C - 1-day, 30-year low flow in cubic feet per
second.
3
4
2
values from nearest station
D - 7 day 10-year low flow in cubic feet per

second
1
values from Fowler and Wilson, 1996
no data available, value from nearest station
E - Average flow in cubic feet per second

no data available, value from nearest station 1 0 1 2 3 4 MILES
27
218
Table 16. Stream-flow characteristics at selected continuous-record gaging stations
(Stations had at least 24 years of data through water year 1993)
Total drainage area, average discharge (annual mean), annual runoff, extremes: From Stewart, A. James & others, (1994)
Extremes: Daily maximum represents maximum daily mean discharge; daily minimum represents minimum daily mean discharge
Low flows: Estimated by USGS using log-Pearson type III distribution method (Fowler and Wilson, 1996)
Ground-water contribution: Estimated by Division of Water using methodology of Pettyjohn and Henning, 1979, for hydrograph separation. Values are for water year 1975
Total Annual Annual Extremes (cfs) Low flows Base flow

Station name drainage Mean(cfs) runoff(in) Annual mean Daily 1Q30 7Q10 (percent of
area(sq.mi.) Max Min Max Min (cfs) (cfs) (cfsm) total runoff)
St. MARYS RIVER

at Decatur 621 509 11.15 879 140 10600 5.4 5.9 10 0.02 30
near Fort Wayne 762 611 10.9 1093 174 13000 3.4 6.3 9.8 0.01 29
FISH CREEK
at Hamilton 37.5 34.1 12.34 54.7 17.8 716 0.52 NA 1.2 0.03 52
MAUMEE
at New Haven 1967 1758 12.14 2975 669 26300 48 55 78 0.04 42
CEDAR CREEK
near Cedarville 270 255 12.82 485 85.3 5220 13 17 21 0.08 48
ST. JOSEPH RIVER

near Newville 610 539 11.99 1008 132 9450 14 15 20 0.03 51
Surface-water Hydrology, Development Potential

81
100,000 100,000 flow and the steepest flow-duration curve (table 16 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
and figure 32). The steep flow-duration curve indi-

cates high overland flow and low base flow. The flow-
duration ratios of the St. Marys River at Decatur and ST. JOSEPH RIVER NEAR NEWVILLE (1957-1993)
Fort Wayne are 32 and 33, respectively. CEDAR CREEK

AT AUBURN
10,000 10,000 Daily flows on the St. Marys are highly variable, but 1000 1000 1000 (1944-1973) 1000

MAUMEE RIVER AT NEW HAVEN (1957-1993) annual flows are fairly consistent. ST. JOSEPH RIVER
AT CEDARVILLE
(1956-1981)
St. Joseph River basin

100 100 100 100

1000 1000
The major sources of water in the St. Joseph River SPY RUN CREEK
basin are the St. Joseph River, Cedar Creek, Little AT FORT WAYNE
(1984-1993)
CEDAR CREEK NEAR CEDARVILLE (1957-1993)
Cedar Creek, and Fish Creek. Two reservoirs are
located in the St. Joseph River basin in Indiana.
10 10
100 100 Cedarville Reservoir, an instream impoundment is 10 10
located on the St. Joseph River north of Fort Wayne.

Hurshtown Reservoir, an off-channel impoundment, is
HARBER DITCH
approximately 3 miles northeast of the Cedarville AT FORT WAYNE
(1965-1991)
ST. MARYS RIVER NEAR FORT WAYNE (1957-1993) Reservoir.
1 1 1 1
10 10 Flow is analyzed for the mainstem at Newville, 0.1 1 10 50 95 99.5 99.99 0.01 0.1 1 10 50 95 99.5 99.99
Cedarville (figures 31 and 33), and downstream of its PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED
confluence with Cedar Creek (figures 31 and 34). The
St. Joseph River is affected by storage and regulation
Figure 33. Duration curves of daily mean stream flow Figure 34. Duration curves of daily mean stream flow
downstream from the Cedarville Reservoir. on selected streams
1 1 Tributaries analyzed include numerous locations on for the St. Joseph River near Newville and Cedar
0.1 1 10 50 95 99.5 99.99
the Cedar Creek drainage basin and Fish Creek (fig- Creek near Cedarville
PERCENT OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED ures 31, 33 and 34).
Table 16 shows the stream flow characteristics of The flow-duration ratio of the Maumee River at New
selected streams in the Maumee River basin. The 1- Upper Maumee River basin Haven is about 18. Maximum annual mean flow at the
Figure 32. Duration curves of daily mean stream flow day, 30 year (1Q30) and 7-day, 10 year (7Q10) low gage at New Haven is only four times the minimum.
for the Maumee River at New Haven and the St. flows in the St. Joseph River at Newville are 15 and 20 The Upper Maumee River basin is the portion of the Maximum-to-minimum ratios for other major streams
Marys River near Fort Wayne cfs. The 1Q30 and 7Q10 for Cedar Creek are 17 and Maumee River watershed upstream of the New Haven in northern and central Indiana range from 4 to 8
21 cfs, respectively. stream gage. Approximately 43 percent of the (Arvin, 1989).
A large amount of base flow is estimated at drainage area is contributed by the St. Marys drainage The 1-day 30 year (1Q30) and the 7-day 10 year
Newville (about 51 percent of the total runoff ). basin and 55 percent is contributed by the St. Joseph (7Q10) low flows in the Maumee River are 55 and 78
St. Marys River basin Nearly identical percentages of base flow are obtained drainage basin. cfs, respectively (table 16). The base-flow during a
from the Cedarville and Hamilton areas, 48 and 52 The flow-duration curve of the Maumee River normal year constitute about 42 percent of the total
In the St. Marys River basin, the St. Marys River is percent, respectively. High base flow at Newville, exhibits characteristics similar to the curves of its runoff at New Haven.
the major water resource. A number of sites along the Cedarville, and Hamilton, is related to the presence of major tributaries. At high discharges, the slope of the
mainstem of St. Marys are analyzed for flow charac- permeable sandy soils and outwash sand and gravel flow-duration curve of the Maumee River (figure 32),
teristics (figures 31, 32, and table 16). Tributaries deposits in that area. resembles that of the St. Marys River, indicating the Reservoirs
which have at least a partial analysis include Blue The flow-duration ratio for the St. Joseph River at predominance of direct runoff during storm events. At
Creek, Nickelson Creek, Houk Ditch, Harber Newville, Cedar Creek near Cedarville, and Fish low discharges, the Maumee curve is very similar to Because streamflow varies from season to season,
(Fairfield) Ditch, and Spy Run Creek (figure 34). Creek at Hamilton are 16, 10, and 16 respectively. the St. Joseph River curve indicating similar base flow water supplies dependant on streamflow must be
Average flow (annual mean) for the St. Marys near The lower flow-duration ratio indicates the higher contribution. However, the overall slope of the designed to meet dry-weather conditions when
Fort Wayne is 611 cfs. The 1Q30 and 7Q10 at Fort amount of base flow and also the existence of more Maumee is closer to that of the St. Joseph River. streamflow may be only a fraction of the normal flow.
Wayne are 6.3 and 9.8 cfs, respectively. Of the major sustained stream flows during dry weather. Of the basin streams, the Maumee River has the Demands for water supplied by a stream often exceed
streams in the Maumee River basin in Indiana, the St. most uniform flow characteristics. The small range in the naturally-occurring minimum streamflow; but,
Marys River has the lowest percentage (29) of base flows on the Maumee River is evident in flow ratios. substantial increases in water supply can be attained
through development of additional storage to hold Methods of analysis
some of the high flow each year for release during a Upland reservoirs/side-channel reservoirs reservoir requires an allowance for the passage of large floods, thus
the necessity for constructing a large and usually expensive spillway.
later period of low flow. To plan for the future use of surface water, the Upland or side-channel reservoirs are defined as impoundments Floods generally have little effect upon side-channel reservoirs. The
Reservoirs regulate streamflow for beneficial use by dependability of the supply must be known. The yield into which water is pumped from a moderately large stream. They dif- rapid sedimentation found in a standard reservoir is nearly nonexistent
fer from standard reservoirs in that the side-channel reservoirs are in the side-channel versions. Because the pumping system can pump
storing water for later release. Realizing that the nat- of a water supply is the amount of water that is avail- generally self-contained, not receiving drainage from the surrounding only some of the floodwaters which are carrying a great portion of the
ural inflow to any impoundment area is often highly able for use during some period of time, such as a day, area. Only the pumped inflow and precipitation account for the reser- stream’s annual load of sediment, most of the sediments are avoided.
variable from year to year, season to season, or even a month, or a year. The safe yield of a reservoir is voir’s contents. Side-channel reservoirs can be built using a cut and In many situations, the pumping system does not even need to be
fill design like Hurshtown (see figure below) taking advantage of natu- operating when the streamflow is especially turbid. In addition, while
day to day, it is obvious that the reservoir function defined as the minimum yield during the life of the rally-occurring topographic depressions, or utilizing abandoned quar- instream reservoirs disrupt the habitat of much of the natural biota,
must be that of redistributing this inflow with respect reservoir (Linsley and others, 1982). Typically, safe ries. The factors affecting the design of side-channel reservoirs side-channel reservoirs’ modification of the stream environment
to time so that the projected demands are satisfied. yield is determined as the minimum yield during the include the variability of streamflow, purpose of the water supply, and extends only as far as the withdrawal system located on the stream.
the volume of demand. The environmental effects are completely a function of the manage-
The design of a storage project should consider the worst dry period on record. The advantages of constructing a side-channel reservoir over a ment plan, since withdrawal is based upon gross demand. (adapted
streamflow characteristics, the magnitude and vari- The concept of safe yield is misleading, however, standard in-stream model are numerous. Even the smallest instream from Knapp, 1982)
ability of draft (demand), draft requirements imposed because there is some probability that a period drier
by the various types of water use, the physical charac- than the worst on record will occur. Even if a reservoir
teristics of the storage site, the economic conse- could be built large enough to always supply a guar-
quences for a temporary deficiency in draft, the effect anteed minimum yield, its cost might be too high.
of reservoir evaporation, the probable reduction in A better approach to specifying the dependability of
reservoir capacity because of sedimentation, the need a water supply is to specify the probability of supply-
to serve other purposes as flood control or conserva- ing the required demand during the life of the reser-
tion pool storage, or to permit a restricted range in voir. The dependability of a reservoir of a given capac-
water level for recreation. In addition, minimum flow ity decreases as the level of demand increases. For a
needs must be considered for instream uses down- specified level of dependability, the storage required
stream of the impoundment. increases as the level of demand increases.
The Maumee River basin has two water-supply The storage required to meet a specified demand
reservoirs, the Cedarville and Hurshtown, which store depends on the average stream flow, stream-flow vari-
water to supplement Fort Wayne’s public water sup- ability, the magnitude of the demand, and the degree
PUMPING STATION
ply. During peak water-demand periods, water is of dependability desired (McMahon and Mein, 1986).
released from the Cedarville Reservoir to augment The higher the desired level of dependability, the larg-
TREATMENT
streamflow at the Fort Wayne public water supply er the required storage capacity of the reservoir. AND CONVEYANCE
intake on the St. Joseph River. The Hurshtown Selection of a storage capacity that will satisfy SIDE-CHANNEL STORAGE
Reservoir provides a backup supply of water for water demands of all users with the highest degree of
drought years. dependability is not usually warranted. For irrigation
The Cedarville Reservoir, located approximately requirements, the degree of dependability is usually
eight miles northeast of Fort Wayne is a shallow recommended to be in the range of 75 to 85 percent, supply storage analyses. The worst dry period on for intake of water at the dam site, incorporates calcu-
instream impoundment on the St. Joseph River. The while for domestic and industrial water supply the record is usually used to determine storage require- lations for intake at other downstream locations.
reservoir, built in 1952/53, had an original storage desired dependability is usually in the range of 95 to ments, but the entire period of record may also be Intermediate streamflow between the dam site and the
capacity of 2130 acre-feet or 694 million gallons at 98 percent. used. The procedure is to select a range of anticipated downstream intake point is accounted for. This feature
the normal pool elevation of 777.7 feet NGVD. Considering the envisaged purposes of water drafts (levels of demand) and to determine the storage of the program is especially useful for the analysis of
The Hurshtown Reservoir, completed in 1969, is an resources development in the Maumee basin, the required for each draft. The results can be plotted as a the Fort Wayne water supply because the dependable
off-channel structure (see sidebar entitled Upland dependability level of 98 percent was adopted in the curve which relates storage requirement to draft. yield relies upon the reservoir storage capabilities and
reservoirs/side-channel reservoirs). Separated from storage yield analyses performed in this study. This For this report, a computer program YIELD devel- the intermediate streamflow between the reservoir
the river that supplies it, the reservoir is fed through a level of dependability corresponds to allowing no oped by Beik (1986) was used to perform mass-curve and the river intake.
system of pipes originating at the St. Joseph River. It deficits within a 50-year period of reservoir operation. analysis to assess dependable yield at the public A series of monthly mean discharges were deter-
maintains 1.885 billion gallons of raw water and has a One way to determine storage requirement is by water-supply intake on the St. Joseph River. The pro- mined for two sites on the St. Joseph River, the
total pumping capacity of 11 MGD. Because upland using a mass curve or Rippl diagram. The mass curve gram, allowing no deficits, determines the storage Cedarville Reservoir site and the Fort Wayne public
reservoirs have little contributing drainage areas, sed- is a graph of the cumulative volume of inflow to the requirement for a given level of demand throughout a supply intake site. Discharges for the reservoir site
imentation does not reduce available storage signifi- reservoir versus time and is derived from historical given period of record. The underlying concepts of the were determined from streamflow records for the St.
cantly. Therefore, no analysis was made of change in streamflow data. The mass curve can be obtained by program are the same as those of the Rippl Diagram, Joseph stream gaging station (located near Newville)
storage for this facility. cumulating daily, weekly, or monthly streamflow vol- but the digital form provides versatility. using data from 1947 through 1993. Discharge values
umes. Monthly values are adequate for most water- The YIELD program, in addition to accommodating for the public supply intake site were generated from
the data determined at the reservoir site and from flow downstream from the intake. This loss in yield, been agents of disaster and destruction. Flooding on At Decatur in Adams County, the St. Marys River
recorded data (from 1947 through 1993) for the Cedar when compared to any enhanced level of protection the three rivers has caused damage and loss of proper- crested at 26.5 feet. The city was cut off from the rest
Creek stream gaging station located near the town of for downstream flow, is probably not justified because ty in the basin many times in the past; and during at of the state because all railroad service except the
Cedarville. the St. Joseph has such a high 7Q10 flow value. least one flood event, loss of lives. Chicago & Erie from Chicago had to be halted; and
Because the useful life of a reservoir can be materi- A more flexible instream flow protection scenario Peak annual flooding along the large streams in the travel by road was suspended as a result of washouts.
ally affected by the deposition of sediment, it is nec- was modeled that provides protection for downstream basin are principally caused by rains and/or The interurban bridge north of the city was threatened
essary to determine how much sedimentation has flow but also permits withdrawal at the intake. In this snowmelts occurring in winter or early spring. In by rapidly-moving debris in the water, and local resi-
taken place since the reservoir was constructed. The situation, the 7Q10 flow is selected as the desirable small basins, peak runoffs are typically generated by dents stationed themselves to remove debris that col-
Division of Water conducted a hydrographic survey of minimum flow to be maintained. However, during thunderstorm rains occurring during summer months. lected near the structure.
Cedarville Reservoir in 1988, and the information was times of drought when streamflow is low, any deficit Flooding in the smaller tributaries of the St. Marys Another notable flood occurred on March 15, 1982
used to develop depth curves and to calculate storage. in streamflow below 7Q10 is shared equally between River is primarily due to backwater from the St. along the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers.
Storage at normal pool elevation in 1988 was calcu- instream and offstream water users. Thus, for every 2 Marys mainstem. Floods along the Maumee River are Snowmelt, having a water equivalent of three to near-
lated to be 1715.5 acre-feet (559.1 MG). Therefore, cfs drop in streamflow, both the minimum protected greatest when the St. Joseph and St. Marys Rivers ly seven inches, combined with above-normal precip-
415 acre-feet or (135 MG) were lost to sedimentation flow and the amount of water available for withdraw- reach peak flow at the same time. In general, the St. itation to keep all three rivers flooded for an extended
in 36 years of operation. To project future capacity, a al would be reduced by 1 cfs. This type of compro- Marys River is more likely to flood than the St. Joseph period of time. The St. Marys and the St. Joseph
dead storage volume of 576 acre-feet (188 MG) was mise is only practical on streams like the St. Joseph River (Maumee River Basin Commission, 1993). Rivers near Fort Wayne each reached a peak discharge
set aside for sediment accumulation in the next 50 which have relatively high 7Q10 flows. The depend- Figure 35 displays historic and 100-year flood ele- of about 13,000 cfs, and the Maumee River at New
years of life of the reservoir. able yield for this scenario is 21.8 MGD (33.7 cfs). vations for selected sites within the basin. A brief Haven reached a discharge of approximately 26,500
For modeling purposes, reservoir evaporation is summary of the history of flooding in the Maumee cfs.
assumed to be 2.5 feet per year based on data for River, as compiled by the Maumee River Basin The 1982 flooding forced the evacuation of 9,000
Kendallville, Prairie Heights and Fort Wayne (See FLOODING Commission, 1993, follows. Fort Wayne residents and resulted in over 50 million
Chapter entitled Physical Environment, Climate The Maumee River basin has experienced major dollars damage to the city. The flood drew the atten-
section). The draft rates within the model include con- River flooding occurs when the transport capacity flooding once every three years, on average, since tion of the President, who visited Fort Wayne and
sideration of evaporation and sedimentation in addi- of a river is exceeded and its banks are overflowed. 1907. In most years since then, the Maumee River has declared the area a national disaster area.
tion to water-supply requirements. Overbank flow is commonly caused by a reduction in crested above the official flood stage of 15 feet. Communities in DeKalb County that were hit hard-
A number of factors, including population and eco- either channel slope or cross-sectional area, both of Of the counties in the basin, flooding has been most est by the 1982 flooding include Auburn, Waterloo,
nomic growth, were considered when selecting criti- which reduce the transporting capacity of a river and disastrous in Allen County because of the high con- and Spencerville. There was an estimated damage of
cal draft rates to model (see the chapter titled Water lead to higher flood stages. For example, when struc- centration of development in the urban center of Fort about 2 million dollars and at least 30 mobile homes
Resource Development for additional discussion). tures are constructed in a floodway, the cross-section- Wayne. Fort Wayne is located at the confluence of the were damaged in the town of Waterloo.
The draft used in the model was the highest recorded al area available for flood flow is reduced, backwater St. Joseph and the St. Marys Rivers which forms the In Adams County, the St. Marys River reached a
annual mean water withdrawal demand at the Fort levels are elevated, and flood peaks become amplified headwaters of the Maumee River. crest of 24.4 feet, its highest level since 1913.
Wayne intake site. The critical 34.6 MGD or 53.5 cfs upstream of the structures. In the spring of 1913, the most severe frontal storm Damage was estimated at about $200,000 to
draft occurred in 1988, one of the driest years in recent In developed areas flooding can be caused by storm on record in the Midwest led to the worst recorded $300,000.
times. drainage systems which were built to handle excess flood in the Maumee River basin. Rivers and streams Although there was more major flooding in the
Maximum dependable yield at the intake site is cal- runoff generated by the increase in impervious cover. spilled over their banks as the Maumee River crested basin in the 1910s than in the 1980s, more structures
culated to be 61.5 cfs (39.4 MGD). Although this When storm runoff exceeds the capacity of a designed at 26.1 feet, almost 11 feet above flood stage. The were affected during recent floods because of exten-
yield would be adequate to satisfy the critical 1988 drainage system, water backs up and causes flooding. floods were approximately equal to the 500-year fre- sive urban development in flood prone areas this
demand, it provides no consideration for maintaining The largest and most damaging floods of record quency flood on the St. Joseph, the St. Marys, and the century.
any minimum flow downstream of the intake. Because typically occur during early spring when saturated or Maumee Rivers (Federal Emergency Management
no dependable flow rate would be guaranteed for frozen soils, prolonged or widespread rainfall, and Agency, 1990, Volume 2).
instream water uses, additional withdrawal uses, or snowmelt can combine to produce maximum runoff Several neighborhoods in Fort Wayne were under Flood-flow characteristics of the Maumee River
water-quality considerations, such a yield is not over large areas. Major floods also can occur in sum- four feet of water. The municipal lighting power plant basin
desirable. mer, fall and winter under certain combinations of was flooded; and water had to be rationed and boiled
Although instream flow criteria have not yet been precipitation events and hydrologic conditions. Floods because all three city pumping stations were closed. Basin characteristics which affect flooding include:
formally adopted in the state, instream flow needs are aggravated by the accumulation of debris, sedi- Six people lost their lives and 5,500 private homes and drainage area, channel length, channel slope, mean
should be considered when addressing augmentation ment, and ice at bridges and culverts because of back- businesses in the city suffered extensive damage. annual precipitation, storage, precipitation intensity,
of low-flow by storage release. water effects. Approximately 15,000 people were left homeless at and runoff coefficient.
However, the dependable yield for public water sup- The “Three Rivers” of the Maumee River basin the peak of the flood, and water covered about 5,000 Some surface and subsurface features within a river
ply would be reduced to only 6.7 MGD (10.3 cfs) if which have served as water supply for people and acres within the city limits. Total damage in Fort basin provide temporary water storage during a flood,
minimum streamflow were protected to the 7Q10 industry and as transportation for commerce have also Wayne reached $4,802,000 in 1913 dollars. thereby retaining the water and slowing its release to
86 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Flooding 87

downstream reaches. These features decrease flood- design and construction of roads, bridges, dams, lev-
water velocities and increase the duration of flow, ees and spillways; 2) the regulation of floodplains; 3)
thereby reducing flood peaks. Storage features include the management of water-control works such as dams
the hydrologic properties of soils, underlying geolog- and spillways; 4) the mapping of flood-prone lands;
ic materials, and the percentage of contributing and 5) flood forecasting.
drainage area covered by ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Table 16 presents maximum daily mean flows
Other basin features such as soil type and land use recorded at continuous-record gaging stations having
affect the amount and velocity of runoff, or runoff at least 24 years of data for the period of record end-
coefficient. Soils are classified according to the ten- ing in 1993. The maximum daily mean flows on the
dency of the soil to absorb rainfall and, thereby reduce St. Marys River near Fort Wayne, the Maumee River
runoff. Most of the soils in the south and central por- at New Haven, and the St. Joseph River near Newville
tions of the Maumee River basin have relatively high are 13,000, 26,300, and 9,450 cfs respectively.
runoff coefficients (See Chapter entitled Physical The variability of flood or peak flows, like the vari-
Environment, Soils for specific information regard- ability of low flows, can be statistically described by
ing basin soils and their hydrologic characteristics). frequency curves. Flood frequency is generally
Each land use also has a characteristic ability to expressed as the probability, in percent, that a flood of
absorb and/or attenuate surface water runoff and a given magnitude (discharge) will be equaled or
thereby affect the runoff coefficient. For example, exceeded in any one year. The recurrence interval, the
increasing urbanization can greatly affect flow charac- reciprocal of the exceedance probability multiplied by
teristics. The imperviousness of the land surface asso- 100, is the average number of years between
ciated with an urban basin is generally greater than exceedances of a given flood magnitude.
that of a nonurban basin, and peak discharge is gen- The 100-year flood, for example, is the peak dis-
erally larger for the former than the latter in a basin of charge that is expected to be equaled or exceeded on
similar size. the average of once in a 100-year period. In other
The “Three Rivers” area once occupied a vast wet- words, there is a 1 percent chance that a peak dis-
land lake plain. The natural hydrology of the Maumee charge of at least this magnitude will occur in any
River basin has since been altered by urbanization given year. Similarly, the 50-year flood has a 2 percent
along the flood plain and by drainage projects begin- chance of occurring any given year, the 25-year flood
ning in 1885. Some of the man-made changes have has a 4 percent chance, and the 10-year flood has a 10
resulted in a reduction of overbank storage and an percent chance in any given year.
increase in the runoff coefficient, and therefore an It should be noted that the recurrence interval, or
increased potential for flooding. frequency, represents the long-term average time peri-
od during which a flood exceeding a certain magni-
tude is expected to occur once. It does not imply a reg-
Flood frequency ular periodicity between floods. A peak discharge hav-
ing a 100-year recurrence interval, for example, could
Although the initial indicator of a flood is the river’s possibly occur in two consecutive years, or even in
water stage, the determination of a flood’s relative size two consecutive weeks. On the other hand, the 100-
is related to the peak discharge because ice, debris or year flood may not occur for several hundred years.
vegetation can cause higher water stages than would Moreover, the discharge-frequency values are only
otherwise occur for a given flow. Peak-discharge data accurate to the extent that the available discharges
in the Maumee River basin are collected from a net- used in the statistical analysis are representative of the
work of continuous-record and crest-stage partial- long-term discharge record. In general, a minimum of
record stream gaging stations operated jointly by the 30 years of data record is required to yield reliable
U.S. Geological Survey and IDNR Division of Water flood frequency values for large floods.
(figure 24, table 14). Since 1976, the Division of Water has coordinated
Deriving peak-flow characteristics from stream with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), United
gage records is one step in helping mitigate flood States Soil Conservation Services, and U.S. Army
damages and in planning for future floods. Discharge- Corps of Engineers to determine peak discharge-fre-
frequency characteristics can be used for 1) the quency values for Indiana streams (Indiana

LAKE MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN
STATE OF INDIANA
DIVISION OF WATER

ILLINOIS
INDIANA
120
KENTUCKY
80
90
MARCH, 1982 857.7

MARCH, 1982
20 AND
100 - YEAR 791.9
100 - YEAR
856.9 FLOOD
FLOOD
ELEVATION
ELEVATION 1
DECEMBER, 1965 855.9

MARCH,1913 791.5
CEDAR CREEK
AT USGS STEUBEN CO. HAMILTON
GAGE MAY, 1956 ST. JOSEPH 789.4
STATION AT DEKALB CO.
RIVER AT
AUBURN COUNTY LINE
127
327
427
KENDALLVILLE 1
6 MARCH, 1982 781.0
MARCH,1913 780.5
100 - YEAR
8
FLOOD
AUBURN NEW- 779.0
NOBLE CO.
ELEVATION
VILLE
8 MAY, 1956 ST. JOSEPH 776.7

RIVER AT
1 CEDARVILLE
205 DAM
101
MARCH,1913 775.3
ALLEN CO.
69 MARCH, 1982 774.7
MARCH, 1982 799.45
327
100 - YEAR
100 - YEAR 27
FLOOD
ELEVATION 774.2
FLOOD 798.3
ELEVATION
37 MAY, 1956 ST. JOSEPH 771.4
CEDAR CREEK RIVER AT
AT I - 69 USGS GAGE
BRIDGE STATION
33 NEAR FORT
24 WAYNE
30
MARCH,1913 751.5
24 FORT
MARCH, 1982
WAYNE 749.9
100 - YEAR 24
14 NEW
FLOOD 100 - YEAR
ELEVATION 758.3 HAVEN FLOOD
ELEVATION 749.8
MARCH, 1982 757.5
MARCH, 1978 MAUMEE 747.8
27 RIVER AT
1 USGS GAGE
(Historical, Division of Water files, 1985-1988) • (100-year elevations, FEMA, 1990)
MARCH, 1913 756.5 30 STATION AT

NEW HAVEN
Figure 35. Historic and 100-year flood elevations for selected sites
MARCH, 1978 MAUMEE 755.1

RIVER AT
COLUMBIA 33
AVE. BRIDGE,
100 - YEAR
FORT WAYNE
FLOOD
1 ELEVATION 788.2
WELLS CO. ADAMS CO. MARCH, 1913 786.6
MARCH, 1982 785.0
FEBRUARY, ST. MARYS 784.2

MARCH, 1913 772.1 224 1959 RIVER AT
USGS GAGE
DECATUR STATION AT
100 - YEAR 769.8 DECATUR
FLOOD
ELEVATION 33
101
MAY, 1943 769.2
FEBRUARY, 768.8
N 124
ST. MARYS
1959 RIVER AT
a
a
USGS GAGE
STATION
NEAR FORT
WAYNE
1 0 1 2 3
All Dimensions are in feet

Datum : NGVD, 1929
4 MILES
27
BERNE
218
Department of Natural Resources, 1993c). A compar-
MICHIGAN
CLEAR
LAKE
ison of computed flood frequency values with maxi-
mum recorded discharges on the St. Marys River, the 120
Maumee River, the St. Joseph River, and Cedar Creek 80
reveal that the peak discharges recorded at stream 90
gages (table 17 and figure 36) have recurrence inter- 20
vals less than 100 years.

For a given flood frequency, a relation between peak 1
OHIO
HAMILTON
discharge and drainage area can be developed to allow LAKE
the estimation of discharge at ungaged sites within a STEUBEN CO.

DEKALB CO.
HAMILTON
watershed, or within other watersheds having similar

127
327
basin characteristics. Figure 37 illustrates the relation- KENDALLVILLE
427
1
ship between peak discharge and drainage area for 6
Cedar Creek, the St. Marys, Maumee, and St. Joseph
NOBLE CO.
Rivers for the 10-year and 100-year floods. 8 6
Higher 10-year and 100-year flood discharges occur AUBURN
2
in the St. Marys River for a given drainage area when 8
compared to floods in the St. Joseph River. For exam- 205
ple, a site on the St. Joseph River with a drainage area

5 101
of 700 sq. mi. has an estimated 100-year flood dis- ALLEN CO.
charge of approximately 12,000 cfs. At a comparable 327
69
1
site on the St. Marys River, the 100-year flood dis- 27
charge is about 15,000 cfs. 37

4
The St. Marys River valley is underlain by alluvium
which does not extend significantly beyond the chan- 33
INDIANA
24
OHIO
30
nel and by hard loam till (figure 17), resulting in very 24

3 FORT
WAYNE 7
little bank storage during floods. In addition, the sur- 14 24
NEW
HAVEN
rounding clayey or silty soils have high runoff coeffi-
cients. These factors promote high surface runoffs and 27
1
flood discharges in the St. Marys River. 469
30
In contrast, the St. Joseph River valley is underlain 8 33
by thick deposits of sand and gravel which serve as

temporary storage features, especially during periods 1
ADAMS CO.
of flooding. The availability of a large amount of bank WELLS CO.
storage reduces peak runoff and sustains flood dura-

tion. In addition, the surrounding soils have moderate 9
224
runoff coefficients. The lower surface runoffs and DECATUR
attenuated flows lead to lower flood peaks in the St. 33

N 101
Joseph River than in the St. Marys.

The curves in figure 37 show that although flows on 124
the St. Marys typically exceed those on the St. Joseph

for comparable drainage areas, the curves begin to 27
BERNE
converge downstream. Two important factors may 218
contribute to this change 1) the St. Marys River near 1 0 1 2 3 4 MILES
its confluence with the St. Joseph River crosses a

relict ice-marginal channel underlain by outwash
sand and gravel (Figure 17) which provides an
increase in available storage; and 2) the discharge of Figure 36. Location of flood discharge points for
the St. Joseph River changes abruptly downstream selected streams
from its confluence with Cedar Creek, which changes
Surface-water Hydrology, Flooding 91

Table 17. Flood discharges for selected streams 100,000 Maumee river, east of Fort Wayne’s downtown, were
{Data from Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, 1993c}
widened to provide additional bank storage. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the widening
Site locations are shown in figure 36.

will reduce the 100-year flood levels in Fort Wayne by
Map Stream Drainage 10-Year 25-Year 50-Year 100-Year approximately one foot.
10,000
No. Location Area (sq.mi.) (cfs) (cfs) (cfs) (cfs) A three-phase alternative land use plan is in
progress to develop a 200-acre Headwaters Park to be
CEDAR CREEK constructed near the confluence of the three rivers in
1. near Cedarville–USGS gage 270 4700 NA NA 6200 Fort Wayne. This area has been inundated many times
2. at Auburn–USGS gage 87.3 1400 NA NA 2000 by flood waters. Phase one has been completed and is
1,000
open to the public, and phase two is underway.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER The City of Fort Wayne also has a program
3. above St. Marys River 1086 11000 13000 14900 17000
designed to protect flood-prone areas during high-
4. at Cedarville Reservoir 763 8400 10300 11900 13000
5. at Allen-DeKalb County Line 724 8200 10000 11200 12500
water events. Eighteen areas are designated as ‘miti-
100
6. near Newville–USGS gage 610 7200 8800 10000 11000 gation areas’ which are assigned to a team of city
employees who know the flooding characteristics of
MAUMEE RIVER the areas and provide flood-fighting techniques during
7. at New Haven–USGS gage 1967 19000 22500 25000 27500 high-water events.
10 In addition to these flood control activities, the
ST. MARYS RIVER 10 100 1,000 10,000 Maumee River Basin Commission (MRBC) is
8. near Fort Wayne–USGS gage 762 10200 12800 14000 16000 DRAINAGE AREA IN SQUARE MILES
involved in a major planning effort to develop, by con-
9. at Decatur–USGS gage 621 9300 11300 13000 14500 sensus of stakeholders, a Master Plan for Indiana’s
Dashed lines indicates 100-year flood discharge Maumee River basin. The MRBC was created in 1986
Solid line indicates 10-year flood discharge by the Indiana General Assembly primarily to help
northeast Indiana communities minimize the threat of
the discharge to area relationship very rapidly. DeKalb County flood control measures have been CEDAR CREEK
flooding.
limited primarily to the city of Auburn. Within the ST. MARYS RIVER
The Commission’s “Resources and Trends” report
city’s corporate boundary, floodgates have been ST. JOSEPH RIVER
MAUMEE RIVER
of 1993, from which much of the above summary on
Flood control installed along most of the pipes having outlets into flood control measures was taken, is the first invento-
Cedar Creek. In the mid-1980s two lift stations were ry phase of the Master Plan.
Flood control options in the Maumee River basin installed in Auburn to prevent storm water backup into Figure 37. Relationship between drainage area and The primary objective of the Master Plan is to pre-
include structural, non-structural, and regulatory residential and commercial basements by pumping 10-year and 100-year flood discharge for major vent or mitigate the 100-year (5-year in agricultural
methods. Historically, most methods of flood control water from the storm sewer into Cedar Creek during streams in the Maumee River basin areas) flood damages in the basin’s flood hazard areas
have involved channelization, ditching, dredging, high water events. using a combination of structural and non-structural
levee construction, and land-treatment measures. In response to the flood of 1982, the city of Fort solutions.
Increased emphasis is being placed on floodplain reg- Wayne developed a work program which addressed flows to the various neighborhoods. A detailed flood damage inventory of the basin was
ulation and non-structural alternatives, such as land specific measures to mitigate flood damages. The pro- A total of 52,000 feet of levees and floodwalls are completed in 1994, and a report was published in
use regulations, flood insurance, floodproofing, flood gram included such items as a floodproofing program, reported to exist in the Fort Wayne area. Some of the 1995. The report, which includes alternative solutions
warning, and flood damage relief. an early warning system, and various structural mea- structures were in place prior to the 1913 flood and and an implementation plan, was published in 1995.
The following paragraphs summarize a few of the sures. A supplement to the program was prepared in many levees were constructed in response to that and Major recommendations in the Flood Control
basin flood control measures identified by the 1991. A 1991 analysis of the effectiveness of the flood subsequent floods. Master Plan include: 1) adopting uniform floodplain,
Maumee River Basin Commission (1993). control improvements made in 1982 estimated that Work has begun on a U. S. Army Corps of Engineers stormwater, and erosion control ordinances in the
Flood control measures in Adams County are limit- flood damages were reduced in the 1990-91 flood (USACE) proposal for a diking project that would basin; 2) buyout or floodproofing of more than 1,250
ed to a few individually-constructed floodwalls and from a potential of $61 million to the nearly $5 mil- install or improve approximately 53,000 linear feet of residential and non-residential structures; 3) protect-
levees. In Decatur, some floodgates have been lion that actually incurred (Maumee River Basin levees, floodwalls, and dikes along the three rivers in ing two stream reaches by means of levees and flood-
installed to prevent backwater flooding from the St. Commission, 1993). Fort Wayne. A flood protection level above the 100- walls; and 4) converting several acres of flooded agri-
Marys River. The Adams County Civil Defense In 1983, Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne year flood elevation is to be provided for approxi- cultural lands from agricultural land use to woodland,
Department has identified areas likely to flood received money from the State of Indiana for flood mately 40 percent of the Fort Wayne residents in the wetland, and park corridors (Christopher B. Burke
throughout the county and inspects these areas during control work in Fort Wayne. A large number of flood- floodplain. Engineering, Ltd., 1995).
periods of high water. gates were installed on outlet pipes to prevent reverse In addition, approximately four miles of the The Maumee River Basin Flood Control Master
92 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Flooding 93

Plan report was approved by the Commission in 1995 phase of the flood insurance program. To qualify, the
and is currently in the implementation phase. community must adopt preliminary floodplain man-
agement regulations which will guide new construc-
tion in flood-prone areas. Boundaries for mapped
Floodplain management flood hazard areas are approximate.
The community can enter the regular phase of the
Detailed floodplain management reports and flood program after the following criteria have been met: 1)
insurance studies are available for all counties in the a detailed flood insurance rate map is issued following
basin. Most of these reports have been prepared by a flood insurance study, and 2) local officials enact
cooperative efforts of the U.S. Department of comprehensive regulations that require all new or sub-
Agriculture (Soil Conservation Services), the Federal stantially improved structures to be built in accor-
Emergency Management Agency, the Indiana dance with federal floodplain management criteria.
Department of Natural Resources, Soil and Under the regular program, the full limits of flood
Conservation Districts, Planning Commissions and insurance coverage become available.
other local agencies. Table 18 shows the communities in the Maumee
Figure 38 shows the status of flood insurance stud- River basin that participation in the National Flood
ies available for the highlighted areas. Flood Insurance Program. The term “community” refers to
Insurance Studies (FIS) provide the 100-year base both unincorporated and incorporated areas which
flood elevation and show delineations of the flood- have a government authority capable of adopting and
way and floodway fringe along the streams and lakes enforcing floodplain management regulations. By
(see sidebar titled Construction in a floodplain). The
Maumee River Basin Commission is in the process of
updating the flood insurance studies on several of the Table 18. Communities participating in the National
streams shown in figure 38. Flood Insurance Program in the Maumee
Existing floodplain management regulations in River basin
Indiana are governed by a combination of statutory
(all communities in regular phase of National Flood Insurance
laws at both the state and federal levels. In brief, the Program as of February, 1995)
state establishes minimum standards governing the
delineation and regulation of flood hazard areas. County Community
Moreover, the 1945 Indiana Flood Control Act (I. C.
14-28-1) prohibits construction, excavation or the Adams Berne
placement of fill in a floodway without prior approval Decatur
from the Department of Natural Resources.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Allen Fort Wayne
Grabill
Division of Water administers the flood control law,
Huntertown
and also acts as the state coordinator of the National Monroeville
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which helps to regu- New Haven
late the development of flood-prone lands. According Woodburn
to requirements of the program, new construction in a
flood hazard area must be located and built in such a DeKalb Altona
way that the potential for damages and loss of life is Auburn
minimized. Butler
Under this program, which is administered by the Garrett
Federal Insurance Administration of the Federal St. Joe
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), property Waterloo
owners are eligible to purchase federal flood insur-
Steuben Clear Lake
ance if their flood-prone community adopts and Hamilton
enforces adequate floodplain management
regulations. Note: The unincorporated areas of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Noble,
Steuben, and Wells counties participate in the National Flood
Initially, a community may enter the emergency Insurance Program under their respective counties.

LAKE
MICHIGAN MICHIGAN
STATE OF INDIANA
DIVISION OF WATER
OHIO MAUMEE RIVER BASIN 120

MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
80
90
KENTUCKY
20
1
OHIO
HAMILTON
DEKALB CO.
127
327
427
KENDALLVILLE 1
8
NEW-
NOBLE CO.
VILLE
205
101
ALLEN CO.
69 R
IVE
327 R
27 CEDARVILLE
RESERVOIR
R
VE
RI
33
24
30
OHIO
INDIANA
24
24
14 NEW
HAVEN
N
27
1
469 30
33
1
Figure 38. Flood Studies by Federal Emergency Management Agency for selected streams.
WELLS CO. ADAMS CO.
Detailed flood studies are available 224

(including the delineation of floodway
and floodway fringe areas).
DECATUR
R
IV
33
ER
101
a
a
Limited flood studies are available
(approximate delineation of floodplain)
1 0 1 2 3 4 MILES
124
27
BERNE
218
a a
Construction in a floodplain
The Division of Water, Department of Natural Resources, offers a

floodplain recommendation service to the public free of cost. The
public is encouraged to use the services provided during initial stages
of project planning.
A request letter enclosed with a copy of the legal description of the
property, site plan, proposed project plan, plat map if available or any
other relevant information on tract description is to be provided to the
Division of Water to determine whether or not the proposed building
site is located in a 100-year floodplain or Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA). A letter of recommendation will be sent to the applicants pro-
viding the available flood information and state requirements that must
be met for the site. The Hydrology and Hydraulics Section of the
Division of Water handles these requests. Requests usually take from
3 to 8 weeks to process, depending on the availability of information
and volume of requests.
More information about the Floodplain Regulatory Program or
Floodplain Management services can be obtained by calling (317)
232-4164 or visiting the office of Division of Water in Indianapolis.
Floodplain information is also available at the local planning
commission.
Floodway
Fringe
100-Year Floodplain
virtue of this definition, an incorporated town is con-

sidered independent of unincorporated areas, which
are collectively defined as a separate community.
SURFACE-WATER QUALITY
Surface-water quality is an important factor in

developing sustainable and beneficial land and water
Floodway
Channel
100-Year Floodplain:
The channel and the areas neighboring any water course which
have been covered by the 100-year flood. The floodplain encompass-
es both the floodway and the floodway fringe.
100-Year Flood:
The flood having a one percent probability of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
Base Flood Elevation:

The water surface elevation corresponding to a 100-year flood.
Floodway:
The channel of a stream and the portions of the floodplain adjacent
to the channel which are required to carry and discharge efficiently the
peak flood flow of the 100-year flood of any stream.
Floodway Fringe:
The areas lying outside the floodway but within the boundary of the
100-year flood.
Floodway
Fringe
Flood Elevation
When Confined
With Floodway
Encroachment
use strategies. The presence of high-quality surface

water can facilitate or enhance development by pro-
viding water suitable for public supply, industrial
cooling, irrigation, livestock, recreation and aquatic
life. In contrast, the value of a surface-water resource
is diminished by bacterial contamination, high levels
of nutrients, or unacceptable concentrations of inor-
ganic and/or organic chemicals.
Degradation of water quality may result from urban,
Surface-water Hydrology, Water Quality 97

industrial, and agricultural land uses, since practices sent capacities, and the ability of the system to meet were partially supportive, and 75 miles (10 percent) may be consumed during the decay process that the
associated with these functions may introduce sources projected increases in domestic water use. Discharges did not support this use. For recreational use, 110 water body may become uninhabitable for many
of pollution into the watershed. Wastewater dis- for industrial facilities are also shown where data are miles (14 percent) were fully supporting, and the aquatic species. In extreme cases, anaerobic (no avail-
charge, contaminated runoff, combined sewer over- available. remaining 654 miles (86 percent) were non-supportive able oxygen ) conditions may develop. Very high lev-
flows (CSO), atmospheric deposition, and accidental Figure 31 shows the locations of the facilities tabu- (figure 39). els of organic matter may develop in surface waters as
spills or discharges are examples of these sources. lated in appendix 8 which discharge approximately The majority of river reaches which did not support a result of NPS discharges, combined sewer overflows
Problems with water-quality degradation may be fur- one million gallons per day or more. Two different recreational use were impaired by high levels of col- and discharge of under-treated wastewater.
ther complicated by the needs of multiple users for a stream-flow characteristics are shown: the 7-day, 10 iform bacteria, specifically E. coli. Coliform bacteria Thirteen of 81 water-quality sampling sites experi-
limited supply of water. Pollution sources may be year low flow (7Q10), and average flow. The 7Q10 is are usually found in the intestines of humans and enced impairment of designated uses to some degree
grouped together along the banks of a river or used to determine the level of wastewater treatment warm-blooded animals and are excreted with body as a result of low DO levels (Indiana Department of
lakeshore to obtain this much needed resource. Their needed to meet water-quality standards, and the aver- wastes. High levels of these bacteria in a lake or Environmental Management, [1995]). Impairment of
combined discharges can be detrimental to aquatic life age flow is a general measure of water volume in the stream could indicate possible contamination by raw Yellow Creek, King Lake Ditch, and Garrett City
and human health. Water quality degradation can stream. or under-treated sewage, and the subsequent risk that Ditch was a result of problems with sewage treatment
occur in both urban and agricultural areas if disease-causing microorganisms are present in the plants in the area. Habegger Ditch was impaired due
sufficient pollution-control practices are not properly water. Sixty-three of 81 water-quality sampling sites to a system of combined sewer overflows. Willow
implemented. Designated surface water uses tested failed solely or in part due to high levels of bac- Creek Branch, Willow Creek Ditch and Bullman
teria (Indiana Department of Environmental Ditch experienced problems with septic systems. The
In the past, the Indiana Department of Management, [1995]). causes of impairment of Gerke Ditch, Blue Creek,
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Environmental Management estimated there were The causes of this impairment consist of both point Houk Ditch, Snyder Ditch, Swartz-Carnahan Ditch,
approximately 90,000 miles of open channel water- and non-point sources (NPS) of pollution. Portions of and Tiernan Ditch are unknown.
Rivers, streams, and ditches in the Maumee River ways in the state of Indiana. In this report, new guide- the St. Marys River, Yellow Creek, Big Run Drain, According to the IDEM, sediments of some streams
basin are used to assimilate wastewater discharged lines developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Garrett City Ditch, and King Lake Ditch have experi- within the Maumee River basin have been contami-
primarily from municipal and industrial facilities. A Agency (USEPA) for estimating stream miles have enced problems with E. coli contamination due to nated with toxic substances such as copper, lead,
facility is required to treat its effluent to maintain the been incorporated. This system utilizes 1:100,000 non-compliance of sewage treatment facilities. Other cyanide, oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
water-quality standards established for the receiving USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) and USEPA River stream reaches, such as portions of the Maumee River, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesti-
watercourse, or be granted an exemption (Rule 1, Reach File 3 (RF3) computerized databases, which Habegger Ditch, Marsh Ditch and Edgerton-Carson cides and other materials, as a result of human activi-
Article 2, Title 327 of the Indiana Administrative list perennial streams greater than one mile in length. Ditch, suffer from E. coli contamination resulting ties. If these toxins accumulate in high enough con-
Code). This new system, adopted to insure more consistent from combined sewer overflows. In addition, many of centrations, they can pose a threat to human health,
The concentration of polluting materials in these estimates, calculates Indiana’s stream miles at approx- the other streams not meeting recreational use stan- aquatic life, and the environment (U. S. Environ-
effluents are regulated by the National Pollutant imately 35,673. It should be noted that all waterways dards have been identified by IDEM as being impact- mental Protection Agency, 1992).
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit pro- (not just those incorporated in the new river mile esti- ed by agricultural run-off, septic systems, and other Animals that live on the bottoms of rivers and lakes
gram administered in Indiana by the Indiana mates) are considered “waters of the state” and are non-point sources of pollution. (such as crustaceans and insect larvae) may ingest or
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). protected by Indiana stream pollution control laws. It should also be noted that the sampling of many absorb toxic chemicals from contaminated sediments
All facilities which discharge to Indiana waters must The IDEM assigns one or more specific designated stream reaches near the Maumee River was conducted in their environment. Because these animals form an
apply for and receive an NPDES permit. The dis- surface water use (DSWU) classifications to the soon after a major rain event. Increased runoff due to integral part of the aquatic food chain, problems that
charge limits set in the permit are designed to protect streams of the state. These classifications reflect the storms increases the NPS pollution load. Therefore, affect them may affect the fish and wildlife popula-
all designated uses of the receiving watercourse. benefits that can be derived from the stream for both the recreational impairment of these stream reaches tion. Humans may then be at risk by eating contami-
Treated effluent discharged into streams normally humans and wildlife. The types of DSWUs in Indiana may not be characteristic of the conditions throughout nated fish and wildlife (see sidebar entitled Fish con-
requires dilution to maintain water-quality require- include: aquatic life, recreation, agriculture, industri- the year. sumption advisory).
ments. Because the volume of water in streams is at a al, and public-water supply as well as other more spe- The majority of river reaches which did not support Except in rare instances, dischargers of toxic sub-
minimum during dry weather, low-flow periods are cific classifications. Of the 35,670 stream miles listed aquatic life were impaired by low levels of dissolved stances throughout the basin are in compliance with
used as the basis of design for wastewater-treatment in RF3, approximately 21,094 have sufficient all- oxygen (DO) in the water column. Dissolved oxygen their NPDES permits. However, violations of applic-
facilities. weather flow and other physical characteristics to rea- concentrations can be affected by the levels of oxidizable standards for some toxic substances are still inter-
Appendix 8 lists most of the NPDES-permitted sonably be expected to support designated uses. able organic matter in a lake or stream. In the aquatic mittently detected in waters and sediments in the
municipal, non-municipal and industrial wastewater- In a recent evaluation of the Maumee River basin, environment the decay of organic matter is often facil- Maumee River basin. In most locations where toxins
treatment facilities in the Maumee River basin. Some IDEM assessed 764 stream miles for aquatic life and itated by oxygen-consuming bacteria. These bacteria have been found, they are at levels of low concern.
facilities including motels, mobile home parks, and full-body contact recreational use. Of these 764 degrade the organic matter through oxidizing reac- However, an unnamed tributary in Fort Wayne con-
private businesses, are not listed because of insuffi- stream miles, 649 miles (85 percent) fully support the tions to obtain energy for metabolic functions. tained antimony levels of medium concern; and lev-
cient data. Average flows and design flows are shown aquatic life designated use, 31 miles (4 percent) were When high levels of oxidizable organic matter are els of metals and organic chemicals in the sediments
for the wastewater treatment facilities to indicate pre- fully supporting, but threatened, 9 miles (1 percent) present in a lake or stream, enough dissolved oxygen of Harvester Ditch, a tributary of the Maumee River
98 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Water Quality 99
Fish consumption advisory (Indiana Department of Environmental Management, [1995]).
The advisory is developed by analyzing the amount of contamina-
Fish may accumulate certain contaminants from the environment in tion bioaccumulated in fish and assigning a number, 1-5, to indicate
fat, muscle, and other tissues. Therefore, the state of Indiana issues the level of risk. These numbers and their recommended consumption
fish consumption advisories for streams and lakes that may contain rate are listed as follows:
fish exposed to bioaccumulating contaminants. Fish consumption
advisories are suggested (non-enforceable) restrictions on the size Level 1 Unrestricted consumption
and/or type of fish that should be eaten. The state issues a fish con- Level 2 One meal* a week (52 meals a year)
sumption advisory when tissue concentrations of certain bioaccumu- Level 3 One meal* a month (12 meals a year)
lating contaminants exceed acceptable risk levels for human health. Level 4 One meal* every two months (six meals a year)
People who regularly eat sport fish, women of childbearing age, and Level 5 Do not consume, high level of contamination.
children are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over
time. In the past, fish consumption advisories were based on recom- * One meal is considered to be eight ounces (before cooking) of trimmed,
skinned fish for a 150-pound person.
mendations given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
standards for toxic contaminants. However, it was determined that the
standards did not take into account the amount of fish consumed by The ISDH released the following advisories for the Maumee River
some anglers, or the fact that many anglers tend to consume fish from basin in 1995** (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1995b).
one geographical area. In response to this finding, new criteria were From the Maumee River in Allen County, Redhorse over 17 inches are
developed that are more protective than the old FDA standards. level 4, and from 14-17 inches are considered level 3. From the St.
These criteria are based mainly on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Joseph River in Allen County, channel catfish over 21 inches are level
pesticides, and heavy metals, the contaminants most frequently 5, and from 18-21 inches are at level 3. From the St. Marys River in
encountered in Indiana fish that necessitate guidance. Because of this Allen County, Largemouth bass over 16 inches are considered level 4,
change, more species of fish and several new geographical areas and from 11-16 inches are level 3. In addition, carp in all Maumee
have been added to the advisory. basin rivers and streams are listed under the following risk levels:
The IDEM collects fish specimens for tissue analysis at locations those from 15-20 inches are level 3, from 21-25 inches are level 4, and
throughout the state. An interagency Fish Consumption Advisory over 25 inches are level 5. Fish at levels one and two were not listed
Committee, consisting of representatives from IDNR, IDEM, and due to the minimal risk involved.
ISDH, evaluates the results of the fish tissue analysis and develops the
** A new fish consumption advisory is presently being developed and should be
fish consumption advisories. The Indiana State Department of Health available late in 1996.
officially issues the final fish consumption advisories for the state
near Fort Wayne, are high enough to threaten the des- its for various physical, chemical, or biological para-
ignated use support status for aquatic life (Indiana meters that may affect the use, safety, or aesthetics of
Department of Environmental Management, [1995]). water resources. Federal and state agencies establish
Other stream reaches have been seriously degraded numerical and/or narrative standards that are used as
in the past due to toxic substances. Willow Creek, a one criterion for assessing water quality. This report
tributary of Cedar Creek, contained such high levels compares levels of selected constituents measured in
of chromium, copper, iron, lead, tin, silver, and streams and lakes in the Maumee River basin with
cyanide, that a consent decree was reached between state and federal water-quality standards.
the Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board and the In Indiana, water-quality standards are promulgated
discharger. The consent decree required the discharg- under Rule 1, Article 2, Title 327 of the Administrative
er to divert its wastewater from Willow Creek to the Code (327 IAC 2-1). The rule defines the minimum
Ft. Wayne Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant, and to water-quality standards which apply to all waters of
dredge the streambed for 200 feet from the point of the state at all times. Minimum standards require that
discharge to remove the contaminated sediments waters of the state be free of substances from anthro-
(Indiana Department of Environmental Management, pogenic sources that may have detrimental effects on
[1995]). This project was completed in 1989 and has water quality. Specifically, the rule extends this
had a positive impact on the water quality of Willow restriction to substances that: 1) can have adverse
and Cedar creeks. effects on the aesthetic aspects of a water body, and/or
2) are in amounts sufficient to be acutely toxic to
humans, aquatic life, plants or animals. In addition,
Water-quality standards waters of the state whose quality exceeds these mini-
mum standards must be maintained at this level unless
Water-quality standards are legally-established lim- limited degradation is justifiable for necessary eco-

LAKE CLEAR
MICHIGAN MICHIGAN
LAKE
STATE OF INDIANA
DIVISION OF WATER
120

ILLINOIS
INDIANA 80
90
20
KENTUCKY
HAMILTON
LAKE
127
327
427
1
8
NEW-
VILLE
8
1
205
101
69
327
27
37
33
24
30
N 24
14 24
27
1 469
30
33
Figure 39. Designated uses and use - support status of selected streams
1
(adapted from Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) 1992 - 1993 305(b) (1995) and selected IDEM files
224
= Water quality sampling location
= FS (AQUA) FS (REC)
= FS (AQUA) NS (REC)
= PS (AQUA) NS (REC) 33
101
= NS (AQUA) NS (REC)
= NS (AQUA) FS (REC)
124
a
a
Designated surface-water uses in Indiana:
Aquatic life (Aqua); Recreation (Rec).
Use support status: FS, stream is currently

supporting designated use; PS, stream is partially
supporting designated use; NS, stream is not
supporting designated use at present.
27
218
nomic or social reasons, and the level of anticipated network of 49 stations located along streams through-
degradation will not interfere with present or possible out the state. The ISBH maintained and expanded this
beneficial uses. Standards outlined in the rule are stream monitoring network until 1986, when the
established for specific water-quality parameters and Office of Water Management of the Indiana
stream-use situations (table 19). The regulations also Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
specify that when a stream is designated for more than assumed responsibility. This network presently con-
one use, the most protective standards apply. sists of 106 water-quality monitoring stations.
Water-quality standards are reviewed and revised to Near-surface grab samples are collected on a
accommodate new environmental and public-health monthly or quarterly basis at IDEM monitoring sta-
concerns, or when new data indicates the allowable tions. The grab samples are analyzed in the field and
level of a specific contaminate should be changed. It laboratory to quantify the values of numerous water-
is thus possible for the use-support status of a stream quality parameters. The data obtained in the process
or lake to change even though water quality remains are used to detect changes in surface-water quality,
constant. evaluate pollution-abatement strategies, estimate
In the following section, the quality of major background levels of various chemical constituents,
streams in the Maumee basin is evaluated relative to determine if streams meet designated uses, and to help
1990 promulgated state water-quality standards. This document compliance with state and federal pollu-
evaluation will help illustrate progress toward con- tion-control mandates.
temporary water-quality goals. In addition certain At present, the IDEM collects samples at six active
surface-water resources within the Maumee basin are monitoring stations in the Maumee River basin (figure
used for public drinking supplies, and will be com- 40, table 20). Samples are analyzed monthly for a
pared to drinking water standards and guidelines. variety of physical parameters, chemical constituents,
These guidelines are defined in the Safe Drinking and biological-quality indicators. Some of these para-
Water Act (SDWA) passed by Congress in 1974, and meters include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),
apply to all public water systems. dissolved oxygen (DO), total phosphorus, ammonia,
The federal criteria applied to water for human con- nitrate-nitrite, and bacteria. In addition, four of these
sumption include the maximum contaminant level stations are sampled on a quarterly basis to test for
(MCL) and the secondary maximum contaminant various inorganic and organic toxins. Regular moni-
level (SMCL). The MCLs are legally established lim- toring of toxic substances is also conducted by IDEM
its for the concentrations of specific constituents to through analyses of fish tissue and sediments collect-
protect human health. The MCLs are enforced for fin- ed biennially at 23 CORE program stations. Three of
ished water treated and distributed specifically for these stations are located on the main river systems
public supply. The SMCLs are recommended, non- within the Maumee basin, the St. Marys River (STM
enforceable standards established to protect aesthetic 0.2), St. Joseph River (STJ 0.5), and the Maumee
properties of drinking water, such as taste and odor. River (M 129).
Although not all streams within the basin are sources Plankton data from rivers in the Maumee River
for public water supply, water quality in these streams basin were collected at certain monitoring stations
may be compared to federal drinking-water guidelines from 1958 until 1990 (figure 40, table 20). The
for descriptive purposes. The established MCLs and reported data consists of the relative proportions of
SMCLs for certain inorganic ions are listed in blue-green algae, green algae, and diatoms detected in
appendix 9. a 125 ml sample. The dominating type of algae pre-
sent in a stream can provide insight into the quality of
that surface water system. However, plankton data
Water-quality monitoring and data collection from streams may be difficult to interpret. They may
be present due to ambient conditions within the
Long-term monitoring of water quality in Indiana stream, or because they were washed in from lakes,
was initially the responsibility of the Indiana State wetlands or nearby tributaries.
Board of Health (ISBH, now Indiana State Regular measurements of radiation levels in water
Department of Health). In 1957, the ISBH began col- samples were made by the ISBH at selected monitor-
lecting and analyzing surface water samples from a ing station in the Maumee basin (figure 40, table 20).

Table 19. Surface-water quality standards in Indiana Table 20. IDEM water-quality monitoring stations in the Maumee River basin
All surface-water resources in the state of Indiana are protected by water-quality standards established in subsection (a) of 327 IAC 2-1-6 (1992). {Complied from Indiana water-quality monitoring station records-rivers and streams, Indiana State Board of Health (1957-1984) and Indiana Department
These standards essentially state that acutely or chronically toxic chemicals and noxious substances must not be present in surface waters at levels that of Environmental Management (1985-1991). Site locations displayed in figure 40.}
will have detrimental effects on water quality.
Additional aspects of this law define standards that are preferentially applied to surface-water bodies on the basis of use. These additional standards Water quality: Samples collected each month at most stations.
are enforced to help assure that Indiana's surface-water resources can fulfill designated uses for humans and wildlife. Standards for protecting surface-
water uses are generally specific for particular parameters which can limit or prevent the potential use of surface-water resources. For example, limits Plankton/algae: Samples collected each month.
on Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are enforced to protect people from disease caused by possible sewage contamination. Streams or lakes which
violate E. coli standards would probably not be considered safe for body contact recreation or water supply. A listing of fundamental surface-water uses Toxics: Samples collected 3-4 times each year, measurements of specific parameters vary with location.
in the Maumee River basin and their corresponding water-quality standards are outlined below.
Radiation: Samples collected each month until 1978. After 1978, three consecutive samples were combined and analyzed four times a year.
Designated stream-use Specific standards defined under 327 IAC 2-1-6 (1992)
Location IDEM code Water quality Plankton/algae Toxics Radiation
Recreational E. coli may not exceed 125/100ml as a geometric mean of 5 or more samples equally
(full-body contact) spaced over 30 days, nor exceed 235/100ml in any single sample over a thirty day Maumee River
period.
Woodburn M 1141 1965-present 1971, 1974-79 1989-present 1971, 1973-85
Public Supply1 Coliform bacteria cannot exceed 5000/100 ml as a monthly average nor exceed
5000 /100ml in 20 percent of all monthly samples, or 20,000/100ml in 5 percent of all Fort Wayne M 116 1971-85 1983
monthly samples. E. coli limits are the same as those established for recreational use New Haven M 1292 1957-present 1958-70 1989-present 1957-73
streams. Concentrations of either sulfates or chlorides must not exceed 250 mg/L.
Radiation levels due to radium-226 and strontium-90 must not exceed 3.0 pCi/L, St. Joseph River
respectively (in the known absence of strontium-90 and other alpha emitters, beta par-
ticle activity of up to 1000 pCi/L is acceptable).
Fort Wayne STJ 0.53 1973-present 1978-90 1989-present
Industrial Supply2 Total dissolved solids (TDS) cannot exceed 750mg/L (a specific conductance of 1,200 Mayhew Rd. bridge STJ 8 1957-72 1960-70
µmhos/cm at 25o C can be considered equivalent to a TDS of 750mg/L).
St. Marys River
Agricultural use Waters must meet all requirements specified in 327 IAC 2-1-6(a) (the minimum water-
quality standards).
Fort Wayne STM 0.2 1986-present 1986-90 1989-present
Aquatic life3 A pH range of 6.0-9.0 is allowed. Dissolved oxygen levels must average at least 5.0mg/L Fort Wayne STM 114 1957-present 1960-70
daily, without being lower than 4.0mg/L at any time. Maximum temperature increase Pleasant Mills STM 375 1979-present 1979
due to anthropogenic activity may not exceed 5oF (2.8oC) in streams and 3oF (1.7o C)
in lakes and reservoirs. No substances which impart unpalatable flavor to fish or offen- 1 Previously designated M 95 (1965-85)
sive odor may be discharged into designated aquatic life streams. 2 Previously designated M 110 (1957-1985)
3 Previously designated STJ 0 (1973-85)
Cold Water Fisheries3 A 6.0mg/L minimum dissolved oxygen level (7.0mg/L in spawning areas during spawn- 4 Previously designated STM 12 (1957-85)
5 Previously designated STM 33 (1973-85)
ing season) is required. Any temperature increases due to anthropogenic activity can
not exceed 2o F (1.1o C). Maximum water temperature must not exceed 65o F (18.3o
C) during the spawning season, and 70o F (21.1o C) during the rest of the year. The
same limits on pH and discharge of noxious substances specified for aquatic-life desig-
nation streams also apply to cold water fish streams. Spy Run in Fort Wayne is desig- Radiation quality is expressed as measured alpha par- to describe the status and trends in water quality for
nated a cold water fishery. ticle and beta particle activities in both the suspended the nation’s surface and ground-water resources. A
Limited use streams In addition to standards established in subsection (a), limited use streams must meet
sediment load and dissolved solids load of a sample. NAWQA study on the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Basin
the standards established for recreational and industrial uses. Aerobic conditions must Monthly data collection began in 1957 and continued began in 1994. This study unit drains approximately
prevail at all times. In DeKalb County, Hilkey [sic] Ditch from the County Line Cheese until quarterly sampling was initiated in 1978. 22,300 mi2 and includes the Maumee River basin in
Company outfall to North County Line Road and Hindman Ditch from the Ralph Sechler
Company outfall downstream to its confluence with Bear Creek are limited use streams.
Regular measurement of radiation levels in samples Indiana. The Maumee River is the principle water
from the monitoring network ended after 1985. course in this hydrologic unit with an average dis-
Exceptional use streams The quality of waters designated for exceptional use shall be maintained without degra- The U.S. Geological Survey has collected limited charge into Lake Erie of 4,990 ft3/s (Myers and
dation, unless it is demonstrated that limited degradation is justifiable on the basis of
necessary economic or social reasons, and that the degradation would not interfere with
water-quality data from streams in the Maumee River Finnegan, 1995).
present beneficial uses. basin during its research and resource-evaluation Three sampling sites have been proposed within the
efforts. Water-quality data was gathered in the 1960s Indiana portion of the Maumee basin. The first two
Outstanding state resource These waters shall be maintained at their present high quality without degradation.
Cedar Creek in Allen and DeKalb Counties, from river mile 13.7 to its confluence with
on the Maumee River at New Haven and the St. sites are located on the Maumee River at New Haven
the St. Joseph River has been designated an outstanding state resource. Joseph River at Newville. Parameters measured and the St. Joseph River at Newville. The third site
include pH, dissolved oxygen, sediment, anions, under consideration would be located on Fish Creek,
1 Standards apply at the point where water is withdrawn for treatment. Water distributed for public supply must also meet drinking water standards cations, and nutrients. a tributary of the St. Joseph River. Sampling is
defined in 327 IAC 8-2. In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey began to expected to begin early in 1996 and continue through
2 Standards apply at the point where water is withdrawn for use.
3 Standards on excessive pH (above 9) do not apply when daily high pH values are correlated with photosynthetic activity by plants. implement the National Water Quality Assessment 1998.
(NAWQA) program. The purpose of this program is
Stream quality influence
influence the the dissolved
dissolved oxygenoxygen content
content of of streams
streams (see
(see
MICHIGAN
CLEAR
LAKE sidebar entitled Factors affecting
sidebar entitled Factors affecting surface-water surface-water
Sources for data quality).
quality).
24 120
STJ 0.5 Graphs
Graphs of of median
median specific
specific conductance
conductance (MSC) (MSC) in in
STM 0.2 M116 80
Data from selected IDEM monitoring stations were water from selected monitoring stations
water from selected monitoring stations are displayed are displayed
14 90
used to analyze the water quality of streams in the in

in figure
figure 43.
43. The The largest
largest seasonal
seasonal difference
difference in in MSC
MSC
20
Maumee River basin. Data were gathered from sta- is
is detected in water samples from the St. Marys just
detected in water samples from the St. Marys just
1 tions along the Maumee River (M114, M129), the St. upstream
upstream of of Fort
Fort Wayne
Wayne (STM (STM 11). 11). TheThe MSC MSC valuevalue
OHIO
HAMILTON
LAKE Joseph River (STJ 0.5), and the St. Marys River (STM for
for samples
samples collected
collected during
during the the fall
fall exceed
exceed that that ofof
STEUBEN CO. HAMILTON 0.2, STM 11, STM 37)(figure 40). These three rivers samples
samples collected in the winter by approximately 200
collected in the winter by approximately 200
DEKALB CO.
represent the major drainage of the Maumee basin. A µmhos/cm
µmhos/cm for for this
this station.
station. This This seasonal
seasonal fluctuation
fluctuation is is
127
KENDALLVILLE
327
427
1
general lack of adequate data for headwater streams in mirrored
mirrored to a lesser degree at station STM 37
to a lesser degree at station STM 37 onon the
the
this region precludes a meaningful analysis of the Maumee
Maumee River.River. Fall Fall and
and winter
winter measurements
measurements of of spe-
spe-
6
Figure
Figure 41.
41.Seasonal
Seasonal median
median dissolved
dissolved oxygen
oxygen at
at
smaller streams. cific
cific conductance differ by approximately 150
conductance differ by approximately 150
NOBLE CO.
selected
selected monitoring
monitoring stations
stations
8
The data used for this report encompass a fifteen µmhos/cm
µmhos/cm at at this
this station.
station. The The other
other stations
stations moni-moni-
AUBURN NEW-
VILLE year period (1978-1993) and were collected at the tored
tored (M(M 114,114, M129,
M129, STJ STJ 0.5,
0.5, and
and STMSTM 0.2) 0.2) appear
appear
8
1
above mentioned fixed water-quality stations. The fairly
fairly consistent throughout the year. It is possible,
consistent throughout the year. It is possible,
205
water-quality parameters examined include dissolved however,
however, that that some
some of of the
the annual
annual variability
variability in in the
the spe-
spe-
101 oxygen (DO), pH, specific conductance at 25o C, cific
cific conductance levels of these streams relates to
conductance levels of these streams relates to
ALLEN CO.
V ER
hardness, chloride, total iron, nitrate-nitrite, and seasonal
seasonal influences.
influences.
RI
69
327 phosphorus. Figure

Figure 44 44 illustrates
illustrates median
median monthly
monthly nitrate-nitrite
nitrate-nitrite
27
CEDARVILLE
RESERVOIR
levels
levels from monitoring stations on
from monitoring stations on the
the St.
St. Joseph,
Joseph, St. St.
STJ 8
SE
P H 37
M 114 Marys,
Marys, and Maumee Rivers. There appear to be
and Maumee Rivers. There appear to be large
large
JO VE
R
33 ST
. RI Seasonal variations in water quality seasonal
seasonal and and spacial
spacial variations
variations in in thethe nitrate-nitrite
nitrate-nitrite
INDIANA
See 24
levels
levels of these rivers. In general, the seasonal
of these rivers. In general, the seasonal trend
OHIO
30
EE
Insert FORT M
AU
M trend
24
WAYNE
24
The median values of dissolved oxygen and specif- mirrors
mirrors thatthat of of runoff
runoff fromfrom the the land
land surface
surface (figure
(figure
14 NEW
M 129 HAVEN ic conductance for each climatic season (winter, 25).
25). This
This maymay be be aa result
result of of NPS
NPS pollution
pollution entering
entering
spring, summer, and fall) were compared to discern the
the receiving streams during storm events. The
receiving streams during storm events. The major
major
27
1
possible seasonal trends in water quality. Dissolved Figure deviation
deviation from from thisthis trend
trend occurs
occurs during
during the the months
months of of
30
Figure 42.
42.Seasonal
Seasonal median
median temperature
temperature at
at selected
selected
oxygen and specific conductance were examined for monitoring stations June
June and
and July,
July, andand is is probably
probably the the result
result of of extensive
extensive
N
STM 11
monitoring stations
33
temporal trends because seasonal variations are often application
application of of nitrogen-based
nitrogen-based fertilizers
fertilizers during
during thisthis
ST
.
observed in these parameters, and specific limits for time

time period. Agricultural uses account for approxi-
period. Agricultural uses account for approxi-
M
1
AR
YS
WELLS CO. ADAMS CO.

their levels have been established for certain stream mately
mately 88 88 percent
percent of of the
the land
land surface
surface in in the
the basin,
basin, and
and
uses (table 19). Possible seasonal variations in DO may be a significant source
may be a significant source of NPS pollution. of NPS pollution.
224
concentration and specific conductance levels could, However,
However, median median monthlymonthly nitrate-nitrite
nitrate-nitrite levels levels in in
DECATUR therefore, be a factor in stream-quality assessment. these
these major river systems did not exceed the maxi-
major river systems did not exceed the maxi-
Of the monitoring stations examined, the highest mum
mum contaminant
contaminant level level of of 1010 mg/L
mg/L set set forth
forth in in the
R
IV
the
ER
Water quality Plankton/Algae 33

101
Radiation Synthetic toxins STM 37 seasonal median dissolved oxygen levels are observed drinking
drinking water regulations (figure 45). This may not,
water regulations (figure 45). This may not,
124
BLU
in winter and the lowest during the summer (figure however,
however, necessarily
necessarily reflect reflect the the condition
condition of of thethe
E
Explanation 41). Because the largest contrasts in median water smaller
smaller tributaries in the basin. Water from many
tributaries in the basin. Water from many
CREEK
Active stations in blue 27
BERNE
temperature (figure 42) are also observed between small
small andand medium-sized
medium-sized rivers rivers in in agricultural
agricultural areas areas
Discontinued stations in black 218
winter and summer, this trend in DO levels probably have
have been found to contain nitrate concentrations
been found to contain nitrate concentrations
reflects the changes in oxygen solubility due to sea- exceeding
exceeding 10 10 mg/L
mg/L at at times
times (Harmeson
(Harmeson and and others,
others,
1 0 1 2 3 4 MILES
sonal variations in average water temperature. At all 1971).

1971).
the monitoring stations examined, higher median DO
concentrations and lower median temperatures occur
during fall as opposed to spring. However, at two of Spacial
Spacial variations
variations in
in water
water quality
quality
Figure 40. Surface-water quality stations Figure
Figure 43.
43.Seasonal
Seasonal median
median specific
specific conductance
conductance at
at
the stations (STM 11 and STM 37), the spring and fall
selected
selected monitoring
monitoring stations
stations
differences in median dissolved oxygen are negligible. Box
Box plots
plots are
are often
often used
used to
to display
display the
the median
median and
and
These discrepancies may reflect other factors which percentile
percentile ranges of a data set. These graphs are
ranges of a data set. These graphs are use-
use-
106 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water

Surface-water Hydrology,
Hydrology,Water
Water Quality
Quality 107
107
Figure 44. Median monthly nitrate+nitrite levels for selected monitoring stations

NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS
10
Percentage of analyses equal to

or less than indicated value
90th percentile
LITER
PER LITER
75th percentile
MILLIGRAMS PER
50th percentile
(median) MONITORING STATIONS MONITORING STATIONS MONITORING STATIONS
IN MILLIGRAMS
25th percentile
1.0 10th percentile

NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS
CONCENTRATION IN
CONCENTRATION
NATIONAL DRINKING-WATER
REGULATIONS
Maximum contaminant level (MCL)
Secondary maximum contaminant

level (SMCL)
ANALYTICAL DETECTION
Minimum concentration detectable

with procedures utilized
0.1
(See figure 40 and table 20 for locations of

monitoring stations
MONITORING STATIONS MONITORING STATIONS MONITORING STATIONS
Figure 45. Statistical summary of selected water - quality constituents for selected stream monitoring stations
ful for providing a concise visual summary of a single Dufor and Becker Hardness Scale:
data set, and for comparison among data sets. Box 0-60 mg/L CaCo3 soft water
plots for water-quality data from selected monitoring 61-120 mg/L CaCo3 moderately hard water
stations are displayed in figure 45. 121-180 mg/L CaCo3 hard water
Variability in the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) 180 - mg/L CaCo3 very hard water
are observed among different streams in the Maumee
River basin (figure 45). The highest median dissolved Hardness is an important factor in surface-water
oxygen concentration (10.4 mg/L) is observed in quality because the minimum water-quality criterion
water samples from the St. Joseph River just north of for certain metals are functions of hardness.
Fort Wayne (monitoring station STJ 0.5). Median DO Applicable criteria outlined in the Indiana minimum
values are also relatively high in samples collected at water-quality requirements (327 IAC 2-1-6) include
the other fixed monitoring stations in the basin rang- the acute aquatic criterion (AAC) and the chronic
ing from 8.5 mg/L on the St. Marys River near the aquatic criterion (CAC). The present AACs and
Indiana-Ohio border (STM 37) to 9.9 mg/L on the CACs for cadmium, chromium (+3), copper, lead,
Maumee River near the Indiana-Ohio border (M114). nickel, silver, and zinc are not defined as whole num-
In addition to variability among streams, differences ber limits, but rather as exponential functions of hard-
in median DO levels are observed along different ness. The greater the hardness value, the higher the
reaches of the same stream. In the St. Marys River, allowable concentrations of these pollutants.
there is a trend of increasing median DO levels as the Therefore it is possible that different AACs and CACs
river flows from near Ohio (STM 37) to the city of would apply to different streams, or even distinct
Fort Wayne, Indiana (STM 0.2). This apparent reaches of the same stream due to ambient hardness
increase in median DO may reflect the water quality values.
of contributing tributaries and/or ambient conditions The box plots for iron in samples from selected
within different stream reaches (see sidebar entitled monitoring stations are displayed in figure 45.
Factors affecting surface-water quality). Median total iron levels are highest in samples from
Box plots of specific conductance levels in water the St. Marys River with a median concentration of
samples from the selected monitoring stations are dis- 2.35 mg/L. Median levels at all three selected moni-
played in figure 45. The highest median specific con- toring stations exceed the secondary maximum conta-
ductance levels were observed in samples from the St. minant level of 0.3 mg/L indicated by federal drinking
Marys River near Ft. Wayne. Differences in median water regulations. In fact 100 percent of the samples
specific conductance levels among and within streams collected at all three stations exceed these require-
may relate to factors which affect the dissolved solute ments. However, natural concentrations of iron in
concentrations of surface waters. Such factors aquatic systems vary widely, and these levels are prob-
include: local variations in the abundance of soluble ably not an indication of pollution from anthropogenic
minerals, differences in stream discharge, differences sources.
in the volume of base flow, and anthropogenic sources Box plots of median total phosphorus levels are dis-
of dissolved constituents. Temperature may also have played for monitoring stations within the Maumee
a profound affect on specific conductance. Therefore, River basin (figure 45). Levels range from a median
the standard temperature for laboratory measurements concentration of 0.31 mg/L at STM 11 on the St.
is 25o C. Marys River to 0.13 mg/L at STJ 0.5 on the St. Joseph
Box plots of hardness levels in samples from the River.
selected monitoring stations are displayed in figure Phosphorous plays an important role in surface-
45. Medium hardness levels range from approximate- water quality. In aquatic systems, phosphorus is often
ly 280 mg/L (CaCo3 equivalent) in samples from the the limiting nutrient. The more phosphorus available
Maumee River near the Indiana-Ohio border (M 114) for plant uptake, the higher the productivity of the
to 330 mg/L (CaCo3 equivalent) from the St. Marys aquatic system. Although not generally a serious
River near the south side of Ft. Wayne (STM 11). problem in rivers and streams, high concentrations of
This range of hardness values would classify the phosphorus can have a profound effect on downstream
waters from these stations as “very hard” in the hard- lakes. Increased concentrations of phosphorus can
ness classification scale of Dufor and Becker (1964). lead to high productivity resulting in lake

eutrophication. sediment levels, and inappropriate streambed material
Factors affecting surface-water quality isms may die, fail to reproduce, or suffer other adverse effects if the
appropriate temperature range is exceeded. The effect of most con-
In studying these three river systems, the St. Joseph, may also limit the types and numbers of organisms in
The efficient management of water resources requires knowledge cern, is probably the inverse relation between water temperature and St. Marys, and Maumee Rivers, one major trend is a particular surface-water system. Therefore, any bio-
of the naturally-occurring and human-induced processes that can dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. Most gases, including oxygen, become apparent. The St. Joseph River is of highest quality, logical evaluation of water quality must include a sur-
influence the chemistry and quality of surface waters. Surface-water less soluble in water as temperature increases. It is therefore, possi-
ble to detect the lowest average DO levels of the year during summer
and the St. Marys suffers the most from water quality vey of the quantity, quality, and range of aquatic habi-
quality is influenced by numerous physical, chemical and biological
factors which generally vary in time and with location. Describing the and early fall when ambient water temperatures reach yearly high lev- degradation. The Maumee River, which has its begin- tats available.
effects of these factors and variations in their influence is critical for els. Localized increases in water temperature and decreases in DO ning in the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys
developing strategies to protect water quality while permitting reason- levels can also occur if effluents are discharged at much higher tem-
peratures than water in the receiving stream.
rivers reflects an “average” water quality due in part to
able levels of water use (Hem, 1993).
Many of the current efforts to protect surface water resources Geologic conditions in a drainage basin can be a significant control the mixing of the two rivers. The high quality of the Macroinvertebrates and water quality
emphasize controlling degradation associated with industry, agricul- on the solute chemistry of surface waters. The types and concentra- St. Joseph River may reflect the degree of compliance
ture, municipal waste disposal, flow diversion and other anthropogenic tions of dissolved ions in most waters are influenced by the chemical
composition of minerals in contact with the water body. Soluble miner-
of industry and sewage treatment plants with their Macroinvertebrates are an important tool for the
activities. Pollutants and waste products from these and other sources
can enter surface-water systems through inadequately treated waste- als in bedrock, soil or weathered geologic material may be the princi- NPDES permits, and the many water quality and soil evaluation of water quality in aquatic systems. They
water discharges, runoff, soil erosion, atmospheric deposition, chemi- ple source of dissolved inorganic ions in unpolluted streams and lakes. conservation efforts that have taken place in the north- offer many advantages not possible with other organ-
cal spills, and combined sewer overflows. Human activities that alter Water quality will also be influenced by a variety of other geologic fac-
tors including the purity, solubility and crystal size of the minerals; rock
ern part of the basin. Water quality in the St. Joseph isms. Because they are sessile or have limited migra-
the flow characteristics or physical state of a stream, such as dam
building, dredging or channelization may affect both water chemistry texture and porosity; regional structure; and the presence or absence River is also enhanced by the large quantities of high- tion patterns, macroinvertebrates are good indicators
and sediment transport. Surface-water quality can also be influenced of fissures (Hem, 1985). quality ground water that flow into the system. of localized conditions, and are useful for assessing
by irrigation and ground-water pumping (Hem, 1993). The aquatic biota, consisting of all plants, animals and microorgan-
isms inhabiting a stream or lake, can be a significant influence on the
site specific impacts (U.S. Environmental Protection
Any effects human activities have on water quality depends on the
types and volumes of pollutants released, and the extent of dilution chemistry of surface waters. Biological influences on water quality can Agency, 1989). Macroinvertebrates also integrate the
that occurs in the receiving surface-water body. Adverse effects from result from the metabolic processes performed by organisms to main- Water quality and stream biology effects of short-term environmental variations. Most
human activities can also be minimized by proper wastewater treat- tain life functions and reproduction. These metabolic processes often
influence the rates of chemical reactions. One example is the oxida-
species have a complex life cycle of one year or more.
ment, adequate solid-waste disposal, erosion control, and other pollu-
tion control practices, Municipalities, industry, and other water users tion of organic matter. Certain microorganisms obtain metabolic ener- Analyzing the types and numbers of organisms in a Sensitive stages will respond quickly to stress, while
are required to protect the quality of surface-water resources they uti- gy from organic matter through cellular reactions involving oxygen. stream or lake can provide valuable information con- the overall population will respond more slowly. In
lize. In many cases, specific obligations are defined in federal, state This organism-mediated process can promote rapid decomposition of
organic matter in the aquatic environment, and may have significant
cerning water quality. Such biological assessments addition, sampling is relatively easy and inexpensive.
and local regulations. The effects of anthropogenic activities on water
quality will also be modified by the hydrologic and chemical conditions effects on the dissolved oxygen levels of surface waters. are based on the principle that organisms respond dif- The Indiana Department of Environmental
of the receiving surface-water system. Aquatic organisms also remove and redistribute certain con- ferently to varying degrees of pollution. Many organ- Management has been sampling benthic macroinver-
Surface-water quality is also influenced by natural conditions in the stituents from the aquatic environment. Essential nutrients including
iron, phosphorous and nitrogen are removed to maintain metabolic
isms are considered pollution-intolerant because they tebrates throughout the state using Rapid
environment. These natural conditions consist of the various physical,
chemical and biological aspects of a watershed. Examples include cli- functions and physical growth. Other constituents, such as calcium are killed or otherwise reduced in number in response Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) developed by the
mate, geology, soil type, vegetation and stream ecology. Natural influ- and silica, are extracted from the aquatic environment for the develop- to pollutants. In contrast, pollution-tolerant organisms U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989). The
ences on water quality must be quantified to accurately describe vari- ment of shells and skeletons. Absorption by aquatic organisms can
significantly influence and even control the concentration of certain
are more capable of withstanding the low dissolved- success of the program relies on a proper habitat
ations in water quality, and to discern possible human-induced effects
on water resources. ions in unpolluted waters (Hem, 1985). oxygen levels associated with pollution by organic assessment which provides numerical evaluations of
In many temperate areas, variations in water quality over time can Photosynthesis by algae and aquatic plants often has noticeable matter. Other organisms are classified as facultative the physical and chemical characteristics of the
be correlated with seasonal changes in the prevailing meteorological effects on the chemistry of surface waters. During photosynthesis, dis-
solved carbon dioxide is removed from the water column. The removal
because they can live under a variety of water-quality stream. This assessment along with biological sam-
conditions. Both the temperature and volume of precipitation influence
processes such as the weathering of rocks. Alternating wet and dry of this gas can result in a noticeable increase in the pH of water in a conditions. Facultative species can usually survive pling and analysis which adheres to strict techniques
seasons may thus promote seasonal variability in weathering reac- lake or stream. Oxygen is a byproduct of the photosynthesis process, some water-quality degradation and may be found in to insure quality control, can provide a good appraisal
tions which produce soluble minerals. This variability in weathering so increases in dissolved oxygen levels may result from photosynthet-
ic activity. Because photosynthesis requires sunlight, plants can only
moderately polluted or eutrophic waters (Terrell and of the ecological integrity of the stream.
may result in seasonal differences in the volume and types of ions
transported into surface waters by direct runoff, creating seasonal vari- sustain this process during daylight hours. In some surface water sys- Perfetti, 1991). The Indiana Department of Environmental
ations in solute chemistry. tems, this daily variation in photosynthetic activity results in discernible Water pollution can affect both the total number of Management’s macroinvertebrate program consists of
Seasonal trends in the concentrations of certain anthropogenic twenty-four hour cycles in pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations
(Hem, 1985).
organisms and the species diversity. The aquatic com- two distinct phases following sampling. Phase I
chemicals are sometimes observed for surface waters. Such trends
are most commonly associated with chemicals used over wide areas The types and numbers of aquatic plants and animals must also be munity in an unpolluted aquatic system will generally involves identification and enumeration of samples to
of agricultural or urbanized watersheds and during certain months of considered in water-quality assessments, because the presence of be composed of numerous types of organisms, includ- the family taxonomic level, followed by preliminary
the year. Such chemicals can be transported to streams by runoff after certain organisms can seriously limit the utility of a lake or stream.
Disease-causing bacteria, parasites or viruses can make a surface-
ing pollution-tolerant, pollution-intolerant and facul- analysis for site classification. Phase II is a complete
precipitation or snow-melting events. Examples of anthropogenic
chemicals which could reach seasonal high levels in surface water water body unsafe for swimming, fishing, or use as a water supply. tative species. By contrast, turbid oxygen-deficient identification of samples to the lowest possible taxo-
include deicing salts for roads, nitrogen-based fertilizers, and pesti- Algae and aquatic plants are normally vital parts of the aquatic water bodies are often populated by only a few species nomic level. Rigorous analysis of this data will pro-
cides. ecosystem; however, excessive growth of these organisms due to
eutrophication can cause serious water-quality problems. Severe
of pollution tolerant organisms (although number of vide a database for use in regulatory enforcement and
Water temperature can be a particularly important parameter in
water-quality studies. Many aquatic organisms can survive and func- problems can also result when non-indigenous species of plants and organisms present may be great). Surface waters proper stream management.
tion only within a particular range of water temperatures. These organ- animals are introduced into a surface-water system. affected by toxic substances may be characterized by Phase I has been completed for the Maumee River
both low numbers of organisms and a lack of biologi- basin. Twenty-six sites were sampled representing the
cal diversity (Terrell and Perfetti, 1991). three major drainage systems in the basin, the St.
In addition to water pollution, various naturally Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers. This provi-
occurring factors, such as low flow, high suspended sional macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity
(mIBI) allows evaluated sites to be characterized as were unavailable due to extensive modifications of the Table 21. Attributed of Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) classification, total IBI scores, and integrity classis (from Karr
severely impaired, moderately impaired, slightly landscape involving urbanization, stream alteration, and others, 1986)
impaired, or non-impaired. Fifteen sites were evaluat- agriculture, and industrialization. Total IBI Integrity
ed in the St. Joseph River drainage. Eleven of these Biological community trends were evaluated using Attributes
score class
sites were classified as slightly impaired and four a basin approach within an ecoregion framework.
were considered moderately impaired. In the St. Ecoregions (recognized by Homoya and others, 1985) 58-60 Excellent Comparable to the best situation without human disturbance; all
Marys River drainage, of the six sites sampled, one were considered because distinct ecoregions have dif- regionally expected species for the habitat and stream
was ranked as non-impaired, four were slightly ferent expectations for biological communities. The size,including the most intorerant forms, are present with a full
impaired, and one was moderately impaired. In the Maumee River basin consists of parts of the Eastern array of age (size) classes; balanced trophic structure.
Maumee River drainage, two of five sites were con- Corn Belt Plain and the Huron-Erie Lake Plain
48-52 Good Species richness somewhat below expectation, especially due to
sidered slightly impaired, and three were moderately ecoregions. loss of the most intolerant forms; some species are present with
impaired. Habitat diversity has a major effect on the types of less than optimal abundance or size distributions; trophic structure
Further analysis of the data in Phase II will allow organisms that may be found, and must be considered shows some signs of stress.
more detailed information regarding the causes of in any evaluation of the biological community. A rep-
impairment. It should be noted that the family level resentative sample requires that the entire range of 40-44 Fair Signs of additional deterioration include loss of intolerant forms,
provisional mIBI can result in cold water effects giv- stream habitat including riffles, runs, pools, and extra- fewer species, highly skewed trophic structure (e.g. increasing
frequency of omnivores and other tolerant species); older age
ing a false positive for toxic effects (Indiana channel habitat be sampled, especially on large river
classes of top predators may be rare.
Department of Environmental Management, [1995]). systems (Simon, 1994). The Quality Habitat
Therefore, any cold water effects should be noted in Evaluation Index takes into account these important 28-34 Poor Dominated by omnivores, tolerant forms, and habitat generalists;
the habitat analysis. Future analysis at lower taxo- attributes of the habitat and was used in the develop- few top carnivores; growth rates and condition factors commonly
nomic classifications should eliminate this problem. ment of the IBI for the basin. depressed; hybrids and diseased fish often present.
To date, family level taxonomic analysis has provided The IBI relies on multiple parameters, which are
data adequately sensitive for the detection of gross founded on biological community concepts, to evalu- 12-22 Very Poor Few fish present, mostly introduced or tolerant forms; hybrids
common; disease, parasites, fin damage, and other anomalies
biological perturbations in the aquatic community ate complex systems. Quantitative criteria are estab-
regular.
(Indiana Department of Environmental Management, lished to determine water quality based on: species
[1995]). richness and composition, trophic and reproductive No fish Repeated sampling finds no fish.
constituents, and fish abundance and condition.
Separate metrics were developed for headwater
Fish and water quality streams (drainage areas less than 20 mi2) and wadable
rivers (drainage areas ranging from 20 to 1000 mi2).
Fish also play a major role in many studies designed Scoring criteria were also modified when sample size
to evaluate water quality. Unlike the macroinverte- was small (Simon, 1994). Index of Biotic Integrity extremely diverse. However, there are problems with may be found in appendix 10.
brates, fish live for extended periods of time and scores range from no fish to excellent (table 21). degradation of headwater streams. Scores throughout
assimilate the chemical, physical, and biological his- The three major rivers in the Maumee basin and this system ranged from 14 to a high of 57 on the St.
tories of the waters. Fish also represent a broad spec- their tributaries were evaluated using the IBI (Simon, Joseph River at Johnny Appleseed park near Fort Lake quality
trum of community tolerances from very sensitive to 1994). Overall trends were toward increasing biolog- Wayne. Many unique species and three state threat-
highly tolerant, and they react to chemical, physical ical integrity with increasing drainage area. Along the ened species are found in these waters. Sources of data
and biological degradation in characteristic response Maumee River, twenty-one sites were surveyed, and Twenty-three sites were sampled along the St.
patterns. These and additional attributes make fish scores ranged from a low of no fish to good-excellent Marys River and its tributaries. Forty-seven different The Maumee River basin contains about 2500 acres
desirable components of biological assessments and (score=55, one site). Numerically, the dominating species were collected, with fish numbers being dom- (nearly four square miles) of open water in natural
monitoring programs. species were cyprinids, catostomids, and centrarchids. inated by centrarchid, cyprinid, and catostomid lakes and reservoirs. Many of these lakes are subject
Fish population sampling is one biological method Highest scores were obtained in the mainstem species. Index of Biotic Integrity scores ranged from to point source and NPS pollution in the form of
used by the USEPA and the IDEM to assess Indiana Maumee, while declining conditions occurred in the very poor (12) to good (49). Scores were found to excess nutrients. This nutrient input results in
water quality. In 1991, 77 [sic] sites in the Maumee headwaters and minor tributaries. increase as drainage area increased. Headwaters of increased lake productivity leading to accelerated
River basin were sampled, and subsequently evaluat- Thirty-three sites were sampled on the St. Joseph the St. Marys were degraded and greatly affected by eutrophication. Monitoring and management pro-
ed to develop an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) for the River and its tributaries. This river, dominated by high nutrient inputs from non-point sources (Simon, grams indicate the extent of eutrophication and pre-
basin (Simon, 1994). The object of the study was to cyprinid, centrarchid, and catostomid species, con- 1994). However, several species unique to the basin scribe measures to control nutrient inputs from point
evaluate the biological integrity of the Maumee River tained the most diverse fish community sampled, hav- including many endangered and threatened species and non-point sources. The major state and federal
drainage based on “least impacted” reference sites for ing 58 recorded species. Tributaries of the St. Joseph were found in these waters. Additional fish sampling programs are identified below.
establishing baseline conditions. “Pristine” areas River, including Fish Creek and Cedar Creek, are information for streams and lakes within the basin In 1970 the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH,
currently the Indiana State Department of Health) Cedarville, Clear, Hamilton, Indian, Long, and green algae are dominant and often form nuisance agement practices may have contributed to decreased
began sampling public freshwater lakes and reservoirs Round. blooms during most summer months. Oxygen deple- sediment and nutrient loads to this reservoir leading to
for physical, chemical and biological data. The goal The IDEM also samples fish tissue and sediments to tion can result during hot summers and under ice increased water quality.
of the sampling, now coordinated by the IDEM, was assess the extent of contamination by toxic and bio- cover in the winter resulting in fish kills. These lakes Ball, Clear, Long and Round Lakes all seem to indi-
to generate a database from which a classification sys- concentrating substances in lakes and reservoirs hav- are generally highly influenced by anthropogenic cate an overall improvement in water quality. Ball
tem could be developed for comparing lake quality, ing high recreational use or a potential for contamina- activities and have an accelerated rate of senescence. Lake moved from a Class II to a Class I lake. Clear
and to establish a priority system for lake management tion. In the Maumee basin, fish tissues and sediments Class IV lakes consist of remnant and oxbow lakes. and Long lakes, while remaining in the same class,
and restoration. were sampled at the Cedarville Reservoir in 1988. In They are generally small, shallow water bodies in an had a decrease in eutrophy points from 1986 to 1992.
The agency then developed an Indiana Lake addition, the St. Joseph Reservoir has been sampled advanced state of senescence, and cannot realistically The dramatic increase in eutrophy points for Long
Classification System and Management Plan in the biennially since 1984. All of the fish samples taken be rated or compared using the eutrophication index. Lake in 1988 may be due to sampling during an algal
mid-80s and assigned eutrophication indices to many contained contaminant levels below Food and Drug Recent data are available for nine major lakes and bloom and may not be indicative of the lake quality
of the lakes in the state. Staff defined and combined Administration Action Levels. No consumption advi- reservoirs in the Maumee River basin. These lakes do throughout the year. Hamilton Lake may be declining
ten trophic parameters to derive a composite numeri- sories currently exist for lakes or reservoirs in the not range widely in water-quality characteristics, lake in water quality, but the difference of only six eutro-
cal eutrophication index. This index has been used Maumee basin. morphometry, and management needs (appendix 11). phy points between 1986 and 1992 is probably
extensively to evaluate lakes throughout Indiana Sediment monitoring has become an increasingly Nearly all the lakes are classified as Class I or Class II insignificant. It is evident that continued improve-
(Indiana Department of Environmental Management, important tool for detecting loading of pollutants in and rarely have water-quality problems that impair ment of point sources of pollution and great gains in
1986a). Nine of the selected basin lakes and reservoirs lakes and reservoirs. Many potential contaminants are attainable lake uses. The only remaining lake (Cedar the area of non-point source pollution control are
in table 13 have been placed in the classification sys- easier to detect in sediments because the concentra- Lake) classifies as highly productive (Class III). None resulting in an overall improvement of lake quality
tem and management plan. tions are greater than those normally found in the of the lakes in the basin included in the Indiana Lake throughout the Maumee River basin.
On the federal level, the U.S. Environmental water column, and sediments are usually less mobile Classification System were assigned Class IV status.
Protection Agency (USEPA) conducted a National than water and can be used more reliably to locate Although some Class IV lakes may exist in the basin,
Eutrophication Survey in 1973 and 1974 in which 27 sources of pollutants. Nutrients, many organic com- these may have been mapped as wetlands rather than Water-quality management efforts in the Maumee
Indiana lakes and reservoirs were sampled. Biological pounds, and heavy metals can become tightly bound lakes due to their morphology or hydraulic regime. River basin
and chemical indicators were used to rank each lake to sediments. Once released, these particles are made Improvements in water quality for many lakes with-
according to trophic state. The USEPA also quantified available to the biological community through physi- in Indiana are evident between the early 1970s and In the past, efforts concerning water quality were
major point and non-point sources. The results pro- cal or chemical processes. Remedial action projects mid 1980s. These trends are due to improvements in focused on the effects of point source pollution.
vided the first comprehensive nutrient loading survey may include the removal of these contaminated sedi- the treatment of point sources of pollution such as Progress in this area has been exceptional with only
for any of Indiana’s lakes. Within the Maumee basin, ments. In the Maumee basin, the St. Joseph Reservoir sewage treatment facilities and industrial discharges. one percent of our municipal point source discharges
Hamilton Lake in Steuben County was included in was the only major water body monitored by IDEM. Because phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient in being released without treatment (Baker, 1992). In
the survey; approximately 95 percent of the phospho- aquatic systems and may lead to lake eutrophication, recent years, much attention has been directed to the
rus entering the lake came from septic systems and the situation may have been improved by the phos- treatment of non-point source (NPS) pollution. As
other non-point sources (National Eutrophication Assessment of lake quality phorus detergent ban initiated in the early 1970s. The illustrated by figure 47, NPS pollution comprises a
Survey, 1976). new challenge is the treatment of non-point sources of major portion of the total pollution sources for US
Through the Clean Lakes Program, which is admin- The Indiana Trophic State Index, developed in pollution. Much work has been done in this area in rivers and lakes (U.S. Environmental Protection
istered cooperatively by the USEPA and the State of accordance with The Indiana Lake Classification the past few years, and the results are apparent in fig- Agency, 1986e). In response, many studies have been
Indiana (IDEM), many of Indiana’s lakes were resam- System dictated by Section 303(e) of Public Law 92- ure 46. Figure 46 illustrates trends in water quality of conducted on possible solutions to the problem of
pled in recent years by the School of Public and 500, divides lakes into four distinct categories, Class I five natural lakes and one reservoir in the Maumee NPS pollution. Three of these studies involved spe-
Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University. through Class IV. Eutrophy points are assigned for River basin. cific watersheds within the Maumee River basin, and
In Indiana, the program is administered cooperatively different chemical, physical and biological parame- The most dramatic improvement is evident in the fourth study involved the entire basin.
by the USEPA and IDEM. The Clean Lakes Program, ters. Scores range from 0-75 with the lower scores Cedarville Reservoir. It dropped 37 eutrophy points
which provides funds for studies and management indicating higher quality. and moved from a Class III to Class II lake.
activities on publicly-owned freshwater lakes, seeks to Class I (0-25 eutrophy points) includes lakes of Cedarville Reservoir is a small, shallow impoundment The Black Creek watershed project
encourage participation at the local level to refine and highest quality. These lakes often exhibit oligotroph- that has a large contributing drainage area.
implement plans outlined in the IDEM’s Indiana Lake ic or mesotrophic characteristics. Class II lakes (26- Consequently, it has a short hydraulic residence time In 1972, funded under provisions of the 1969 Water
Classification System and Management Plan. The pri- 50 eutrophy points) are generally productive lakes that and responds very quickly to any changes in the water Quality Act, a study was begun to determine how non-
mary purpose of recent sampling activities was to often support large populations of macrophytes and quality of upstream reaches. In recent years many point source pollution might be controlled in a typical
detect apparent lake quality trends comparing trophic algae, but lake uses are seldom impaired. Class III programs have been adopted in the area to address agricultural watershed, the Black Creek watershed in
indes numbers determined in the mid-1970s with lakes (51-75 eutrophy points) are lakes of poor quali- non-point source pollution. Conservation tillage, land Allen County, IN (Lake and Morrison, 1977a). The
those determined more recently. Maumee basin lakes ty. These lakes often have extensive populations of taken out of farm production and placed in the agencies involved included the Allen County Soil and
resampled at least once in recent years include: Ball, macrophytes and algae that impair lake uses. Blue- Conservation Reserve Program, and other best man- Water Conservation District, the U.S. Department of
Eutrophication Index
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
a
Cedarville Res.
Agriculture Soil Conservation District, Purdue

a
University, University of Illinois, and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
The 12,038 acre Black Creek watershed was chosen
because preliminary research indicated that it was a
good representation of the Maumee River basin in
terms of soils, land use, conservation needs, and
socioeconomic conditions. Black Creek is a major
tributary of the Maumee River. It flows from its
source near the town of Harlan in Allen County to its
confluence with the Maumee River and ultimately
drains into Lake Erie.
The concept behind this study was to use it as a
model to determine if techniques demonstrated in the
Black Creek watershed, if applied throughout the
Maumee Basin, would improve water quality in the
Maumee River and Lake Erie (Lake and Morrison,
118
Ball
1986 - 1987*
Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin

Clear Hamilton
1988 - 1989
Long
1992 - 1993
Numbers are based on information provided by the Department of Environmental Management 305 (b) reports
* May reflect some data collected in the mid-70s
Figure 46. Lake quality (1986-1992)

Round
1977b). Several investigations occurred in the Black

Creek watershed including: water quality sampling
and analysis utilizing grab samples as well as a limit-
ed number of automated samplers, demonstrations of
conservation tillage techniques, fish and other biolog-
ical studies to gain an understanding of the aquatic
community dynamics, stream bank stabilization stud-
ies, rainfall simulation studies to determine erodibili-
ty of different soil associations and the effects of con-
servation tillage practices, and other related investiga-
tions. Through these diverse studies, baseline infor-
mation was obtained and monitoring took place to
determine the impact of different best management
practices on water quality and the aquatic community.
Several conclusions were drawn from the study, and a
few main points are summarized below.
The water-quality parameter of greatest interest was
RIVERS
Non-point Sources (65%)

aa
(Percentages based on river miles)
Combined Sewer Overflows (1%)

Natural Causes (6%)
Industrial Point Source (9%)
Other/Unknown (2%)
Municipal Point Sources (17%)
seen as essential for the health of Lake Erie. Most

phosphorus, and other NPS pollutants, could be corre-
lated with sediments. Therefore, sediment control
became the main focus. Nitrogen was the one excep-
tion. Control of this nutrient could be achieved using
nitrification inhibitors, proper timing of nitrogen fer-
tilizer application, and reducing the amount of nitro-
gen applied.
The key component in soil erosion is raindrop
impact. Any practice which increases ground cover is
beneficial. Conservation tillage is often an effective
and economically viable solution. Erosion depends
on storm intensity; and the effectiveness of surface
cover depends on the amount and quality of the cover.
However, with increasing storm intensity, slope angle
and length become more critical factors. At the time
of the study, the bulk of the sediment entering Black
Creek was the result of a few intense storms.
The main benefits gained from this program includ-
ed: 1) a reduction in sediment loading which resulted
in an increase in water quality of the receiving stream,
2) increased scientific knowledge concerning water-
shed NPS pollution controls, and 3) development of
strategies for working with the public on comprehen-
sive watershed management plans. Researchers dis-
covered that involving the public and providing them
with information was critical for program success. It
was also found that a program with sufficient incen-
tives, technical assistance, and cooperation with all
individuals involved can result in land treatment that
Non-point Sources (76%)
LAKES
(Percentages based on number of lakes)
Figure 47. Source of pollution in U.S. rivers and lakes (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986e)
phosphorus. Phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient

in aquatic systems, and control of this nutrient was
Natural Causes (12%)
Industrial Point Source (1%)
has a significant effect on water quality.

Other/Unknown (3%)
Municipal Point Sources (8%)
Another benefit derived from the study was the

development of the ANSWERS (Aerial Nonpoint
Source Watershed Evaluation Response Simulator)
computer model. This model was designed to predict
water movement, and thus sediment transport
throughout the basin. It was possible, through use of
the program, to gain insight into the effects different
best management practices would have on the basin.
Through the use of ANSWERS, it was determined
that the majority of soil erosion was from only 15 per-
cent of the land area. Treatment of these “hot spots”
would be more beneficial and cost effective than
attempting to treat the entire watershed (Lake, oral
commun., 1995).
The Fish Creek watershed project
Fish Creek is a major tributary of the St. Joseph

River. It flows from its source in eastern Steuben
County to its confluence with the St. Joseph near
Edgerton, Ohio. Attention was first drawn to Fish
Creek when the White Cat’s Paw Pearlymussel, a fed-
erally endangered species, was discovered in the river
in DeKalb County. Since the project’s inception, two
other endangered mussel species have been found, the
Northern Riffleshell, and the Clubshell.
In 1992, the USEPA and IDEM funded $98,340 for
the Fish Creek project. Project partners included the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Steuben,
DeKalb, and Williams County Soil and Water

Conservation Districts, Indiana and Ohio Departments (Clemens, oral commun., 1996). The wooded corri- Unfortunately much of the water-quality data has different landowners in 1995.
of Natural Resources, Maumee River Basin dor is one of the main reasons Fish Creek has such not been released. As a result of a 1992 diesel fuel Another important effort was the establishment of
Commission (MRBC), IDEM, U.S. Geological high water quality. It provides a buffer from runoff spill in Fish Creek, most of the data is being held until the Cedar Creek Watershed Alliance. The Alliance,
Survey, Purdue University, the Soil Conservation and supports creek bank stabilization. In addition, it litigation is complete. Of the limited data that has which held its first meeting in September of 1994, is a
Service, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation provides shade for the stream resulting in decreased been released, studies indicate that fish populations in diverse group of agencies, conservation organizations,
Service, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). water temperatures and a corresponding increase in Fish Creek have not fully recovered from the spill landowners, and city of Fort Wayne drinking water
In general, the water quality of this area is very the waters ability to hold oxygen. Typical trees plant- (Ohio EPA, 1995). interests. The group originally met under the auspices
good with the exception of some areas exhibiting ed along the creek include black walnut, white, red of the Maumee River Basin Commission, but eventu-
unacceptable levels of bacteria. The goal is to main- and swamp oak, black cherry, white and green ash, ally the commission allowed local interests to assume
tain, and if possible, improve the riverine habitat tulip, and red and silver maple. The Cedar Creek watershed project the leadership role. The Alliance is not incorporated
which is home to the most diverse assemblage of fresh 4) Point source abatement. Funding was approved or formalized (Seng, written commun., 1996).
water mussels in the Great Lakes Basin. Thirty-one by the USEPA and the Cole Foundation to convert Cedar Creek originates at Cedar Lake in the north- The Alliance is working on a watershed manage-
different mussel species inhabit the river home along Hamilton’s Waste Water Treatment Plant from a chlo- west portion of the Maumee River basin. It drains ment plan which will define its goals and contain vital
with 43 species of fish (Clemens, oral commun., rine system to an Ultra Violet disinfection system. approximately 174,780 acres before joining with the statistics such as demographics, economics, geology,
1994). The facility went on line in August of 1995. St. Joseph River just downstream of the Cedarville hydrology, and others aspects of the basin. In order to
The plan utilizes several strategies of land protec- 5) Land acquisition. Erodible farm ground for Reservoir. Cedar Creek is designated as an outstand- get baseline information on water quality, the Alliance
tion and treatment. reforestation and old growth forest has been pur- ing state resource from river mile 13.7 to its conflu- received Clean Water Act Funds to finance water-
1) Agricultural practices. Money is provided for chased by different environmental organizations for ence with the St. Joseph River (327 IAC 2-1-2), and quality sampling along Cedar Creek and several of it
incentives to promote water quality on agricultural permanent preservation. One purchase includes 275 represents several natural communities, many of tributaries. Local people are being encouraged to help
land. Soil erosion is the greatest threat to the water acres along Fish Creek known as Douglas Woods. which are rare in that part of Indiana. Primary com- conduct the monitoring. In addition, members are
quality of Fish Creek, so the majority of the projects This land consists of 200 acres of forest and wetlands, munities are forested, but include some prairie, fen, working with landowners to encourage participation
are designed to alleviate this problem. The Hamilton and 75 acres of tillable land (Indiana Department of bog, marsh, and lake communities (Homoya and oth- in the Conservation Reserve Program, the use of con-
Lake Watershed Land Treatment Project and The Environmental Management, [1995]). ers, 1985). servation tillage, and implementation of other best
Maumee River Basin Commission filter strip program 6) The Conservation Reserve Program. The The headwaters of Cedar Creek have historically management practices.
have been responsible for the installation of grass fil- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiated under been ditched and dredged to increase agricultural land Some of the strengths of the project include: 1) the
ter strips along approximately seven miles of Fish the 1985 Farm Bill promotes financial incentives for and enhance drainage. These activities increase the Coordinated Resource Management training received
Creek (Fish Creek Project, 1995b). Twenty pieces of removing land from production for a period of at least land’s susceptibility to erosion. According to the by many of the people involved, 2) support from the
no-till farming equipment have been purchased 10 years. Upper Fish Creek which consists mostly of Environmental Law Institute (1995), the resulting Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Natural
through various cost share programs (Smith, 1994), marginal farm land has 18,000 of 70,000 acres “sediment deposition in the riparian zone has adverse- Resource Conservation Service, 3) the ability to par-
and since the project’s inception, no-till corn has dou- enrolled in the CRP. Eighty percent of these land ly affected the productivity of stream-side wetlands lay local interest and involvement into grant money,
bled, and no-till soybeans have increased by 15 per- owners plan to place their land back into production if and woodlands, and caused an overall decline in the and 4) the ability to focus attention on the project due
cent. Presently no-till is used to plant over 50 percent the program is discontinued. However, most plan to productivity of the fisheries...”. Cedar Creek also has to its important impact on the drinking water
of the row crops in the Fish Creek watershed (Fish use some form of conservation tillage. Of this 80 per- problems with bacterial contamination. This pollution resources of Fort Wayne (Seng, written commun.,
Creek Project, 1995b). For estimated costs and yields cent, nearly 60 percent plan to utilize a crop rotation may originate from a variety of sources including 1996). However, there is still a need to get other
of no-till versus conventional farming practices, see program to meet conservation goals, 34 percent plan agricultural activities and inadequately performing stakeholders involved to insure that all interested par-
appendix 12. to incorporate a crop residue management plan, 30 septic systems. ties are represented. New people and organizations
2) Wetland restoration. The USFWS has restored a percent plan to install grassed waterways, and only 15 Several programs have been initiated to restore por- are always welcome provided they agree to follow the
total of 15 acres in three separate areas along Fish percent do not presently have any conservation prac- tions of the Cedar Creek watershed. The U.S. Fish guidelines outlined in the Coordinated Resource
Creek. “The Partners for Wildlife Program, adminis- tices planned (Lovejoy, 1995). and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has been working to Management training.
tered by the USFWS provides financial and technical 7) Project monitoring, research, and education. restore ditched and tile-drained kettle wetlands and
assistance to restore drained wetland habitat on private Monitoring, research, and education continue as the forested riparian wetlands through the Partners for
property. Since 1988, the [US]FWS has restored over project moves forward. These aspects of the project Wildlife Program. The IDNR designated approxi- The Northeast Indiana Conservation Tillage
700 wetlands in Indiana totaling more than 3,500 are being addressed in a variety of ways including: a) mately 350 acres of riparian corridor as a Scenic Demonstration Project
acres. Projects in Steuben and DeKalb counties alone identification of critical areas in the watershed, b) doc- River. This area receives protection and some mainte-
account for approximately 30 percent of the restored umentation of landuse, c) water quality monitoring nance through the IDNR Division of Nature Preserves The Northeast Indiana Conservation Tillage
wetlands under this program” (Fish Creek Project, through the use of macroinvertebrate, amphibian, rep- and some private organizations. In addition, the Allen Demonstration Project (NEICT) was one of the Tri-
1995a). tile, fish and mussel surveys, d) watershed mapping and DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation State Tillage Demonstration Projects funded by the
3) Restoration of riparian corridor. Money is pro- and modeling, and e) continued contact with local Districts are working with the USFWS to reestablish Great Lakes National Program Office of the U.S.
vided to landowners to plant trees along the creek. As land owners to explain the uniqueness of Fish Creek prairie in the Cedar Creek watershed. This project Environmental Protection Agency in May of 1981.
of spring, 1996, 200 acres of trees have been planted and the need to preserve this resource. scheduled over 100 acres of prairie restoration for 20 Included in NEICT was the area which comprises the
Maumee River basin in Indiana. The main objectives phorus losses of more than 2 kg/hectare/year. Soils
of the program were to provide specialized equipment within the Maumee basin are primarily the product of
and technical assistance for conservation tillage prac- Wisconsin glacial drift (see Physical Environment
tices; overcome any difficulties in establishing the chapter, section entitled soils) and contain high con-
new practices; and ultimately to evaluate the effec- centrations of clay. The high correlation between
tiveness of conservation tillage in regard to crop yield, phosphorus content and clay content indicates that the
acceptance of the practices by farmers, and the poten- fine textured soils in the Maumee basin contribute to
tial for water quality improvement (Lake, 1991). high phosphorus loads in the Maumee River (Lake,
Good success with conservation tillage practices has 1991). To help reduce erosion of these soils, increas-
been realized for almost all soil types in the basin ing the amount or organic matter in the soil, and
except for mucky soils (Clemens, oral commun., increasing soil cover were main objectives of the
1995). program.
Demonstrations of no-till and ridge-till technology The potential for soil erosion has been evaluated
were conducted throughout the basin, and research on throughout the state by the Soil Conservation Service
conservation tillage was performed at Maumee Park and Water Conservation Committee (Indiana
on the banks of the Maumee River near Fort Wayne Department of Natural Resources, 1980). Estimates
from 1982 through 1986. After 1986, limited demon- of erodibility are based on soil associations. The four
strations of conservation tillage in Maumee Park were categories of soil erosion potential are low, medium,
conducted until 1995. Studies within the park investi- high, and very high. Erodibility in the Maumee River
gated different conservation tillage practices and eval- basin ranges from low to medium. Associations with
uated several hybrids of corn and soybeans. In addi- low erodibility are generally deep and very poorly to
tion, because of the large Amish communities in the somewhat drained soils on nearly level and depres-
basin, the special needs of draft horse-powered farms sional land. Soils with medium erosion potential are
were addressed. Appendix 12 summarizes recent crop deep, somewhat poorly drained, and are found on
yields and economic evaluations of conventional level to slightly sloping topography.
tillage and conservation tillage practices. Soils with medium erosion potential in the Maumee
As previously discussed, conservation tillage prac- basin are concentrated in Steuben County, the north-
tices can help reduce soil erosion. Although the west corner of DeKalb County, the central portion of
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (1984) Allen County, and the southwest corner of Adams
reports low soil losses at about 2.0 to 4.9 County. Most other soil associations have a low erodi-
tons/acre/year from the Maumee River basin, the U.S. bility rating.
Environmental Protection Agency reports high phos-

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SURFACE-WATER HYDROLOGY

Surface-water Hydrology, Historical Perspective 59

in the basin. Although Indian Lake has a gage, no

ther a gage nor a legal level (table 13).

originally intended for use in the establishment of nor- Maumee River.

Stream gages in the Maumee River basin monitor 127

basin since 1930. Cooperators that participate in the Discontinued

station. A crest-stage gage registers the peak stream Continuous record

Stage readings can later be converted to discharge val- Discontinued station

DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND PER SQUARE MILE

DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

DRAINAGE AREA IN SQUARE MILES

78 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin

Figure 31. Selected stream flow characteristics

A - Stream gaging station or wastewater

B - Drainage area in square miles

D - 7 day 10-year low flow in cubic feet per

E - Average flow in cubic feet per second

Total Annual Annual Extremes (cfs) Low flows Base flow

St. MARYS RIVER

ST. JOSEPH RIVER

Surface-water Hydrology, Development Potential

and figure 32). The steep flow-duration curve indi-

Fort Wayne are 32 and 33, respectively. CEDAR CREEK

DISCHARGE IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

St. Joseph River basin

100 100 100 100

located on the St. Joseph River north of Fort Wayne.

86 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin Surface-water Hydrology, Flooding 87

88 Water Resource Availability, Maumee River Basin

OHIO MAUMEE RIVER BASIN

MARCH, 1982 857.7

DECEMBER, 1965 855.9

6 MARCH, 1982 781.0

8 MAY, 1956 ST. JOSEPH 776.7

MARCH, 1913 756.5 30 STATION AT

MARCH, 1978 MAUMEE 755.1

WELLS CO. ADAMS CO. MARCH, 1913 786.6

MARCH, 1982 785.0

FEBRUARY, ST. MARYS 784.2

All Dimensions are in feet

Maumee River, the St. Joseph River, and Cedar Creek 80

reveal that the peak discharges recorded at stream 90

gages (table 17 and figure 36) have recurrence inter- 20

vals less than 100 years.

the estimation of discharge at ungaged sites within a STEUBEN CO.

watershed, or within other watersheds having similar

ship between peak discharge and drainage area for 6

Cedar Creek, the St. Marys, Maumee, and St. Joseph

compared to floods in the St. Joseph River. For exam- 205

ple, a site on the St. Joseph River with a drainage area

charge is about 15,000 cfs. 37

nel and by hard loam till (figure 17), resulting in very 24

In contrast, the St. Joseph River valley is underlain 8 33

by thick deposits of sand and gravel which serve as

storage reduces peak runoff and sustains flood dura-

runoff coefficients. The lower surface runoffs and DECATUR

attenuated flows lead to lower flood peaks in the St. 33