Ohio § 940.41

§ 940.41.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Nine-element plan ” means a strategic implementation plan that a political subdivision, organization,

or individual engaged in water quality improvements may utilize to obtain funding

through the federal “Clean Water Act,” 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., or the great lakes restoration initiative for projects to address nonpoint source

pollution. (2) “ Organization ” means a public or private entity that is engaged in water quality improvement activities. (3) “ Political subdivision ” means a county, township, municipal corporation, or any other body corporate and

politic that is responsible for government activities in a geographic area smaller

than that of the state. (B)(1) There is hereby created a statewide watershed planning and management program for

the improvement and protection of the state's watersheds to be administered by the

director of agriculture. (2) Under the program, the director shall appoint at least one watershed planning and

management coordinator in each watershed region categorized under division (D) of

this section to coordinate watershed planning in the watershed.  A coordinator shall have experience or education related to water quality improvement

or watershed planning and management. (C) A watershed planning and management coordinator shall do all of the following in

the watershed region in which the coordinator is appointed: (1) Assist each soil and water conservation district to identify sources and areas of

water quality impairment, including total phosphorous, dissolved reactive phosphorous,

and nitrogen nutrient loading.  A coordinator also may assist any political subdivision or organization in the watershed

region to address water quality impairment. (2) Engage in watershed planning, restoration, protection, and management activities,

including assisting a political subdivision or organization in the watershed region

in developing and formulating a nine-element plan or its equivalent; (3) Collaborate with state agencies engaged in water quality activities; (4) Provide an annual report to the director about water quality. (D) The director shall categorize watersheds in the state, identified by the specified

United States geological survey six-digit hydrologic unit codes, into the following

watershed regions: (1) Region One:  Western Lake Erie basin watershed, hydrologic unit code 041000; (2) Region Two:  Central Lake Erie basin watershed, hydrologic unit code 041100, and

Conneaut creek watershed, hydrologic unit code 041201; (3) Region Three:  Wabash river basin watershed, hydrologic unit code 051200;  Great

Miami river watershed, hydrologic unit code 050800;  and Little Miami river watershed,

hydrologic unit code 050902; (4) Region Four:  Scioto river watershed, hydrologic unit code 050600; (5) Region Five:  Muskingum river watershed, hydrologic unit code 050400; (6) Region Six:  Mahoning river watershed, hydrologic unit code 050301; (7) Region Seven:  Hocking river and Ohio river tributaries watershed, hydrologic unit

code 050302, and raccoon creek watershed, hydrologic unit code 050901. (E) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or limit a watershed planning

and management coordinator from providing assistance for projects or activities that

have been determined to improve water quality impaired from point sources of phosphorus,

dissolved reactive phosphorus, and nitrogen nutrients.