Ohio Admin. Code 3745-1-31

Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 2, 2024

Section 3745-1-31 - Lake Erie standards

(A) Lake Erie is designated exceptional warmwater habitat, superior high quality water, public water supply, agricultural water supply, industrial water supply and bathing waters, and will meet the criteria set forth in, or derived in accordance with, rules 3745-1-01 to 3745-1-07 and 3745-1-33 to 3745-1-43 of the Administrative Code. However, criteria set forth in this rule supersede the rules listed in this paragraph where applicable. These criteria apply outside the mixing zone.

(B) Water temperature in lake Erie shall not:

(1) Fluctuate as a result of human activity that causes mortality, long-term avoidance or exclusion from habitat, or adversely affect the reproductive success of representative aquatic species.

(2) Exceed the average or daily maximum temperatures indicated in paragraphs (A) and (B) of table 31-1 of this rule.

(3) Exceed at any time the daily maximum temperatures indicated in paragraph (C) of table 31-1 of this rule in hypolimnetic waters.

Table 31-1. Temperature criteria.

(A) Lake Erie western basin - includes the area of lake Erie west of a line drawn from Pelee point, Canada to Scott point on Catawba island. Shown as degrees Fahrenheit and (Celsius).

	Jan. 1-31	Feb. 1-29	Mar. 1-15	Mar. 16-31	Apr. 1-15	Apr. 16-30	May 1-15	May 16-31	June 1-15
Average:	-	-	-	-	-	53 (11.7)	59 (15.0)	65 (18.3)	75 (23.9)
Daily Maximum:	35 (1.7)	38 (3.3)	39 (3.9)	45 (7.2)	51 (10.6)	56 (13.3)	64 (17.8)	72 (22.2)	78 (25.6)
	June 16-30	July 1-31	Aug. 1-31	Sept. 1-15	Sept. 16-30	Oct. 1-15	Oct. 16-31	Nov. 1-30	Dec. 1-31
Average:	80 (26.7)	83 (28.3)	83 (28.3)	78 (25.6)	76 (24.4)	66 (18.9)	60 (15.6)	53 (11.7)	-
Daily Maximum:	83 (28.3)	85 (29.4)	85 (29.4)	83 (28.3)	81 (27.2)	71 (21.7)	65 (18.3)	58 (14.4)	46 (7.8)

(B) Lake Erie central basin - includes the area of lake Erie east of a line drawn from Pelee point, Canada to Scott point on Catawba island to the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line. Shown as degrees Fahrenheit and (Celsius).

	Jan. 1-31	Feb. 1-29	Mar. 1-15	Mar. 16-31	Apr. 1-15	Apr. 16-30	May 1-15	May 16-31	June 1-15
Average:	-	-	-	-	43 (6.1)	53 (11.7)	59 (15.0)	63 (17.2)	75 (23.9)
Daily Maximum:	35 (1.7)	38 (3.3)	39 (3.9)	45 (7.2)	48 (8.9)	56 (13.3)	63 (17.2)	72 (22.2)	78 (25.6)
	June 16-30	July 1-31	Aug. 1-31	Sept. 1-15	Sept. 16-30	Oct. 1-15	Oct. 16-31	Nov. 1-30	Dec. 1-31
Average:	80 (26.7)	83 (28.3)	83 (28.3)	76 (24.4)	71 (21.7)	66 (18.9)	58 (14.4)	48 (8.9)	-
Daily Maximum:	83 (28.3)	85 (29.4)	85 (29.4)	81 (27.2)	76 (24.4)	71 (21.7)	63 (17.2)	53 (11.7)	46 (7.8)

(C) Seasonal daily maximum temperature limitations for the hypolimnetic regions of lake Erie. Shown as degrees Fahrenheit and (Celsius).

Month	Daily Maximum
January	44 (6.7)
February	44 (6.7)
March	44 (6.7)
April	47 (8.3)
May	51 (10.6)
June	54 (12.2)
July	59 (15.0)
August	59 (15.0)
September	55 (12.8)
October	46 (7.8)
November	41 (5.0)
December	38 (3.3)

Ohio Admin. Code 3745-1-31

Effective: 4/4/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/18/2023 and 04/04/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 6111.041, 6111.12
Rule Amplifies: 6111.041, 6111.12
Prior Effective Dates: 04/04/1985, 05/01/1990, 10/01/1996, 10/31/1997, 06/28/2017