Black River Area of Concern

Black River Advisory Committee's primary goal is to remove the Black River from the US EPA's Area Of Concern (AOC) list. The Advisory Committee is made up of city, state, and federal entities, non-profit organizations, private citizens, and other Black River stakeholders. Lorain County (Soil & Water) Conservation District receives grant support from the Ohio EPA and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), to assist the committee with funding requests, meeting coordination, and project outreach along the lower six miles of the Black River. Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) provides technical support in ensuring goals & deadlines are met.

While the entire mainstem of the Black River is 15 miles long, the committee's main focus is on the Lower Black River. Starting at the mouth of the river where it drains into Lake Erie and going 6.5 miles upriver to where French Creek flows into the Black River is the main area of focus.

Management Actions Complete - Moving Toward Delisting!

The Black River was designated as an Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987 and local, state, and federal partners have worked together in working toward completing all management actions, with the final step officially completed June 6, 2024. The Black River AOC has one Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) remaining & is currently being evaluated:

Degradation of Benthos Populations - document open for public comment until June 22nd, 2026

The Black River was once known for the mighty ships that were built on its banks. Along with steel and coal utilizing the banks and shoreline, this was Lorain's lifeblood. State, federal, and local efforts continue to help work towards the goal of delisting the Black River AOC, with a goal of delisting in 2027.

Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) - Progress Update July 2026

The Black River has now officially removed all BUIs! The process of delisting as an Area of Concern is now underway. Stay tuned to witness history in Lorain County!

Announcements (click here for more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Final Impairment Removed as Black River Moves Closer to Delisting

CLEVELAND, OH (July 7, 2026) – The Black River is one step closer to being removed from U.S. EPA’s list of Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC).

After years of cleanup and restoration work, U.S. EPA has approved the removal of the river’s final Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), known as Degradation of Benthos. This marks the last environmental milestone needed before the Black River AOC can be officially delisted.

“This is a major milestone for the Black River and the communities that have worked for years to restore it,” said Governor DeWine. “Today’s announcement shows that long-term investments in water quality and habitat restoration make a real difference. Together, we’ve transformed the river into a healthier place for wildlife, recreation, and the people who call this region home.”

The Black River was once significantly impacted by historic pollution and habitat degradation. Over the years, local, state, and federal partners worked together to clean up contaminated areas, restore habitat, and improve infrastructure and water quality.

Projects included cleaning up a former industrial site and building 1.5 miles of fish shelves, underwater structures that provide habitat for underwater bugs, insects, and other small invertebrates, called benthos. These underwater organisms spend most of their lives in the sediment or water, and their populations can take years to show signs of sustained recovery.

“The installation of 1.5 miles of fish shelves, upstream habitat restoration, and restoration of a former steel mill site have significantly bolstered areas in the Black River that support macroinvertebrates and the fish that depend on them,” said Don Romancak, Black River AOC Advisory Committee Chairman. “These improvements reflect the type of long-term work that made the final BUI removal possible.”

Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested approximately $26 million in projects to help evaluate and improve conditions in the Black River AOC. The Black River AOC Advisory Committee and its partners played a critical role in identifying and implementing key projects to improve habitat that supports the recovery of benthic communities.

“The Black River is a great example of the rejuvenation that can happen at industrial sites. The restoration of underwater habitat alongside changes in the landscape to improve water quality allowed the invertebrate insect populations to bounce back," said Joy Mulinex, Executive Director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. “The Commission appreciates the hard work of all of the parties engaged in this work that will provide a healthier, more enjoyable Black River for the community.”

The Black River AOC Advisory Committee originally identified nine BUIs that needed to be addressed. With the final impairment now removed, the Black River has met all the environmental goals needed to proceed with the delisting process. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio EPA will continue to work with local, state, federal, Tribal, and Canadian partners to complete the remaining steps of formal delisting.

There will be another public comment period later this year as part of the formal delisting process.

More information about the improvements and projects completed in the Black River AOC is available online.

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For more information, contact:
Nicole Mieke Knab, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
Nicole.Knab@Lakeerie.ohio.gov
(440) 829-7599

About the Ohio Lake Erie Commission
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie’s natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promote economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio EPA serves as the Commission’s chairperson. Additional members include directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture, Natural Resources and seven additional members appointed by the Governor.

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The 2025 Annual Report is available on the Resources page.

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Billboards displayed in the Black River Area of Concern in 2025