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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Rule 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) Temperature.

(1) There shall be no water temperature changes as a result of human activity that cause mortality, long-term avoidance or exclusion from habitat, or adversely affect the reproductive success of representative aquatic species.

(2) At no time shall water temperature exceed the average or daily maximum temperatures indicated in paragraphs (A) and (B) of table 31-1 of this rule.

(3) The temperature of the hypolimnetic waters of lake Erie shall not exceed at any time the daily maximum temperatures indicated in paragraph (C) of table 31-1 of this rule.

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. 1-31Feb. 1-29Mar. 1-15Mar. 16-31Apr. 1-15Apr. 16-30May 1-15May 16-31June 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 16-30July 1-31Aug. 1-31Sept. 1-15Sept. 16-30Oct. 1-15Oct. 16-31Nov. 1-30Dec. 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. 1-31Feb. 1-29Mar. 1-15Mar. 16-31Apr. 1-15Apr. 16-30May 1-15May 16-31June 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 16-30July 1-31Aug. 1-31Sept. 1-15Sept. 16-30Oct. 1-15Oct. 16-31Nov. 1-30Dec. 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).

MonthDaily Maximum
January44 (6.7)
February44 (6.7)
March44 (6.7)
April47 (8.3)
May51 (10.6)
June54 (12.2)
July59 (15.0)
August59 (15.0)
September55 (12.8)
October46 (7.8)
November41 (5.0)
December38 (3.3)

Last updated January 4, 2024 at 10:13 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 6111.041, 6111.12
Amplifies: 6111.041, 6111.12
Five Year Review Date: 4/4/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 4/4/1985, 5/1/1990, 10/1/1996, 10/31/1997