Water resource management includes the responsibility to restore, protect and maintain the quality of surface and ground waters across the State. Ohio measures progress on water quality for surface water based upon the percent attainment of the standards (or benchmarks) for aquatic life in streams (fish and macro-invertebrates).

Ohio has a goal of 80% attainment of these aquatic life uses by 2010. Currently, 64% of large rivers (large rivers are defined as having drainage areas > 500 square miles) meet aquatic uses while only 48% of watersheds fully meet these uses. Watersheds are smaller than large river basins and have drainage areas of approximately 130 square miles. Nearly half of Ohioans rely on ground water to meet their daily water need. Ninety percent of Ohio's public water supplies use ground water as a source of drinking water.

Because Ohio does not have ground water standards, assessment activities have focused on characterizing ground water quality and identifying areas of water quality impact. The effect of ground water and surface water interaction needs to be more fully incorporated into water quality analysis to assess impacts especially in locations of induced infiltration by water supply wells. Developing data collection and characterization to adequately analyze water quality conditions and the integration and leveraging of water quality programs have been identified as a strategic issue.

Concerted efforts are needed to focus our restoration and protection activities to meet and hopefully exceed the 80% goal for surface water and protect the functions of wetlands and headwater streams. Ground water restoration and protection efforts need to focus on the sensitive aquifers where the active ground water surface water interaction and land use influence water quality. Numerous land management activities affect water quality and collaborative approaches are needed to maximize water quality benefits from protection activities. Ohio must expand knowledge about water quality and capture water quality data electronically to ensure data availability and to help promote sound decision making in local watersheds and statewide programs.

Monitoring and assessment activities must be designed and conducted to provide information about water quality status and trends. As growth and development continue, more sophisticated analysis and information will be needed to ensure clean water and healthy watersheds.