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Watershed ProtectionThe Cuyahoga County Board of Health’s Watershed Protection
Programs was developed and designed to protect public health and our water quality resources from
the impact of point source and non-point source pollution. The Watershed Protection Programs also
stress the utilization of watershed based planning within the Cuyahoga County Board of Health as
well as collaborative efforts with partnering agencies. This unit has been evolving and expanding
over the last several years and now includes a variety of activities to assist our communities and
our collaborative partners. These activities include all water quality programs as well as
educational outreach and public involvement programs.
General Information
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) provides public health
services to 56 cities, villages, and townships in Cuyahoga County, Ohio with an approximate
population of 830,000. Cuyahoga County is on the shores of Lake Erie and contains 3 major
watersheds: the Rocky River, the Cuyahoga River and the Chagrin River, which all drain to the
lake.
These major watersheds are impacted by both point source and
non-point source pollution. Sources of point source pollution are often continuous and can
typically be identified, minimized, and even eliminated. Sources of non-point source pollution
are often very difficult to trace and identify. They are widespread and are often
intermittent. Examples include runoff from streets and parking lots, agricultural fields, home
lawns, construction sites, and household sewage treatment systems (HSTS). Contaminants in
non-point source pollution include sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, salts, toxic chemicals, and
pathogens. These pollutants have the potential to adversely impact both ground and surface
waters.
The watershed protection programs consist of the following:
Grants
For information on grant projects and future activities, please contact Harry Stark at 216-201-2001 ext 1205 or via email. Watershed Protection is vital to public health and we actively work with partnering agencies and organizations on various watershed activities. The watersheds in which the CCBH works in include: |

