In 1995, Clermont County completed a Wastewater Master Plan that proposed a strategy to effectively treat wastewater throughout the County. As the County developed the plan, it quickly became evident that this alone would not protect the water quality of Clermont's streams and lakes. A number of other potential pollutant sources must be addressed if stream quality was to be protected. A comprehensive water resources management approach was needed. Soon after the development of the Wastewater Master Plan, the County initiated a process to better characterize water quality conditions, implement control measures to protect and improve water quality, and plan for future growth while preserving Clermont's natural character and environment.
The Office of Environmental Quality initiated a comprehensive monitoring program in 1996 to characterize stream conditions throughout the East Fork Watershed. Since the inception of the program, OEQ has:
- assessed the physical conditions of stream channels,
- conducted annual biological surveys to evaluate the fish and macroinvertebrate communities and their habitat
- conducted annual water quality sampling to monitor concentrations of various pollutants,
- established five autosampling stations to continuously monitor conditions and collect samples during and after periods of rain.
Results of recent water quality sampling efforts are available by clinking on one of the links below: