Urban Waters and the Western Lake Erie Basin near Toledo (Ohio)

The Western Lake Erie Basin spans the Midwest states of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The basin is home to over 2 million residents. These residents share ten sub-watersheds, including the Upper and Lower Maumee. These extend from the headwaters in Allen County, Indiana and flow northeast through Toledo, Ohio and into Lake Erie.

Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) is almost 6 million acres in size. The basin drains portions of 29 counties into the shallow western third of Lake Erie. The largest metropolitan area in the basin is the port and industrial city of Toledo, Ohio. Lake Erie serves as the municipal water source for the WLEB. While land is used predominantly for agriculture (60-80%), the urban areas are nothing short of vibrant as citizens lead and volunteer in community projects that improve their home. The people of the WLEB are engaged in and championing programs that center around communities – activities such as operating many community gardens, advocating for water quality, and volunteering to help monitor water quality.

Western Lake Erie has an average depth of less than 25 feet, yet it supports a commercial fishing industry and recreational opportunities for millions of people. The area is also home to diverse plant and wildlife communities, high quality coastal wetlands and tributaries, and several federal and state threatened and endangered species like Piping Plover, the Karner Blue Butterfly, and the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid.