Environmental Groups Express Deep Disappointment in Ohio EPA’s Failure to Protect Big and Little Darby Creeks with ONRW designation

Marisa Twigg, Creative and Communications Director, March 5, 2024

COLUMBUS, OH — Last week, despite over 1,000 supporting comments and only a sparse few against, the Ohio EPA announced it will not designate the Big and Little Darby Creeks as Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW).

The Darby Creek Association, Center for Biological Diversity and the Ohio Environmental Council are deeply disappointed in the Ohio EPA’s decision to deny the Big and Little Darby Creeks the strongest category of protection available under the Clean Water Act. Ohio EPA’s decision fails to recognize the Darby Watershed’s nationally significant biodiversity.

To qualify for ONRW status, waterways must have national ecological significance. Due to its sizable diversity of freshwater mussels in North America, the Darby Creeks satisfy this requirement. Notably, the Ohio EPA has not provided any explanation for why it believes the Darby Creeks do not possess nationally significant ecology.

The Big and Little Darby Creeks are vital ecosystems in Ohio and the Midwest, harboring a rich variety of wildlife, including many rare and endangered species. A major wave of suburban development is fast approaching the sensitive Darby watershed as evidenced by more than $200 million in pending loan applications for new sewage treatment plants in this mostly rural area. The health of the Big and Little Darby Creeks is already precarious — existing protections are nowhere near adequate to prevent the destruction of the Darbys’ nationally significant biodiversity. Their health is threatened by pollution and encroaching development. The ONRW designation would have provided critical safeguards to help protect the Big and Little Darby Creeks from rapidly increasing sources of pollution.

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to John Tetzloff, President of the Darby Creek Association (DCA):

“Overwhelming support for designating Big and Little Darby Creeks as Outstanding National Resource Waters came from public interest organizations, elected leaders and people across Ohio and the nation. Instead, Ohio EPA decided to listen to a small handful of developers who opposed the designation by falsely claiming it would prohibit development, which it would not. Protecting the Creeks, their biodiversity and their water quality should be the priority of the Ohio EPA, not catering to the profit-driven motives of builders. Big and Little Darby Creek absolutely fit the definition of Outstanding National Resource Waters, and they deserve the protections such a designation would bestow upon them.”

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Nathan Johnson, Senior Attorney for Land and Water at the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC):

“We are deeply disappointed that Ohio EPA decided against protecting the Big and Little Darby Creeks with Outstanding National Resource Water designations. The Darby Creeks are some of the most biologically diverse waterways in the nation. Ohio EPA’s refusal to acknowledge this fact calls the future of these streams into serious question.”

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Will Harlan, Senior Scientist for the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD):

“This decision ignores overwhelming public, community and scientific support for protecting this nationally significant watershed. We will fight even harder for the urgent protections that the Darby deserves.”

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For Immediate Release:
March 4, 2024

Contact:
Marisa Twigg
mtwigg@theoec.org or 614-487-5837