Turbidity data from the Oregon, Ohio municipal water intake in the Western Basin of Lake Erie for the years 1976 through 1979 were examined. A relatively simple formula for the turbidity as a function of bottom shear stress due to wave action and sediment loading from the Maumee River was developed. Excellent agreement was found between the observed and calculated turbidities for all years examined. The results demonstrate that (1) turbidity is directly related to wave action and the resulting bottom stress, (2) sediments from the Maumee River significantly contribute to the amount of entrainable sediment near the Oregon intake, (3) the transport of suspended solids from the Maumee River to the Oregon intake is a significant factor in causing high turbidity, and (4) there is reasonable equality between turbidity in NTU units and suspended sediment concentration in units of milligrams per liter.