Lake Erie is located in North America with its southern shoreline bordering Ohio, as well as parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. A one-year study investigated nutrient pollution in a Central Basin Lake Erie headwater tributary watershed near Cleveland Ohio. Results suggest that the 2019 annual phosphorus load entering Lake Erie from the Euclid Creek watershed was approximately 22,600 pounds, over four times the watershed’s target of 5545 pounds. Multiple upstream sites were the major nonpoint sources of nutrient pollution. Four sampling sites averaged phosphorus levels 12–15 times the watershed target of 0.05 mg/L. Leaking sanitary sewers in residential areas were believed to contribute more pollution than the three golf courses and the regional airport located within the watershed. The presence of the Cleveland Metroparks along the riparian corridor in the Main Branch significantly reduced (p < 0.05) nutrients during dry weather. In particular, stream restoration within the Acacia Reservation lowered phosphorus levels by an average 0.31 mg/L. Spring storms contributed the most to the annual phosphorus load (∼47 %). To mitigate nutrient pollution in urban watersheds, best management practices (BMPs) would require a two-fold strategy. During dry weather, BMPs should incorporate stream restoration and forested riparian buffers where feasible. Green infrastructure should be designed to mitigate the impact of wet-weather storm-induced flows.