1	TMDLs In the RLWD
2	What is a TMDL? TMDL stands for Total Maximum Daily Load The term TMDL is used in several ways Refers to an impairment of a river reach or lake TMDL List A TMDL study TMDL Report
3	Background on TMDLs Federal Clean Water Act requires states to adopt water quality standards If a lake or a reach of a stream/river fails to meet these standards, it is listed as impaired TMDL Study conducted on that water body Study looks at point and nonpoint sources of pollution and how much each source should be reduced for the water body to meet the standards
4	“TMDLese” 305(b) Report = A report of ALL assessed waters 303(d) List is a list of all the waters that were found to be impaired during the assessment process Designated Uses - Specific uses identified for all waterbodies in the state, both surface water and ground water (use classes). Waters of the state are protected for multiple uses and water quality standards exist to protect those uses. Examples of designated uses are drinking water, aquatic life and recreation, agriculture, wildlife, industrial consumption, aesthetic enjoyment, and navigation. Impaired = A water body fails to meet water quality standards for its designated use
5	2004 Draft List of Impaired Waters – Conventional
6	2004 Draft List of Impaired Waters – Mercury
7	Impaired Waters in the RLWD Red Lake River; Burnham Creek To Unnamed Creek (East Grand Forks) – Turbidity Red Lake River; Unnamed Creek to Red River – Turbidity Poplar River; Spring Lake to Hwy 59 – Low Oxygen Clearwater River; Ruffy Brook to Lost River – Fecal Coliform, Low Oxygen Lost River; Silver Creek to Hill River – Fecal Coliform Clearwater River; Trout stream portion – Fecal Coliform Walker Brook; Walker Brook Lake to Clearwater River
8	Current TMDL Projects Within the RLWD TMDLs on the Clearwater River Walker Brook Low Dissolved Oxygen Trout stream portion of the Clearwater River Fecal coliform Scheduled for completion this spring
9	TMDLs on the Clearwater River
10	TMDLs on the Clearwater River RLWD serves as Fiscal Agent for the project ($32,450 total) Monitoring on Clearwater River and Walker Brook MPCA groundwater monitoring Land use data assessment Collection of geologic data and the development of a groundwater flow model Water quality modeling/data assessment GIS work – creating maps of the watershed and its features Putting results and maps on the web Developing allocations and reduction scenarios
11	TMDLs on the Clearwater River Public outreach Writing the TMDL (A report on the findings of the TMDL study, such as reasons for the impairment, methods for alleviation of impairment, and sometimes reasons why the reach should be delisted). Approval of final TMDL by MPCA – TMDL is then officially published
12	Methods for Determination of Impairment Based upon EPA standards for Minnesota Waters
13	Methods for Determination of Impairment Based upon EPA standards for Minnesota Waters MPCA Guidance Manual for Assessing the Quality of Minnesota Surface Waters for Determination of Impairment – 305(b) Report and 303(d) List http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuals/tmdl-guidancemanual04.pdf
14	Methods for Determination of Impairment Different Types of Standards = Different Methods Protection of Aquatic Life Toxicity-based Trace metals, Un-ionized Ammonia, Chloride Human Health-based Mercury, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs_, Dioxins and Chlorinated Pesticides Wildlife-based DDT, Mercury, PCBs, 2,3,7,8-TCDD Conventional Pollutants Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Temperature Protection of Recreation Fecal Coliform Other assessments: Lake Eutrophication, Index of Biotic Integrity
15	Example of Assessment Process for Turbidity Find most recent 10 years of data – only data in the EPA STORET database is used for official assessments and the creation of 303(d) lists Find % of samples with TSS levels above 25 mg/L If the % is less than 10%, the site is Fully Supporting on the 305(b) report and not listed in the 303(d) list. If the % is greater than 10 and less than 25, it is partially supporting in the 305(b) report and is listed on the 303(d) list of impaired waters If the % is greater than 25%, the site is Not Supporting on the 305(b) list and is Listed on the 303(d) report.
16	Monitoring for TMDLs MPCA uses data stored in the EPA’s water quality database – STORET Data Requirements From most recent 10 yrs. Fecal Coliform Lakes 10 acres or larger: 12 or more TP and Cholorophyll-A measurements within the most recent 10 yrs RLWD monitoring program provides much needed local input for the assessment process Our water quality monitoring plan should include sufficient sites to monitor as many key reaches as possible.
17	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD CD #57, Unnamed Ditch to Clearwater River Low Oxygen: 2004 - 2007
18	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD Clearwater River; Ruffy Brook to Lost River Low Oxygen - 2004 – 2007 Fecal Coliform – 2006 - 2009
19	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD Poplar River; Spring Lk to Hwy 59 Low Oxygen 2004 – 2007
20	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD Red Lake River; Unnamed Creek to Red River Turbidity 2005 - 2008
21	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD Red Lake River; Burnham Creek to Unnamed Creek (East Grand Forks) Turbidity 2005 - 2008
22	Schedule for Future TMDL Projects within the RLWD Lost River; Silver Cr to Hill R Fecal Coliform: 2006 - 2009
23	The End Learn More MPCA’s TMDL Website http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl.html RLWD Website www.redlakewatershed.org