IDEM TMDL 101

Everything you wanted to know about Total Maximum Daily Loads Deep River - Portage Burns Watershed TMDL Stakeholder Meeting March 13, 2013

Presentation Overview

• The Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) • The TMDL Process • The TMDL Document

Presentation Overview

• The Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) • The TMDL Process • The TMDL Document

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What Is a Total Maximum Daily Load?

Identifying the pollutant • Determining the current level of the pollutant • Calculating the amount of the pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards • A report of pollutant sources, needed reductions, and actions necessary to improve water quality •

A tool to guide watershed planning

History of Indiana TMDL Program

• • • • 2001 IDEM submits first TMDL 2005 IDEM meets submission goals from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 2006 IDEM develops and submits TMDLS – IDEM developed first state-led multistate TMDL 2012 – – U.S. EPA submission goals have been continuously met since 2005 IDEM has developed a TMDL template designed to meet the nine elements of a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) – IDEM has 1,055 approved TMDLs developed

What Is a Watershed?

The Definition of a TMDL

• The sum of allowable loads from point sources, wasteload allocation (WLA) and nonpoint sources, load allocations (LA) margin of safety (MOS) plus a

Allocations

• Wasteload Allocation (WLA) – WLAs are the contributions from point sources – WLAs are much easier to identify since they have a discharge point or direct outlet to the stream – WLAs have some type of monitoring or information and are therefore easier to assign loadings

Allocations

• Load Allocation (LA) – – "Diffuse" pollution, generated from large areas with no particular point of pollutant origin, but rather from many individual places – LAs are the contributions from nonpoint sources, which are unregulated Pollution which cannot be traced to a regulated direct outlet or discharge point

Allocations

• Margin of Safety (MOS) – MOS may be either implicit or explicit – Implicit • Incorporated into the TMDL through conservative assumptions in the analysis – Explicit • Expressed in the TMDL as loadings set aside for the MOS

Why Do TMDLs?

• Tool to help plan local actions to address water quality issues • Provide overview of current watershed conditions and goal watershed conditions • Improve water quality in the watershed

What Does a Total Maximum Daily Load Provide?

• • • • • Information- A description of the watershed and the water quality data on the impairment Sources- Overview of the potential sources of the pollutant Loads- The amount of the impaired pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards or targets that applies to the watershed Reductions- A list of the reductions necessary to meet the water quality standard or target that applies to the watershed Implementation- A tool to guide watershed planning and restoration activities

TMDL Development Selection Process

• • • Water Quality Reports • • • 305(b) - assess water quality and report to U.S. EPA, Congress 303(d) - compile list of impaired waters Product - Indiana Integrated Water Monitoring and Assessment Report 303(d) list • Start with 1998 and use subsequent list to complete watershed assessment Other • Watershed group request • Special projects

Presentation Overview

• The Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) • The TMDL Development Process • The TMDL Document

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What Is the TMDL Process?

Review 303(d) list and sampling data Kickoff stakeholder meeting Conduct additional monitoring Reassess waterbodies Gather information Gather additional information and produce draft TMDL report Draft TMDL stakeholder meeting 30-day comment period Revise draft TMDL and respond to comments on draft final TMDL Submit TMDL to U.S. EPA and receive final TMDL approval

What Are Impaired Waters?

• Waterbodies sampled for water quality, assessed by IDEM and listed on the 303(d) list of impaired waters • Waterbodies where a “use” is adversely affected – Fishable, Swimmable, Drinkable • Waterbodies then sampled for TMDL magnitude and extent of impairment • Streams are then reassessed

Indiana’s Most Common Water Quality Impairments

• Problems: –

E. coli

– Impaired Biotic Communities – Statewide fish consumption advisory • Mercury • PCB

Reassessing a Waterbody

• Evaluate listing inconsistencies • Evaluate new monitoring data – Determine extent of impairment – Incorporate new data into the TMDL process – Refine loading for load reduction development

Water Quality Monitoring

• • Targeted design – Averages 30-40 samples per sampling run Recreational season monitoring April 1-October 31 – Sites sampled monthly for water chemistry parameters – Sites sampled monthly for pathogens and sampled for a five-week geometric mean – Sites sampled for impaired parameters and standard parameters

Water Quality Monitoring

• Year-round monitoring, 12 monthly samples – These are the 12 digit pour points • • Averages eight-12 samples per sampling run This location provides the most information to be used for the 12 digit watershed – Sites sampled monthly for water chemistry parameters – Sites sampled for impaired parameters and standard parameters – Sites sampled monthly for flow

• • • • •

Internal Data Gathering

Confined Feeding Operations Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations • • • ArcGIS map of area 303(d) listing information Assessment database NPDES permits • Land Use GAP NPDES violations Enforcement cases

External Data Gathering

• • • • • • • Stakeholders Soil and Water Conservation Districts Health Departments Federal and State Government Agencies Watershed Groups Purdue Extension Offices Universities

Two Public Meetings

• • • • Explain the process Ask for information Present information Build local partnerships

Presentation Overview

• The Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) • The TMDL Process • The TMDL Document

The TMDL Document

• • • • • • Overview of watershed condition Identification of sources Discussion of analytical process Load reductions needed Current and past water quality improvement efforts Recommended actions

What Does a Total Maximum Daily Load Provide?

• • • • • Information- A description of the watershed and the water quality data on the impairment Sources- Overview of the potential sources of the pollutant Loads- The amount of the impaired pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards or targets that apply to the watershed Reductions- A list of the reductions necessary to meet the water quality standards or targets that apply to the watershed Implementation- A tool to guide watershed planning and restoration activities

TMDL Goals

• IDEM is committed to a stakeholder-driven process – Collecting information from local stakeholders – Providing staff to present information • Watershed specialists assist with watershed management plan (WMP) development

Putting It All Together

303(d) List and 305(b) Report Nonpoint Source Grants Program Watershed Specialists Locally Led Work to Improve Water Quality Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)

Questions?

Staci Goodwin Senior TMDL Project Manager Office of Water Quality Indiana Department of Environmental Management 100 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Phone: (317) 308-3387 Fax: (317) 308-3219 E-mail: [email protected]