Total Maximum Daily Load Process: An Overview

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Total Maximum Daily Load Process An
Overview
Avis Newell DEQ Northwest Region Water
Quality (503) 229 6018 newell.avis_at_deq.state.or.
us
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Tonights Presentation

• What is a TMDL?
• What Tualatin TMDL revisions will DEQ make?
• What is the Watershed Council signing up for, and
  what is the schedule?
• What can the Watershed Council contribute?

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What is a TMDL?
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Framework for DEQ to Protect and Restore Water
Quality

• Set water quality standards
• Monitor water quality
• List impaired waterbodies
• Develop the water quality restoration plan, aka
  TMDL
• Implement the water quality restoration plan
• Permits
• Other Authorities (State, Local)

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Total Maximum Daily Load or TMDL what is it?

• A TMDL
• is the amount of a pollutant a water body can
  assimilate and still meet the water
  quality standard.
• is for a particular pollutant.
• is calculated so that water quality will meet the
  applicable standards
• Standards are generally designed to protect the
  beneficial use that is most sensitive to that
  pollutant.

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Total Maximum Daily Load Components
Nonpoint Sources
Margin of Safety
Future Growth



TMDL
Point Sources

• Point Sources
• Sewage Treatment Plants
• Industries

• Nonpoint Sources
• Urban runoff
• Agricultural runoff
• Septic systems
• Forestry
• Highways
• Natural processes

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Adaptive Management
Current
Level
Re-analyze/refine TMDL or WQMP
if necessary
Interim
target
WQS
Time
Monitor implementation of WQMPs
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Implementing the TMDL
Water Quality Management Plans
SB1010 Agricultural conditions (ODA)
Point Source Permits (DEQ)
Forest Practices Act Forestry prescriptions (ODF)
Other urban and rural non-point source
management (Local Government)
Federal Land Management Agencies
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What TMDLs Will Be Revised?
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Existing Tualatin TMDLs

• Phosphorus
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Ammonia
• Bacteria
• Chlorophyll
• Temperature

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Proposed Tualatin Basin TMDL Updates

• Temperature Water Quality Standard change 2005
• Phosphorus CWS proposes summer discharge at
  Forest Grove and Hillsboro
• Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) New 303d listings
• Revisit list of Designated Management Agencies
  (DMAs)
• Revisit Water Quality Management Plan, and
  require new Implementation Plans from DMAs

Eugene
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Questions about TMDLs?
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What has the Council signed up for?

• What kind of assistance will be requested?
• Who else will provide input to the TMDL?
• What is the schedule for the TMDL process?

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TMDL Review Committee

• Watershed Council agreed to act as the TMDL
  review committee
• Council was involved in the last TMDL
• Goal Provide input on proposed TMDL no need for
  consensus in the group
• Includes
• Discussion at meetings
• Review documents
• Provide oral and/or written comments

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Additional Outreach

• Designated Management Agencies
• Point Sources (Permit Holders)
• Tualatin Basin Water Supply Project
• Other groups as opportunity provides, perhaps as
  suggested by Council

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Schedule

• Discussion Draft of revised Temperature TMDL in
  August
• Discussion Draft of Phosphorus, Iron and
  Manganese in October
• Revisions to TMDL over the fall
• Formal public comment end of year

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General TMDL Process

• Technical work to develop details for TMDL
• Committee work outreach provide input on
  numbers and report
• Public comment draft, at least 45 days
• Finalize TMDL based on comment
• Order signed by DEQ Director
• Submitted to EPA for approval
• 30 days to approve
• Once approved TMDL is akin to a standard

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What can the Watershed Council contribute?
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• Sharing Local Knowledge
• Where can improvements be made?
• How can improvements be implemented?
• How can TMDL help achieve those improvements?

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Clean Water Services Restoration Sites
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How Can Watershed Council Help?

• Review TMDL
• How can the TMDL help you?
• Applying for grants
• Communication with elected officials
• Communication with other decision makers
• Provide feedback so TMDL is useful
• More readable?
• Additional information?

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DEQ Contact Information Avis Newell Tualatin
Basin Coordinator DEQ 2020 SW 4th Avenue, Suite
400 Portland, OR 97201 [phone] Newell.Avis
_at_deq.state.or.us