IDEM TMDL 101 Everything you wanted to know about Total Maximum Daily Loads

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

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

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

What Is a Watershed?

The Definition of a TMDL The sum of allowable loads from point sources, waste load allocations (WLA) and nonpoint sources, load allocations (LA) plus a margin of safety (MOS)

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 pollutant of concern that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards or targets that apply to the watershed Reductions- A list of the pollutant load 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 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 lists to complete watershed assessment New process Watershed group request Special projects

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

Allocations Load Allocation (LA) – LAs are the pollutant contributions from nonpoint sources, which are not directly regulated – "Diffuse" pollution, generated from large areas with no particular point of pollutant origin, but rather from many individual places – Pollution that 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

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

What Is the TMDL Process? Review 303(d) list and sampling data Conduct additional monitoring Reassess waterbodies Gather 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

Internal Data Gathering ArcGIS map of area 303(d) listing information Assessment database Land use Confined Feeding Operations Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations NPDES permits 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

Presentation Overview The Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) The TMDL Development Process 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 pollutant of concern that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards or targets that apply to the watershed Reductions- A list of the pollutant load 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 communicate with stakeholders and share information – Watershed specialists assist with watershed management plan (WMP) development

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

Questions? Staci Goodwin Senior TMDL Project Manager Office of Water Quality Indiana Department of Environmental Management 100 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana Phone: (317) Fax: (317)