WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -87- 023-1289-003.3040
5.2.2 TMDLs in Washington
In 1998, Ecology signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the EPA and agreed to have Total
Maximum Daily Loads in place for over 1500 water quality parameters by 2013.
Ecology is required by EPA to include the following elements in a TMDL study (Ecology, 2002):
• Technical study identifying the pollutants causing the water quality problem and the
sources of these pollutants;
• Waste loads or load allocations for pollutant sources which distribute allowable levels of
pollutant discharges among contributing sources;
• A margin of safety to ensure water quality standards will be met under the worst
conditions likely to be experienced;
• Population growth factor to ensure the allocations will continue to be adequate for more
than the immediate time period;
• A consideration of seasonal variation of flows and contaminant concentrations (water
quality standards must be met during all seasons of the year);
• An implementation strategy to prevent, reduce or clean up excess pollution;
• A follow-up monitoring plan to demonstrate success of pollution controls contained in
the implementation plan or the need for additional action;
• An administrative record;
• Reasonable assurances for the success of the implementation plan;
• An estimate of when the waterbody will meet standards; and
• Public involvement at all key decision steps of the process.
There are currently no approved TMDLs in WRIA 62. However the following TMDLs are ongoing
in WRIA 62 (Figure 4-6 and Table 4-6):
• Temperature for the Pend Oreille River;
• Total dissolved gas (TDG) for the Pend Oreille River; and,
• Temperature in the Colville National Forest.
5.2.3 303(d) Listed Waterbodies in Idaho
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) has a two-part process for monitoring water
quality and determining whether a waterbody fully supports designated and existing beneficial uses.
The first part is the Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Project (BURP), which relies heavily on
biological parameters and aquatic habitat as outlined in the Water Body Assessment Guidance II
(Grafe et al., 2002). Under the BURP project, data is gathered systematically from year to year in
field surveys for macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects), fish, water chemistry, and habitat conditions.
Additional data from outside sources may also be used if relevant. The data is evaluated using the
Water Body Assessment Guidance II (WBAG II) to determine the water body’s status with respect to
meeting water quality standards. Where standards are not met, the water body is added to the 303(d)
list.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305