What are watershed implementation plans?
Each state in the Bay watershed agreed to develop its own plans—called Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs)—to ensure practices are put in place to achieve those goals.
What is TMDL what is TMDL planning?
The completion and Agency approval of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is one step in the water regulatory or restoration process. While the TMDL calculates numeric targets for attainment of water quality standards, a plan and subsequent actions are key to meeting these targets.
What is the primary tool for implementing a TMDL?
TMDL wasteload allocations (those pollutant allocations assigned to point sources) are generally implemented through EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under CWA section 402.
How is TMDL calculated?
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the sum of the individual wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point sources and load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources and natural background.
Who oversees the Chesapeake Bay TMDL?
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
On December 29, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a historic and comprehensive “pollution diet.” The TMDL is the largest ever developed by EPA, encompassing a 64,000-square-mile watershed.
Why is the sediment harmful the Chesapeake Bay?
It is a natural part of the Chesapeake Bay, created by the weathering of rocks and soil. In excess amounts, sediment can cloud the waters of the Bay and its tributaries, harming underwater grasses, fish and shellfish.
How deep is the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay?
Its average depth, including all tidal tributaries, is about 21 feet. A person who is six feet tall could wade through more than 700,000 acres of the Bay and never get his or her hat wet. A few deep troughs run along much of the Bay’s length and are believed to be remnants of the ancient Susquehanna River.
What is an approved TMDL?
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards.
What is the purpose of TMDL in river based projects?
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a regulation system that controls the quantity of pollutants discharged from each watershed nationwide to be within the scope of load allocation, by means of setting a water quality target achievable at each end site of watersheds, calculating load allocation permissible to achieve …
How do I participate in the development of TMDLs?
To participate in the development of TMDLs, TMDL alternatives and TMDL IPs, visit DEQ’s TMDL Public Notices . The overall goal of a clean-up plan is to restore and maintain water quality standards. Following clean-up plan development, pollutant reductions from point sources are implemented through the Water Permit programs.
What is a TMDL alternative?
When water quality monitoring data shows that state waters do not meet water quality standards, clean-up plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) or TMDL alternatives are developed by DEQ to determine the total amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards.
What is Virginia’s Phase III watershed implementation plan?
Virginia’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP III) was completed in August 2019 in order to achieve nutrient and sediment reductions needed to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
What is being done to improve water quality in Virginia?
Over the past several decades, coordinated efforts by local government agencies, state and federal programs, farmers, landowners, conservation groups, consultants and many others have resulted in significant improvements to Virginia’s water quality.