Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 9 OF 12

Main Title Total Maximum Daily Loads and Water Quality Analyses of Fecal Coliform for Restricted Shellfish Harvesting Areas in the Lower Choptank River Basin in Talbot and Dorchester Counties, Maryland.
CORP Author Maryland Dept. of the Environment, Baltimore.; Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia, PA. Region III.
Year Published 2004
Stock Number PB2014-102621
Additional Subjects Fecal bacteria ; Water quality ; Lower Choptank River Basin ; Maryland ; Watersheds ; Water quality standards ; Tributaries ; Eastern Bay Basin
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
Checkout
Status
NTIS  PB2014-102621 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 66p
Abstract
This report provides an analysis of recent monitoring data, which shows that the bacteria water quality criteria, determined from the designated use, is being met in Jenkins Creek and Cummings Creek within the Lower Choptank River Basin; therefore, TMDLs of fecal coliform are not necessary to achieve water quality standards in this watershed. Barring the receipt of any contradictory data, this report will be used to support the bacteria listing change for Jenkins Creek and Cummings Creek from Category 5 (waterbodies impaired by one or more pollutants and requiring a TMDL) to Category 6 (waterbodies that have been de-listed or removed from the list) when MDE proposes the revision of Marylands 303(d) list for public review in the future. This document also proposes TMDLs of fecal coliform for San Domingo Creek, Tred Avon River, Tar Creek, and Northeast Branch. These restricted shellfish harvesting areas are impaired by levels of bacteria exceeding Maryland's water quality standards for fecal coliform, which has resulted in closure of the areas to shellfish harvesting. Fecal coliform is an indicator organism used in water quality monitoring in shellfish waters to indicate fresh sources of pollution from human waste. When the water quality standard for fecal coliform in shellfish waters is exceeded, waters are closed to shellfish harvesting to protect human health due to the potential risk from consuming raw molluscan shellfish from sewage contaminated waters. The water quality goal of these TMDLs is to reduce high fecal coliform concentrations to levels at which the designated uses for these restricted shellfish harvesting areas will be met.