Abstract |
This document, upon approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), establishes a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for fecal bacteria in Jones Falls (basin number 02-13-09- 04). Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the EPA implementing regulations direct each state to identify and list waters, known as water quality limited segments (WQLSs), in which current required controls of a specified substance are inadequate to achieve water quality standards. For each WQLS, states are required to either establish a total maximum daily load (TMDL) of the specified substance that the waterbody can receive without violating water quality standards, or demonstrate that water quality standards are being met. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has identified Jones Falls and all tributaries above Lake Roland, a designated Use III waterbody (Water Contact Recreation, Protection of Aquatic Life and Natural Trout Waters), and Jones Falls between North Avenue (Baltimore City) and Lake Roland, a designated Use IV waterbody (Water Contact Recreation, Protection of Aquatic Life and Recreational Trout Waters) (Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.08.02.08.08) in the States 303(d) List as impaired by metals (copper and lead) (1996), nutrients (1996), sediments (1996), bacteria (fecal coliform) (2002), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - Lake Roland (2002), and by impacts to biological communities (2004). This document proposes to establish a TMDL for fecal bacteria in Jones Falls and its tributaries that will allow for the attainment of the designated use, primary contact recreation. The impairment for metals (copper and lead) was removed from the 303(d) List through a water quality analyses approved by EPA in December 2, 2004. A TMDL for chlordane was approved by EPA on March 23, 2001. The listings for nutrients, sediments, PCBs and impacts to biological communities will be addressed separately at a future date. A data solicitation for fecal bacteria was conducted by MDE in 2003, and all readily available data from the past five years was considered. |