Abstract |
This document, upon approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), establishes a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sediment in the Maryland 8-digit (MD 8-digit) Conococheague Creek watershed (basin number 02140504) (303(d) Assessment Unit ID: MD-02140504). Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the EPAs 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, the State is required to either establish a TMDL of the specified substance that the waterbody can receive without violating water quality standards, or demonstrate that water quality standards are being met (CFR 2007b). The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has identified the waters of the MD 8-digit Conococheague Creek watershed on the States 303(d) List as impaired by sediments (1996), pH (2002), bacteria (2002), dissolved oxygen (1996), and impacts to biological communities (2004) (MDE 2007). The designated use of the MD 8-digit Conococheague Creek and its tributaries is Use IV-P (Recreational Trout Waters and Public Water Supply) (COMAR 2007a,b). |