Abstract |
The Lower Monocacy River watershed (02-14-03-02) was identified on Marylands 1996 list of water quality limited segments (WQLSs) as being impaired by nutrients and sediments. Recent data indicate that the Lake Linganore watershed, within this watershed, is impacted by nutrients and sediment. This document establishes Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for the nutrient phosphorus and sediments entering Lake Linganore. The TMDLs described in this document were developed to address localized water quality impairments within the Lake Linganore watershed; the nutrient and sediment impairments within other parts of the Lower Monocacy River watershed will be addressed at a later date. Lake Linganore is an impoundment located within Eagle Head development, near the city of Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland. The impoundment lies on Linganore Creek, a tributary of the Monocacy River. Linganore Creek lies in the Lower Monocacy River Drainage Basin. Lake Linganore was constructed for water supply and recreation. Lake Linganore is impacted by a high sediment load. The lake also experiences frequent nuisance seasonal algal blooms, due to overenrichment by nutrients, which interfere with water supply and recreational uses. The death and decay of excessive algae can cause violations of the water quality standard for dissolved oxygen (DO), possibly resulting in a disruption of the lakes ecosystem balance and cause fish kills. Analysis suggests that phosphorus is the limiting nutrient for the production of algae in Lake Linganore. Due to the propensity of phosphorus to bind to sediments, the overall strategy is to simultaneously address the water quality problems associated with phosphorus and sediments. |