Abstract |
This document establishes Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for two non-tidal portions of the Lower Choptank River watershed: an unnamed tributary of La Trappe Creek (UTLTC) and a pond into which the UTLTC flows (hereinafter referred to as the UTLTC In-Stream Pond). The UTLTC and the UTLTC In-Stream Pond are located in Talbot County, Maryland within the Lower Choptank River watershed (02-13-04-03). The Lower Choptank River watershed (02-13-04-03) was identified on the 1996 303(d) list of water quality limited segments submitted to U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The watershed was listed as being impaired by nutrients (due to signs of eutrophication expressed as low dissolved oxygen (DO)), fecal coliform, and suspended sediment. The list acknowledged that only a portion of the watershed might be impaired, and that with additional information, the spatial boundaries of the impairment could be refined. This document establishes TMDLs for two non-tidal portions of the watershed: TMDLs of carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) and nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand (NBOD) for an unnamed tributary of La Trappe Creek (UTLTC) and a TMDL of phosphorus for the UTLTC In-Stream Pond. The TMDLs described within this document were developed to address localized water quality impairments identified within these two portions of the watershed; the fecal coliform, suspended sediment, and nutrient impairments within other portions of the Lower Choptank River watershed will be addressed at a future date. |