Abstract |
Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)s 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. This list of impaired waters is commonly referred to as the 303(d) List. For each WQLS, the State is 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 (CWA, 2006). Town Creek (basin code 02140512) was identified on the States 1996 list of WQLSs as impaired by nutrients and sediments. In 2002 and 2004, Town Creek was also listed for impacts to biological communities (MDE, 2006a). A data solicitation for sediments was conducted by MDE, and all readily available data from the past five years have been considered. This document addresses the sediment impairment in Town Creek; the nutrient impairment is currently being addressed via a separate report and biological impairments will be addressed at a future date. |