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List of Subbasin Assessments, TMDLs, and Implementation Plans in Idaho

See Also

Overview of the TMDL Process

Goose Creek Subbasin TMDL Contact

Clyde Lay

DEQ Twin Falls

Regional Office

1363 Fillmore Street

Twin Falls, ID  83301

ph: (208) 736-2190

fx: (208) 736-2194

clyde.lay@deq.idaho.gov

 

Surface Water: Goose Creek
Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Loads

> Link to document
 The Subbasin at a Glance
Hydrologic Unit Code 17040211 
Size

1,791 square kilometers (in Idaho)

2,902 square kilometers (total)

§303(d) Listed Stream Segments Goose Creek, Trapper Creek, Birch Creek, Cold Creek, Blue Hill Creek, Beaverdam Creek, Big Cottonwood Creek, Mill Creek, Lower Goose Creek Reservoir
Beneficial Uses Affected Cold water aquatic life, salmonid spawning, secondary contact recreation
Pollutants of Concern Sediment, nutrients (total phosphorus), bacteria, temperature, dissolved oxygen, flow alteration
Major Land Uses Range, forest, irrigated agriculture, urban
Date Submitted to U.S. EPA December 2003
 
 Background

The federal Clean Water Act requires that states and tribes restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. States and tribes must adopt water quality standards necessary to protect fish, shellfish, and wildlife while providing for recreation in and on the waters whenever possible.

 

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act establishes requirements for states and tribes to identify and prioritize water bodies that are water quality limited (i.e., water bodies that do not meet water quality standards). States and tribes must periodically publish a priority list of impaired waters, currently every two years. For waters identified on this list, states and tribes must develop water quality improvement plans known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) that establish allowable pollutant loads set at levels to achieve water quality standards.
 
 Overview

This document addresses the nine water bodies in the Goose Creek Subbasin that have been placed on the §303(d) list of impaired water bodies. Three additional water bodies (Emery Creek, Little Cottonwood Creek, and Left Hand Fork Beaverdam Creek) were also assessed based on past data that showed bacterial contamination.

 

The water quality of the Goose Creek Subbasin is, in general, of high quality. Of the nine original listed water bodies, DEQ proposes to delist the following four: Lower Goose Creek Reservoir, Mill Creek, Blue Hill Creek, and Big Cottonwood Creek. Of the three additional water bodies, TMDLs were written for two; it was determined that Emery Creek is not impaired by bacterial contamination.

 

Goose Creek, Trapper Creek, and Lower Goose Creek Reservoir are listed for flow alteration. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not believe that flow (or lack of flow) is a pollutant as defined by the Clean Water Act. Since TMDLs are not required for water bodies impaired by pollution but not pollutants, TMDLs were not developed for flow alteration.

 
 Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
Goose Creek Temperature, sediment
Trapper Creek Nutrients, sediment
Birch Creek Nutrients, bacteria
Cold Creek Temperature
Beaverdam Creek Nutrients, temperature, bacteria, sediment, dissolved oxygen
Little Cottonwood Creek Bacteria
Left Hand Fork Beaverdam Creek Nutrients, sediment, bacteria
 
 Subbasin Assessment and TMDLs
View entire document (pdf 3.3 mb, 287 pages)
View executive summary (pdf 210 kb, 7 pages)
Because of the large size of this pdf document, we have also divided it into sections for quicker download.
Prefatory Materials: Table of Contents (including lists of tables, figures, and appendices); Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols; and Executive Summary 261 kb, 26 pages
Chapter 1: Subbasin Assessment - Watershed Characterization 1.8 mb, 36 pages
Chapter 2: Subbasin Assessment - Water Quality Concerns and Status 819 kb, 110 pages
Chapter 3: Subbasin Assessment - Pollutant Source Inventory 58 kb, 3 pages
Chapter 4: Subbasin Assessment - Summary of Past and Present Pollution Control Efforts 140 kb, 21 pages
Chapter 5: Total Maximum Daily Loads 249 kb, 38 pages
Supporting Documents: References, Glossary, Appendices 356 kb, 53 pages



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