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

See Also

Overview of the TMDL Process

Jim Ford Creek Subbasin TMDL Contact

John Cardwell

Lewiston Regional Office

1118 F Street

Lewiston, ID  83501

ph: (208) 799-4370

fx: (208) 799-3451

john.cardwell@deq.idaho.gov

Surface Water: Jim Ford Creek
Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Loads

> Link to document
 The Subbasin at a Glance
Hydrologic Unit Code 17060306
Size 65,838 acres

§303(d) Listed Stream

Segments

Jim Ford Creek and Grasshopper Creek
Beneficial Uses Primary contact recreation, secondary contact recreation, agricultural water supply, cold water biota, domestic water supply, salmonid spawning (below waterfall)
Pollutants of Concern Sediment, temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, pathogens, ammonia, oil and grease, habitat modification, flow
Major Land Uses Timber production, grazing, recreation, dryland agriculture, urban, hydropower
Date Approved by U.S. EPA June 2000
 
 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). Every two years, states and tribes must publish a priority list of impaired waters. For waters identified on this list, states and tribes must develop water quality plans known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) that establish allowable pollutant loads set at levels to achieve water quality standards.

Since portions of Jim Ford Creek lie within the Nez Perce Reservation, a memorandum of agreement was developed between the Nez Perce Tribe, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and DEQ to develop the TMDL.

 
 Overview
Jim Ford Creek is a third order tributary of the Clearwater River in the southern part of Clearwater County, Idaho. It drains a 65,838-acre watershed that has two distinct portions. In the upper portion, Jim Ford Creek flows through rolling forested uplands and the Weippe prairie until it reaches the City of Weippe. Below Weippe, the creek enters into a narrow steep basalt canyon nearly 14 miles long. A 65-foot waterfall at the top of the canyon restricts fish passage upstream.

In 1994 Jim Ford Creek was classified as a high priority water quality limited segment under §303(d) of the Clean Water Act from its headwaters to the confluence with the Clearwater River. Grasshopper Creek, a tributary to Jim Ford Creek, was also classified as a water quality limited segment in 1994.

Three point sources are permitted to discharge in the Jim Ford Creek watershed. The primary nonpoint sources of pollutants in the Jim Ford Creek watershed are grazing, timber harvest activities, non-irrigated croplands, urban runoff, land development activities, and hydropower.
 
 Key Findings
Existing data indicate fine sediment is not degrading the water quality of Jim Ford Creek; therefore, a TMDL was not written for fine sediment. However, a channel stability analysis and habitat survey indicated coarse sediment is impairing salmonid spawning and rearing in lower Jim Ford Creek, so a TMDL was developed for coarse sediment. A temperature TMDL was established to protect chinook salmon and steelhead spawning and other cold water biota.

The presence of visible nuisance algae growth and low dissolved oxygen levels indicate that Jim Ford Creek is impaired as a result of excess nutrients. Nuisance algae growths are present in the upper reaches of Jim Ford Creek, and low dissolved oxygen levels are present throughout the watershed. The nutrient and dissolved oxygen TMDLs were combined. An assumption was made that by meeting the instream nutrient target the dissolved oxygen water quality standard will be achieved as well.

A bacteria TMDL was written to protect primary contact recreation. No TMDL for secondary contact recreation was necessary due to low bacteria levels during the secondary contact recreation period (October through April). Data indicated a TMDL for ammonia was not needed. The nutrient effects of ammonia were considered in the nutrient TMDL.

Limited sampling for oil and grease was conducted in 1998. None of the samples had a measurable amount of oil and grease. Given these results and because a regulatory framework exists to address oil and grease problems, a TMDL for oil and grease was not developed.
 
  Subwatersheds and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
Grasshopper Creek
 Coarse sediment, temperature, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, bacteria
Heywood Coarse sediment, temperature, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, bacteria
Jim Ford Creek Coarse sediment, temperature, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus

Jim Ford Creek (Mainstem)

Coarse sediment, temperature
Kamiah Coarse sediment, temperature
Miles/Wilson Coarse sediment, temperature, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, bacteria
Weippe (Downstream) Coarse sediment, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus
Weippe (Upstream) Coarse sediment, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, bacteria
Winter Creek Coarse sediment, temperature, total inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, bacteria
 
 Subbasin Assessment and TMDLs
View entire document (pdf 39.0 mb, 278 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 and Acronyms, Glossary, Errata 1.8 mb, 24 pages
Chapter 1: Executive Summary 461 kb, 8 pages

Chapter 2:

Watershed Assessment

Section 2.1: Watershed Characterization through Section 2.2: Water Quality Assessment (2.2.2 Available Water Quality and Aquatic Life Data)

1.6 mb, 28 pages
Section 2.2: Watershed Characterization (2.2.2.1 Beneficial Use Support Studies) through Section 2.4: Pollution Control Efforts 2.0 mb, 36 pages
Chapter 3: Loading Analyses and Allocations

Section 3.1: Sediment through Section 3.2: Temperature

1.6 mb, 20 pages
Section 3.3: Nutrients/Dissolved Oxygen through Section 3.4: Pathogens 1.1 mb, 22 pages
Chapters 4 and 5:

Chapter 4: Public Participation

Chapter 5: References

427 kb, 9 pages
Appendices A and B:

Idaho Surface Water Quality Standards; Jim Ford Creek Stream Habitat Summary

1.5 mb, 23 pages
Appendix C: Cumulative Watershed Effects Assessment 1.9 mb, 27 pages
Appendices D, E, and F: Channel Stability Analysis; Habitat Survey Report; Technical Documentation of Instream Loading Analysis for Coarse Sediment TMDL 1.2 mb, 26 pages
Appendix G: Supplement to Temperature TMDL 2.0 mb, 13 pages
Appendix H: Watershed Restoration Strategy 766 kb, 9 pages

Appendices I and K:

Supplement to Bacteria TMDL;

Response to Public Comments

1.0 mb, 18 pages
Appendix J: Technical Documentation of Nutrient and Dissolved Oxygen TMDLs 1.5 mb, 15 pages



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