| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Unit Codes | 17040219 |
| Size | 1,496 square miles (957,495 acres) |
| Water Bodies with EPA-Approved TMDLs (Category 4a) | Big Wood River, Croy Creek, Eagle Creek, East Fork Wood River, Greenhorn Creek, Lake Creek, Magic Reservoir, Malad River, Quigley Creek, Rock Creek, Seamans Creek, Thorn Creek, Warm Springs Creek |
| Beneficial Uses Affected | Cold water aquatic life, salmonid spawning, primary and secondary contact recreation, drinking water supply |
| Major Land Uses | Range, forest, agriculture |
| Date Approved by EPA | May 2002 Approval Letter |
| Date Errata Approved by EPA | February 2012 EPA Approval Letter |
| Date Tributaries Temperature Addendum Approved by EPA | December 2013 EPA Approval Letter |
Subbasin Characteristics
The Big Wood River subbasin is located in south-central Idaho and is made up of three elevation-ecological areas in Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, and Camas Counties. These areas include the Sawtooth National Forest (above 5,800 feet in elevation), the Wood River Valley (4,000–5,800 feet in elevation), and the agricultural area (below 4,000 feet elevation). The Wood River Valley has atypical ecological characteristics of the lower elevation area. All physical and biological characteristics of the Big Wood River subbasin are related to these elevation-ecological areas.
2002 Subbasin Assessment and TMDL
The overall purpose of this subbasin assessment and TMDL is to characterize and document pollutant loads within the Big Wood River subbasin. Twenty stream segments on the § 303(d) list were evaluated; an additional four stream segments that were not on the § 303(d) list were also evaluated.
The document recommends that four streams (Horse Creek, Owl Creek, Baker Creek, and East Fork Wood River) be removed from the § 303(d) list. These streams are meeting their beneficial uses and/or state water quality standards.
The document also recommends two additional stream segments be listed on the next § 303(d) list. The first is in the Big Wood River main stem from Base Line to Magic Reservoir. The second is in the Big Wood River main stem from Interstate 84 to the Snake River (or the Malad River).
TMDLs were established for sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. Flow alteration will be evaluated further. A TMDL was not being established at this time for streams polluted by nitrite + nitrate. Temperature and dissolved oxygen TMDLs will be deferred until 2003 pending collection of more information. A TMDL was not established for turbidity at this time since the sediment TMDLs will create reductions in turbidity. The TMDL recommends that ammonia be delisted as a pollutant of concern.
2002 TMDL: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Stream | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Big Wood River | Sediment, nutrients, bacteria |
| Eagle Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Lake Creek | Nutrients |
| Placer Creek | Nutrients |
| Cove Creek | Temperature |
| Greenhorn Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Quigley Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Seamans Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Rock Creek | Sediment, nutrients, bacteria |
| East Fork Rock Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Thorn Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
2011 Errata to the Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan
This document corrected calculation errors in four tables that appeared in the final Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan (a total maximum daily load, or TMDL), approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 15, 2002. The calculation errors were a result of not using the correct design flow capacity for three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The errors did not come to light until a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) draft permit reissuance for the City of Hailey. The City of Ketchum and the Meadows WWTPs were also affected. DEQ and EPA recognized the errors and DEQ corrected Table H, page xviii; Table XX, page 64; Table HHH, page 76; and Table PPP, page 89. The revised tables are included in this errata and supersede those in the 2002 TMDL.
2013 Addendum
This document addresses three water bodies in the Big Wood River subbasin that have been placed in Category 5 of the 2010 Integrated Report for temperature impairment. Temperature TMDLs were developed for two of these water bodies: Quigley Creek and Rock Creek. Effective target shade levels were established for Quigley Creek and Rock Creek based on the concept of maximum shading under potential natural vegetation resulting in natural background temperature levels. Black Canyon Creek was found to have insufficient water to be assessed. No sources or pathways of pollutants were identified for Black Canyon Creek and the two assessment units of this water body are proposed for delisting in the next Integrated Report cycle.
2013 Addendum: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Stream | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Quigley Creek | Temperature |
| Rock Creek | Temperature |
Subbasin Documents
- The Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan (May 2002)
- Big Wood River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load: Implementation Plan for Agriculture (October 2006; Revised February 2014)
- Errata to the Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan (November 2011)
- Big Wood River Tributaries Temperature Total Maximum Daily Loads: Addendum to the Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan (October 2013)
- Big Wood River Watershed Management Plan: TMDL Five-Year Review (December 2017)
| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Unit Code | 17040206 |
| Size | 2,869 square miles (1.8 million acres) |
| Beneficial Uses Affected | 607 square miles (388,587 acres) |
| Major Land Uses | Range, forest, agriculture, recreation |
| Date Approved by EPA | Subbasin assessment only; not subject to EPA approval |
Subbasin Characteristics
The American Falls subbasin covers 2,869 square miles in southeastern Idaho—much of which is within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. American Falls Reservoir is the predominant water body in the subbasin and provides both irrigation water and electricity.
2012 Subbasin Assessment and TMDL
TMDLs were developed for nutrients on 17 water bodies in the subbasin and for sediment on 9 water bodies. TMDLs were also developed for nutrients and sediment for six point sources of pollution. Two of the point source wasteload allocations (sediment from the city of Blackfoot’s storm water runoff and nutrients from the Aberdeen wastewater treatment plant) require a reduction from current estimated wasteloads.
American Falls Reservoir and McTucker Creek are § 303(d) listed for flow alteration. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not believe that flow alteration 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.
TMDLs were also not established for dissolved oxygen or bacteria. Dissolved oxygen was listed for the Snake River and American Falls Reservoir. Data did not indicate dissolved oxygen was a problem in the Snake River, and it was assumed that a nutrient TMDL will bring dissolved oxygen levels in the reservoir into compliance with water quality standards. Insufficient data existed to determine if bacteria impair recreation in Bannock Creek, so more data will be collected to determine beneficial use support.
The July 2006 analysis recommended that American Falls Reservoir be delisted for sediment and the Snake River be delisted for dissolved oxygen and nutrients. It is anticipated that American Falls Reservoir and the Snake River will be listed for temperature on future § 303(d) lists. The document also recommended that Danielson Creek, Hazard Creek (Little Hole Draw), and Sunbeam Creek be added to future § 303(d) lists.
In March 2009, the document was revised as a requirement of a contested case settlement agreement between J.R. Simplot, the City of Pocatello, and DEQ. Changes to the plan include the following:
- Removal of nitrogen allocations for tributaries and point sources
- Adoption of a tiered phosphorus target to achieve water quality standards and support beneficial uses with an interim phosphorus target of 0.07 mg/L total phosphorus
- Ability to allow water pollutant trading and develop a trading framework if pollutant trading is deemed viable in the watershed
Additionally, in 2012, total phosphorus wasteload allocations for two conservation fish hatcheries (Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Springfield Hatchery and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ Crystal Springs Hatchery) were included based on a placeholder allocation remaining from historical operations at the Crystal Springs aquaculture facilities near Springfield. These hatchery operations are an important component to the State of Idaho and tribes’ efforts to restore endangered Sockeye and Chinook Salmon in central Idaho.
2012 TMDL: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Streams | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| American Falls Reservoir | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Snake River | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Bannock Creek (includes Knox Creek) | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Moonshine Creek | Sediment |
| Rattlesnake Creek | Sediment |
| West Fork Bannock Creek | Sediment |
| McTucker Creek | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Danielson Creek | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Hazard Creek (Little Hole Draw) | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Sunbeam Creek | Nutrients (total phosphorus), sediment |
| Clear Creek | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Seagull Bay Tributary | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Spring Creek | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Cedar Spillway | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Colburn Wasteway | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Crystal Springs | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Nash Spill | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| R Spill | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Spring Hollow | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Sterling Wasteway | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
| Portneuf River (on the § 303(d) list for its own subbasin; Portneuf River TMDL already approved) | Nutrients (total phosphorus) |
Subbasin Documents
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