Salmon River (Middle) – Chamberlain Creek Subbasin

Eight stream segments in the subbasin are listed on the 1998 §303(d) list. The listed stream segments are located in portions of the subbasin primarily outside of the wilderness areas.

All listed streams were assessed by DEQ and determined to be fully supporting their aquatic life beneficial uses, with the exception of Crooked Creek. Because all streams except Crooked Creek are supporting their aquatic life uses and human activity–related sediment yields appear to be low, it was determined that none of the streams listed for sediment, including the Salmon River, were sufficiently impacted to require TMDLs for sediment. The document recommends that all of the segments be delisted for sediment on the next §303(d) list.

Warren Creek is altered by past dredge mining and is correctly listed for habitat alteration. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not believe that habitat 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, a TMDL was not developed for habitat alteration.

During the subbasin assessment, water temperature data indicated the upper portion of Crooked Creek has elevated water temperatures that may impact salmonid spawning throughout the creek. A TMDL for temperature in Crooked Creek was calculated based on effective shade modeling.