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., \ .-. ......' . Workshop on Total Maximum Daily Loads On May 21 In Delta. about 30 people attended a wo~hop, sponsored by the Water Forum, to dis- cuss the Issues of Total Maximum Dally Loads (TMDL). BnJCe Zander a specialist In TMDLs from Region 8 of the Environmental Protection Agency presented an overview of TMDLs, how they are developed. and other areas that have successfully Implemented TMDLs programs. For example. Bruce mentIoned TMDLs have been developed fOf selenI- um loading in CalifornIa and South Dakota. The need for development of a TMDL IS triggered by provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act and only applies to surface waters. When water-quality standards are exceeded for a constituent regulated by the Clean Water Act, development of a TMDL IS required. Load is the transport of a water-quality constituent and IS usually measured in pounds or tons per day. Water--quality constituents are metals. salts, or other compounds detected in water. The Intent of Implementing a plan for TMDLs IS to reduce constituent loading to attain a water-qualrty standard set under the Clean Water Act. EssentIally. uSing the TMDL process, sources of the constituent are identified, natural sources are Identified, and plans are developed that will reduce loading of the COnstituent. However, Bruce Indicated that the Intention of developing a TMDL IS not to reinvent the wheel but to build on eXisting remedlatlon or pollution prevention efforts. The baSIC prOVisions of a TMDL apply to pOint sources (discharge from a pipe) and non-point sources (dlifuse sources such as runoff from a parkmg lot. hillSide. or cultivated field). Natlonwlde. non-point sources can be J much larger source of constituent loading. above natural levels. than pOint sources. Since the inception of the Clean Water Act In 1972, TMDLs hal"e usually been developed to address pOint sOur-ce discharges. However In recent years. third party lawsults have compelled EPA and the States to develop TMDLs to address non-point sources as required by the Clean Water Act. Therefore, although TMDLs are required by the Clean Water Act Bruce emphasized that the Clean Water Act does not provide authonty for Imple- menting TMDLs developed to address non-point sources. However. he did mention that developing a plan for TMDLs Improves the opportunity to obtain restoration funds for a watershed. Development of a plan for a TMDL should take Into consideration local Issues (politICS. economiCS. and social conditions) and the feasibility (available tech- nology and rea50nable cost) of redUCing constituent loading. A TMDL does not have to be a complex plan and does not Single out or target parucular Indi- viduals to implement the plan. When asked the question about whether constituent loading from rrrigated areas is conslder'ed rever"Slble. Bruce replied that socioeconomIC Impacts are considered when deslgnatlng load allocations and that there may be provIsIons for an "emergency shut-off valve" In case of severe economic hardship. More Information on TMDLs IS available on the Internet at httpJ/www,epagov/owow/tmdl. In 1998. the Issue of TMDLs In the lower Gunnison River BaSin led to the formation Selenium Task Force-. The Task Force IS working to address Issues related to the reduction of dissolved-selenium load- Ing for vanous streams and water bodies In the 1000er. Gunnt50n RIver Basin. .. For Information on the Selenium Task Force see thew webslte http://www.selenlumtaskforce.org or contact Karla Brov,.'n Selenium Task Force coordIna- tor/facilitator at 970-249-.3935 or vIa email (kbr"own@coop.ext.coloState.edu) :;unn;son Bas,n.:GranO VJlie't \\'.1ter tor,",~ '\:e,'. ,letter July 2001