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TMDL Development
Page history
last edited
by Timmie 7 years, 11 months ago
eetings
MEETING
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PRESENTATION
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June 14, 2007
DEQ and EPA met with stakeholders to provide a project update
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June 14, 2011 Presentation
This presentation: provides a brief history of TMDL work completed prior to 2007, reviews the strategy that was in place in 2007 for completing TMDLs in the watershed, and discusses the roles and involvement of stakeholders during TMDL development.
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October 12, 2010
DEQ and EPA gave a presentation to the Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group
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October 12, 2010 Presentation
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September 28, 2011
DEQ and EPA held a stakeholder meeting and gave a series of presentations regarding the status of the nutrient, sediment, and temperature TMDLs.
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Overview of the Flathead Lake Watershed TMDL Project (2.34 MB)
TMDL Basics (What is a TMDL?) (.05 MB)
Status of the Sediment & Temperature TMDLs (2.2 MB)
Status of the Nutrient TMDLs & Explanation of the Nutrient Modeling Process (6.43 MB)
Handout: Description of Public Involvement and Flathead TMDL Advisory Groups
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Document
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Document Description
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Date
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Timmie’s page
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This document is being used for training in wiki’s.
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5/26/16
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Test page
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Adding a link to a page
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5/26/16
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PROJECT MEMBER
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AGENCY
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ROLE
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EMAIL
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PHONE
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Primary Contacts
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Christina Staten
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DEQ
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Project Coordinator
Christina’s primary responsibilities include formation of the Flathead TMDL advisory groups, communication with advisory group members and other stakeholders, coordination of meetings, and maintenance of the flathead project website.
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cstaten@mt.gov
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406-444-2836
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Jason Gildea
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EPA
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Project Manager for the Nutrient TMDLs
Jason is responsible for all aspects of the nutrient TMDLs, including development of the nutrient technical memos and the nutrient model.
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gildea.jason@epa.gov
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406-457-5028
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Jim Bond
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DEQ
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Project Manager for the Sediment & Temperature TMDLs
Jim is responsible for all aspects of both the sediment TMDLs and the temperature TMDLs.
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jabond@mt.gov
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406-444-3548
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Additional Project Contacts
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Peter Brumm
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EPA
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Project Assistance
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brumm.peter@epa.gov
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406-457-5029
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Dean Yashan
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DEQ
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TMDL Program Supervisor
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dyashan@mt.gov
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406-444-5317
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Mark Bostrom
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DEQ
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Bureau Chief of the Water Quality Planning Bureau
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mbostrom@mt.gov
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406-444-2680
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George Mathieus
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DEQ
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Planning, Prevention, & Assistance Division Administrator
George is the primary contact for questions regarding legislation and policy related to the development of numeric nutrient standards and development of a nutrient trading policy in Montana.
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gemathieus@mt.gov
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406-444-7423
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Contact
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Role
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Email
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Phone
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Christina Staten
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Project Coordinator
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CStaten@mt.gov
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(406) 444-2836
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Paul Kusnierz
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Project Manager for the sediment and temperature TMDLs
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PKusnierz@mt.gov
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(406) 444-4205
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Jason Gildea
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Project Manager for Ashley Creek and Spring Creek nutrient TMDLs
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Gildea.Jason@epa.gov
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(406) 457-5028
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Eric Regensburger
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Project Modeler
Eric is the DEQ contact for the Flathead Lake watershed model
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ERegensburger@mt.gov
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(406) 444-6714
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Zip File of All Nutrient Technical Reports (26.3 MB)
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Contains all nutrient technical reports and their appendices posted as of xxx. File size is very large, but eliminates downloading each report separately.
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Xxx
Version 2
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TECHNICAL REPORT
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REPORT DESCRIPTION
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DATE
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Urban Stormwater (4.1 MB)
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Provides a summary of the extent and type of stormwater sources and systems in the Flathead Basin. The focus is on stormwater originating from urban point and nonpoint sources, and specifically on the regulated sources (i.e., MPDES permitted sources.
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3-1-10
Draft
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Roads
High Resolution (8.5 MB)
Compressed (1.4 MB)
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Provides a summary of the extent and type of roads located in the Flathead Basin and their impacts to hydrology and water quality.
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3-1-10
Draft
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Groundwater Quality & Hydrology (1.36 MB)
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Summarizes known groundwater characteristics within the Flathead Lake watershed, with a focus on how those characteristics affect surface water flows and water quality. The report also serves as an inventory of the available previous studies and data.
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September, 2011
Draft
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Point Source Discharges (3.39 MB)
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Provides a summary of the extent and type of point sources located in the Flathead Basin, specifically focusing on MPDES permitted point sources, including individual, general, and groundwater discharge permits.
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September, 2011
Draft
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Agriculture / Irrigation (58.9 kb)
Appendices A and B (8.37 MB)
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This report focuses on agricultural areas above, or north of, Flathead Lake, and summarizes approximations of: the types and locations of agricultural lands that exist in the Flathead Basin, the amount of irrigated land and irrigation practices in place, locations of known irrigation withdrawals and returns, types and magnitudes of applied fertilizer, and determinations of trends in agricultural practices in the basin. This report is intended to provide a snapshot of agricultural conditions during the summer of 2009.
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April, 2011
Draft
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Timber Harvest (819 kb)
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Characterizes the extent and type of timber harvests located in the Flathead Basin and their effects on hydrology and water quality.
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September, 2011
Draft
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Forest Fires (812 kb)
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Provides a summary of the extent of historic fires in the Flathead Basin and their impacts to hydrology and water quality.
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July, 2011
Draft
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Lakes & Reservoirs (3.82 MB)
Appendices A through F (1.94 MB)
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Presents an inventory and analysis of available data for lakes and reservoirs in the Flathead Lake watershed. Specific objects of the report are to answer:
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What lakes and reservoirs in the watershed are of concern for watershed-scale nutrient loading?
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What data are available to characterize nutrients in each of these lakes and reservoirs?
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Is there sufficient information to determine if these lakes and reservoirs are sinks or sources of nutrients to downstream waterbodies?
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What are the most appropriate modeling approaches for the lakes and reservoirs in the watershed?
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September, 2011
Draft
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Results of 2007 and 2008 Nutrient Monitoring (1.32 MB)
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Detailed monitoring efforts were completed by DEQ in the Flathead Lake watershed during 2007 and 2008 to characterize the spatial attributes of streamflow and water quality, seasonal and annual loading rates of nitrogen and phosphorus to the lake, and to support watershed model development for the TMDLs. Consequential changes brought about by upstream lakes and reservoirs were also evaluated.
Sampling was completed at over 20 sites including the North, Middle, and South forks of the Flathead River; the Swan River; Stillwater River; Whitefish River; and Ashley Creek. Data was also collected on Hungry Horse Reservoir, Swan Lake, and Whitefish Lake. Sample location descriptions and map are included in the report.
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August, 2011
Final
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Summary of Available Nutrient Data (1.32 MB)
Appendices A through D (2.38 MB)
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Provides a summary of available nutrient water quality data for each of the nutrient impaired streams in the Flathead Lake watershed. The purpose is to specifically answer:
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Where have nutrient water quality data been collected in relation to the impaired segments?
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What is the period of record for the nutrient water quality data in the impaired segments?
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What is the magnitude of the nutrient concentrations observed in the impaired segments?
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How do the nutrient water quality data in the impaired segments compare to the current and proposed nutrient standards?
The data presented in this report are current through 2007.
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September, 2011
Draft
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Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) – Not Yet Available
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SEDIMENT REPORT
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REPORT DESCRIPTION
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DATE
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Watershed Stratification Approach for Sediment & Habitat Investigation (0.07 MB)
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Describes the rationale behind the methodology used by DEQ to characterize and stratify waterbodies to address sediment and habitat condition as it relates to aquatic life and fisheries beneficial uses for use in the TMDL process.
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10-21-08
Final Version
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Watershed Stratification Procedure for Sediment & Habitat Assessments (0.1 MB)
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Details the waterbody stratification procedure used in the development of sediment and habitat sampling and analysis plans (SAPs) and establishes a general framework for achievement of data quality objectives within those SAPs.
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4-21-08
Final Version
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Sediment & Habitat Longitudinal Field Methods (0.4 MB)
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Outlines and describes the methods used by DEQ to collect sediment and habitat related data for streams listed as impaired due to sediment and/or habitat alterations on Montana’s Water Quality Integrated Report (http://www.cwaic.mt.gov/)
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6-14-07
Final Version
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Sediment and Habitat Assessment Report (2.35 MB)
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Summarizes the methods used and the data collected during the 2008 field effort conducted by DEQ . A map of sampled sites is included in the report.
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3-15-09
Draft
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TEMPERATURE REPORT
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REPORT DESCRIPTION
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DATE
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Flathead-Stillwater Temperature & Flow Monitoring Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) (1.03 MB)
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Defines sampling objectives, study design, monitoring locations, field methods, and data quality assurance requirements for the 2008 temperature and flow monitoring on Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River.
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July, 2008
Final Version
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Temperature Assessment Report (1.51 MB)
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Summarizes the data collected in 2008 accordance with the above SAP. A map of monitoring locations is included in the report. The data was used in a QUAL2K model to assess the influence of shading and streamflow on stream temperatures in Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River. The report discusses the results of this assessment.
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August, 2009
Draft
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DOCUMENT
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DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
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DATE
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Flathead-Stillwater TMDL Planning Area Sampling Project – 2012: Nutrients, Metals Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) (0.21 MB)
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Metals and nutrients monitoring is being conducted in 2012 to support TMDL development and water quality impairment determinations. This SAP aims to meet requirements for the completion of source assessments and loading estimates for nutrients and metals listed streams in the planning area, and to have enough data to assess the streams based on the proposed nutrient criteria and proposed metals assessment method.
Monitoring locations, field methods, and data quality assurance requirements are included in the document.
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May, 2012
Final Version
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Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group (FRWMG) report on sewage treatment in the Flathead Basin can be found on the FRWMG website (the report is 9.32 MB).
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This report analyzes the conveyance and treatment capacities of existing major wastewater facilities in the basin, and compares to the existing and projected flows from these service areas to determine if sufficient excess capacity is available to serve additional areas outside of the current service areas. The report also identifies unsewered areas outside of the current established service areas that could be served by public wastewater systems. Estimates of general costs of collection system improvements into currently unsewered areas are also included in the report.
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2012
Final
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Document
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Document Description
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Date
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TMDL Planning Area
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Streams & Lakes with a Nutrient or Nutrient-Related Impairment on the “2012 Water Quality Integrated Report”
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Flathead Lake
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Flathead Lake
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Flathead Headwaters
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Challenge Creek
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Flathead – Stillwater
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Lake Mary Ronan
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Ashley Creek
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Fish Creek
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Sheppard Creek
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Spring Creek
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Stillwater River
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Swift Creek
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Whitefish River
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Old Wiki Page Language (pre May 2014)
A total phosphorus and total nitrogen TMDL was established for Flathead Lake in 2001. The development of those TMDLs is referred to as Phase I of the nutrient TMDLs for Flathead Lake (The 2001 "Nutrient Management Plan & TMDL for Flathead Lake" document can be found on DEQ's Final TMDL Documents webpage). The current project is Phase II, in which allocations will be determined for all significant sources of nutrients for Flathead Lake.
Nutrient TMDLs to be Completed in 2014
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click Waterbody Name to View Map)1
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Nutrient
TMDL(s)
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Ashley Creek
Ashley Lake to Smith Lake
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Total Nitrogen
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Ashley Creek
Smith Lake to Kalispell Airport Road
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Total Nitrogen,
Total Phosphorus
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Ashley Creek
Kalispell Airport Road to mouth (Flathead River)
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Total Nitrogen,
Total Phosphorus
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Spring Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Creek)
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Total Nitrogen,
Total Phosphorus
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1. Google Chrome does not properly display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper, and we suggest that you use a different web browser
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May 2014 Nutrient Page Updates
Nutrient TMDLs to be Completed & Project Schedule
Table 1 provides a list of the nutrient TMDLs that will be completed as part of this project, and are also shown in Map 1.
DEQ and EPA are under court order to complete the TMDLs identified in Table 1 before the end of calendar year 2014, as per an amended judgment to a TMDL lawsuit. Completing Phase II of the Flathead Lake nutrient TMDLs is not a requirement of this court order. In order to focus staff resources on those TMDLs that must be completed by the end of 2014, DEQ and EPA have decided to postpone the completion of the nutrient TMDLs for Flathead Lake until after 2014. To view the amended judgment and the list of required TMDLs to be completed in the entire state of Montana in 2014, please view the TMDL Development Schedule information on DEQ’s website.
Project status updates, announcements of advisory group meetings, and meeting presentations can be found on the Flathead TMDL Project Outreach page.
Table 1
Map 1 (align right to above text?)
Recent Water Quality Sampling & Updated Nutrient Impairment Determinations
In 2011, DEQ developed ….
In 2012 and 2013, DEQ and EPA conducted nutrient water quality sampling on eight streams and rivers in the Flathead Lake watershed. The sampling and analysis plans can be found in Table 3 below. Following the new assessment method, DEQ conducted water quality assessments to determine nutrient impairment for the sampled streams, using the recently collected data along with historical data collected by DEQ and other entities. Table 2 below details previously identified nutrient impairments that were removed from Montana’s list of impaired waters, and nutrient impairments were added. Click on the waterbody names in the table to view assessment summaries and to link to the full water quality assessment records and a location map. The full 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report containing the list of impaired waters can be viewed on our Clean Water Act Information Center.
Table 2
Flathead Lake Watershed Model
Technical reports related to the modeling effort can be found in Table 5 below.
Nutrient Documents
Table 3: Water Quality Data & Sampling Plan Documents
Table 4: Numeric Nutrient Standards & Other Documents
Table 5: Nutrient Technical Reports
Link to Project Overview page for list of completed nutrient TMDLs
Original Table (2013)
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TMDL Planning Area
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Streams Included in the Flathead Lake Watershed TMDL Project & Location Description
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Nutrient Impairments in the 2012 IR 1
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DRAFT 2013 Updated Impairment Status 2
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Total Nitrogen
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Total Phosphorus
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Nitrite + Nitrate as N (NO2+3)
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Flathead Headwaters
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Challenge Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Granite Creek)
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Phosphorus (Total)
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Do Not List
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Delist
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Do Not List
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Flathead - Stillwater
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Ashley Creek
Ashley Lake to Smith Lake
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Nitrogen (Total)
Phosphorus (Total)
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Keep Listed
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Delist
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Do Not List
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Ashley Creek
Smith Lake to Kalispell Airport Road
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None
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List
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List
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Do Not List
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Ashley Creek
Kalispell Airport Road to mouth (Flathead River)
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Nitrogen (Total)
Phosphorus (Total)
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Keep Listed
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Keep Listed
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Keep Listed
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Fish Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Lake)
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Phosphorus (Total)
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Do Not List
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Delist
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Do Not List
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Haskill Creek
Headwaters to Haskill Basin Pond
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Not Assessed
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Get More Data
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Get More Data
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Get More Data
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Haskill Creek
Haskill Basin Pond to mouth (Whitefish River)
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Assessed Fall 2013
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Do Not List
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Do Not List
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Do Not List
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Sheppard Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Griffin Creek-Logan Creek-Talley Lake)
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Phosphorus (Total)
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Do Not List
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Delist
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Delist
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Spring Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Creek)
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Nitrogen (Total)
Phosphorus (Total)
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Keep Listed
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Keep Listed
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Keep Listed
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Stillwater River
Logan Creek to mouth
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Phosphorus (Total)
Nitrates
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Do Not List
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Delist
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Delist
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Whitefish River 3
Whitefish Lake to mouth (Stillwater River)
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Nitrogen (Total)
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Delist
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Do Not List
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Do Not List
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1. Impairments included in the “2012 Water Quality Integrated Report.”
2. Water quality assessments for nutrient impairment were performed by DEQ in 2013 (results are not final). The 2014 IR will reflect final assessment results.
List: Not previously listed; assessment results show impairment; include on the 303(d) list of the 2014 IR
Keep Listed: Previously listed; updated assessment results show impairment; include on 303(d) list of the 2014 IR
Do Not List: Not previously listed; assessment results do not show impairment; do not include on the 303(d) list of the 2014 IR
Delist: Previously listed; updated assessment results do not show impairment; do not include on the 303(d) list of the 2014 IR
Get More Data: Insufficient data is available to perform the assessment
3. The Whitefish River was also sampled for total ammonia as N in 2012. Assessment results do not show an ammonia impairment.
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New Table (May 2014)
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TMDL
Planning Area1
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click Name to View Assessment Summary)
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Nutrient Impairments
on the 2012 List of
Impaired Waters
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Impairments on the 2014
List of Impaired Waters
(Updated Assessment Results)
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Flathead Headwaters
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Challenge Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Granite Creek)
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Total Phosphorus
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Flathead - Stillwater
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Ashley Creek
Ashley Lake to Smith Lake
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
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Total Nitrogen
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Ashley Creek
Smith Lake to Kalispell Airport Road
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None
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
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Ashley Creek
Kalispell Airport Road to mouth (Flathead River)
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Fish Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Lake)
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Total Phosphorus
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Haskill Creek
Headwaters to Haskill Basin Pond
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None 2
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Haskill Creek
Haskill Basin Pond to mouth (Whitefish River)
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None 2
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Sheppard Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Griffin Creek-Logan Creek-Talley Lake)
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Total Phosphorus
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Spring Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Creek)
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Nitrate/Nitrite as N
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Stillwater River
Logan Creek to mouth
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Total Phosphorus
Nitrates
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Whitefish River
Whitefish Lake to mouth (Stillwater River)
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Total Nitrogen
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1. A map and description of each planning area can be found on the Project Overview page.
2. Haskill Creek had not previously been assessed and therefore was not included on the 2012 list of impaired waters. Data was collected on Haskill during this project and the lower segment was determined not to be impaired for a nutrient. Additional data is needed to complete a nutrient assessment on the upper segment.
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TMDL PLANNING AREAS IN THE FLATHEAD BASIN
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IMPAIRMENT & TMDL STATUSES
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WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION
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Flathead Headwaters
The headwater streams of the Flathead River to the formation of the Flathead River create the boundary of this planning area. This includes the Middle, South, and North forks of the Flathead River and Hungry Horse Reservoir.
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A nutrient TMDL (total phosphorus) is being pursued for Challenge Creek as part of this project.
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The Nutrient TMDLs page contains additional information about nutrient TMDL development for this project.
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A sediment TMDL was completed for the Coal Creek watershed in 2004, which includes the South and North forks of Coal Creek.
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The 2004 Flathead River Headwaters TMDL document is located on DEQ’s Final TMDL Documents webpage.
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All other waterbodies in this planning area are listed as either: not assessed for impairment; fully supporting all of their beneficial uses; or available data indicates that some, but not all, of their beneficial uses are supported.
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DEQ’s Clean Water Act Information Center contains water quality assessment records and information about probable impairment causes and sources.
Simply click on “Begin Search” and then select “Flathead Headwaters” in the TMDL Planning Area drop down box under Step 2.
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Flathead – Stillwater
This planning area contains the Flathead River from its formation to its confluence with Flathead Lake; tributaries to the Flathead River; the Stillwater River watershed; the Whitefish River watershed, including Whitefish Lake; and Lake Mary Ronan.
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Nutrient, sediment, and temperature TMDLs are being pursued in this planning area.
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See the Nutrient TMDLs and Sediment & Temperature TMDLs pages for additional information.
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Spring Creek, Stillwater River, Whitefish Lake, and the Whitefish River have PCB and/or metals listings, which are not included in the scope of the current project. TMDL assessment work for these impairments will likely begin after 2012.
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For complete information on each stream’s probable impairment causes and sources, see DEQ’s Clean Water Act Information Center. Click on “Begin Search” and then select “Flathead-Stillwater” in the TMDL drop down box under Step 2.
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Flathead Lake
The Flathead Lake TMDL Planning area includes the lake itself, plus direct tributaries to the lake, outside of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe lands. The Flathead Reservation creates the southern boundary of the planning area.
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Phase I of nutrient TMDLs was completed in 2001, which provided a total nitrogen and total phosphorus load reduction goal and a prioritized nutrient management plan for Flathead Lake and the broader Flathead Basin.
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The Phase I document, called “Nutrient Management Plan & TMDL for Flathead Lake, Montana DEQ,” is located on DEQ’s Final TMDL Documents webpage.
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Phase II of the Flathead Lake nutrient TMDLs is the focus of the current project. Phase II has involved additional data collection and development of a watershed model to simulate nutrient loading in the Flathead Basin. The goal is to quantify the relative importance of each significant nutrient source. The collected data and model will be used to define appropriate allocations for all significant sources.
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See the Nutrient TMDLs page for additional information.
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Flathead Lake is also listed for sediment, mercury, and PCB impairments. A sediment TMDL is being pursued as part of this project. TMDL assessment work for mercury and PCBs will likely occur after 2012.
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See the Sediment & Temperature TMDLs page.
To view the water quality assessment records for Flathead Lake, see DEQ’s Clean Water Act Information Center. Click on “Begin Search” and then select “Flathead Lake” in the TMDL drop down box under Step 2.
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Swan
The Swan TMDL Planning Area encompasses the entire Swan River watershed, including Swan Lake.
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All TMDLs in the Swan TMDL Planning Area were completed in 2004. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and sediment TMDLs were completed for Swan Lake. Sediment TMDLs were also completed for Goat Creek and Jim Creek.
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The 2004 Swan Lake watershed TMDL document is located on DEQ’s Final TMDL Documents webpage.
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All other waterbodies in this planning area are listed as either fully supporting all of their beneficial uses, or available data indicates that some, but not all, of their beneficial uses are supported.
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For complete information on each stream’s probable impairment causes and sources, see DEQ’s Clean Water Act Information Center. Click on “Begin Search” and then select “Swan” in the TMDL drop down box under Step 2.
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Lower Flathead
This planning area includes the Flathead River from the southern boundary of the Flathead Reservation to the confluence with the Clark Fork River. It also includes the area of the Little Bitterroot River watershed outside of the Flathead Reservation.
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TMDL work has not begun in this planning area and is not included in the scope of the current project. There are E. coli, metals, nutrient, sediment, and temperature impairment listings. Assessment work for these TMDLs may begin as early as 2012.
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Information on probable impairment causes and sources can be found at DEQ’s Clean Water Act Information Center. Click on “Begin Search” and then select “Lower Flathead” in the TMDL drop down box under Step 2.
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Big Creek
The Big Creek watershed defines the boundary of this planning area.
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A sediment TMDL for Big Creek was completed in 2003. A TMDL implementation evaluation was completed this year to determine progress toward attainment of water quality standards.
There are no other pollutant listings for Big Creek, and therefore no additional TMDLs are needed.
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The 2003 “Big Creek Watershed Restoration Plan” and the 2011 “Big Creek Sediment TMDL Implementation Evaluation” can be found on DEQ’s Final TMDL Documents webpage. The TMDL name is denoted on the webpage as “Big Creek (Columbia).”
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May 2014 Project Overview Page Updates
TMDLs to be Written In 2014
(All waterbodies except Flathead Lake are located in the Flathead-Stillwater TMDL Planning Area)
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click Waterbody Name to View Map)1
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Nutrient
TMDL(s) 2
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Sediment
TMDL 3
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Temperature
TMDL 3
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Ashley Creek
Ashley Lake to Smith Lake
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TN
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X
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X
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Ashley Creek
Smith Lake to Kalispell Airport Road
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TN, TP
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X
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X
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Ashley Creek
Kalispell Airport Road to mouth (Flathead River)
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TN, TP
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X
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X
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Flathead Lake
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Pending Updated Assessment 4
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Logan Creek
Headwaters to Tally Lake
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X
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Haskill Creek
Haskill Basin Pond to mouth (Whitefish River)
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X
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Sheppard Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Griffin Creek-Logan Creek-Talley Lake)
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X
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Spring Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Creek)
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TN, TP
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Stillwater River
Logan Creek to mouth (Flathead River)
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X
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Whitefish Lake
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Pending Updated Assessment 4
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Whitefish River
Whitefish Lake to mouth (Stillwater River)
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X
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1. Google Chrome does not properly display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper, and we suggest that you use a different web browser
2. TN = Total Nitrogen, TP = Total Phosphorus TMDL to be written
3. “X” indicates a TMDL will be written
4. Impairment is on Montana’s 2014 list of impaired waters requiring a TMDL; however DEQ is performing an updated water quality assessment. A TMDL will not be written if assessment results do not indicate impairment.
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Impairments to be Addressed Post 2014
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TMDL Planning Area
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click on Name to View Map)1
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Pollutant Impairments
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Flathead Lake
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Flathead Lake
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Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Mercury
PCBs
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Flathead – Stillwater
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Spring Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Ashley Creek)
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Arsenic
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Whitefish Lake
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Mercury
PCBs
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Whitefish River
Whitefish Lake to mouth (Stillwater River)
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Oil and Grease
PCBs
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Lower Flathead 2
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Flathead River
Flathead Reservation boundary to mouth (Clark Fork River)
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Nitrate/Nitrite
Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
Sediment
Temperature
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1. Google Chrome does not properly display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper and we suggest that you use a different web browser.
2. The Little Bitterroot River and Sullivan Creek are also located in the Lower Flathead TMDL Planning Area. Metals, nutrients, and/or sediment TMDLs are being written for these streams as part of the Thompson TMDL Project. Additional information about these TMDLs can be found on the Thompson TMDL Project Area pages. This document will be completed in 2014.
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Project Location & Boundaries
This project only includes the watershed of Flathead Lake, and does not include the entire Flathead River watershed. Map 1 provides and orientation of the Flathead Lake watershed boundary. Map 2 displays the various land ownership and designations in the watershed.
For TMDL development planning purposes, DEQ divided the full Flathead River watershed into what are defined as TMDL planning areas. Map 3 delineates the planning area boundaries and Table 1 provides a description of each planning area. It is important to understand these delineations, as previous Flathead TMDL projects have been organized by these boundaries. Note that this project does not include the Lower Flathead TMDL Planning Area.
Streams Included in the Flathead Lake Watershed Project & TMDLs to be Written
The current project will be completed in 2014 and includes nutrients, sediment, and temperature TMDLs, as shown in Table 2 below. Specifics about the nutrient TMDLs can be found on the Flathead Lake Watershed Nutrient TMDLs page, and specifics about the sediment and temperature TMDLs can be found on the Flathead-Stillwater Sediment and Temperature TMDLs page.
Note that waterbody and location descriptions in Tables 2, 3, and 4 below match the assessment units defined in Montana’s Water Quality Integrated Report. Full water quality assessment records can be viewed on our Clean Water Act Information Center. Click on “Search” to view records for individual streams by either searching directly for the stream name or for a list of all streams within a TMDL Planning Area.
Clicking on a stream name in Tables 2, 3, and 4 will take you to an interactive map that provides an aerial view of the stream’s location, including major highways, landmarks, and surrounding streams and lakes.
Future TMDLs & Completed TMDLs in the Flathead River Watershed
Not all impairments in the watershed are being addressed during this project, and Table 3 identifies the waterbodies and associated impairments that will be addressed after 2014. Additionally, multiple TMDLs have been written as part of past projects in the watershed. Table 4 provides a list of the completed TMDLs and web links to their associated documents.
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TMDL Planning Area
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Boundary Description
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Big Creek
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The Big Creek watershed defines the boundary of this planning area.
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Flathead Headwaters
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The headwater streams of the Flathead River to the formation of the Flathead River create the boundary of this planning area. This includes the Middle, South, and North forks of the Flathead River and Hungry Horse Reservoir.
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Flathead – Stillwater
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This planning area contains:
The Flathead River from its formation to its confluence with Flathead Lake; tributaries to the Flathead River within the Flathead Lake watershed; the Stillwater River watershed; Whitefish Lake; Lake Mary Ronan
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Flathead Lake
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Includes the lake itself, plus direct tributaries to the lake, outside of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe lands. The Flathead Reservation creates the southern boundary of the planning area.
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Swan
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The entire Swan River watershed, including Swan Lake
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Lower Flathead *
*Planning area is not included in this project
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This planning area includes the Flathead River from the southern boundary of the Flathead Reservation to the confluence with the Clark Fork River. It also includes the area of the Little Bitterroot River watershed outside of the Flathead Reservation.
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Completed TMDLs in the Flathead River Watershed – Own page, or just a table on the project overview page?
Organization:
TPA, Document Name, Table of TMDLs with specific nutrient and metals TMDLs identified
Save this table for future use and create new one without Metals & Temp columns
Completed TMDLs in the Flathead River Watershed
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TMDL Planning Area
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click on Name to View Map) 1
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Metals
TMDL(s)
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Nutrient
TMDL(s)
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Sediment
TMDL
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Temperature
TMDL
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Document Name & Completion Year
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Big Creek
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Big Creek
Headwaters to mouth (North Fork of the Flathead River)
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Sediment
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2003 “Watershed Restoration Plan for Big Creek, North Fork of the Flathead River”*
2011 “Big Creek Sediment TMDL Implementation Evaluation” 2
*The TMDL Document is denoted as “Big Creek (Columbia)”
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Flathead
Headwaters
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Coal Creek
South Fork to mouth (North Fork Flathead)
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Sediment
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2004 “Water Quality Assessment and TMDLs for the Flathead River Headwaters Planning Area, Montana”
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Flathead
Lake
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Flathead Lake
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TN, TP 3
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2001 “Nutrient Management Plan & Total Maximum Daily Load for Flathead Lake, Montana”
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Swan
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Goat Creek
Headwaters to Squeezer Creek
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TSS
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2004 “Water Quality Protection Plan and TMDLs for the Swan Lake Watershed”
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Jim Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Swan River)
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Sediment
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Swan Lake
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TN, TP
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Sediment
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1
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1. Google Chrome does not properly display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper and we suggest that you use a different web browser.
2. The 2011 TMDL implementation evaluation for Big Creek concluded that a reassessment of beneficial use impairment was warranted, and sedimentation/siltation was removed as a cause of impairment for Big Creek in 2012. Big Creek remains on the impaired waters list as not fully supporting aquatic life with a probable cause of habitat alteration, however.
The sedimentation/siltation cause of impairment for Big Creek was removed from the 303(d) list in 2012, after the 2011 TMDL Implementation Evaluation found that a formal reassessment was needed.
3. Phase I of nutrient TMDLs was completed in 2001, which provided a total nitrogen and total phosphorus load reduction goal and a prioritized nutrient management plan for Flathead Lake and the broader Flathead Basin.
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TMDL Planning Area
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click Waterbody Name to View Map)1
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Nutrient
TMDLs
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Metal
TMDLs
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Sediment
TMDL
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Document Name & Completion Year
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Big Creek
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Big Creek
Headwaters to mouth (North Fork of the Flathead River)
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Sediment
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2003 “Watershed Restoration Plan for Big Creek, North Fork of the Flathead River”*
2011 “Big Creek Sediment TMDL Implementation Evaluation” 2
*The TMDL Document is denoted as “Big Creek (Columbia)”
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Flathead
Headwaters
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Coal Creek
South Fork to mouth (North Fork Flathead)
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Sediment
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2004 “Water Quality Assessment and TMDLs for the Flathead River Headwaters Planning Area, Montana”
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Flathead
Lake
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Flathead Lake
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TN, TP 3
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2001 “Nutrient Management Plan & Total Maximum Daily Load for Flathead Lake, Montana”
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Lower Flathead
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Little Bitterroot River,
Hubbart Reservoir to Flathead Reservation Boundary
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TN, TP
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Sediment
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2014 “Thompson Project Area Metals, Nutrients, Sediment, and Temperature TMDLs and Water Quality Improvement Plan”
Additional information can be found on the Thompson project page.
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Sullivan Creek,
Headwaters to Flathead Indian Reservations
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TN, TP
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Al, Cd, Cu, Zn
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Sediment
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Swan
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Goat Creek
Headwaters to Squeezer Creek
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TSS
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2004 “Water Quality Protection Plan and TMDLs for the Swan Lake Watershed”
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Jim Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Swan River)
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Sediment
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Swan Lake
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TN, TP
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Sediment
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1. Google Chrome does not properly display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper and we suggest that you use a different web browser.
2. The 2011 TMDL implementation evaluation for Big Creek concluded that a reassessment of beneficial use impairment was warranted, and sedimentation/siltation was removed as a cause of impairment for Big Creek in 2012. Big Creek remains on the impaired waters list as not fully supporting aquatic life with a probable cause of habitat alteration, however.
3. Phase I of nutrient TMDLs was completed in 2001, which provided a total nitrogen and total phosphorus load reduction goal and a prioritized nutrient management plan for Flathead Lake and the broader Flathead Basin.
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Document Section
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Section Contents
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Date Posted
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Submit Comments To:
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Document Summary
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A summary of the document’s contents, conclusions, and TMDLs written
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Will not be available until public comment
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Christina Staten
CStaten@mt.gov
(406) 444-2836
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Introductory Sections
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Three document sections: a project overview, a summary of impaired beneficial uses and the applicable water quality standards, and a basic description of each component of a TMDL.
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Project Area Description
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A summary description of the physical, ecological, and social characteristics of the Flathead Lake watershed, including Ashley Creek, Stillwater River, Whitefish River, and Whitefish Lake watersheds.
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Tributary Nutrient TMDLs
(Ashley and Spring Creeks)
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Evaluation of current water quality conditions, comparison of conditions to nutrient targets, modeling and calculation of nutrient source loading estimates, and nutrient TMDLs and allocations for Ashley and Spring Creeks.
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Tributary Sediment TMDLs
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Evaluation of current water quality conditions, comparison of conditions to sediment targets, modeling and calculation of sediment source loading estimates, and sediment TMDLs and allocations.
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Flathead Lake Sediment TMDL
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A sediment impairment determination is still pending for Flathead Lake. If a sediment TMDL is written, this section will contain the same components as the tributary sediment TMDLs section.
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Tributary Temperature TMDLs (2.4 MB)
(Ashley Creek and Whitefish River)
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Evaluation of current water quality conditions, comparison of conditions to temperature targets, modeling and calculation of temperature source loading estimates, and temperature TMDLs and allocations for Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River.
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7/15/14
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Non-Pollutants & Future TMDLs
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Descriptions of non-pollutant impairments in the project area and pollutant impairments that will be addressed in future TMDL projects.
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Restoration & Monitoring Strategies
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Discusses water quality restoration objectives, a strategy for meeting the identified objectives and TMDLs, and a water quality monitoring plan for evaluating long-term effectiveness of restoration activities and meeting TMDL targets.
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Appendix
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Appendix Description
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Date Posted
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Submit Comments To:
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Montana’s Water Quality Standards & Regulatory Framework
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Contains detailed information about legal requirements for developing TMDLs and Montana’s nutrients, sediment, temperature, and dissolved oxygen water quality standards
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Christina Staten
CStaten@mt.gov
(406) 444-2836
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Fish Species and Effluent Discharge Data for Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River (0.1 MB)
Point Source Discharge Permits in the Project Area
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Tables of: discharge data from the Ashley Creek USGS gage, fish species distribution for Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River, and flow and temperature effluent discharge data from permitted facilities on Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River.
A table of permitted point source dischargers in the project area will be added to this appendix.
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7/15/14
(table of permitted facilities not included)
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Ashley Creek & Whitefish River Temperature Modeling Report (1.9 MB)
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Temperature modeling report for Ashley Creek and the Whitefish River. This temperature assessment was conducted using a QUAL2K model independent of the Flathead Lake watershed LSPC model for sediment and nutrients.
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7/15/14
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Response to Comments
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An appendix will be added to the final document that will contain responses to written comments received during the official public comment period. Comments received during the stakeholder review period will not be included in this appendix.
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Will be available in final document
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Attachment
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Attachment Description
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Date Posted
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Sediment and Habitat Assessment Report
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Assessment of fine sediment and habitat conditions for tributaries sampled in 2008
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Supporting Documents
These documents will not be published as part of the TMDL document (i.e., they will not be an appendix or attachment to the document). They are kept in DEQ’s Water Quality Planning Bureau Library, and will also remain on this site after the TMDL project is complete.
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Document
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Document
Date
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Document Description
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Submit Comments To:
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Flathead Lake Watershed Modeling Report (5.91 MB)
Appendix A (3.06 MB)
Appendix B (~0.4 MB)
Appendix C (~0.7 MB)
Appendix D (7.19 MB)
Appendix E (6.33 MB)
Appendix F (3.28 MB)
Appendix G (2.15 MB)
Appendix H (9.63 MB)
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2014
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Report containing calibration and scenario results for the LSPC model developed for the Flathead Lake watershed (note that Flathead Lake itself was not modeled)
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Submit Comments Electronically:
http://comment.cwaic.mt.gov/
Deadline: Midnight
Saturday, January 31, 2015
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Ashley Creek Watershed Characterization (1.92 MB)
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2014
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A summary description of the physical, ecological, and social characteristics of the respective watershed
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Christina Staten
CStaten@mt.gov
(406) 444-2836
There is no deadline for comments on watershed characterizations
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Haskill Creek Watershed Characterization (1.55 MB)
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2007
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Stillwater River Watershed Characterization (2.18 MB)
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2007
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Whitefish River Watershed Characterization (2.13 MB)
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2006
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Document
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Description
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How To Submit Comments
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Flathead Lake Watershed Modeling Report (5.91 MB)
Appendix A (3.06 MB)
Appendix B (~0.4 MB)
Appendix C (~0.7 MB)
Appendix D (7.19 MB)
Appendix E (6.33 MB)
Appendix F (3.28 MB)
Appendix G (2.15 MB)
Appendix H (9.63 MB)
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Report containing calibration and scenario results for the LSPC model developed for the Flathead Lake watershed (note that Flathead Lake itself was not modeled)
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Submit Comments Electronically:
http://comment.cwaic.mt.gov/
Deadline: Midnight
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Contact Eric Regensburger with any questions:
ERegensburger@mt.gov
(406) 444-6714
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Table 1: Sediment & Temperature TMDLs to be Completed in 2014
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Waterbody & Location Description 1
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Sediment
TMDL 2
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Temperature
TMDL 2
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Ashley Creek
Ashley Lake to Smith Lake
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X
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X
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Ashley Creek
Smith Lake to Kalispell Airport Road
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X
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X
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Ashley Creek
Kalispell Airport Road to mouth (Flathead River)
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X
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X
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Flathead Lake
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Pending Updated Assessment 3
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Logan Creek
Headwaters to Tally Lake
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X
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Haskill Creek
Haskill Basin Pond to mouth (Whitefish River)
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X
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Sheppard Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Griffin Creek-Logan Creek-Talley Lake)
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X
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Stillwater River
Logan Creek to mouth (Flathead River)
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X
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Whitefish Lake
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Pending Updated Assessment 3
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Whitefish River
Whitefish Lake to mouth (Stillwater River)
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X
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1. Google Chrome does not property display maps on DEQ’s interactive mapper and we suggest that you use a different web browser.
2. “X” indicates a TMDL will be written
3. Impairment is on Montana’s 2014 list of impaired waters requiring a TMDL; however DEQ is performing an updated water quality assessment. A TMDL will not be written if assessment results do not indicate impairment.
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TMDL Development
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Tip: To turn text into a link, highlight the text, then click on a page or file from the list above.
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