The "Little Blackfoot River Watershed TMDLs and Framework Water Quality Improvement Plan" was approved by EPA in December, 2011. The final document can be found on DEQ's Final TMDL Documents webpage. This page contains an overview of the project and documents that were used during TMDL planning stages of the project.
OVERVIEW
The majority of the Little Blackfoot TMDL Planning Area (TPA) is within Powell County, with a small portion in Lewis and Clark County. The Little Blackfoot River originates in the Helena National Forest near Blackfoot Meadows and flows approximately 47 miles to its confluence with the Clark Fork River near Garrison. The total extent of the watershed is 264,124 acres, or approximately 413 square miles. The TPA is located within the Upper Clark Fork hydrologic unit (17010201), and is coincident with the combined 170102015 and 170102016 fifth-code watersheds. The TPA is bounded by the continental divide to the northeast and southeast, the Garnet Mountains to the northwest, and the divide between Spotted Dog Creek and the Clark Fork River to the southwest.
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The Montana Department of Environmental Quality identified the Little Blackfoot River and six of its tributaries to have water quality impairments in the Little Blackfoot River TPA. Data collected to assist with TMDL development also indicated water quality impairments in an additional four streams, which were addressed within the scope of the TMDL document. The pollutants of concern in the Little Blackfoot River TPA are sediment, nutrients, and metals. Impairment listings from Montana's 2010 Water Quality Integrated Report are indicated with and “X” in the table below and additional waterbodies that were evaluated for TMDL development are indicated with an “O” in the table. Waterbodies indicated with an “O” were also selected for evaluation based on a combination of habitat impairment listings that may be related to a pollutant, issues identified during source assessment work for the 303(d) listed waterbodies, and stakeholder input. For complete information on each stream's probable impairment causes and sources, see DEQ's Clean Water Act Information Center. (Click on "Search," select the "By Location" tab, and then select "Little Blackfoot" in the TMDL Planning Area (TPA) drop-down list.
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
SAP = sampling and analysis plan
PROJECT SCHEDULE
TMDLs for this project were completed in 2011. The final TMDL document can be found on DEQ's Final TMDL Documents webpage. Water quality sampling was conducted for metals and nutrients in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Data are available for download from STORET and associated with watershed/HUC 17010201 (Upper Clark Fork) and Organization ID MTWTRSHD__WQX. Sediment and habitat sites that help DEQ evaluate the existing stream condition and bank erosion were assessed in 2009, as well as the sediment contribution from roads.
CONTACTS
Page Released: July 20, 2010
Last Updated: October 24, 2013