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Bitterroot Mainstem TPA Advisory Group Members

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Saved by Christina Staten
on August 1, 2011 at 2:49:59 pm
 

Posted notice that sediment & temperature TMDLs were submitted to EPA

Bitterroot TMDL Planning Area Welcome Page

Project Overview & Contacts   Sign-Up for Updates   Nutrient Schedule 

Sediment & Temperature Schedule   TAG Documents

 

Bitterroot Watershed and Technical Advisory Groups

 

We are pleased to have so much interest in the Bitterroot TMDLs and appreciate the feedback that you provide during the TMDL development process. Below is a description of the roles of the watershed advisory group, the technical and modeling advisory groups, and also interested parties. This information lays the framework for the stakeholder advisory process.

 

 

MEMBERS

Since planning in this watershed has been taking place over a number of years, the list of members has changed over time and may continue to change as planning progresses. The current list of members is available as a PDF (updated March 2011). If you find incorrect information, please contact Christina Staten to make a change.

 

 

MEETINGS

  

Advisory Group Meetings:

An advisory group meeting was held Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the Middle School in Hamilton to review the components of the sediment tributaries and temperature TMDLs. Christina Staten gave an overview of the TMDL process, Kristy Fortman discussed the components of the sediment tributary TMDLs, and Darrin Kron discussed the components of the temperature TMDLs. The full presentation may be downloaded as a PDF:

High Resolution (9.0 MB)

Low Resolution (5.3 MB)

 

Public Meetings:

A public informational meeting for the temperature and tributary sediment TMDLs was held Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the Bedford Building (City Hall) in Hamilton, MT. Christina, Kristy, and Darrin gave a presentation and it is available for viewing: May 5, 2011 Public Meeting Presentation (4.84 MB)

 

 

DOCUMENTS

  

Draft Temperature & Tributary Sediment TMDL Document:

The public comment period for the draft "Bitterroot Temperature and Tributary Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads and Framework Water Quality Improvement Plan" has closed. DEQ made final edits to the document and submitted it to EPA for approval on August 1, 2011. Once approved by EPA, the final document will be posted to DEQ's Final TMDL Documents website and a notification will be posted on this page.

 

Nutrient Documents:

The Bitterroot Technical Advisory Group Documents page contains documents related to development of the Bitterroot nutrient TMDLs. The page is only avaialbe to the TAG at this time.

 


 

Roles of the Bitterroot TPA Stakeholders 

 

All advisory group members participate at their discretion and in an advisory role to DEQ in the Bitterroot TMDL process.

 

Watershed Advisory Group (WAG):

Representatives of applicable interest groups have been requested to work with the DEQ and the Bitterroot and Missoula Conservation Districts (CDs) in an advisory capacity per State Law (75-5-703 & 704). Comment opportunities will be obtained from this group at varying stages of TMDL development, including opportunities for TMDL draft document review prior to the public comment period. During TMDL development, meetings or other forms of interaction will be pursued when appropriate to obtain timely WAG advice and comments. The DEQ Project Coordinator, Christina Staten, is responsible for WAG formation and is the primary DEQ contact regarding WAG meeting coordination. Outreach and coordination assistance will also be provided by the Bitter Root Water Forum (Heather Mullee).

 

The WAG provides advice and comment during TMDL development; they do not have TMDL decision making authority. Therefore, there is no need for a WAG chairman or similar formalities.

 

Technical Advisory Group (TAG):

The TAG will be comprised of individuals with intimate knowledge about scientific issues, processes, and sampling design, as well as familiarity with the TMDL Planning Area (TPA) project area where TMDL development is underway. Individuals may include representatives from state and federal agencies, local resource professionals, or members of local government, including CD members. The DEQ Project Coordinator and DEQ Project Managers, Kristy Fortman (sediment) and Darrin Kron (nutrients and temperature), will work together to coordinate all TAG interactions and meetings during TMDL development. There may be some variances of TAG members for each pollutant category.

 

The TAG provides technical advice and comment during TMDL development for components such as water quality assessments and sampling designs. The DEQ maintains responsibility for technical decisions applied toward TMDL development.

 

Previously, a Modeling Technical Advisory Group was maintained separately from the main TAG, however the two have been merged. Members selected for modeling advice will be co-maintained by the DEQ Project Coordinator and DEQ Bitterroot Project Modeler, Kyle Flynn.

 

Interested Parties: 

Interested parties have chosen or requested to be informed and/or involved in the TMDL process.  The DEQ Project Coordinator will add them to a distribution list to be kept informed of public meetings. Interested parties will also receive general TMDL schedule updates to be kept aware of project progress and completion status.

 

Additional Specifics for the Bitterroot TMDL Planning Area

 

This planning area has a very high amount of public and political interest and therefore both the WAG and TAG include more members than most TPAs in the state. Nevertheless, the goal is to ensure a manageable and efficient feedback process by selecting a limited number of WAG and TAG members who can represent their applicable interest group by attending meetings, reviewing information provided at meetings or via the DEQ TMDL wiki, disseminating information to the group of people that they represent, and subsequently obtaining feedback that can be passed on to DEQ TMDL project personnel.

 

The DEQ will maintain contact with advisory group members and to also keep interested parties apprised of project status. Anyone interested in the Bitterroot TMDLs may request to be added to the interested parties list by contacting the DEQ Project Coordinator or Project Managers, the Bitter Root Water Forum, the Lolo Watershed Group, or via the DEQ TMDL wiki.

 

Meetings held to provide updates on TMDL progress, the results of project milestones, and to address questions will include CD members and members of both advisory groups. Meeting notices will be sent to all members and will also be posted on the DEQ TMDL wiki. Some meetings may be held solely to discuss technical components of the TMDLs and therefore may only include the TAG, or portions of the TAG depending on the subject matter (e.g. meetings to discuss modeling components). CD representatives will always be copied on TAG meeting notices.

 

For all TMDLs developed, a public meeting will be held during the public comment period of document completion. All advisory group members, CD members, and known interested parties will be notified of these meetings. Public notices will also be posted in local newspapers, on the DEQ web site, and the DEQ TMDL wiki.

 

Any questions regarding the roles of advisory group members or interested parties should be directed to the DEQ Project Coordinator.

 


Page Released: April 16, 2010

Last Updated: August 1, 2011