Bitterroot TMDL Planning Area Welcome Page
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Sediment & Temperature Schedule Advisory Groups TAG Documents
Schedule for Development of the Bitterroot Nutrient TMDLs
This page has been reorganized and changed from its previous format (starting October, 2011). General project announcements and updates will be posted in the first table. The next table contains a list of the main tasks that remain to be completed, a description of each task, and its status. As document pieces become available for review, review timeframes will also be posted in the table.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES
October, 2011
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This table will be used to post overall updates about the project.
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MAIN TASKS FOR COMPLETION OF THE NUTRIENT TMDLS AND TASK STATUS
Task & Task Description
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Task Status
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Review Timeframe
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SWAT Modeling
A Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is being used to evaluate nutrient loading in the Bitterroot River watershed. The model will assess the potential significance of nutrient loading from all sources within the watershed. The Project Overview page contains a table of the streams included in this TMDL assessment.
A series of technical reports are being developed in support of this modeling effort. They will be posted to the Bitterroot Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Documents page for review by the TAG as they become available.
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The model is currently being calibrated to the hydrologic conditions in the Bitterroot River watershed.
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Stakeholder review periods have not been established.
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Nutrient Target Development
Water quality targets will be developed to evaluate existing stream conditions.
Currently, Montana only has narrative standards for nutrients. Numeric standards are under development and may be approved prior to completion of this project, in which case the numeric standards will be used as the water quality targets. For additional information on development of the nutrient numeric standards, see DEQ’s Numeric Nutrient Criteria webpage.
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This task has not been started.
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Stakeholder review periods have not been established.
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Establishment of TMDLs & Allocations
Nutrient TMDLs will be written for streams where assessment results are consistent with nutrient impairment. Allocations will be established for significant sources for each TMDL.
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This task has not been started.
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Stakeholder review periods have not been established.
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Draft Document Completion
The full draft document will be completed and made available for stakeholder review.
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This task has not been started.
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Stakeholder review periods have not been established.
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Public Comment Period
A formal public comment period will be held during which time the public may submit written comments. A public meeting will be held during this timeframe.
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The public comment period will not be established until draft document development is nearing completion.
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The public comment period has not been established.
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Final Document Completion & EPA Submittal
DEQ will review all comments received during the public comment period, prepare responses, and make any necessary edits to the document. The document will then be submittal to EPA for approval. Once approved, the final document will be posted to DEQ’s website.
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This task will not begin until the public comment period closes.
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Not Applicable
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CONTACTS
For questions regarding the nutrient TMDL tasks, please contact Christina Staten, Bitterroot Project Coordinator, at cstaten@mt.gov or (406) 444-2836, or Darrin Kron, Nutrient Project Manager, at dkron@mt.gov or 406-444-4765. The temperature and tributary sediment TMDLs were completed under a separate document. Their completion schedule can be found on the Bitterroot Sediment and Temperature TMDL Schedule page.
Page Released: April 14, 2010
Last Updated: October 28, 2011