Tobacco TMDL Planning Area 2014 TMDL Project
Page Contents:
Streams & TMDLs Included in this Project
Three total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) are being written for this project and will be completed in 2014. A temperature TMDL is being written for Fortine Creek, and two nutrient TMDLs are being written for Lime Creek (see Table 1 and Map 1 below). Click on the stream names in the table to view water quality summaries and to link to their full water quality assessment records.
Table 1: TMDLs to be Completed in 2014
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Waterbody & Location Description
(Click on Name to View Assessment Summary)
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TMDL(s) Being Written
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Fortine Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Grave Creek)
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Temperature
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Lime Creek
Headwaters to mouth (Fortine Creek)
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Total Nitrogen,
Total Phosphorus
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Project Location
Fortine and Lime Creeks are located in the Tobacco River watershed, predominately located in Lincoln County, with a small section of the Lime Creek drainage located in Flathead County (Map 1). The Tobacco River watershed is part of the Upper Kootenai 4th code hydrologic unit (17010104) and drains approximately 440 mi2. The Tobacco River forms at the confluence of Grave and Fortine Creeks and flows into Lake Koocanusa. It is located between the Kootenai River on the west and the Whitefish Mountain Range on the east.
Map 1: Location of the Tobacco River Watershed and Fortine and Lime Creeks
(Click on map to enlarge)
Project Schedule & Documents Available for Review
All three TMDLs will be completed and available for public comment in 2014. A draft version of the document will be available for review and comment by the Tobacco TMDL Watershed Advisory Group prior to the public comment period. Documents will be posted in Table 2 once they are available.
A watershed advisory group meeting will be scheduled in the next few months to discuss the draft document. A public meeting will also be held during the public comment period.
Table 2: Draft Documents Available for the Tobacco TMDL Watershed Advisory Group's Review
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Document
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Contents
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Date Posted
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Submit Comments To:
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Documents will be available soon
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Previous TMDL Projects & Completed TMDLs
DEQ divided the watershed into two TMDL planning areas: Tobacco and Grave Creek (Map 1 above). Sediment TMDLs were previously completed in both of these planning areas. Table 3 provides a list of the streams with sediment TMDLs and links to their associated documents.
Table 3: Prior TMDL Projects & Completed TMDLs in the Tobacco River Watershed
Information on Restoration Projects
Land management activities that may improve water quality in the Tobacco River watershed and a monitoring strategy to evaluate progress toward attainment of waters quality standards are outlined Section 6.0 of the Tobacco document and Sections 7.0 through 9.0 in the Grave Creek document. If you would like learn about or become involved with monitoring and restoration projects in the area, contact the Kootenai River Network.
Additional information on possible funding to implement water quality improvement projects can be found on DEQ’s Nonpoint Source Program webpage. For technical assistance, contact Eric Trum at etrum@mt.gov 406-44-0531 or Robert Ray at rray@mt.gov or 406-444-5319.
Project Contacts
Lisa Kusnierz is the project manager. She can be reached at Kusnierz.Lisa@epa.gov or (406) 457-5001
Lisa is with the Montana Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Helena; however she is working collaboratively with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
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Page Created: July 23, 2009
Last Updated: May 27, 2014
