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
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
The "Tobacco Planning Area Nutrient and Temperature TMDLs and Water Quality Improvement Plan" is currently available for public comment until Tuesday, August 12, 2014. The draft document and information on submitting comments can be found on DEQ's webpage at: http://deq.mt.gov/pubcom.mcpx. A copy of the document can also be found at the Eureka public library.
A public meeting is being held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 5 p.m. at the Lincoln Electric Cooperative Building at 500 Osloski Road in Eureka, MT. Lisa Kusnierz, the project manager, will discuss the temperature TMDL for Fortine Creek and the nutrient TMDLs for Lime Creek and answer questions.
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 2 provides a list of the streams with sediment TMDLs and links to their associated documents.
Table 2: 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, a non-profit organization that works to create partnerships with private and public interests dedicated to the protection, use, restoration, and education of water resources in the Kootenai River watershed, which includes the Tobacco River watershed.
Information on possible funding to implement water quality improvement projects and simple steps that can be taken to prevent pollution, can be found on DEQ’s Nonpoint Source Program webpage. Contact Eric Trum (etrum@mt.gov or 406-444-0531) or Robert Ray (rray@mt.gov or 406-444-5319) for additional information or technical assistance with project planning.
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: July 22, 2014