Publication Summary

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of each pollutant that causes a water body to not meet water quality standards.

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of each pollutant that causes a water body to not meet water quality standards.

The Dungeness River/Matriotti Creek Fecal Coliform Bacteria TMDL is established to address water quality impairments due to high fecal coliform bacteria (FC) levels in the lower Dungeness River watershed. It is also intended as an interim step to help protect marine water quality standards and shellfish harvesting in Dungeness Bay. A related circulation study currently underway in Dungeness Bay will lead to a Bay TMDL in 2003.

A TMDL includes: problem identification, technical analysis to determine the load capacity for the listed pollutant, and evaluation and allocation of pollutant loads for various sources. It is required to consider seasonal variations and include a margin of safety that takes into account any lack of knowledge about the causes of the water quality problem or the waterbody′s ability to assimilate pollution. Finally, a plan with an implementation schedule is developed to address the sources of pollution. This "Water Cleanup Plan" is developed with participation of the public and other government entities. All TMDLs must be approved by the EPA.

The Dungeness River/Matriotti Creek TMDL applies to the lower Dungeness River, Hurd and Matriotti creeks, Meadowbrook Creek and Slough, Golden Sands Slough, Cooper Creek, and several irrigation ditches that empty into Dungeness Bay. Figures 1 and 2 in the report show the study area and monitoring sites.