Publication Summary

Water Cleanup Plans will result in cleaner lakes, streams, rivers, and bays. Clean water is vital for our quality of life – for both economic development and a healthy environment. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs or Water Cleanup Plans) are one way to return our water bodies to a healthy condition. TMDLs describe the type, amount and sources of water pollution in a particular water body; they analyze how much the pollution needs to be reduced or eliminated to meet water quality standards; and they provide targets and strategies to control the pollution. Community involvement is a vital part of developing water cleanup plans and to putting the plans into action. The local community, with the Department of Ecology′s support and assistance needs to be involved to help determine how pollution will be reduced to improve water quality.