Publication Summary

This TMDL establishes a management plan to reduce nutrients in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane to prevent low dissolved oxygen, excessive algae blooms and degradation of downstream water quality. The dissolved oxygen levels in this system are affected by nutrients; therefore, this TMDL establishes limits for ammonia (NH3), total phosphorus (TP) and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD). The Managed Implementation Plan focuses on strategies to reduce phosphorus because the strategies will likely result in reductions of these and other important pollutants. This TMDL has been revised from previous drafts issued in 2007 and 2008 by containing a dissolved oxygen responsibility for a hydroelectric dam, accounting for stormwater pollution, and cumulatively assessing the dissolved oxygen impacts from all point sources in Washington and Idaho.