Big Horn TMDL
Since the Clean Water Act of 1972 thousands of the Nation’s rivers and streams have been restored to the desired “fishable and swimmable” condition through EPA mandates and regulations. To combat pollutants that impact a stream’s natural characteristics, those which can no longer support their designated uses are placed on a list of impaired streams. Reasons for impairment can vary, from concentrations of nutrients and bacteria to metals and salts.
Wyoming currently has 125 bodies of water on the list, commonly known as Section 303(d). Once a body of water has been added to the list, EPA mandates that a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) must be developed for that specific area, and they must be restored to their natural condition within 13 years in order to be removed from the Section 303(d) list. In short, a TMDL is a compilation of sources which may impair the water, be it a sewage plant or land runoff. A plan for restoration and lowering pollutants is then done using the information.
Wyoming has a history of positive and effective collaborations between land owners, state and federal agencies and the WACD (Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts). However, not enough progress has been made and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the DEQ is now requiring TMDL’s on Wyoming’s listed. DEQ is doing the TMDL’s to be done on a watershed basis, rather than doing one stream at a time in the interest of speeding up the process and reducing duplication.
The SBHCD District along with the other six Conservation Districts in the Big Horn Basin worked in an advisory capacity with a consulting firm, RESPEC, from South Dakota on the development of the Big Horn TMDL. This was a huge undertaking covering a large land area from the Wedding of the Waters near Thermopolis to the Big Horn Reservoir near Lovell. The SBHCD hosted two public meetings in regards to the work RESPEC completed. The TMDL is virtually finished, awaiting the completion of public comment on the draft and any revisions that result, along with final adoption. SBHCD will use the TMDL Implementation Plan as a guideline for areas of BMP implementation. The District would like to focus on one watershed to reduce bacterial loading. Grants to help share the cost of BMP implementation are important due to the expense of the practices for the individual landowner and the relatively low benefit to the landowner. Most of the benefits accrue to the general population through improved water quality.
Wyoming currently has 125 bodies of water on the list, commonly known as Section 303(d). Once a body of water has been added to the list, EPA mandates that a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) must be developed for that specific area, and they must be restored to their natural condition within 13 years in order to be removed from the Section 303(d) list. In short, a TMDL is a compilation of sources which may impair the water, be it a sewage plant or land runoff. A plan for restoration and lowering pollutants is then done using the information.
Wyoming has a history of positive and effective collaborations between land owners, state and federal agencies and the WACD (Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts). However, not enough progress has been made and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the DEQ is now requiring TMDL’s on Wyoming’s listed. DEQ is doing the TMDL’s to be done on a watershed basis, rather than doing one stream at a time in the interest of speeding up the process and reducing duplication.
The SBHCD District along with the other six Conservation Districts in the Big Horn Basin worked in an advisory capacity with a consulting firm, RESPEC, from South Dakota on the development of the Big Horn TMDL. This was a huge undertaking covering a large land area from the Wedding of the Waters near Thermopolis to the Big Horn Reservoir near Lovell. The SBHCD hosted two public meetings in regards to the work RESPEC completed. The TMDL is virtually finished, awaiting the completion of public comment on the draft and any revisions that result, along with final adoption. SBHCD will use the TMDL Implementation Plan as a guideline for areas of BMP implementation. The District would like to focus on one watershed to reduce bacterial loading. Grants to help share the cost of BMP implementation are important due to the expense of the practices for the individual landowner and the relatively low benefit to the landowner. Most of the benefits accrue to the general population through improved water quality.
