Total Maximum Daily Loads of Fecal Coliform for the Restricted Shellfish Harvesting Areas in Whitehall Creek, Indian Creek, Goose Creek, Warwick River, and San Domingo Creek for the Lower Choptank River Basin in Dorchester and Talbot Counties, Maryland.

摘要

Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) implementing regulations direct each state to identify and list waters, known as water quality limited segments (WQLSs), in which current required controls of a specified substance are inadequate to achieve water quality standards. For each WQLS, the State is to either establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of the specified substance that the waterbody can receive without violating water quality standards, or demonstrate that water quality standards are being met. Lower Choptank River (basin number 02-13-04-03) was first identified on the 1996 303(d) List submitted to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) as impaired by nutrients, sediments, and fecal coliform in the tidal portions, with listings of biological impacts in the non-tidal portions added in 2002. On the 2004 303(d) List, the fecal coliform impairment was clarified with the identification of five specific restricted shellfish harvesting areas within the basin. This document addresses the fecal coliform impairment listings of the areas identified: Whitehall Creek, Indian Creek, Goose Creek, Warwick River, and San Domingo Creek. The nutrient, sediment, bacteria, and biological impairments within other parts of the Lower Choptank River basin will be addressed at a future date.