Total Maximum Daily Loads of Fecal Coliform for the Restricted Shellfish Harvesting Areas in the Wicomico River Watershed Basin (Charleston Creek and Chaptico Bay) in Charles and Saint Mary's 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. The Wicomico River (basin number 02-14-01-06) 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, with listings of biological impacts in the non-tidal portions added in 2002. On the draft 2004 303(d) List, specific restricted shellfish harvesting areas were identified. This document addresses the fecal coliform impairment listings of two restricted shellfish harvesting areas within the Wicomico River: Charleston Creek (RID 43B) and Chaptico Bay (RID 43D).