Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Fecal Coliform Bacteria in the Waters of Duck Creek in Mendenhall Valley, Alaska

摘要

Duck Creek is listed on the 1998 303(d) list of impaired waters in Alaska for fecal coliform bacteria. The primary sources of fecal coliform bacteria in the creek are urban runoff and animal waste. As the watershed has become more developed, urban runoff and pet populations have increased. Based on the water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria and the hydrologic conditions of Duck Creek, the loading capacity for fecal coliform bacteria was estimated at 2.23 x 1011 FC/yr. It is recommended that proposed wetland, streamflow, and streamside restoration projects be carried out to reduce the inflow of fecal coliform bacteria to the creek and to increase baseflow in the creek. In addition, pet owners should be encouraged to cleanup and properly dispose of pet waste, and best management practices should be employed to control urban runoff.