FDEP Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Program

Article Reference: FDEP Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Program
News & Announcements

New!
The department announces a public meeting to present and receive public comments on draft nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Lake Marion, Lake Pierce, and Lake Wales in the Kissimmee River Basin. and having these nutrient TMDLs, if adopted, constitute site specific numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion. The meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2020, at 1:00 pm via webinar. The department will accept written comments on the draft TMDLs, as well as the establishment of these nutrient TMDLs as site-specific interpretations of the narrative nutrient criteria, through June 3, 2020. Written comments should be directed to: Ansel Bubel, Mail Station #3555, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, email: ansel.bubel@dep.state.fl.us.

New!
The department announces a public meeting to present and receive public comments on draft nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Haw Creek above Crescent Lake in the Lower St. Johns River Basin. The meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2020, at 1:00 pm via webinar. The department will accept written comments on the draft TMDLs through June 17, 2020. Written comments should be directed to: Ansel Bubel, Mail Station #3555, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, email: ansel.bubel@dep.state.fl.us.

What is a TMDL? 

A TMDL is a scientific determination of the maximum amount of a given pollutant that a surface water can absorb and still meet the water quality standards that protect human health and aquatic life. Water bodies that do not meet water quality standards are identified as “impaired” for the particular pollutants of concern – nutrients, bacteria, mercury, etc. – and TMDLs must be developed, adopted and implemented to reduce those pollutants and clean up the water body.

The threshold limits on pollutants in surface waters – Florida’s surface water quality standards on which TMDLs are based – are set forth primarily in rule 62-302, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), and the associated table of water quality criteria.

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