The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on a Total Maximum Daily Load Plan for the Susquehanna River-Brush Valley Creek in Northumberland County covering sediment pollution. (PA Bulletin, page 2355)

The Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report included stream segments impaired for aquatic life in the watershed. The impairments addressed by this document were caused by excessive siltation due to agriculture.

The proposed TMDL document sets allowable loading of sediment in the UNT Susquehanna River Watershed and calls for at least a 25 percent reduction in sediment loading.

The ‘‘TMDLs’’ included allocations for nonpoint sources, reserves for future point sources, as well as margin of safety factors.

Nonpoint source load allocations were made for cropland, hay/pasture land, and streambank source sectors present in the watershed.

Click Here for a copy of the Proposed TMDL Plan.  Questions should be directed to Michael Morris at michamorri@pa.gov or call 717-772-5670.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. (PA Bulletin, page 2355)

Learn more about TMDLs by visiting DEP’s PRP/TMDL Plans webpage.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

Related Article:

-- Penn State Extension: Total Maximum Daily Loading Plan - A Watershed Stewardship Opportunity

[Posted: April 23, 2021]

4/26/2021