TMDLs - Another Step to Cleaner Waters

Explanation of TMDLs and MassDEP's strategy for developing them.
Web page

1998 TMDL Strategy to Improve the Water Quality of Massachusetts Rivers and Lakes

MS Word 125 KB

Total Maximum Daily Loads FAQs

TMDLs Basics
Web page

Implementing TMDLs

Fact sheet from the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.
MS Word 156 KB | PDF 60 KB

A TMDL Alternative Regulatory Pathway Proposal for the Management of Selected Mercury-Impaired Waters

Supplement to the Proposed Massachusetts Year 2004 Integrated List of Waters
MS Word 495 KB | PDF 255 KB

Proposed Massachusetts Year 2008 Integrated List of Waters (CWA Sections 303d and 305b)

This document will be submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fulfillment of reporting requirements of both s. 305(b) and s. 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The 2008 List is based primarily on new watershed assessments completed for the Charles, Connecticut, Hudson, Housatonic, and Ten Mile watersheds and North Coastal drainages (see http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm)

Comments should be submitted in writing to the address below no later than June 6, 2008.

MassDEP
Division of Watershed Management
627 Main Street, Second Floor
Worcester, MA 01608
Attn: Arthur S. Johnson
508-767-2873

MS Word 4.2 MB | PDF 1.8 KB

Final Massachusetts 2006 Integrated List of Waters (CWA Sections 303d and 305b)

This list was approved by the US EPA on September 28, 2007.

Final Massachusetts 2006 Integrated List of Waters
MS Word 4.75 MB | PDF 1.4 MB

2006 Responses to Public Comments
MS Word 405 KB | PDF 226 KB

US EPA Approval Letter
MS Word 15 KB | PDF 93 KB

More information from US EPA
US EPA Web site

Final Massachusetts 2004 Integrated List of Waters (CWA Sections 303d and 305b)

This list was partially approved/partially disapproved by the US EPA on June 21, 2006. Specifically, EPA disapproved MassDEP's proposal to list 90 lakes and ponds that are impaired by mercury from atmospheric sources in Category 4B rather than on the 303(d) list (see Appendix 2). On February 6, 2007 the US EPA placed these 90 lakes and ponds on the Massachusetts 303(d) list following a separate public review process.

Final Massachusetts 2004 Integrated List of Waters
PDF 963 KB

2004 Public Comments and Responses
MS Word 264 KB | PDF 235 KB

US EPA Partial Approval/Partial Disapproval documents
Cover letter:
PDF 527 KB
Document:
PDF 63 KB
Appendix 1:
PDF 58 KB
Appendix 2:
PDF 18 KB

US EPA final decision on atmospheric mercury-impaired waters
MS Word 37 KB | PDF 281 KB

More information from US EPA
US EPA Web site

The Watershed Approach

Explanation of the five-year cycle under which Massachusetts watersheds are studied and evaluated. TMDLs are one product of this process.
Web page

Massachusetts Watersheds

Map of Massachusetts watersheds, color-coded to the five-year Watershed Approach cycle. Refer to this map to identify the watersheds named in the TMDL Reports.
Web page

back to TMDLs index

Final Northeast Regional Mercury TMDL - October 2007

The Northeast Regional Mercury TMDL is a Federal Clean Water Act mandated document that identifies pollutant load reductions necessary for regional waterbodies to meet and maintain compliance with state and federal water quality standards and was prepared by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) in cooperation with the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The TMDL covers waterbodies that are impaired primarily due to atmospheric deposition of mercury.

Fact Sheet:
Web page

Draft TMDL:
MS Word 8 MB | PDF 500 KB

Final Bacteria and Total Phosphorus TMDL Report for the Kickemuit River (Rhode Island-Massachusetts)

Prepared by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Report:
RI DEM Web site

back to TMDLs index

Draft Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Blackstone, Concord, Nashua Watersheds

Blackstone report: MS Word 3.8 MB | PDF 531 KB
Concord report (3 parts):
MS Word 296 KB | PDF 250 KB
MS Word 3.1 MB | PDF 2.7 MB
MS Word 141 KB | PDF 80 KB
Nashua report: MS Word 1.6 MB | PDF 583 KB

Draft Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Buzzards Bay, Taunton and S. Coastal Watersheds

Buzzards Bay report: MS Word 1.4 MB | PDF 333 KB
Taunton report: MS Word 1.33 MB | PDF 253 KB
South Coastal report: MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 369 KB

Draft Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Boston Harbor (Excluding the Neponset River Sub-basin) and North Coastal Watersheds

Boston Harbor report: MS Word 2 MB | PDF 746 KB
N. Coastal report: MS Word 2.2 MB | PDF 571 KB

Draft Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Cape Cod and Island Watersheds

Cape Cod report: MS Word 1.82 MB | PDF 416 KB
Islands report: MS Word 1.38 MB | PDF 281 KB

Draft Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Merrimack, Parker and Ipswich Watersheds

Merrimack report: MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 362 KB
Parker report: MS Word 1.3 MB | PDF 249 KB
Ipswich report: MS Word 1.33 MB | PDF 286 KB

The following documents apply to the above sets of reports.

Appendix A - Lower Charles River Illicit Detection & Elimination Protocol
MS Word 71 KB | PDF 124 KB
Implementation Guidance Manual for Watershed-Specific Pathogen TMDL Reports
Manual: MS Word 8.6 MB | PDF 1.5 MB
Table 3-1 Management Practice Matrix: MS Excel 37 KB | PDF 15 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Indian Lake

Report Number MA51073-2002-005, Control Number CN116
PDF 678 KB

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Lake Quinsigamond and Flint Pond

Report Number MA51050-2001-006, Control Number CN115
MS Word 829 KB | PDF 667 KB

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Leesville Pond

Report Number MA51087-2001-011, Control Number CN117
PDF 692 KB

Final TMDL for Northern Blackstone Lakes

Report Number MA51004-2001-3, Control Number CN70.1
PDF 2.2 MB

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Salisbury Pond

Report Number MA51142-2001-010, Control Number CN114
MS Word 1.1 MB | PDF 854 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Bacteria for Neponset River Basin

Report Number MA73-01-2002, Control Number CN 121.0
MS Word 2.6 MB | PDF 1.7 MB

back to TMDLs index

Final nutrient TMDL for Centerville River/East Bay

MS Word 1.8 MB | PDF 412 KB

Final Response to Comments
MS Word 41 KB | PDF 29 KB 

Final Nitrogen TMDL for Little Pond - February 2008

MS Word 1.6 MB | PDF 730 KB

Response to Public Comments
MS Word 62 KB | PDF 41 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL for Oyster Pond - February 2008

MS Word 1.6 MB | PDF 501 KB

Response to Public Comments
MS Word 62 KB | PDF 41 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL for Phinneys Harbor - November 2007

Control Number CN 245.0
MS Word 2.3 MB | PDF 668 KB

Response to Public Comments
MS Word 59 KB | PDF 100 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL for Pleasant Bay System

MS Word 3.6 MB | PDF 1.7 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL Report for Five Sub-Embayments of Popponesset Bay

Report Number: MA96-TMDL-4; Control Number CN 217.0
MS Word 546 KB | PDF 245 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL Report for the Quashnet River, Hamblin Pond, Little River, Jehu Pond, and Great River in the Waquoit Bay System

Report Number: MA96-TMDL-5; Control Number CN 218.0
MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 552 KB

Response to Comments
MS Word 49 KB | PDF 33 KB

Draft Bacteria TMDL Report for the Three Bays System

Report Number: MA96-TMDL-19; Control Number CN309.0
MS Word 570 KB | PDF 100 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL Report for the Three Bays System - September 2007

Report Number 96-TMDL-10, Control Number CN 242.0
MS Word 1.7 MB | PDF 628 KB

Response to Public Comments
MS Word 54 KB | PDF 31 KB

Final Nitrogen TMDL for West Falmouth Harbor - November 2007

Report # 95-TMDL-1, Control #243.0
MS Word 2.4 MB | PDF 497 KB

Response to Public Comments
MS Word 62 KB | PDF 41 KB

Draft Nitrogen TMDL Report for Five Chatham Embayments (Stage Harbor, Sulphur Springs, Taylors Pond, Bassing Harbor and Muddy Creek)

Report Number: MA96-TMDL-3; Control Number CN 206.0. Revised January 2008.
MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 736 KB

Final TMDL Report of Bacteria for Frost Fish Creek, Chatham

Report Number MA96-49-2004-01, Control Number CN 207.0
MS Word 2.2 MB | PDF 827 KB

Final TMDLs of Nitrogen for Great, Green, and Bournes Pond Embayment Systems

MS Word 2.5 MB | PDF 2.5 MB
Response to comments:
MS Word 55 KB | PDF 41 KB

Final TMDL Report of Bacteria for Muddy Creek, Chatham

Report Number MA96-51-2004-01, Control Number CN 208.0
MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 604 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final Phosphorus TMDL Report for the Lower Charles River Basin

Control number CN 301.0
MS Word 8 MB | PDF 1.8 MB

Final Pathogen TMDL Reports for the Charles River Watershed

MS Word 2.1 MB | PDF 530 KB
Appendix A. Summary of CSO Receiving Water Quality Monitoring 1989-2001
PDF 1.2 MB
Appendix B. Evaluation of Stormwater Management Benefits to the Lower Charles River
PDF 2.3 MB

Additional information:
Pathogen hotspots in the Charles River Watershed
MS Excel 129 KB | PDF 547 KB
Illicit Detection Manual, Implementation Guidance Manual, and Management Practice Matrix
Web page

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Quaboag and Quacumquasit Ponds

Report Number MA36130-2005-1, Control Number CN216
MS Word 4.2 MB | PDF 2.8 MB

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected Chicopee Basin Lakes

Report Number MA36025-2002-2, Control Number 118
PDF 2.03 MB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected Connecticut Basin Lakes

Report Number MA34002-2001-4, Control Number 112
PDF 2 MB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected French Basin Lakes

Report Number MA42003-2002-28, Control Number CN110
PDF 5 MB

back to TMDLs index

Draft TMDLs of Total Nitrogen for Nantucket Harbor

Report # 97-TMDL-2 Control #249.0
MS Word 1.7 MB | PDF 463 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected Millers River Basin Lakes

Report Number MA35005-2002-1CN123.2
PDF 3.27 MB

back to TMDLs index

Final Bacteria TMDL for Palmer River Basin

Report Number MA 53 03 2004-2, Control Number: CN 182.0
Report: MS Word 6.1 MB | PDF 840 KB
Appendix A - PDF 277 KB | Appendix B - PDF 1.7 MB | Appendix C - PDF 359 KB

back to TMDLs index

Draft Phosphorus TMDL for the Nashua River

MS Word 11 MB | PDF 3 MB

Final TMDL for Bare Hill Pond

Report Number MA81007-1999-01
PDF 696 KB

back to TMDLs index

Draft Storm Water Pollutant TMDL for Headwaters of the Shawsheen River

Report Number MA83-08-2003-01
PDF 2.35 MB

Final TMDLs of Bacteria for Shawsheen River Basin

Report Number MA83-01-2002-24, Control Number CN 122.0
MS Word 1.03 MB | PDF 518 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final TMDLs of Bacteria for Little Harbor, Cohasset

Report Number MA94-20-2002-22, Control Number 120
MS Word 1.6 MB | PDF 974 KB

back to TMDLs index

Final Nutrient TMDL Report for the Assabet River

Report Number: MA82B-01-2004-01; Control Number CN 201.0
MS Word 2.66 MB | PDF 2.17 MB

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Lake Boon (Boons Pond)

Report Number MA82011-2001-017, Control Number CN119
MS Word 2.65 MB | PDF 1.4 MB

back to TMDLs index