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Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
About TMDLs

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

The Watershed Management Approach

Explanation of the 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 Watershed Management cycle. Refer to this map to identify the watersheds named in the TMDL Reports.
Web page

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Integrated Lists & Other Reports

Proposed Massachusetts Year 2012 Integrated List of Waters (CWA Sections 303d and 305b)

The Proposed Massachusetts Year 2012 Integrated List of Waters is provided here for public review and comment. 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. In addition to the actual proposed listing of the individual categories of waters, the report presents a brief history of water quality management in Massachusetts and presents a brief overview of the methodology that is currently employed for assessing and reporting on the status of Massachusetts waters. The 2012 List is based primarily on new watershed assessments completed for the Blackstone, Boston Harbor (including Mystic, Neponset and Weymouth/Weir), Merrimack and Parker watersheds and the Cape Cod coastal drainage areas. Water quality assessments of these watersheds have been completed and can be found at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm.

Proposed 2012 Integrated List of Waters
MS Word 7.8 MB | PDF 1.9 MB

Final Massachusetts Year 2010 Integrated List of Waters (CWA Sections 303d and 305b)

The Federal Clean Water Act requires MassDEP to submit to US EPA a listing of waterbodies in the state that are not expected to meet the surface water quality standards set forth in the Act and will require the development of a TMDL. This list was approved by the US EPA on November 16, 2011.

Final Massachusetts 2010 Integrated List of Waters
MS Word 7.8 MB | PDF 1.9 MB

2010 Responses to Public Comments
MS Word 368 KB | PDF 309 KB

US EPA Approval Letter
MS Word 37 KB | PDF 11 KB

US EPA Review Document
MS Word 125 KB | PDF 80 KB

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

The Federal Clean Water Act requires MassDEP to submit to US EPA a listing of waterbodies in the state that are not expected to meet the surface water quality standards set forth in the Act and will require the development of a TMDL. This list was approved by the US EPA on May 4, 2009.

Final Massachusetts 2008 Integrated List of Waters
MS Word 7.4 MB | PDF 1.5 MB

2008 Responses to Public Comments
MS Word 280 KB | PDF 178 KB

US EPA Approval Letter
PDF 92 KB

More information from US EPA
US EPA Web site

MassDEP POTW Nitrogen Evaluation

This report evaluates 21 publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) located in the Blackstone, Ten Mile, Connecticut, Chicopee, Millers, Westfield, and Deerfield Watersheds for their ability to remove nitrogen to several discharge levels and provides "order of magnitude" costs associated with achieving those levels. Note: Some of these files will take some time to download based on connection speed. This report is also available as a CD-Rom and can be obtained by contacting your regional office to request a copy.

Executive Summary and front matter
PDF 285 KB
Section 1 - Introduction
PDF 342 KB
Section 2 - Quality Assurance Program
PDF 86 KB
Section 3a - Blackstone River Watershed
PDF 6.4 MB
Section 3b - Blackstone River Watershed, continued
PDF 6.2 MB
Section 3c - Blackstone River Watershed, continued
PDF 4.9 MB
Section 4 - Connecticut River Watershed
PDF 8 MB
Section 5 - Chicopee River Watershed
PDF 1.4 MB
Section 6 - Millers River Watershed
PDF 205 KB
Section 7 - Deerfield RIver Watershed
PDF 842 KB
Section 8 - Westfield River Watershed
PDF 841 KB
Section 9 - Ten Mile River Watershed
PDF 4.1 MB
Section 10 - Summary
PDF 425 KB
Appendix A - Information Request Forms
PDF 110 KB
Appendix B - Site Visit Interviews
PDF 855 KB
Appendix C - Cost Data
PDF 81 KB
Errata
MS Word 241 KB | PDF 232 KB

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TMDL Reports by Watershed

NOTE: Due to very large file sizes, download times may significantly increase.
Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Multi-State

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

Final 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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Multi-Watershed

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 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 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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Blackstone River Watershed

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
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
PDF 854 KB

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Boston Harbor Watershed

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Buzzards Bay Watershed

Final TMDL of Total Phosphorus for White Island Pond

Report Number MA95166-2009-1, Control Number CN 330.2. April 2010.
MS Word 8.9 MB | PDF 2.5 MB

White Island Pond Memorandum of Agreement

Memorandum of Agreement between MassDEP, the Department of Agricultural Resources, the UMass Cranberry Station and the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association for reduction of nutrient discharges into White Island Pond.
MS Word 107 KB | PDF 36 KB

Final Pathogen TMDL for the Buzzards Bay Watershed

Report, Control Number CN 251.1: MS Word 7.6 MB | PDF 2.4 MB
Appendices: MS Word 6.4 MB | PDF 3 MB

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Cape Cod Watershed

Final Pathogen TMDL Report for the Cape Cod Watershed

Report: MS Word 1.82 MB | PDF 416 KB
Implementation guide: Web page

Draft Addendum to Final Pathogen TMDL Report, March 2012

Since the Cape Cod Pathogen TMDL was finalized in 2009, the 2004-2008 Cape Cod Surface Water Quality Assessment Report identified an additional 17 pathogen impaired segments, which have been included in the Draft 2012 Integrated List of Waters (see above). These segments will require the development of TMDLs. MassDEP has developed this addendum for inclusion in the Final Pathogen TMDL for the Cape Cod Watershed.

MassDEP will receive public comments on the Draft Addendum until May 25, 2012. Comments, referring to report # CN 252.5, must be received in writing, preferably in electronic format, and be addressed to: MassDEP, Division of Watershed Management, 627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608, ATTN: Dr. Kimberly Groff (kimberly.groff@state.ma.us).

MS Word 341 KB | PDF 640 KB

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

Draft Nutrient TMDL for Lewis Bay - August 2010

MS Word 4.4 MB | PDF 1.1 MB

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 247.0
MS Word 2.3 MB | PDF 630 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 MB

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

Final Bacteria TMDL Report for the Three Bays System - July 2009

Report Number: MA96-TMDL-19; Control Number CN309.0
MS Word 2.2 MB | PDF 1.1 MB

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

Final 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 206.1. December 2008.
MS Word 1.2 MB | PDF 399 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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Charles River Watershed

Optimal Stormwater Management Plan Alternatives: A Demonstration Project in Three Upper Charles River Communities

Report of a pilot study in the Upper Charles River Basin to determine the optimal combination of best management practices to meet phosphorus reduction targets specified in the Charles River TMDL.
MS Word 5.1 MB | PDF 3.7 MB

Final TMDL for Nutrients in the Upper/Middle Charles River

Control number CN 272.0
MS Word 2.2 MB | PDF 2.3 MB (includes Appendices)
Appendix A1
MS Word 430 KB | PDF 112 KB

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Chicopee River Watershed

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Connecticut River Watershed

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected Connecticut Basin Lakes

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
French River Watershed

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected French Basin Lakes

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Islands Watershed

Draft Edgartown Great Pond System Total Maximum Daily Load for Nitrogen - February 2010

MS Word 4.6 MB | PDF 605 KB

Draft Nitrogen TMDL for Madaket Harbor/Long Pond - August 2011

MS Word 2.7 MB | PDF 934 KB

Draft Pathogen TMDL Report for the Islands Watershed

Report: MS Word 1.38 MB | PDF 281 KB
Implementation guidance: Web page

Final TMDLs of Total Nitrogen for Nantucket Harbor

Report # 97-TMDL-2 Control #249.0
MS Word 911 KB | PDF 399 KB

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Millers River Watershed

Final TMDLs of Phosphorus for Selected Millers River Basin Lakes

Report Number MA35005-2002-1CN123.2. Updated January 2010.
PDF 3.27 MB

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Narragansett Bay Watershed

Final Pathogen TMDL for the Narragansett/Mt. Hope Bay Watershed

Report Number 61-TMDL-2, CN# 351.0. July 2010.
MS Word 2.5 MB | PDF 1.8 MB

Final Bacteria TMDL for Palmer River Basin

Report Number MA 53 03 2004-2, Control Number: CN 182.0
Report: MS Word 3.7 MB | PDF 1.8 MB
Appendix A - PDF 277 KB | Appendix B - PDF 1.7 MB | Appendix C - PDF 359 KB

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Nashua River Watershed

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Shawsheen River Watershed

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
South Coastal Watershed

Draft Pathogen TMDL for the South Coastal Watershed

South Coastal report: MS Word 1.5 MB | PDF 369 KB

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
SuAsCo Watershed

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

The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) conducted a planning study to determine the feasibility of sediment and dam removal in the Assabet River for improvement of water quality and restoration of ecological health.

ACOE planning study
ACOE Web site

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

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Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Taunton Watershed

Final Pathogen TMDL Report for the Taunton Watershed

Report: MS Word 1.33 MB | PDF 1.2 MB

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