TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS (TMDLs) 

When a lake or stream does not meet Water Quality Standards (WQS), a study must be completed to determine the amount of a pollutant that can be put in a waterbody from point sources and nonpoint sources and still meet WQS, including a margin of safety. A TMDL is used as a short hand acronym to describe the process used to determine how much pollutant load a lake or stream can assimilate.

Why are TMDLs being developed?
TMDLs are required by the federal Clean Water Act for waterbodies that do not meet WQS. TMDLs are receiving more attention now because of the several recent lawsuits in federal courts.

How is it decided which waterbodies need TMDLs?
Each state identifies waterbodies within its boundaries which are not meeting Water Quality Standards and the reason why (for example, excess nutrients). To identify these lakes and streams in Michigan, we rely on water quality data that is less than five years old, and make sure the data is reliable.

Who is responsible for developing TMDLs in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for developing TMDLs.

How is a TMDL developed?
A TMDL is developed by determining the maximum daily load of a pollutant that a waterbody can assimilate and meet Water Quality Standards. This load is then allocated to point source discharges, nonpoint source discharges, and a margin of safety reserve (to account for technical uncertainties).

What is the role of Local Communities and Landowners in the development of TMDLs?
TMDL development is a public process that works best with the involvement of all affected parties. This is particularly important during the discussion on allocation and implementation issues. Participation by local communities and landowners leads to more representative TMDLs that can be readily implemented. This leads to quicker improvements in water quality.

What happens once a TMDL is developed?
Following development of a draft, a TMDL is noticed for public comment. After making any appropriate modifications in response to the public comment, the TMDL is sent to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for approval. Once approved, the state is required to implement the TMDL so the waterbody will meet Water Quality Standards. The TMDL is implemented through existing programs, such as NPDES permits for point source discharges and nonpoint source control programs, to achieve the necessary pollutant reductions.

What TMDLs have been developed and  approved  in Michigan?

Waterbody:       Albrow Creek - E. coli
      County:      Jackson

Waterbody:       Bass River - E. coli
      County:      Ottawa

Waterbody:       Bass River - Biota
      County:      Ottawa

Waterbody:       Bean Creek

      County:      Hillsdale and Lenawee

Waterbody:      Bear Creek

      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Belle and North Branch Belle Rivers
      County:      Lapeer and St. Clair

Waterbody:       Berry Drain
      County:      Sanilac

Waterbody:       Black Creek

      County:      Muskegon

Waterbody:      Brighton Lake

      County:      Livingston

Waterbody:       Brownstown Creek
      County:      Wayne

Waterbody:       Buck Creek
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:      Carrier Creek

      County:      Eaton

Waterbody:       Cedar River
      County:      Gladwin

Waterbody:      Coldwater River

      County:      Isabella

Waterbody:       Coldwater River and Bear Creek (Tyler Creek)
      County:      Kent, Ionia, and Barry

Waterbody:       Coon Creek, East Branch (E. coli)
      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:       Coon Creek, East Branch (Dissolved Oxygen)
      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:      Crapaud Creek

      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:      Deer Creek

      County:      Berrien

Waterbody:       Deer Creek
      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:       Duff Creek
      County:      Sanilac

Waterbody:       East Pond Creek
      County:      Macomb County

Waterbody:       Ecorse River

      County:      Wayne

Waterbody:      Ford Lake/Belleville Lake(Huron River Imp.)

      County:      Wayne

Waterbody:       Frank and Poet Drain
      County:      Wayne

Waterbody:      Galien River

      County:      Berrien

Waterbody:      Geddes Pond (Huron River)

      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Grand River  - E. coli

      County:      Jackson

Waterbody:       Grand River  - Dissolved Oxygen

      County:      Jackson

Waterbody:       Grand River  - Biota

      County:      Jackson

Waterbody:       Grand River  - E. coli
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Great Bear Lake
      County:      Van Buren

Waterbody:      Hammell Creek

      County:      Houghton

Waterbody:       Johnson Creek
      County:      Wayne and Washtenaw

Waterbody:      Kawkawlin River

      County:      Bay

Waterbody:      Kent Lake

      County:      Oakland

Waterbody:       Kintz Creek and Hunter's Creek

      County:      Lapeer

Waterbody:       Lake Allegan (Kalamazoo River Imp.)

      County:      Allegan

Waterbody:       Lake Erie Luna Pier Beach
      County:      Monroe

Waterbody:      Lake Macatawa (Watershed)

      County:      Ottawa

Waterbody:       Lake St. Clair Beaches
      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:       Lapointe Drain
      County:      Monroe

Waterbody:      Lenawee County Drain No. 70

      County:      Lenawee

Waterbody:       Lime Creek

      County:      Hillsdale

Waterbody:       Lincoln Lake
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Little Black Creek

      County:      Muskegon

Waterbody:       Malletts Creek
      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Mickles Creek

      County:      Saginaw

Waterbody:       Mill Creek

      County:      St. Clair

Waterbody:       North Branch Kawkawlin River
      County:      Bay

Waterbody:      Ore Lake

      County:      Livingston

Waterbody:       Paint Creek - E. coli
      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Paint Creek - Biota
      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Paint Creek - Dissolved Oxygen
      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Pine Creek
      County:      Gratiot

Waterbody:      Plaster Creek

      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Plaster Creek - Biota
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Potters Lake and Burdick Drain
      County:      Lapeer

Waterbody:       Red Run Drain and Bear Creek
      County:      Macomb and Oakland

Waterbody:       Rio Grande Creek

      County:      Ottawa

Waterbody:      River Raisin

      County:      Lenawee

Waterbody:       River Raisin - E. coli
      County:      Lenawee and Monroe

Waterbody:       River Raisin - Nitrate
      County:      Lenawee

Waterbody:       River Rouge - Biota
      County:      Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland

Waterbody:       River Rouge - E. coli
      County:      Wayne and Oakland

Waterbody:       St. Joseph River
      County:      Berrien

Waterbody:       Saline River

      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:       Salt River
      County:      Macomb

Waterbody:       Sand Creek - Biota
      County:      Ottawa and Kent

Waterbody:       Strawberry Creek - Biota
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:      Strawberry Lake

      County:      Livingston

Waterbody:       Swift Run Creek
      County:      Washtenaw

Waterbody:      Sycamore Creek (Watershed)

      County:      Ingham

Waterbody:       Unnamed Tributary to the Grand River - Biota
      County:      Kent

Waterbody:       Wagner-Pink Drain

      County:      Monroe

Waterbody:       York Creek - Biota
      County:      Kent