Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
Meeting:
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting - Water Quality Study (TMDL) for Woods Creek

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 2/23/2017  2:00 pm
Location Rockbridge Regional Library
Meeting Room
138 South Main Street
Lexington, VA 
Board Website http://www.deq.virginia.gov 
Agenda document agency has not posted
Minutes document pdf Meeting minutes 3/9/2017   (248k)       FINAL
Disability Friendly? Yes       Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes
Purpose of the meeting
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and its contractors, Virginia Tech’s Biological Systems Engineering Department (VT-BSE), will discuss population data for the development of a water quality study known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Woods Creek. This is an opportunity for local residents to share information about the area and its local streams and review data collection from DEQ and VT-BSE. The Technical Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the development of a TMDL for these streams, current conditions in the watershed, and water quality issues in the area. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia require DEQ to develop TMDLs for pollutants responsible for each impaired water contained in Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report. This meeting will be open to the public and all are welcome. Woods Creek does not meet water quality standards for recreation due to an excess of bacteria. In addition, this stream does not host a healthy and diverse population of aquatic life, and subsequently was listed as impaired for the “General Benthic (Aquatic life)” water quality standards. The bacteria standard preserves the “Primary Contact (recreational or swimming)” designated use for Virginia waterways. Excessive bacteria levels may pose a threat to human health. This water quality study reports on the sources of bacterial contamination and recommends reductions to meet Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for the impaired waters. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, bacterial levels need to be reduced to the TMDL amount. Virginia agencies are working to identify sources of bacteria and will determine the pollutant cause of the benthic impairments as well as identify sources of this pollutant through a weight of evidence approach. Reductions and a TMDL for the cause of the impairment will be developed. Please note, in the case of inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed until Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 2 pm. For more information or to submit written comments, please contact the staff person listed.
Meeting Scope
 
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
 
Discuss particular regulations / chapters

Contact Information
Name / Title: Tara Sieber 
Address: DEQ-Valley Regional Office
P.O. Box 3000
Harrisonburg, 22801
Email Address: tara.sieber@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (540)574-7870    FAX: (540)574-7878    TDD: ()-