Meeting:
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting for a Water Quality Study (TMDL) for Woods Creek
Meeting Details | |
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Date / Time | 3/16/2017 2:00 pm |
Location | Washington and Lee University’s Meeting Room, 2 South Main Street, Lexington, VA (the old Lexington courthouse) |
Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
Agenda document | agency has not posted |
Minutes document | Meeting minutes 3/29/2017 (268k) 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. 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. All meetings of the TMDL process are open to the public and all interested parties are welcome. For more information or to submit written comments, please contact the staff person listed. This meeting will be open to the public and all are welcome. In the case of inclement weather, the meeting will be postponed until Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 2pm. For more information, please contact the DEQ staff person listed. | |
Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
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Contact Information | |
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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: ()- |