Modeling for TMDL Implementation
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 24, Issue 6
Abstract
The Clean Water Act and USEPA’s total maximum daily load (TMDL) program established requirements to determine the amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can assimilate and still attain water-quality standards. A variety of methods have been used in order to determine the TMDL, from complex hydrodynamic and water-quality modeling to simpler analytical techniques. This paper explores TMDL modeling from the perspective of the agencies tasked with implementation to reduce pollutant loads from within their jurisdictions. The paper discusses the difference in emphasis between modeling for TMDL development and implementation. The discussion includes the need for modeling by stakeholders and agencies implementing TMDLs, criteria for selecting models, and a short summary of several that have proven useful. Finally, recommendations are offered for TMDL developers and implementers to improve the modeling effort that leads to successful attainment of water quality.
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Acknowledgments
The TMDL Analysis and Modeling Task Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environmental and Water Resources Institute was formed to address concerns and challenges of the current practice of TMDL analysis and modeling in terms of analysis technique and model selection, data requirements, calibration, validation, and uncertainty reporting. The committee documented its work in a report, “Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis and Modeling: Assessment of the Practice” (ASCE TMDL Analysis and Modeling Task Committee 2017). Authors of this paper are members of the Task Committee, and the paper is partly based on the findings of the Task Committee. The authors would like to thank the members of the Task Committee who read through several drafts of the Implementation chapter of the committee’s report and offered many helpful suggestions. Steve McCutcheon, in particular, gave generously of his time to improve the introductory text regarding TMDL development and adaptive management. Thanks also to staff from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services who provided additional perspective from a local government permittee charged with siting, funding, and retrofitting stormwater treatment to meet TMDL WLAs.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 24 • Issue 6 • June 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 19, 2018
Accepted: Dec 13, 2018
Published online: Mar 29, 2019
Published in print: Jun 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Aug 29, 2019
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