Missouri Basin TMDLs

• TMDLs for the Missouri Basin
• Implementation Priority
• Approval Letter

KDHE has completed the first two rounds of TMDLs within the Missouri Basin based on the 1998 and 2004 – 303(d) lists. There are 26 approved TMDLs within the Missouri Basin that describe the strategies and goals to reduce pollution to achieve water quality standards. Of these, there are nine that are high priority for implementation. KDHE develops TMDLs on a basin-by-basin approach and will revisit existing TMDLs and develop new TMDLs within the Missouri Basin in 2012.

The 2008 - Section 303(d) list submitted to and approved by EPA identifies watersheds associated with seven stream chemistry sampling stations as water quality impaired. There are four lakes in the Missouri River Basin listed as water quality impaired. Among the streams: atrazine, copper and total phosphorus cause the greatest numbers of impairments. Among the lakes: eutrophic conditions indicative of excessive algae production were the predominant cause of impairment along with atrazine.

Other pollutants limiting the use of the Missouri River Basin streams include dissolved oxygen depletion, total suspended solids, zinc, and mercury within fish tissue found in the Blue River. Copper and pH caused additional lake impairments. Each parameter causing impairment requires a TMDL.