Upper Arkansas Basin TMDLs

• TMDLs for the Upper Arkansas Basin
• Implementation Priority
• Approval Letters

The Section 303(d) list submitted to and approved by EPA in 1998, identifies 37 river segments and 5 lakes in the Upper Arkansas River Basin as water quality impaired. Among the streams, the greatest number of impairments were caused by excessive levels of fecal coliform bacteria. Among the lakes, eutrophic conditions indicative of excessive algae production was the predominant cause of impairment.

Other pollutants limiting the use of Upper Arkansas Basin streams include sulfate, pH, boron, fluoride, ammonia, and nutrient oxygen demand. Additional lake impairments were caused by dissolved oxygen depletion, pH, and excessive aquatic plants. Each parameter causing impairment requires a TMDL.

Many of the stream segments, configured in a watershed setting, will have a TMDL applied to them as a whole. Sixteen watershed and 5 lake TMDLs will be developed. The TMDLs describing the goals to reduce pollution and achieve water quality standards and the plans to meet those goals were submitted to EPA on June 29, 2000 and have been approved.