TMDL Priorities and Alternative Plans

Pennsylvania has committed to restoring all impaired waters by developing TMDLs and TMDL alternatives for all impaired waterbodies and will use both traditional and new approaches to correct water quality problems. Public participation is an important part of TMDL development and for TMDL alternative plans. DEP publishes notice of the availability of each TMDL and provides a comment period as well as a public meeting. All comments are considered before the TMDL is submitted for EPA's approval.

Below is the list of DEP's priority watersheds and the reasoning for their prioritization and a map of their location in the Commonwealth in Figure 2. Under EPA's new vision, the goal for these watersheds is to set a plan that will work towards the achievement of water quality standards by 2022. Stepwise measurable improvement must be demonstrated through the years to show the work is on track to ultimately achieve water quality standards. This plan can involve the development of a TMDL or layout the framework for a TMDL alternative and those waterbodies can be found on Category 5alt. DEP received comment on the selected waters during public participation of the 2016 Integrated Report and these comments can be found in Appendix J.

To graphically view these waters or find additional information please use the 303(d) Statewide Priority Waters GIS application.

The following waters have been prioritized for TMDL development and are found in Appendix H – Streams, Category 5 Waterbodies, Pollutants Requiring a TMDL-303(d) Priority Waters:
1. Kishacoquillas Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is prioritized for TMDL development.
2. South Branch Conewago Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.
3. Irish Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.
4. Whiteley Creek (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.
5. Stony Run (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.
6. South Branch South Fork Pine Creek (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is prioritized for TMDL development.
7. Casselman River (SW): This watershed is impaired for metals and pH and is prioritized for TMDL development and revision. This watershed currently has an approved TMDL that needs revisions to accommodate watershed development activities.
8. Octoraro Creek (SC & SE): The watershed is impaired by nutrients and siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development. Large scale monitoring and reassessment was completed by DEP SCRO and SERO in 2015.

The following waters have been identified for the development of TMDL alternatives and are listed on Category 5alt:
1. Nuangola Lake (NE): The Lake is impaired for organic enrichment and low dissolved oxygen due to failing septic systems. An Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan Update was developed for the Borough of Nuangola requiring sewage collection from the Borough and connection to the Mountaintop Area Joint Sanitary Authority to eliminate impacts to Nuangola Lake.
2. Little Bushkill Creek (NE): The Recreational Use impairment caused by pathogens was prioritized for this watershed. Plainfield Township initiated a Watershed Management Plan to help address this impairment in 2013 and has begun implementation.
3. Deer Run (SE): This is a small watershed impaired by nutrients and siltation from agriculture related activities. The watershed is currently being monitored and farm plans and BMPs are or will be developed.
4. Schlegel Run (SE): This is a small watershed impaired by siltation from agriculture related activities. The watershed is currently being monitored and farm plans and BMPs are or will be developed.
5. Wissahickon Creek (SE): This watershed currently has a sediment TMDL and a draft revised nutrient TMDL developed by EPA Region 3. EPA Region 3 in response to DEP has agreed to pursue a TMDL alternative for the nutrient impairment in the watershed. DEP SERO in cooperation with EPA Region 3 is working with watershed stakeholders that are interested in developing a TMDL alternative for nutrients.
6. Ithan Creek (SE): This watershed's siltation impairments are largely associated with Urban Stream Syndrome. The watershed is included in the William Penn Foundation's Delaware River Watershed Initiative/Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster Implementation Plan. This will provide funding for stormwater restoration and monitoring.
7. Genesee River (NC): This watershed's siltation and organic enrichment impairments are mostly related to agricultural activities. Ag BMP's have been implemented in the watershed.
8. Beaver Run (NC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and has had a lot of restoration work done such as: streambank fencing, agriculture BMPs, and stream stabilization.
9. Hungry Run (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is currently being monitored by the Mifflin County Conservation District as part of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). It has a 2008 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and two major restoration projects were completed in 2015.
10. Spring Run (SC): This watershed is impaired for nutrients and siltation. The Fulton County Conservation District has been working with many farms implementing BMPs in the watershed since 2001.
11. Chiques Creek (SC): The TMDL for this watershed was withdrawn with EPA approval on October 28, 2015 and in its place a TMDL alternative will be developed. A large scale monitoring and restoration plan is currently being implemented by DEP, SRBC, and watershed stakeholders.
12. Hamlin Run (NW): The stream is impaired by acid mine drainage (AMD) due to low pH and metals. The McKean County Conservation District received Growing Greener funds to develop a treatment system for the stream. This will raise the alkalinity and pH of the water.
13. Railroad Run (NW): The stream is impaired by acid mine drainage (AMD) due to low pH and metals. The McKean County Conservation District received Growing Greener funds to develop a treatment system for the stream. This will raise the alkalinity and pH of the water.
14. Shupe Run (SW): This watershed is impaired by metals and siltation related to AMD and received two EPA 319 grants. One focused on stream bank stabilization and restoration which was completed in 2013. The grant is ongoing for construction of rain gardens, roof runoff collection, and installation of porous pavement at two residential areas.
15. Beaver Run (SW): This siltation impaired watershed received two Growing Greener funds: one to implement Ag BMPs on four farms and another that focuses on controlling sediment from dirt and gravel roads.
16. Ross Run (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy received Growing Greener funds and conducted restoration focused on Ag BMPs, stream bank stabilization, and dirt/gravel roads. The work began in 2010 and was completed in 2015.

The following waters have been prioritized for TMDL development and are found in Appendix H – Streams, Category 5 Waterbodies, Pollutants Requiring a TMDL-303(d) Priority Waters:

1. Kishacoquillas Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is prioritized for TMDL development.

2. South Branch Conewago Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.

3. Irish Creek (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.

4. Whiteley Creek (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.

5. Stony Run (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development.

6. South Branch South Fork Pine Creek (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is prioritized for TMDL development.

7. Casselman River (SW): This watershed is impaired for metals and pH and is prioritized for TMDL development and revision. This watershed currently has an approved TMDL that needs revisions to accommodate watershed development activities.

8. Octoraro Creek (SC & SE): The watershed is impaired by nutrients and siltation and is prioritized for TMDL development. Large scale monitoring and reassessment was completed by DEP SCRO and SERO in 2015.

The following waters have been identified for the development of TMDL alternatives and are listed on Category 5alt:

1. Nuangola Lake (NE): The Lake is impaired for organic enrichment and low dissolved oxygen due to failing septic systems. An Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan Update was developed for the Borough of Nuangola requiring sewage collection from the Borough and connection to the Mountaintop Area Joint Sanitary Authority to eliminate impacts to Nuangola Lake.

2. Little Bushkill Creek (NE): The Recreational Use impairment caused by pathogens was prioritized for this watershed. Plainfield Township initiated a Watershed Management Plan to help address this impairment in 2013 and has begun implementation.

3. Deer Run (SE): This is a small watershed impaired by nutrients and siltation from agriculture related activities. The watershed is currently being monitored and farm plans and BMPs are or will be developed.

4. Schlegel Run (SE): This is a small watershed impaired by siltation from agriculture related activities. The watershed is currently being monitored and farm plans and BMPs are or will be developed.

5. Wissahickon Creek (SE): This watershed currently has a sediment TMDL and a draft revised nutrient TMDL developed by EPA Region 3. EPA Region 3 in response to DEP has agreed to pursue a TMDL alternative for the nutrient impairment in the watershed. DEP SERO in cooperation with EPA Region 3 is working with watershed stakeholders that are interested in developing a TMDL alternative for nutrients.

6. Ithan Creek (SE): This watershed's siltation impairments are largely associated with Urban Stream Syndrome. The watershed is included in the William Penn Foundation's Delaware River Watershed Initiative/Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster Implementation Plan. This will provide funding for stormwater restoration and monitoring.

7. Genesee River (NC): This watershed's siltation and organic enrichment impairments are mostly related to agricultural activities. Ag BMP's have been implemented in the watershed.

8. Beaver Run (NC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and has had a lot of restoration work done such as: streambank fencing, agriculture BMPs, and stream stabilization.

9. Hungry Run (SC): This watershed is impaired for siltation and nutrients and is currently being monitored by the Mifflin County Conservation District as part of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). It has a 2008 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and two major restoration projects were completed in 2015.

10. Spring Run (SC): This watershed is impaired for nutrients and siltation. The Fulton County Conservation District has been working with many farms implementing BMPs in the watershed since 2001.

11. Chiques Creek (SC): The TMDL for this watershed was withdrawn with EPA approval on October 28, 2015 and in its place a TMDL alternative will be developed. A large scale monitoring and restoration plan is currently being implemented by DEP, SRBC, and watershed stakeholders.

12. Hamlin Run (NW): The stream is impaired by acid mine drainage (AMD) due to low pH and metals. The McKean County Conservation District received Growing Greener funds to develop a treatment system for the stream. This will raise the alkalinity and pH of the water.

13. Railroad Run (NW): The stream is impaired by acid mine drainage (AMD) due to low pH and metals. The McKean County Conservation District received Growing Greener funds to develop a treatment system for the stream. This will raise the alkalinity and pH of the water.

14. Shupe Run (SW): This watershed is impaired by metals and siltation related to AMD and received two EPA 319 grants. One focused on stream bank stabilization and restoration which was completed in 2013. The grant is ongoing for construction of rain gardens, roof runoff collection, and installation of porous pavement at two residential areas.

15. Beaver Run (SW): This siltation impaired watershed received two Growing Greener funds: one to implement Ag BMPs on four farms and another that focuses on controlling sediment from dirt and gravel roads.

16. Ross Run (SW): This watershed is impaired for siltation. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy received Growing Greener funds and conducted restoration focused on Ag BMPs, stream bank stabilization, and dirt/gravel roads. The work began in 2010 and was completed in 2015.

For questions or general assistance with the Integrated Report please contact the Division of Water Quality Standards at 717-787-9637 or send email to EP-CWWATERQUALITY@pa.gov.