Contact: Alexis Donath, 651-757-2120
St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on a draft water quality improvement report for Browns Creek, located in Washington County. The report, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), focuses on pollution that has disrupted coldwater fish communities and aquatic insect populations in the creek. As a result of these impairments, Browns Creek has been placed on the state’s impaired waters list. A public comment period begins Aug. 16 and continues through Sept. 15.
Impairments to coldwater fish and insect communities in Browns Creek are a result of excessive sediment and copper in the creek as well as increased water temperature. Sources of the increased sediment include erosion from surrounding land and stream banks. Excessive copper in the creek comes from the use of copper-containing herbicides and other pesticides on residential and commercial lawns and ponds. Increased water temperature results when stormwater, warmed by the sun, flows directly into the creek from parking lots and other impervious surfaces without cooling off.
The TMDL report is part of a nationwide effort under the federal Clean Water Act to identify and clean up pollution in streams, rivers and lakes. Every two years, states are required to submit a list of impaired waters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A TMDL report is a scientific study that calculates the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive without exceeding water-quality standards.
After receiving public comments and obtaining approval from the EPA, a plan to address the Browns Creek impairments will be developed.
The draft Browns Creek TMDL report may be viewed on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/project-brownscreek-biota.html. Comments on the report should be submitted in writing by Sept. 15, 2010 to Chris Klucas, MPCA, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55155-4194; e-mail Christopher.Klucas@state.mn.us.
Written comments must include:
- a statement of your interest in the draft TMDL report;
- a statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the draft TMDL that you believe should be changed; and
- specific reasons supporting your position.
Questions or requests for additional information may be directed to Klucas at 651-757-2498.
For information on various issues related to TMDLs and impaired waters, visit the MPCA Web site at /water/tmdl/tmdl-publications.html.
