MPCA Home > Water > Basins/Watersheds > Minnesota's Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily Loads > TMDL Training

Minnesota's Impaired Waters and TMDLs

TMDL Training

Training Modules

These training modules were originally developed for MPCA and local government staff who are involved in the development and implementation of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies. Others who have a direct or indirect interest in the program may also benefit from reviewing these materials.  The training materials listed below consist of PowerPoint presentations, accompanied by a training manual.

PowerPoint Presentations

• Session 1 -TMDL Overview: General overview of Impaired Waters program, legal authorities, basic requirements of a TMDL Study and FAQs. 
• Session 2 – TMDL Administrative Requirements: Describes 6 basic requirements of a TMDL Study, work plans, and contracts with the MPCA to fund TMDLs.
• Session 3 – Listing/Delisting Waters: Basic concepts about water quality standards, process of listing/delisting water bodies on the Section 303(d) Impaired Waters List. 
• Session 4a – Citizen Participation: The Session discusses the important role public participation plays in TMDL studies.
• Session 4b – Stakeholder Committees: This Session provides tips for convening and collaborating with Stakeholder Advisory Committees when developing a TMDL study.
• Session 5a – Watershed Systems and TMDLs: This Session discusses the basic principles of hydrology (the science of water) and its application at various watershed scales.
• Session 5b – Streamflow, Stream Shape and Connectivity in Watersheds: This Session presents the basic principles of geomorphology (the study of the geologic forces that shape the landscape),  describing the unique interplay between groundwater, surface water, topography, geologic forces and living things within watersheds.
• Session 6a – Planning and Scoping Your TMDL Project: This presentation addresses important steps in planning your TMDL projects, including defining the scope of your project, developing goals and creating ways to gather public comments early in the planning process.
• Session 6b–  Collecting Watershed Data: This session addresses the importance of conducting an  inventory of all existing data and organizing that data for use in your TMDL study
• Session 6c – Tips for Developing a TMDL Work Plan: This session, intended for TMDL Project Managers, offers guidance and practical tips for developing an approvable Work Plan.
• Session 6d - Using Contracts for TMDL Studies: This module describes the process of creating a viable contract for TMDL studies, provides important tips for local practitioners and MPCA Project Managers, and defines roles and responsibilities for those involved in creating and fulfilling the contract.
• Session 7 – Identifying Data Gaps; Developing a Monitoring Plan: Most TMDL studies will involve gathering new monitoring data.  This session outlines important things to think about as you analyze data for gaps and develop a plan for gathering new data.
• Session 8 – Water Quality Monitoring and Data Collection: This session provides some basic information about techniques used in water quality monitoring for TMDL studies, the equipment used, etc. 
• Session 9 – Organizing and Analyzing Your Water Quality Data: This session provides basic information about ways in which water quality can be analyzed to provide important information for your TMDL study.
• Session 10a –  Biological Monitoring and TMDLs: This session discusses basic techniques for assessing the health of biological systems in your river or stream. 
• Session 10b –  Tackling a Biological Impairment/The Groundhouse River TMDL Case Example: This session outlines the basic steps of a TMDL study where the impairment was biological.
• Session 11a – Modeling for TMDL Studies: In this session, we define the term model, identify reasons for using models in TMDL studies, discuss the reliability of model outputs, and what is needed to build a model.
• Session 11b –  Selecting a Model: This session outlines things to consider when selecting a model for a TMDL study, potential pitfalls when selecting models, and presents 2 case examples where models have been used in TMDL studies. 
• Session 12 - Pollutant Load Allocations in TMDLs: An Overview Summary: This session provides a general explanation of how a pollutant load allocation can be developed for TMDL Studies.

Manual Chapters

• Introduction
• Session 1: The Impaired Waters Program and TMDLs
• Session 2: Getting Started
• Session 3: The Process for Listing and Delisting Waters of the State
• Session 4: Strengthening Your TMDL Project Through Public Participation
• Session 5: Understand Your Watershed: Hydrology and Geomorphology
• Session 6: Beginning your TMDL Project [Defining the Scope of your TMDL Project] [Conducting your Data Inventory]
• Session 7: Identify Data Gaps Develop Monitoring Plan
• Session 8: Basic Water Quality Monitoring Techniques for TMDLs
• Session 9: Analyze Water Quality Data to Characterize the Watershed and Pollutant Sources ©
• Session 10: Biological Monitoring and TMDLs
• Session 11: Estimating Pollutant Loads

MPCA staff is available to present these modules to organizations or interested parties.   If you are interested in having MPCA staff present one or more of these modules to your organization or group, please call the staff persons identified below, at the MPCA office nearest you:

Other Training Resources

EPA's TMDL Workshop, November 15, 2007: Presentations from EPA Region 5's training for state and local TMDL practitioners, held on 11-15-07 at the MPCA, on federal requirements and expectations for Minnesota's TMDLs. 

• Legal Requirements
• Beginning a TMDL
• What is a Pollutant
• Loading Capacity
• Load Allocation
• Wasteload Allocation
• Margin of Safety
• Reasonable Assurance
• Review Process and EPA Contacts

Training Archives

• Stormwater and TMDLs (2/14/06) – a presentation by EPA’s Bruce Cleland and discussion on challenges facing Minnesota

• Event Agenda
• Session 1 presentation:  TMDLs and Stormwater -- Background
• Session 2 presentation:  Using Hydrology to Develop Solutions
• Session 3 presentation:  Connecting the Pieces
• Afternoon Discussion – Program Development Update, Questions from Facilitated Discussion, Evaluation and Follow-up
• Handouts:
  • EPA memorandum – Establishing TMDL Wasteload Allocations (WLA) for Stormwater Sources and NPDES Permit Requirements Based on those WLA’s
  • TMDL Requirements in MPCA Stormwater Permits:  MS4 and Construction Stormwater Permits