American Falls Reservoir Storage (From Bureau of Reclamation Web Site)
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American Falls Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load Plan: Subbasin Assessment and Loading Analysis Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Shoshone-Bannock Tribes U. S. Environmental Protection Agency May 2012 This page intentionally left blank for correct double-sided printing. American Falls Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load Plan: Subbasin Assessment and Loading Analysis May 2012 Prepared by: Pocatello Regional Office Department of Environmental Quality 444 Hospital Way, #300 Pocatello, Idaho 83201 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes P. O. Box 306 Fort Hall, Idaho 83203 Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98101 This page intentionally left blank for correct double-sided printing. American Falls Subbasin Assessment and TMDL May 2012 Acknowledgments The American Falls Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) provided direction in preparation of this plan. Representatives of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, who constitute the American Falls Subbasin Coordinating Committee, also provided direction and data. Technical support services were provided to the American Falls Subbasin Coordinating Committee by the consulting firm, Parsons, through an EPA Region 10 contract. i American Falls Subbasin Assessment and TMDL May 2012 This page intentionally left blank for correct double-sided printing. ii American Falls Subbasin Assessment and TMDL May 2012 Table of Contents Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................i Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols ............................................................................... xi Cross Reference for Water Body Identification....................................................................xiii TMDL at a Glance.............................................................................................................. xiv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ xv Subbasin At A Glance .................................................................................................. xv Key Findings ............................................................................................................... xvi Sources of Pollutants .................................................................................................. xvi Load Allocations.........................................................................................................xviii Margins of Safety .......................................................................................................xviii Loading Analysis........................................................................................................xviii Water bodies Recommended for Delisting .................................................................xxvi Possible Additions to 303(d) List ................................................................................xxvi Data Gaps..................................................................................................................xxvi Implementation Strategies.........................................................................................xxvii Interim Targets and Load Allocations in a Phased TMDL Approach..........................xxvii Adaptive Implementation.......................................................................................... xxviii Implementation of the American Falls TMDL and the Portneuf TMDL ........................xxix 1. Subbasin Assessment – Watershed Characterization ....................................................1 1.1. Introduction........................................................................................................1 1.1.1. Background................................................................................................1 1.1.2. Idaho’s Role...............................................................................................2 1.2. Physical and Biological Characteristics..............................................................3 1.2.1. Geography .................................................................................................3 1.2.2. Climate.......................................................................................................5 1.2.3. Subbasin Characteristics............................................................................5 1.2.4. Subwatershed and Stream Characteristics...............................................10 1.3. History and Social Characteristics....................................................................23 1.3.1. History......................................................................................................23 1.3.2. Land Use and Ownership.........................................................................24 1.3.3. Demographics and Economics.................................................................25 2. Subbasin Assessment – Water Quality Concerns and Status.......................................31 2.1. Water Quality Limited Assessment Units Occurring in the Subbasin................31 2.2. Applicable Water Quality Standards.................................................................33 2.2.1. Beneficial Uses ........................................................................................33 2.2.2. Existing Uses ...........................................................................................33 2.2.3. Designated Uses......................................................................................33 2.2.4. Presumed Uses........................................................................................35 2.3. Summary and Analysis of Existing Water Quality Data ....................................35 2.3.1. Flow Characteristics, Water Column and Biological Data, Other Data, Status of Beneficial Uses, Conclusions ............................................................................35 2.4. Data Gaps .......................................................................................................69 3. Subbasin Assessment – Pollutant Source Inventory ....................................................73 3.1. Sources of Pollutants of Concern.....................................................................73 iii American Falls Subbasin Assessment and TMDL May 2012 3.1.1. Point Sources...........................................................................................73 3.1.2. Nonpoint Sources and Pollutant Transport...............................................73 3.1.3. Pollutant Sources in Bannock Creek Watershed ......................................76 3.2. Data Gaps .......................................................................................................76 3.2.1. Point Sources...........................................................................................76 3.2.2. Nonpoint Sources.....................................................................................76 4. Subbasin Assessment – Summary of Past and Present Pollution Control Efforts.........79 5. Total Maximum Daily Loads .........................................................................................81 5.1. Instream Water Quality Targets .......................................................................82 5.1.1. Design Conditions/Seasonal Variation .....................................................83 5.1.2. Target Selection.......................................................................................84 5.1.3. Margin of Safety.......................................................................................87 5.1.4. Monitoring Points .....................................................................................88 5.2. Load Capacity, Estimates of Existing Pollutant Loads, Load Allocation............89 5.2.1. Models .....................................................................................................89 5.2.2. Bacteria....................................................................................................93 5.2.3. Dissolved oxygen.....................................................................................93 5.2.4. Nutrients...................................................................................................98 5.2.5. Sediment................................................................................................107 5.2.6. Temperature ..........................................................................................109 5.2.7. Construction Stormwater and TMDL Wasteload Allocations...................109 5.2.8. Reasonable Assurance ..........................................................................110 5.3. Implementation Strategies .............................................................................111 5.3.1. Time Frame............................................................................................112 5.3.2. Approach................................................................................................112 5.3.3. Responsible parties................................................................................117 5.3.4. Monitoring Strategy................................................................................117 5.4. Conclusions...................................................................................................118