Lake Ontario Basin TMDL Project
What is a TMDL?
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA), describing a value of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards.
While TMDLs have been previously prepared for lakes, ponds, and embayments in New York State, none have been prepared for streams. CEI has been commissioned to prepare TDMLs on several streams listed as impaired and tributary to Lake Ontario in western New York. Learn More
TMDL Fact Sheets for Black Creek and Oak Orchard Creek
Water Quality Restoration Strategy (WQRS)
A WQRS is intended to provide quantitative guidance for watershed planning and implementation of measures to restore water quality. It includes documentation of existing loadings, potential watershed restoration endpoints, and phosphorus allocation options and scenarios.
Final Documents
Phase One of the project is complete and the final WQRS documents are provided below:
WQRS 2011 Upper Oak Orchard Creek
Data Reports
Data Reports that support each of the WQRSs are provided below:
DR 2011 Upper Oak Orchard Creek
Public Meetings
Over the past year intensive work has been done by the Center for Environmental Initiatives (CEI) to understand potential sources of phosphorus in these creeks that have led to impaired water quality. The results of this investigation were presented along with the results of a computer model that has been developed to mimic the stream's water quality. Options for the most cost effective watershed changes to restore water quality were presented. Ample opportunity was provided for input from all interested stakeholders.
Public Meeting presentations are provided below:
Public Meetings - October 2011
Black Creek Watershed Presentation
Oak Orchard Creek Watershed Presentation
Public Meetings - April 2011
Black Creek Watershed Presentation
Oak Orchard Creek Watershed Presentation