Klamath River TMDL

On September 7, 2010 the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a Resolution approving amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region to establish: (1) Site Specific Dissolved Oxygen Objectives for the Klamath River; (2) an Action Plan for the Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Loads Addressing Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Nutrient, and Microcystin Impairments in the Klamath River; and (3) an Implementation Plan for the Klamath and Lost River Basins. On December 28, 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency approved the TMDLs for the Klamath River in California pursuant to CWA Section 303(d)(2). The TMDLs, Implementation Plan, and new Dissolved Oxygen Objectives are in effect.

The final Staff Report, Action and Implementation Plans, and adopted resolutions are provided below. 

Final Klamath River TMDL Action Plan and Basin Plan Amendment Language for the Klamath River Site Specific Objectives for Dissolved Oxygen – updated September 2010

USEPA Approval Letter

State Water Resources Control Board Response to Public Comments

State and Regional Water Board Adopted Resolutions

State Water Board Resolution

  • Resolution No. R1-2010-0043 - approving amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region to establish: (1) Site Specific Water Quality Objectives for the Klamath River; (2) an Action Plan for the Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Loads Addressing Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Nutrient, and Microcystin Impairments in the Klamath River; and (3) an Implementation Plan for the Klamath and Lost River Basins.

Regional Water Board Resolutions

  • Resolution No. R1-2010-0026 - Action Plan for the Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Loads addressing Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Nutrient, and Microcystin Impairments in the Klamath River in California and the Lower Lost River Implementation Plan

  • Resolution No. R1-2010-0025 - Site Specific Dissolved Oxygen Objectives for the Klamath River in California

If you are unable to download the documents please contact
Katharine Carter at 707-576-2290 or
kcarter@waterboards.ca.gov

Final Klamath River TMDL Staff Report – updated September 2010

Klamath/Lost River TMDL Implementation Memorandum of Agreement

The following Memorandum of Agreement was signed in June 2009.  Parties to this agreement are the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 9 and 10.

If you have questions about the MOA please contact Clayton Creager at (707) 576-2666 or CCreager@waterboards.ca.gov.

Water Quality Compliance Program for Agriculture is Under Development

Regional Board staff are developing a water quality compliance program for agriculture in the Klamath basin. The program will address nonpoint source discharges of waste associated with grazing and irrigated agriculture in the Klamath Basin and will fit into a regionwide framework for agriculture. Additional information can be found at the link below:

If you have any questions about the development on this program, please contact
Ben Zabinsky at (707) 576-6750 or
bzabinsky@waterboards.ca.gov.

Klamath Hydrologic Settlement Agreement Monitoring Plan

On November 13, 2008, the United States, the states of California and Oregon, and PacifiCorp executed an Agreement in Principle (AIP) describing a framework for possible removal of several PacifiCorp's dams on the Klamath River. Interim Measure 12 of the AIP stipulated a water quality monitoring program, including on-going monitoring of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and associated toxins. Water quality monitoring conducted in 2009 was conducted under the plan: AIP Interim Measure 12: Water Quality Monitoring Activities, Monitoring Year 2009. The Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) signed on February 18, 2010, supersedes the AIP. Interim Measure 15 of KHSA states that PacifiCorp shall fund long-term baseline water quality monitoring to support dam removal, nutrient removal, and permitting studies, and also will fund blue-green algae (BGA) and BGA toxin monitoring as necessary to protect public health. The 2010 KHSA Monitoring Plan replaces the previous plan and is being used to guide monitoring for the current year. 

Additional  information about the KSHA is available at the link below:

 The Klamath Basin Monitoring Website contains additional information and is available the link below:

Mailing Lists

If you would like to receive notices pertaining to the Klamath River TMDL by e-mail please visit our e-mail subscriptions page, fill in your name and e-mail address, and check the box titled “Klamath River TMDL”. This will ensure that you receive an e-mail copy of all future notices put out by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board relating to the Klamath River TMDL.

Contact Us

  • Should you have questions about implementation of the Klamath River TMDLs, please contact
    Clayton Creager at (707) 576-2666 or
    CCreager@waterboards.ca.gov.
  • Should you have questions about the Site Specific Dissolved Oxygen Objective for the Klamath River in California please contact
    Alydda Mangelsdorf at (707) 576-6735 or
    AMangelsdorf@waterboards.ca.gov.