Stemple Creek TMDL

Federal Status

In 1990, the US EPA placed the Stemple Creek watershed on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies due to impairment and/or threat of impairment to water quality by nutrients and sediment.

State Status

On December 11, 1997, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) adopted Resolution No. 97-108, which established a TMDL and Attainment Strategy for the Stemple Creek Watershed as an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region (Basin Plan). On December 19, 1997, a Letter to Interested Persons was distributed which described the NCRWQCB's action and included the Total Maximum Daily Load and Attainment Strategy for the Stemple Creek Watershed.

The next step in the state process is to prepare the Regional Water Board adopted TMDL and Attainment Strategy for consideration and approval by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) in Sacramento. After the State Board has adopted their own resolution, the Stemple Creek TMDL and Attainment Strategy will be reviewed by the State Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Upon OAL approval, the Basin Plan will be officially amended to include the Stemple Creek TMDL and Attainment Strategy.

After OAL has approved the Basin Plan Amendment, OAL has thirty days to pass the package onto the US EPA for federal approval. The US EPA has sixty days to approve the amendment or ninety days to disapprove it.