Jalama Creek Chloride and Sodium TMDL

Problem Statement - Jalama Creek was listed on the 2010 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list on the basis of not meeting University of California Cooperative Extension recommended guidelines for chloride and sodium in agricultural irrigation supply water applied via sprinklers.  There is no plausible evidence of human impacts and activities that could cause or contribute to observed elevated chloride and sodium levels in Jalama Creek. Therefore, these proposed TMDLs do not require or propose any regulatory measures or oversight affecting landowners and operators in the Jalama Creek subwatershed.  The intent of this TMDL is to assess conditions, establish TMDLs for chloride and sodium for Jalama Creek, and make recommendations to establish site specific numeric water quality endpoints for chloride and sodium that are appropriate for natural background conditions. Staff has also developed this TMDL, in part, to be consistent with state anti-degradation policy. This policy requires, in part that when the existing quality of water is better than the quality of water established as objectives, such existing water quality shall be maintained unless otherwise provided for by the provisions of State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 68-16.  This approach is supported by USEPA guidance;  USEPA states: TMDLs are typically written for restoring impaired waters; however, states can prepare TMDLs geared towards maintaining a “better than water quality standard” condition for a given waterbody-pollutant combination, and they can be a useful tool for high quality waters (see: USEPA, 2014, CWA-SDWA Toolkit report).

• Map of the project area
• TMDL summary