Pajaro River Sediment TMDL

Problem Statement - Anthropogenic watershed disturbances have accelerated the natural processes of erosion and sedimentation in the Pajaro River, including Llagas Creek, Rider Creek, and San Benito River. Special studies have identified a variety of watershed conditions that have lead to excessive sedimentation. Excessive sedimentation has caused an exceedance of the narrative, general water quality objective for sediment because sediment load and rate have interfered with the beneficial uses of these waterbodies including, fish and wildlife (COLD, MIGR, and SPWN). The narrative objective states, “the suspended sediment load and suspended sediment discharge rate of surface waters shall not be altered in such a manner as to cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.”

• Map of the project area