The Federal Clean Water Act requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to assess all waters of the state and create a list of impaired waters, i.e. those that fail to meet water quality standards, every two years. This list is called the Minnesota Impaired Waters List. Once a waterbody is on the impaired waters list the MPCA must develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the failed water quality standard and determine how much each potential source has to reduce its contribution in order for the waterbody to meet the standard. The TMDL process typically takes about 10 - 12 years from a waterbody being listed as impaired until a U.S. EPA approved TMDL is in place. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) are required to develop “TMDL Response Plans” for each TMDL upon issuance of the MS4 General Permit following United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approval.
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is included in three U.S. EPA approved TMDLs:
- Miller Creek Water Temperature TMDL approved in 2018
- Duluth Urban Area Streams TMDL approved in 2020
- Duluth Area Beaches TMDL approved in 2022
Copies of the TMDL reports can be found on the MPCA's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) projects website.
When an MPCA Construction permit is required for any project within these TMDL areas, the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan must meet or exceed the requirements of Section 23.7 of the MPCA Permit #MNR100001.
Miller Creek Water Temperature TMDL
The Miller Creek Water Temperature TMDL is the only U.S. EPA approved TMDL currently part of UMD’s MS4 program. The TMDL encompasses all of the Natural Resources Research Institute property. The TMDL response plan includes activities for education / public outreach, construction / post construction, and maintenance / good housekeeping.
- TMDL.30 Water Temperature BMP Summary Sheet (2022)
- Miller Creek Temperature TMDL Response Plan (2022)
Duluth Urban Area Streams TMDL
While the Duluth Urban Area Streams TMDL has been approved by the U.S. EPA, it was not approved at the issuance of the current MS4 permit so therefore it is not currently part of the MS4 program. The TMDL includes multiple streams in the Duluth area for multiple pollutants.
UMD areas include:
- The north side of Campus that discharges to Tischer Creek for E.coli
- The southwest side of Glensheen that discharges to Tischer Creek for E.coli
- All of the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) proerty discharges to Miller Creek for Temperature and E.coli
- The east side of Limnology that discharges to Lester River for Total Suspended Solids
- All of Research and Field Studies Center discharges to Amity Creek for Total Suspended Solids
- The RFSC is located outside the urban area of Duluth and therefore is not specifically included in the UMD Stormwater Program, however any project requiring an MPCA Construction Stormwater permit, regardless of its location, still must comply with all aspects of the permit.
Watershed maps are only available in PDF format. For additional information or potential accommodations, contact Erik Larson at 218-726-6915 or [email protected].
Duluth Area Beaches TMDL
While the Duluth Area Beaches TMDL has been approved by the U.S. EPA, it was not approved at the issuance of the current MS4 permit so therefore it is not currently part of the MS4 program. The TMDL includes bacteria loads for multiple beaches in the Duluth area.
UMD area includes only the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) property which discharges to Miller Creek for E.coli.