DEP Home About DEP Programs Contact Site Map Search

Programs

Water Home Assessment Beaches Drinking Water Everglades Restoration Grants & Loans Ground Water Mining & Minerals Monitoring Restoration Springs Standards & Assessment Stormwater TMDLs Underground Injection Wastewater Water Policy Watersheds Wetlands

Information

Forms & Applications Rules Permits Contacts Data Publications Public Notices Navigation

Sitemap

Documents are Adobe Acrobat files, which will open in a new window, unless indicated, and require the free Reader Software. Total Maximum Daily Loads Highlights 

## Total Maximum Daily Loads Program

What is a TMDL? A scientific determination of the maximum amount of a given pollutant that a surface water can absorb and still meet the water quality standards that protect human health and aquatic life. Water bodies that do not meet water quality standards are identified as "impaired" for the particular pollutants of concern--nutrients, bacteria, mercury, etc.--and TMDLs must be developed, adopted and implemented for those pollutants to reduce pollutants and clean up the water body. The threshold limits on pollutants in surface waters--Florida's surface water quality standards on which TMDLs are based--are set forth primarily in rule 62-302, Florida Ad ministrative Code , and the associated table of water quality criteria. 

### Locations of the Department's Adopted TMDLs The DEP announces the availability of a PDF that displays the location of the Department’s Adopted TMDLs (i.e. Final, State Rule 62- 304, Florida Administ rative Code F.A.C.) within the State of Florida. Please help us improve our service by providing feedback on what you think of our Adopted TMDL PDF, whether the PDF is useful, and how could we make it better. Please contact Kristina Bridger ( Kristina.Bridger@dep.state.fl.us ), (850) 245-8023, or Janis Paulsen ( Janis.Paulsen@dep.state.fl.us ), (850) 245-8543. What are the basic steps in the TMDL program? How does it work? Assess the quality of surface waters--are they meeting water quality standards? 1. Determine which waters are impaired--that is, which ones are not meeting wate r quality standards for a particular pollutant or pollutants. 2.

Establish and adopt, by rule, a TMDL for each impaired water for the pollutants of concern--the ones causing the water quality problems. 3.

Develop, with extensive local stakeholder input, a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) that.... 4. Implement the strategies and actions in the BMAP. 5. Measure the effectiveness of the BMAP, both continuously at the local level and through a formal re-evaluation every five years. 6.

Adapt--change the plan and change the actions if things aren't working. 7. Reassess the quality of surface waters continuously. 8. The Divisions are working on a more comprehensive approach to protecting Florida water quality involving basin-wide assessments and Background Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) Florida's TMDL Program: The First Five Years Florida TMDL Protocol Document Frequently Asked Questions Glossary Overview of TMDL Program Pollutant Trading PAC Watershed Assessment 303d Lists
TMDL Documents Draft TMDLs Final TMDLs Reposted TMDLs Draft Statewide Mercury TMDL Development Florida TMDL Protocol Document Other WWW TMDL Links 2011 Annual Mercury Workshop Presentations EPA's TMDL Web Page TMDL Website by ASIWPCA and ACWF Useful Websites for TMDL Implementation 

# Pa g e 1 of 2 Florida Department of Envi ronmental Protection (FDEP)

10/27/2011 htt p ://www.de p .state.fl.us/wat er/tmdl/index.htmthe application of a full range of regulatory and non-regulatory strategies to reduce pollution. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the heart of this comprehensive approach.

For more information, send e-mail to Jan Mandrup-Poulsen (Jan.Mandrup-Poulsen@dep.state.fl.us)

Total Maximum Daily Load Program 2600 Blair Stone Road - Mail Station 3555 Tallahassee, FL, 32399-2400 Phone: (850) 245-8449

Last updated: October 20, 2011
2600 Blair Stone Road M.S. 3500 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-245-8336 (phone) / 850-245-8356 (fax) DEP Home | About DEP | Contact Us | Search | Site Map 

# Pa g e 2 of 2 Florida Department of Envi ronmental Protection (FDEP)

10/27/2011 htt p ://www.de p .state.fl.us/wat er/tmdl/index.htm