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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 Administrative 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 Administrative 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 water 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.

5. Implement the strategies and actions in the BMAP.

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.

8. Reassess the quality of surface waters continuously.

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

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Page 1 of 2

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm 10/27/2011
the 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) 

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Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Page 2 of 2

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm 10/27/2011