Guidance for meeting temperature TMDL MS4 permit requirements

This site is currently undergoing revision. For more information, open this link.
This page will be developed in August/September, 2019

DRAFT Temperature TMDL WLA Guidance (MS4 General Permit Section 22)

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Currently there are two approved TMDLs for Brown’s Creek and Miller Creek that include MS4 WLAs for thermal loading. Brown’s Creek is impaired for aquatic life due to a lack of cold water fish assemblage. Miller Creek is impaired for aquatic life due to a lack of cold water fish assemblage and elevated water temperature.

Requirement (Permit Section 22.7)

If the permittee has an applicable WLA for temperature that includes a reduction greater than zero percent, the permittee must maintain a written plan that identifies specific activities the permittee will implement to reduce thermal loading during the permit term (Table 1). The written plan may include, but is not limited to:

• a. implementation of infiltration BMPs such as bioinfiltration practices;
• b. disconnection and/or reduction of impervious surfaces;
• c. retrofitting existing structural stormwater BMPs; and
• d. improvement of riparian vegetation.

MS4s with applicable temperature WLAs
Link to this table

TMDL Project	MS4 with a WLA for temperature
Browns Creek TMDL	Stillwater City
Miller Creek TMDL	Duluth City
	Hermantown City
	Rice Lake City
	MnDOT Outstate
	St. Louis County
	University of Minnesota-Duluth
	Lake Superior College

Information on potential BMPs/activities that may be included in the written plan to reduce heat to Brown’s Creek and Miller Creek are available in the following:

Brown’s Creek TMDL

• Brown’s Creek Impaired Biota TMDL
• Brown’s Creek TMDL Implementation Plan
• Brown’s Creek Watershed District 2017-2026 Watershed Management Plan

Miller Creek TMDL

• Miller Creek Water Temperature TMDL
• Draft Duluth Urban Area Watershed Restoration and Protection
• South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District County Water Plan