News and Announcements

New! 

The Department of Environmental Protection announces the 2024 - 2026 TMDL Priority List of Waters for the total maximum daily load (TMDL) two-year work plan. The proposed two-year work plan is guided by the TMDL prioritization framework for the next decade. The department is requesting that all comments be received by Oct. 21, 2024.  All comments on the TMDL development two-year work plan and the specific list of waters proposed for TMDL development should be submitted by email to Eric.Simpson@FloridaDEP.Gov.   

New! 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection held a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on September 19, 2024, on the draft nutrient total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for Lake Giles in the Middle St. Johns River Basin, to be adopted in Rule 62-304.505, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C). This nutrient TMDLs, if adopted, will constitute a site-specific numeric interpretation of the narrative nutrient criterion set forth in paragraph 62-302.530(48)(b), F.A.C., and replace the otherwise applicable numeric nutrient criteria in subsection 62-302.531(2), F.A.C., for this water.

Meeting InformationMeeting Date and TimeMeeting Materials
Lake Giles Nutrients TMDLs

Sept. 19, 2024 
10:00 AM EST

Agenda

Presentation

Recording - Available Upon Request

DEP requests that all comments be received by October 4, 2024. Comments on the draft nutrient TMDL should be submitted by email to: Eric.Simpson@FloridaDEP.Govor by mail to:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Attn: Eric Simpson
Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3555
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400

           

 

What is a TMDL? 

A TMDL is 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. Waterbodies 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 to reduce those pollutants and clean up the waterbody.

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.

What are the basic steps in the TMDL program? How does it work?

  1. Assess the quality of surface waters-are they meeting water quality standards? (Surface Water Quality Standards - Chapter 62-302).
  2. Determine which waters are impaired-that is, which ones are not meeting water quality standards for a particular pollutant or pollutants. (Impaired Waters Rule (IWR) - Chapter 62-303).
  3. Establish and adopt, by rule, a TMDL for each impaired water for the pollutants of concern-the ones causing the water quality problems. (TMDLs - Chapter 62-304).
  4. Develop, with extensive local stakeholder input, Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) that:
  • 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.
  • Adapt-change the plan and change the actions if things aren't working.
  • Reassess the quality of surface waters continuously.

We are working on a more comprehensive approach to protecting Florida water quality involving basin-wide assessments and the application of a full range of regulatory and non-regulatory strategies to reduce pollution. The Total Maximum Daily Load is the heart of this comprehensive approach.

Locations of the DEP's Adopted TMDLs

Last Modified: Friday, Oct 04, 2024 - 01:33pm