Vermont Lakes & Ponds Section - Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL

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Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL

What is a TMDL?

A TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) is the maximum amount (load) of a single pollutant from all contributing point and nonpoint sources that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the impaired waters and TMDL programs which were established under Section 303d of the federal Clean Water Act. A TMDL is required for Lake Champlain because phosphorus concentrations in many segments of the lake are higher than the levels allowed in the Vermont Water Quality Standards (pdf, 340 KB).

The 2002 Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL

The States of Vermont and New York jointly developed a Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL after a multi-year process that included lake modeling analyses,(pdf, 912 KB) numerous public informational meetings, and responses to public comments (pdf, 151 KB). The states submitted (pdf, 92 KB) the TMDL to the EPA for approval, and the EPA approved (pdf, 96 KB) the Lake Champlain TMDL in 2002. The 2002 Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL (pdf, 1,066 KB) included a detailed implementation plan for Vermont, which was revised and updated in 2010 (pdf, 925 KB). Activities and progress on phosphorus reduction in the Lake Champlain Basin and other waters statewide are described in annual reports (pdf, 4.58 MB).

EPA disapproval of the 2002 Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL

In response to a federal lawsuit filed by the Conservation Law Foundation, the EPA reconsidered its previous approval of the 2002 Lake Champlain TMDL and disapproved the Vermont portion of the TMDL in January 2011. Under federal law, upon such disapproval, the EPA is responsible for establishing a new TMDL to implement the applicable water quality standards. The EPA initiated the process of developing a new TMDL for Lake Champlain in 2011, in cooperation with the State of Vermont. Information about the lake and watershed modeling analyses and the pubic consultation processes that are underway is available on the EPA’s Lake Champlain TMDL webpage.

Questions about the Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL should be directed to Eric Smeltzer.

Updated: December 2011