Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
 
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
Meeting:
Community Meeting - Middle North Fork Holston River and Tributaries Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 12/2/2021  6:30 pm
Type Physical Location Only 
Location Board of Visitors Room in Van Dyke Center at Emory & Henry College, 30461 Garnand Drive, Emory, VA 
Board Website http://www.deq.virginia.gov 
Agenda document agency has not posted
Minutes document agency has not posted
Disability Friendly? No       Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes
Purpose of the meeting
An opportunity for oral and written comments from interested persons on the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), for the Middle Fork Holston River in Smyth, Wythe and Washington Counties and the tributaries Greenway Creek, Hall Creek, Byers Creek, Cedar Creek, and Tattle Branch in Washington County. These streams are listed on the 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report as impaired due to violations of the State’s General (Benthic) Water Quality Standard for failing to support the aquatic life use. This study updates and revises two previously completed TMDLs. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development for Cedar Creek, Hall/Byers Creek, and Hutton Creek was completed in December of 2003 and Bacteria and Benthic Total Maximum Daily Load Development for Middle Fork Holston River was completed in October 2009. Impaired (benthic) segments from these previous TMDLs have been combined into this current study along with a Greenway Creek segment not previously included in a completed TMDL. The impaired segments include the Middle Fork Holston River (12.99 miles) in Wythe and Smyth Counties from the mainstem headwaters upstream at Groseclose downstream to the Dutton Branch confluence, and the mainstem Middle Fork Holston River segment (3.42 miles) in Washington County from the Sulphur Springs Creek confluence to Edmondson Dam. Impaired segments also included in the study (all in Washington County) are Greenway Creek (5.02 miles) from the headwaters downstream to the confluence with the Middle Fork Holston River, Hall Creek (6.91 miles) from headwaters north of Emory through Emory and Henry College to the Byers Creek confluence. Byers Creek (0.49 miles) from Hall Creek and Indian Run confluence downstream to Middle Fork Holston River confluence, Cedar Creek (5.61 miles) from confluence of East Fork Cedar Creek and West Fork Cedar Creek through Cedarville to Middle Fork Holston confluence, and Tattle Branch (2.77 miles) from headwaters to Byers Creek confluence. These segments have been placed on Virginia’s impaired waters list for failing to support the aquatic life use. The general water quality standard is intended to protect the aquatic life designated use, which states that all of the Commonwealth’s waterways will support a diverse and abundant population of aquatic life. This study will include a benthic stressor analysis to determine the most likely pollutant(s) responsible for the impairments, and it will report on the sources of these pollutant(s) and recommend reductions to meet a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the impaired streams. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality in Middle Fork Holston River and tributaries, pollutant levels will need to be reduced to the TMDL amount. A component of a TMDL is the Waste Load Allocation (WLA); therefore, this notice is provided pursuant to §2.2-4006.A.14 of the Administrative Process Act for any future adoption of the TMDL WLAs. An advisory committee to assist in development of this TMDL will be established. Persons interested in assisting should notify the DEQ contact person by the end of the comment period and provide their name, address, phone number, email address and the organization they represent (if any). Notification of the composition of the panel will be sent to all applicants. All meetings in support of TMDL development are open to the public and all interested parties are welcome. Written comments will be accepted from December 2, 2021 through January 3, 2022 and should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the comments. For more information, or to submit written comments, please contact the staff person listed below.
Meeting Scope
 
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
 
Discuss particular regulations / chapters

Contact Information
Name / Title: David Nichols 
Address: 355 A Deadmore Street
Abingdon, 24210
Email Address: david.nichols@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (276)676-4805    FAX: (804)698-4178    TDD: ()-