Smith Creek TMDL Plan
Water Quality Problems in Smith Creek
In 1996 Smith Creek was added to Virginia’s impaired waters list when water quality monitoring showed:
In accordance with the federal Clean Water Act, in 2004 the state developed a Smith Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which specified the maximum bacteria and sediment loads that the stream can handle and still meet the water quality standard for bacteria while also supporting a healthy and diverse aquatic population.
In May 2009, a TMDL Implementation Plan and TMDL Public Document were developed to describe measures to reduce bacteria and sediment loads and to restore the stream to its original healthy state. These measures include both agricultural and urban “best management practices” supported by state and federal agencies and the application of improved technology such as waste water treatment systems.