TMDL Program: Umpqua Basin

The Umpqua Basin in Southwestern Oregon comprises about 3.24 million acres, 90% of which is federal, state and private forestland (2.92 million acres). The Umpqua Basin is home to many species of salmonids including coho salmon, fall and spring Chinook salmon, summer and winter steelhead, and anadromous cutthroat trout. The North Umpqua River is a world-renowned salmon fishery and water-based recreation is important throughout the basin.

Many streams in the Umpqua Basin do not meet water quality standards set to protect beneficial uses including fish and aquatic life and water contact recreation. In the Umpqua Basin, DEQ has identified aquatic weeds, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, E. coli, fecal coliform, excess algal growth, pH, temperature, total phosphorus, and sedimentation, as water quality impairments.

The Umpqua Basin Total Maximum Daily Loads determine the how much of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. The TMDL Water Quality Management Plan outlines the framework to attain TMDL goals.

TMDL Approved by EPA on April 12, 2007

Executive Summary and Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Overview and Background
Chapter 2: Bacteria TMDL
Chapter 3: Stream Temperature TMDL
Chapter 4: Algae/Aquatic Weeds, Dissolved Oxygen and pH TMDL
Chapter 5: Biological Criteria TMDL
Chapter 6: Diamond Lake and Lake Creek Aquatic Weeds, Dissolved Oxygen and pH TMDL
Chapter 7: Water Quality Management Plan

Appendices Cover Page
Appendix 1: Bacteria TMDL Supplemental Information
Appendix 2: Stream Temperature TMDL Supplemental Information
Appendix 3: Algae/Aquatic Weeds, Dissolved Oxygen and pH TMDL Supplemental Information
Appendix 4: Diamond Lake TMDL Supplemental Information

Additional documents

Response to Public Comments
TMDL Order Memorandum - Oct. 31, 2006

TMDL approved by EPA on Jan. 29, 2002

Addendum - Clarifications to the Little River TMDL
Total Maximum Daily Load
Appendix A: Stream Temperature Model
Appendix B: pH Modeling Report
Appendix C: Federal Water Quality Restoration Plan
Appendices D, E and F: Implementation Plans
Response to Public Comment

DEQ is in the process of revising multiple temperature TMDLs that were issued by DEQ and approved by EPA between 2004 and 2010, including the Umpqua Basin temperature TMDL. EPA and the State of Oregon are working collaboratively under a federal court order to reissue these temperature TMDLs to make them consistent with current temperature standards. These TMDLs must be updated because they were based, in part, on the Natural Conditions Criterion, a section of the temperature standard that was subject to litigation and that the EPA determined should not be used to establish TMDLs.

DEQ requested EPA assistance to complete the Umpqua temperature TMDL revision by the court-ordered deadline of Feb. 28, 2025. DEQ lacks the resources to work on the Umpqua temperature TMDL and complete all the necessary work for the remaining temperature TMDLs that must also be revised.

Find out more at the Umpqua River Basin Temperature TMDL replacement web page.

Contact

Sarah Sauter
Umpqua Basin Coordinator
541-774-5905

Basin Coordinator List

TMDL Program: Umpqua Basin

Umpqua Basin TMDLs

Little River Watershed TMDLs

Umpqua Basin Temperature TMDL revision

Thermal infrared remote sensing survey reports

Contact