| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Unit Codes | 17040220 |
| Size | 685.3 square miles (438,592 acres) |
| Water Bodies with EPA-Approved TMDLs (Category 4a) | Beaver Creek, Camas Creek, Camp Creek, Corral Creek, Dairy Creek, Elk Creek, McKinney Creek, Mormon Reservoir, Soldier Creek, Wildhorse Creek, Willow Creek |
| Beneficial Uses Affected | Cold water aquatic life, salmonid spawning, secondary contact recreation |
| Major Land Uses | Range, agriculture |
| Date Approved by EPA | September 2005 EPA Approval Letter |
| Date Approved by EPA | December 2016 EPA Approval Letter |
Subbasin Characteristics
The Camas Creek subbasin lies in south-central Idaho; Camas Creek is the main water body that drains the subbasin. The creek originates in the Camas Prairie and discharges into Magic Reservoir.
2005 Subbasin Assessment and TMDL
Biological and water chemistry data were used to determine if the beneficial uses of the water bodies in the Camas Creek subbasin were fully supported. When data indicated that beneficial uses were being fully supported, DEQ recommending removing the water bodies from the § 303(d) list. When biological data indicated that beneficial uses were not fully supported, DEQ used water chemistry data to identify the source of pollutants impacting beneficial uses. Once a pollutant was identified, load allocations for the appropriate point and nonpoint sources were completed.
TMDLs were completed for 12 water bodies in the subbasin: 11 of the 12 listed water bodies (all but Mormon Reservoir), plus Dairy Creek. TMDLs for Dairy Creek and McKinney Creek should help address sediment and nutrient issues in Mormon Reservoir.
Data indicate that beneficial uses were supported in three of the listed water bodies (Willow, Beaver, and Little Beaver Creeks). However, temperature TMDLs were completed on these water bodies because temperature data indicate that water quality should not be capable of fully supporting beneficial uses.
Flow alteration was found to be a source of pollution impacting the water body in a number of cases. However, flow is not considered a “pollutant” under the Clean Water Act, and TMDLs are not required for pollution that is not caused by a “pollutant.” TMDLs were not completed for flow alteration.
2005 TMDL: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Stream | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Camp Creek | Nutrients, Sediment, temperature |
| Elk Creek | Sediment |
| Soldier Creek | Sediment, temperature |
| Corral | Nutrients, Sediment, temperature |
| Cow Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| Wild Horse Creek | Sediment |
| Dairy Creek | Sediment, nutrients |
| McKinney Creek | Sediment |
| Camas Creek | Sediment |
| Willow Creek | Temperature |
| Beaver Creek | Temperature |
| Little Beaver Creek | Temperature |
Subbasin Documents
- Camas Creek Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load (August 2005)
- Camas Creek Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Agriculture (Revised March 2013)
- Camas Creek Subbasin Five-Year Review (December 2016)
- Camas Creek Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load: 2016 Temperature Addendum (December 2016)
- Errata to the Camas Creek Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load: 2016 Temperature Addendum (December 2016)
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