| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Unit Codes | 17060207 |
| Size | 170 square miles (108,800 acres) |
| Water Bodies with EPA-Approved TMDLs (Category 4a) | Crooked Creek |
| Beneficial Uses Affected | Cold water aquatic life, salmonid spawning |
| Major Land Uses | Forestry, range, recreation |
| Date Approved by EPA | January 2003 |
| Date 2017 Temperature TMDL and 5-Year Review Approved by EPA | April 2013 EPA Approval Letter |
Subbasin Characteristics
The Middle Salmon River-Chamberlain Creek subbasin is located in central Idaho and includes the main Salmon River from the Middle Fork Salmon River to French Creek. Major portions of the subbasin are in either the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness or the Gospel Hump Wilderness.
2002 Subbasin Assessment and TMDL
Eight stream segments in the subbasin are listed on the 1998 §303(d) list. The listed stream segments are located in portions of the subbasin primarily outside of the wilderness areas.
All listed streams were assessed by DEQ and determined to be fully supporting their aquatic life beneficial uses, with the exception of Crooked Creek. Because all streams except Crooked Creek are supporting their aquatic life uses and human activity–related sediment yields appear to be low, it was determined that none of the streams listed for sediment, including the Salmon River, were sufficiently impacted to require TMDLs for sediment. The document recommends that all of the segments be delisted for sediment on the next §303(d) list.
Warren Creek is altered by past dredge mining and is correctly listed for habitat alteration. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not believe that habitat alteration is a pollutant as defined by the Clean Water Act. Since TMDLs are not required for water bodies impaired by pollution but not pollutants, a TMDL was not developed for habitat alteration.
During the subbasin assessment, water temperature data indicated the upper portion of Crooked Creek has elevated water temperatures that may impact salmonid spawning throughout the creek. A TMDL for temperature in Crooked Creek was calculated based on effective shade modeling.
2002 TMDL: Stream and Pollutant for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Stream | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Crooked Creek | Temperature |
Subbasin Document(s)
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