| Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Hydrologic Unit Codes | 17050112 |
| Size | 1,294 square miles (828,000 acres) |
| Water Bodies with EPA-Approved TMDLs (Category 4a) | Cold Springs Creek, Cougar Creek, Deception Gulch Creek, Grass Creek, Gravey Creek, Grizzly Creek, Marten Creek, Middle Creek, Orogrande Creek, Osier Creek, Sneak Creek, Sylvan Creek, Tamarack Creek, Tumble Creek |
| Beneficial Uses Affected | Cold water aquatic life, salmonid spawning (federal Bull Trout protection) |
| Major Land Uses | Roads, recreation |
| Date Approved by EPA | December 2003 EPA Approval Letter |
| Date Lake Creek Temperature TMDL Approved by EPA | September 2018 Approval Letter |
Subbasin Characteristics
The North Fork of the Clearwater River is located in north-central Idaho, running 130 miles from the divide on the Montana-Idaho border westward toward Orofino, Idaho. The Upper North Fork Clearwater River subbasin is that portion of the North Fork Clearwater River watershed above the US Geological Survey (USGS) gaging station immediately above the confluence of Beaver Creek with the North Fork Clearwater River.
2003 Subbasin Assessment and TMDL
Nineteen stream segments in the Upper North Fork Clearwater River subbasin were listed on the 1998 §303(d) list. Eleven of those water bodies are federally protected as Bull Trout watersheds. Based on the available data, none of those water bodies meets the federal Bull Trout water temperature standard. Orogrande, Tamarack, Hem, Sylvan, Sneak, and China Creeks have populations of Cutthroat Trout but do not meet the state’s water temperature standard for this species. Hem Creek, however, is in near pristine condition and it is concluded that the temperature regime in this creek is natural. Deception Gulch has Rainbow Trout but does not meet the state’s water temperature standard for rainbow trout. Tumble Creek has a population of Brook Trout and it is concluded that the state’s water temperature standard for salmonid spawning is being met during the Brook Trout spawning season.
All the water bodies are §303(d) listed for sediment (only Osier Creek is listed for temperature). However, data analysis indicates that only one of the listed water bodies, Deception Gulch, is water quality limited as the result of sediment. Except for Deception Gulch, it is recommended that all the water bodies be removed from the §303(d) list for sediment. A sediment TMDL was developed for Deception Gulch and temperature TMDLs were developed for every §303(d) listed water body except Hem Creek and Tumble Creek.
2003 TMDL: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Stream | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| China Creek | Temperature |
| Cold Springs Creek | Temperature |
| Cool Creek | Temperature |
| Cougar Creek | Temperature |
| Deception Gulch | Temperature, sediment |
| Gravey Creek | Temperature |
| Grizzly Creek | Temperature |
| Laundry Creek | Temperature |
| Marten Creek | Temperature |
| Middle Creek | Temperature |
| Upper Orogrande Creek | Temperature |
| Lower Orogrande Creek | Temperature |
| Osier Creek | Temperature |
| Sneak Creek | Temperature |
| Sugar Creek | Temperature |
| Swamp Creek | Temperature |
| Sylvan Creek | Temperature |
| Tamarack Creek | Temperature |
2017 Lake Creek Temperature TMDL
Watershed at a Glance
Lake Creek (17060307CL033_03) was placed on the 2010 §303(d) list of impaired water for temperature criteria violations. Effective target shade levels were established for one assessment unit based on the concept of natural background temperature levels. Lake Creek lacks a minor amount of shade, most likely as a result of minor channel widening. On average, Lake Creek lacks 4% shade when compared to target shade values for the Clearwater National Forest breaklands forest and alder-forest mix landtypes. Some portions of Lake Creek have abundant shade that exceeds targets.
2017 Temperature TMDL: Streams and Pollutants for Which TMDLs Were Developed
| Subwatersheds | Pollutants |
|---|---|
| Lake Creek | CreekTemperature |
Subbasin Document(s)
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