Upper Klamath and Lost River Subbasins TMDL Chapter 2: Klamath River Dissolved Oxygen, Chlorophyll a, pH, and Ammonia Toxicity

The Upper Klamath Subbasin and Lost River Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Water Quality Implementation Plan (WQMP) establish water quality goals for waterbodies in these two subbasins which are within the Klamath Basin. The WQMP lays out steps toward meeting these goals. Water quality improvement programs that lead to TMDL attainment will advance Oregon's commitment to protecting beneficial uses in compliance with State and Federal Law. To accomplish this, the State has promoted a path that progresses towards water quality standard compliance, with protection of the beneficial uses of waters of the State as the primary goal. It is anticipated that facilities, sectors and management agencies will utilize this TMDL to develop and/or alter water quality management efforts. In addition, this TMDL should be used to track water quality, instream physical parameters and landscape conditions through time. This report presents the Upper Klamath and Lost River Subbasins TMDL. It addresses the elements of a TMDL required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These elements include:
• A description of the geographic area to which the TMDL applies;
• Specification of the applicable water quality standards;
• An assessment of the problem, including the extent of deviation of ambient conditions from water quality
standards;
• The development of a loading capacity including those based on surrogate measures and including flow
assumptions used in developing the TMDL;
• Identification of point sources and nonpoint sources; development of Waste Load Allocations for point
sources and Load Allocations for nonpoint sources;
• Development of a margin of safety; and
• An evaluation of seasonal variation.