Public participation leads to better TMDL

Local citizens sometimes know more about what is happening in their watersheds than state agencies, and this knowledge can be a valuable aspect of TMDL development. Such was the case for Lake Yazoo in Mississippi.

From the looks of the June 2004 TMDL for Lake Yazoo, it appeared that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) had written the lake off as a lost cause.

A 1979 study found that the small coastal lake was contaminated with phenols and hydrocarbons. At the time of the development of the TMDL, the MDEQ was underfunded, and the lake was not a high concern for the agency. As a result, the 2004 TMDL for the lake was based solely upon the 1979 study. Citizens who were concerned that the TMDL would not be an effective tool in cleaning up Lake Yazoo contacted the Gulf Restoration Network for help.

Of particular concern was the fact that the draft TMDL stated that there were zero nonpoint sources of pollution in the watershed, even though further study was necessary to fully assess the pollution sources for the lake. One citizen was aware of a ship building yard in the watershed that had not been accounted for, and she brought this information to the attention of the Gulf Restoration Network.

Together they raised this issue during the public comment period, prompting the state to conduct a more careful investigation of permits issued for the area. Consequently, several stormwater permits were identified and added to the TMDL as pollution sources.

As a direct result of citizen involvement, the language of Lake Yazoo's TMDL now reflects the fact that nonpoint sources of pollution are “unknown” rather than “zero,” and that revisions to the TMDL are necessary as new data become available. More importantly, because the public expressed its concern over Lake Yazoo, MDEQ is taking action toward cleaning up the lake. The agency is currently pursuing funding to conduct a new pollutant transport study, which will help them determine the current state of the toxic contaminants in the area.