Georgia EPD - Carters Lake Chlorophyll a TMDL Study
The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recently initiated a major two-year study, including one year of intensive data gathering and one year of advanced water quality modeling, to develop the Chlorophyll a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Carters Lake, and to lay the foundation for future regulatory decisions to be made concerning the Carters Lake watershed.
Stakeholder involvement will be an important part of this process. We therefore intend for this web page to serve as a bulletin board for all those interested in periodic updates on the project. Accordingly, the contents should grow as the project evolves starting with initial field study plans and progressing to include field data and other activities being performed. Your suggestions about its content will be appreciated. The paragraphs below provide more specific background on this effort.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) proposed water quality standards for Carters Lake in 2001. The Board of Natural Resources adopted water quality standards for Carters Lake and its major tributaries in 2002. Lake wide standards for pH, total nitrogen, phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen and temperature were established. Site- specific growing season average chlorophyll a standards (May-October) were set as follows:
Location |
Chlorophyll a |
Carters Lake upstream from Woodring Branch |
5 mg/L |
Carters Lake at Coosawattee River embayment mouth |
10 mg/L |
In addition, standards for annual total phosphorus loading were also established for major tributaries to the lake as shown below.
Location |
Annual Phosphorus Load |
Coosawattee River at Old Highway 5 |
151,500 lbs/year |
Mountaintown Creek at U.S. Highway 76 |
8,000 lbs/year |
In 2006, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) listed both segments of Carters Lake on the State’s 303(d) list for not meeting the chlorophyll a water quality standard. These included Woodring Brand and Coosawattee River embayment. As a result of the listing, the GAEPD will prepare a TMDL for Carters Lake. The TMDL will be developed using water quality models of the watershed and lake.
The specific purpose of the Carters Lake Chlorophyll a Study is to evaluate the effects of nutrient loads on lake chlorophyll a concentrations. During 2008, data will be collected to calibrate and validate the watershed and lake water quality models. The modeling will be performed in 2009 and in 2010 the TMDL for Carters Lake will be prepared by the GAEPD. The field study plan is composed of five coordinated modules. Follow the links below for an overview of the work planned for 2008, followed by specific details on each individual module.
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