Institute of Water Research

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is announcing a public comment period (April 17-May 19, 2017) and public meeting (May 9, 2017) to discuss the revised draft statewide E. coli TMDL. The statewide E. coli TMDL is a framework that applies to all water bodies that are included in Michigan’s Year 2016 Section 303(d) list due to elevated E. coli and will also apply to water bodies listed as impaired due to E. coli in the future. The TMDL is being developed to identify the pathogen reductions necessary to meet water quality standards. This is the second, and more formal, comment period for the draft statewide E. coli TMDL, and four previously recorded webinars are available here.

The draft TMDL and mapping system have been revised based on public input. Revisions are highlighted and referenced with footnotes within the document to explain changes. Please note, in this revised draft, the MDEQ is proposing to revoke the outdated Rouge River E. coli TMDL (previously approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2007) and replace it with coverage under the statewide E. coli TMDL (please see “MDEQ Response to Comments” document for more details).

The revised TMDL document, mapping system, “MDEQ Response to Comments” document, and all comments received are available on the Statewide E. coli TMDL website.

Important Information:

• The public comment period is April 17-May 19.
• A public meeting will be held May 9, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., at the State of Michigan Library, Forum Auditorium, 1st Floor, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan.
• The meeting will be transmitted via Webinar. To register for this Webinar broadcast, view our previously recorded Webinar series on this topic, or access the draft document and mapping system, please visit www.michigan.gov/ecolitmdl.
• Written comments on the draft TMDL and mapping system may be submitted to Molly Rippke, Department of Environmental Quality, Water Resources Division, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7958 or rippkem@michigan.gov, by May 19, 2017.