Total Maximum Daily Load

Welcome to the San Diego Yacht Club’s TMDL webpage brought to you by the TMDL Compliance Committee. On this webpage you can learn about TMDL, stay up to date, how it affects you, and how you can get involved. Thank you for visiting!

LET’S START WITH WHAT IS TMDL?
TMDL stands for Total Maximum Daily Load.  It is the amount of a pollutant that a water body can assimilate without having a deleterious effect on its designated beneficial use. As a practical matter, this assessment is generally accomplished by comparing test results for a specific water body with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels for each element.  So, for example, mercury, arsenic, and lead may be below the threshold while copper can exceed this level.  If the results are higher than acceptable limits, then the local governing body will write a "proposed" TMDL and pass it along to the State Water Resources Control Board who then gives it to the Federal EPA.  If all agree, then that particular part of the water body will be listed for that particular TMDL (element, compound, condition) and a time table established to try and rectify the matter.

HAS A TMDL BEEN SET FOR SAN DIEGO BAY?
Yes and No.  Yes, a TMDL has been established for dissolved copper but not for the entire San Diego Bay.  Within the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board's purview there are 21 areas currently being evaluated for possible TMDL listings.  Thirteen (13) of these locations are sub-bays and estuaries within San Diego harbor while the other eight are scattered throughout San Diego County.  The Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB) is but one of the 13 sub-bays and estuaries. Based on its research, the regional water board recommended a TMDL for dissolved copper in Shelter Island Yacht Basin in February, 2005 to the State Water Resources Control Board who, in turn, seven months later (September 2005) approved this recommendation and sent it to the California Office of Administrative Law. In December (2005) it was sent to USEPA that approved the TMDL on February 8, 2006.  Official EPA Listing

WHY IS THE SAN DIEGO YACHT CLUB INVOLVED?
Due to the TMDL being set for the Shelter Island Yacht Basin and with a compliance deadline of 2012, each yacht club and marina is supposed to form a TMDL committee. SDYC has taken this step, and our committee is currently collecting data and develop strategies to not only meet this challenge but protect our harbor. If you have any question please contact John Adriany, TMDL Chair at jadriany@sbcglobal.net or (619) 224-7091.