Miller Creek Water Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load

This report addresses the impairment of aquatic life in Miller Creek due to elevated water temperature. Miller Creek is a small, urban trout stream flowing through the cities of Duluth and Hermantown in northeastern Minnesota. The watershed includes parks, trails and residential neighborhoods, but also crisscrosses the regions retail, commercial and transportation corridors. The importance of the stream, along with other streams and natural resources of this area, is continually reinforced by the many efforts and activities undertaken by citizens, businesses, schools, and community and government organizations to protect and restore stream water quality and ecology. Water temperature data demonstrate that problems occur in summer months, mostly from high air temperatures during periods of lower stream flows, or less frequently from runoff from summer rains that occur after high air temperatures. Elevated stream temperatures are believed to also be negatively affecting the fish and aquatic insect communities.