Goose Creek Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The Clean Water Act (1972) requires that each State develop a plan to identify and restore any waterbody that is deemed impaired. A Total Maximum Daily Load Study (TMDL) is required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a result of the federal Clean Water Act. A TMDL identifies the pollutant that is causing the impairment and how much of that pollutant can enter the waterbody and still meet water quality standards. This TMDL study includes six lakes (excess nutrients) and three streams (E. coli) located in the Goose Creek Watershed (HUC 0703000502), a tributary to the St. Croix River in Eastern Minnesota, that are on the 2014 EPA's 303(d) list of impaired waters (or are expected to be listed on future lists). This watershed includes the smaller watersheds of Goose Creek, Rush Creek, and Rock Creek.