Lesson 1: Pollution Solutions: Earth Day (8th)
Handout 1

Total Maximum Daily Load

Directions:  Investigate the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program.  With a partner, go to the Web site: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/tmdl/index.html.  Click on the region or state of interest to you shown on the map.  Skip “Waters Listed by Waterbody Type” and go below to “Waters Listed by Watershed” where you will see the name of bodies of water in that watershed.  Click on the body of water you wish to select.  Then you will see “Waters Listed By Waterbody” and “Impairments” which you may use to find specific information about your area.  In the space below list the areas of concern regarding this body of water.

Watershed Name:  ______________________


Water Body Name: ______________________


Area(s) of Concern: _____________________________________________________


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In the box on the right, present the data from your research in the form of a pie chart, bar graph, or line graph to indicate the type(s) of pollution. See sample below.

bluegreen: PCBs
yellow: Fish and invertebrate communities rated poor
blue: Untreated sewage discharges
violet: Dissolved oxygen