TMDL

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The Federal Clean Water Act requires that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) establish water quality standards for each water body on the state's polluted waters list. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still safely meet water quality standards.  Linn County is a designated management agency (DMA) for the Willamette River TMDL and is required to develop and update a water quality implementation plan for reduction of each identified pollutant. The pollutants addressed in the plan are bacteria, mercury and temperature.