Water Quality Analyses (WQA) with EPA Concurrence of MDE's Findings

The following eight-digit basins were identified on the State’s 2002 list of Water Quality Limited Segments as impaired by fecal coliform, and not meeting current water quality standards: 

1. Assawoman Bay (basin number 02-13-01-02) in Worcester County, Maryland
2. Sinepuxent Bay (basin number 02-13-01-04) in Worcester County, Maryland
3. Newport Bay (basin number 02-13-01-05) in Worcester County, Maryland
4. Chincoteague Bay (basin number 02-13-01-06) in Worcester County, Maryland
5. Monie Bay (basin number 02-13-03-02) in Somerset County, Maryland
6. Kent Island Bay (basin number 02-13-05-11) in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland
7. Rock Creek (basin number 02-13-09-03) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
8. Langford Creek (basin number 02-13-05-06) in Kent County, Maryland

The report available below provides analyses of the data used to determine the impairment listings for the aforementioned eight basins.  It also includes recently collected data that indicates that Assawoman Bay, Sinepuxent Bay, Newport Bay, Chincoteague Bay, Kent Island Bay, and Rock Creek are currently meeting water quality standards.  As a result, the analyses support the conclusion that bacteria Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are not currently necessary for these six basins and the listings will be moved to Category Two “surface waters that are meeting some standards and have insufficient information to determine attainment of other standards” of the State’s list of impaired waters.    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that additional data is necessary to conduct similar analyses for Monie Bay and Langford Creek; therefore, these two basins will be moved to Category Three “waters with insufficient information to determine if water quality standards are being attained” of the State’s list of impaired waters. 

Contact Information

Please direct questions or comments concerning this project to Maryland's TMDL Program at (410) 537-3818.