Pursuant to IC 13-18-2-3, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is soliciting public comment on the assessment of water quality data for the development of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) report. These data were collected by IDEM staff from November of 2018 through October of 2019, following the IDEM quality assured work plan and IDEM standard operating procedures. They were assessed using IDEM's Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM).

Chemical, physical, and biological samples of the Laughery Creek Watershed were collected in 1985, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2011, and 2017 using the fish tissue, probabilistic, and targeted monitoring programs. Additionally, fixed station monitoring has been conducted in the watershed since 1998. Based on these monitoring programs, impairments listed on the 303(d) List of Impaired Waters include E. coli, dissolved oxygen (DO), and impaired biotic communities (IBC).

In 2018, the Laughery Creek Watershed was selected for an intensive watershed characterization monitoring project to identify the sources and extent of impairments based on those waters that were previously listed. Twenty-four sites were assessed for general chemistry, pathogens, nutrients, habitat, and fish and macroinvertebrate communities.

Based on the watershed characterization study assessments in 2020, there are 19 stream segments, tracked using assessment unit IDs (AUIDs), where additional impairments are identified. The additional impairments across all stream segments sampled within the Laughery Creek watershed total 31, including 19 E. coli, 5 IBC, 5 DO, and 2 nutrients.

Also as a result of the assessments, a total of five historical impairments (including two IBC, two E. coli, and one dissolved oxygen impairment), are identified as no longer applicable. Those segments now demonstrate attainment of applicable water quality standards.

At this time, IDEM solicits water quality-related information to support or refute the assessments described above.

Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:

(1) By mail or common carrier to the following address:

Document #20-74 2020 Assessment of Laughery Creek Water Quality Data

Lindsay Hylton Adams, Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite 100

Indianapolis, IN 46219

(2) By electronic mail to lhylton@idem.in.gov. To confirm timely delivery of your comments, please request a document receipt when you send the electronic mail. PLEASE NOTE: Electronic mail comments will NOT be considered part of the official written comment period unless they are sent to the address indicated in this notice.

(3) Hand delivered to the receptionist on duty at the reception desk, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2525 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Regardless of the delivery method used, to properly identify each comment with the action it is intended to address, each comment document must clearly specify the document number of the action on which you are commenting.

All comments must be postmarked or time stamped not later than May 26, 2020. Hand-delivered comments must be delivered to the appropriate office by 4:45 p.m. on the above-listed deadline date.

Additional information regarding this notice may be obtained from Lindsay Hylton Adams in the Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch, Office of Water Quality, (317) 308-3378 or (800) 451-6027 (in Indiana).

After the public comment period, the determination of impairments for TMDL development will be presented to the commissioner for final approval.

DIN: 20200226-IR-318200074ONA

Composed: May 20,2024 10:24:47PM EDT

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