Alaska’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies includes a section of the Matanuska River for impairment by residue (debris). The source of the debris is the site of an unpermitted open dump located just north of Eagle Drive in Palmer. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was developed for residue in fresh water. A TMDL is a “pollution budget” designed to restore the health of an impaired waterbody. A TMDL calculates how much pollution a water body can sustain and still meet the Alaska Water Quality Standards and suggests ways to achieve this goal.

This TMDL addresses only the debris impairment to the river. The term debris used in this document refers only to human-caused residues, and should not be confused with naturally occurring woody debris. The source of debris in the watershed is debris on the slope above the ordinary high water (OHW) mark. The Alaska Railroad initially placed railroad cars at the site in the 1960’s to help stabilize the river bank. After the Alaska Railroad placed the railroad cars, the site was used as an unpermitted open dump.  Trash, including vehicles and other miscellaneous debris that do not stabilize the bank and have the potential to enter the river, were discarded. The discarded trash accumulated on the bank above the Matanuska River, including vehicles and other miscellaneous debris that do not stabilize the bank and have the potential to enter the river.

This draft TMDL is now available for public comment. The 45-day public notice period runs from July 7, 2017 – August 21, 2017.

Public comments on the draft TMDL must be submitted in writing through email, fax or mail and directed to the contact listed below by 5:00 PM August 21, 2017. If anyone wishes to submit additional data, this data needs to be submitted within the public comment period for consideration and incorporation into the final TMDL.

Electronic submission of data is preferred.

Please find the draft TMDL and Factsheet on the DEC website at:

http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/wqsar/index.htm.

For questions about this TMDL, to obtain hard copies of the draft TMDL, to request a public meeting on this TMDL, or to submit comments, contact:

Jeanne Swartz
Division of Water
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage 99501
Jeanne.Swartz@alaska.gov
Phone 907-269-7523
Fax 907-269-3487

Please submit the request for a public meeting by August 7, 2017.

To sign up for DEC Nonpoint Source program announcements, visit:

http://list.state.ak.us/soalists/dec.wqsar.nps/jl.htm

The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Natalie Wolfe at (907) 269-0291 through the Alaska Relay Service, TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711, or www.akrelay.com, within 30 days of publication of this notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.