Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for Shellfish-Impaired Waters in New Jersey

TMDLs are required, under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, to be developed for waterbodies that cannot meet surface water quality standards after the implementation of technology-based effluent limitations. Once adopted in the NJ Register they are official added as amendments to the DEP's Water Quality Management Plan. TMDLs are mechanisms for identifying all the contributors to surface water quality impacts and setting goals for load reduction for pollutants of concern as necessary to meet SWQS.