Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Basin Groups

<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>DEP has developed a phased approach to implementing the law. DEP's comprehensive "watershed management" strategy views the state based on its natural boundaries, like river and estuary basins, rather than political boundaries. These naturally bounded areas have been organized into five "groups" of basins. In 2000, DEP began addressing the first group of basins (Group 1) and continues to initiate activities in a new group (Groups 2 through 5) each year over a five-year cycle to cover the entire state. The five-year cycle will then begin again in the Group 1 basins and continue through Groups 2-5 to re-evaluate the status of impaired waters, determine the successes and problems associated with ongoing activities, make necessary changes, and consider and address new circumstances associated with growth and development.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>