The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will present and discuss the draft Implementation Plan (IP) documents for the Clinch River and Cove Creek watershed at this steering committee meeting on Thursday, October 27, 2016. There are eleven (11) different impaired stream segments in this study area and include the following streams: Clinch River, Cove Creek, Stock Creek, Moll Creek, Valley Creek, Blackwater Creek, Copper Creek and North Fork Clinch River. All segments are listed as impaired on Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report due to violations of the State’s water quality standard for bacteria. The Clinch River and Cove Creek watershed includes portions of Russell, Scott, and Lee Counties. The TMDL studies for these stream impairments were completed in 2014, and can be found in the Bacteria TMDL Development for the Clinch River and Cove Creek Watershed, Virginia report, available on the DEQ website at: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLDevelopment/ApprovedTMDLReports.aspx Section 62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia requires the development of an IP for approved TMDLs. The IP should provide measurable goals and the date of expected achievement of water quality objectives. The IP should also include the corrective actions needed and their associated costs, benefits, and environmental impacts. At this meeting, the draft IP documents will be discussed and the committee will be able to offer input on and ask questions about the plan to prepare for the final public meeting in November at which time the plan will be presented to the community and a 30 day public comment period will follow. Information on the development of the IP is available upon request. Questions or information requests should be directed to the DEQ staff contact listed.  

Sponsored by State Water Control Board
http://www.deq.virginia.gov