Final TMDLs Approved by EPA

The Northern Coastal Bays are shallow coastal lagoons located behind Fenwick Island on the Atlantic Coast of Worcester County, Maryland. The Northern Coastal Bays system consists of two major bays: Assawoman Bay and Isle of Wight Bay.

The St. Martin River (02130103) was first identified on Maryland’s 1994 303(d) list for nutrients. Assawoman Bay (02130102), and Isle of Wight Bay (02130103) were first identified on Maryland’s 1996 303(d) list for nutrients, dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) submitted each of these lists to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review and approval.  To begin addressing these conditions, Maryland is first establishing nutrient TMDLs for the following five major tributaries in the Northern Coastal Bays system: St. Martin River, Bishopville Prong, Shingle Landing Prong, Herring Creek and Turville Creek. TMDLs for the remaining portions of the Northern Coastal Bays system will be established at a later time, when additional data and analytical tools allow. The documents available below establish nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) TMDLs for five tidal tributaries in the Northem Coastal Bays System.  The dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform impairments will be addressed separately.