Heavenly Valley Creek - Sediment
H.U. 634.000
Since 1956, the upper Heavenly Valley Creek Watershed has been disturbed by construction and maintenance activities at the Heavenly Valley (later renamed "Heavenly") Ski Resort. During the 1989-1990 listing cycle, Heavenly Valley Creek was placed on the list of impaired surface water bodies which require development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) pursuant to Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act.
The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region (Regional Board) developed a TMDL for sediment in Heavenly Valley Creek which is expected to result in the attainment of applicable water quality objectives and the protection of beneficial uses.
Beneficial Uses ascribed to Heavenly Valley Creek:
- Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN)
- Agricultural Supply (AGR)
- Ground Water Recharge (GWR)
- Water Contact Recreation (REC-1)
- Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC-2)
- Commercial and Sport fishing (COMM)
- Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD)
- Wildlife Habitat (WILD)
- Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE)
- Migration of Aquatic Organisms (MIGR)
- Spawning, Reproduction and /or Early Development (SPWN)
The Final Heavenly Valley Creek TMDL Basin Plan Amendment received final approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on September 30, 2002 and is now in effect. The final amendments include the changes made at the January 2001 Regional Board meeting and minor non-substantive changes made in response to the concerns of the California Office of Administrative Law. Note that the Basin Plan amendments include introductory language to the new Section 4.13 of the Basin Plan; future TMDLs will be added to this section of the Basin Plan as they receive final approvals.
