Involve Stakeholders:  Identify stakeholder concerns and get input on the sampling design for a particular watershed through a public participation process.  Identify outside data sources that meet NMED quality assurance requirements to compliment NMED data.

Assess Waterbody: Collect water quality data to assess the health of a watershed. The data is analyzed and compiled into a summary report. This data is assessed using our Assessment Protocols and impaired waterbodies are listed on the 303(d) list.

Develop TMDL Allocations: To ensure that NM’s water quality standards are met and designated uses are attained, the allowable pollutant load is allocated to potential sources (i.e. point or nonpoint sources) for each of the pollutants in question. The sum of the allocations plus a margin of safety to account for inherent sampling errors and/or calculation errors must result in the water body attaining the applicable water quality standards. Federal regulations provide that TMDLs can be expressed as mass, thermal energy, toxicity or other appropriate measures.

Amend Water Quality Management Plan: Federal law requires that TMDLs be adopted into the state’s Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP). TMDLs are adopted into the WQMP through a public process that requires approval of the TMDLs by the WQCC and USEPA Region 6.

Develop Implementation Plan and/or Revise NPDES Permits: TMDLs are implemented for nonpoint source pollution by organizing local watershed groups to develop Watershed Improvement Plans (a.k.a. Watershed Restoration Action Strategies) with the assistance of the SWQB’s Watershed Protection Section. Point source TMDL allocations may result in modifications to or development of permit limits from USEPA Region 6 and the SWQB’s Point Source Regulation Section.