Location
The Cicero Creek Watershed is located in central Indiana, draining approximately 225 square miles in Hamilton, Tipton, Clinton, and Boone counties. Major streams included in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report are Cicero Creek, Little Cicero Creek, Prairie Creek, Dixon Creek, Sloan Ditch, Buck Creek, and other tributaries to Morse Reservoir.
History
A comprehensive survey of the Cicero Creek Watershed was conducted by Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in 2001 and 2006. The primary cause of impairment is E. coli Bacteria. Pollution sources in the watershed include nonpoint sources from agriculture and pastures, land application of manure and urban and rural run-off, as well as point sources from straight pipe discharges, home sewage treatment system disposal and combined sewer overflow outlets.
Pollutants Addressed
TMDLs for the Cicero Creek Watershed are established E. coli and will address 27 impairments. Some of the recommended solutions to address the impairments include storm water controls, point source controls, manure management and habitat improvements.
Timeline
A kickoff meeting was held at the Hamilton East Public Library-Genealogy Room in Noblesville, IN on May 25, 2011 during which IDEM staff described the TMDL Program and provided a summary of the available data.
A draft TMDL meeting will be scheduled for Summer 2011 during which IDEM staff will describe the TMDL Program and provided an overview of the draft TMDL results.
The initial public comment period began on August 2, 2011 and ended on September 2, 2011.
The Cicero Creek Watershed TMDL was approved by U.S. EPA Region 5 on September 30, 2011 for 27 impairments. TMDL reports identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment with water quality standards.