Swift Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The TMDL Program is a Federal program authorized under the Clean Water Act to address waters that are not meeting water quality standards. A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards.

Approval of Swift Creek

The EPA approved the TMDL for Swift Creek (PDF) in 2009 citing impaired biological integrity. The impacts of enrichment and habitat degradation are associated with scour and toxicity related to high levels of development in the Swift Creek watershed. Swift Creek is located in the Neuse river basin.

Adaptive Management Strategy

The Town has developed an adaptive management strategy for stormwater runoff to reduce the impacts of the high levels of development. The strategy includes:

• Implementation of minimum NPDES Phase II measures.
• Increased street sweeping in the Swift Creek watershed.
• Increased efforts for Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination inspections.
• Ongoing implementation of the Town-wide Riparian buffer program.
• Ongoing implementation of the Town-wide Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program.
• Homeowner education to help slow the flow of runoff and promote healthy streambanks:
  • Small-Scale Solutions for Repairing Eroded Streambanks (PDF) (A publication from the NC Cooperative Extension Backyard Stream Repair team)