Department of
Environmental Quality

Subbasin at a Glance

Overview

The Middle Fork Payette River is a fifth order tributary of the Payette River located in the northern part of Boise County and the southern part of Valley County, Idaho. Beneficial uses in the mainstem Middle Fork Payette River include salmonid spawning, cold water biota, primary and secondary contact recreation, domestic water supply, agricultural water supply, and special resource water (only cold water biota was found to be affected by pollutants).

Results of a water body assessment for the Middle Fork Payette River indicate that the lower reaches of the river (below Bulldog Creek) are not fully supporting cold water biota due to high levels of sediment and subsequent changes in channel morphology. The tributaries to the Middle Fork Payette River and the upper sections of the river were found to be meeting their beneficial uses and were removed from the §303(d) list.

A TMDL for sediment for the lower Middle Fork Payette River was prepared. A TMDL for habitat modification (changes to channel morphology) was not prepared, as habitat alteration is considered "pollution," but not a "pollutant," and TMDLs are not required for water bodies impaired by pollution, but not by specific pollutants. A TMDL is only required when a pollutant can be identified and in some way quantified.

Stream and Pollutant for Which TMDLs Were Developed

Middle Fork Payette River (Bulldog Creek to mouth)

Sediment

Subbasin Documents

• This subbasin assessment and TMDL document is not available electronically. To view a hard copy, contact DEQ's Middle Fork Payette River Subbasin TMDL contact.
• Final Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for the Middle Fork Payette River and Addendum to the Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load for the Middle Fork Payette River (August 2003)
• Middle Fork Payette River Temperature Total Maximum Daily Loads: Addendum to the Middle Fork Payette River Subbasin Assessment and TMDL (December 2007)
• U.S. EPA Approval Letter for Middle Fork Payette River Temperature TMDLs (December 2007)
• Middle Fork Payette River Subbasin TMDL Five Year Review (February 2009)