Total Maximum Daily Loads

Environmental Compliance represents the oldest oyster grower in Tillamook Bay and has therefore been a leading advocate for improved water quality there for over 20 years. Our most recent efforts are focused on lowering the Total Maximum Daily Load (“TMDL”) for bacteria in the watershed.  Fully 1/3 of shellfish growing waters in the Bay were written off by the 2001 TMDL when the Department of Environmental Quality chose to base upstream water quality criteria on average salinity in the Bay rather than on the lowest salinity (and therefore lowest dilution) measured in shellfish growing waters.  Environmental Compliance is utilizing every available administrative, legislative and judicial forum to ensure that in the next decade shellfish growing waters in the Bay are protected as required by law.