Idaho Protects Teton River with new TMDL standards

Idaho is increasing protective measures for Teton River due to pollution concerns, according to the Teton Valley News. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality ran additional in-depth monitoring and added new guidelines for pollution restrictions to the state’s existing standards.

The new Total Maximum Daily Load guidelines will focus on temperature and stricter restrictions on daily sediment levels in the upper portion of the river, which department officials believe will help tackle agricultural runoff. Although the department believes the new guidelines will improve water quality for the river, one river advocacy group says funding to assist farmers in preventing runoff pollution will be more beneficial.

Top image: Teton River (Credit: Frank Kovalchek via Flickr CC-BY-2.0)