LESJWA serves as the administrator of a multi-agency task force of more than 20 agencies and organizations who have been identified by the Regional Water Quality Control Board as watershed nutrient contributors to both lakes.
Working together with the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Task Force conducts stormwater and lake water quality monitoring, modeling, and studies to determine how best to meet water quality targets for Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake.
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was adopted in 2004 to regulate the amount (load) of nutrients that can be released into the watershed to meet water quality standards in both Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore. Continual monitoring and scientific research are instrumental in the implementation of watershed-wide and in-lake projects.
The TMDL lists specific numeric targets for DO, Chlorophyll-a, Ammonia, Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN) concentrations in both Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore.
Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake Task Force (“LECL Task Force”) was developed to improve water quality and wildlife habitats in Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, and the San Jacinto Watershed. The TMDL Task Force is made up of all the dischargers identified in the TMDL, including Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permittees (wastewater treatment plants, agricultural operators, dairies, and a number of other state, federal, or tribal agencies that own land or operate facilities that discharge in the watershed).
Additional information about the Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Task Force is available at the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) website (sawpa.org). Follow any of the below links for more details:
Stakeholder Agencies
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Forest Service
- Eastern Municipal Water District
- City of Wildomar
- San Jacinto Agricultural Operators
- S J Dairy & CAFO Operators