What is a load allocation?
A load allocation is the part of a TMDL/water quality restoration plan that assigns reductions to meet identified targets. The load may be divided by land use (rangeland, cropland), or activity (construction, timber harvest) or assigned to subwatersheds or tributaries. In a perfect world, the amount of load reduction would be proportionate to a sources contribution. However, this is not always feasible. The relative cost of achieving reduction targets may be greater for some contributors than others. State law requires DEQ to consider the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of implementing a TMDL/water quality restoration plan.
