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Extended Abstract. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the process by which the State studies and improves waterways that do not meet water quality standards. A TMDL water quality study sets a pollution budget to look at sources of pollution going into the stream. The next step is to write a TMDL Implementation Plan detailing practices that will clean-up the waterbody to meet water quality standards. A key component of the federally mandated TMDL process and its state required follow-up Clean-up Plan is public engagement. Public meetings are supposedly given to educate and involve the general populace who has an interest in the watershed. Smaller, more focused Technical Advisory Committee and Working Group meetings are theoretically designed to allow for citizen input on the minutia and details of the TMDL Plan. However, the implementation of the process is surprisingly unfriendly, highly technical and only marginally encourages public participation. Of course, the handicap of being with the government doesnt help either.