Washington State's Water Quality Assessment [303(d)] - Revisions to Policy 1-11

Water Quality Policy 1-11

Policy 1-11, Chapters 1 and 2 are the guiding policies Ecology uses to assess water quality data, determine if water bodies are polluted, and decide if further action is needed. This policy also explains data submittal and the data quality necessary for inclusion in the assessment. This policy, in combination with the guidance documents it references, constitute the “Listing Methodology” for the Integrated Report composed of the Section 303(d) list and 305(b) report as required by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Current Versions of Policy 1-11

The 2008 EPA Approved Assessment and 303(d) list and the 2010 Proposed Marine Assessment and 303(d) list are based on the September 6, 2006 version of Policy 1-11:

Revisions to WQ Policy 1-11 Now Available for Public Review!

Copy with track changes
Clean copy (without track changes)

July 6 – September 1, 2011

Revisions to Policy 1-11 - July 2011

Policy 1-11 is currently being revised. Following public review, these revisions will be finalized and used to guide the 2012 freshwater water quality assessment.

We invite the public to review changes to Policy 1-11 from July 6 - September 1, 2011. Written comments should be provided to Susan Braley.

Summary of Proposed Revisions to WQ Policy 1-11

Minor edits throughout the document for clarity, readability, and to correct errors or inaccuracies from the last version of the policy.

Clarifications made to the descriptions for the five assessment categories.

Clarifications of assessment information and specific data requirements for several pollutant parameters, including:

Specific details in the bacteria section on how Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health (BEACH) Program monitoring data for Enterococcus spp is used for listing purposes.
Changes in the bioassessment section to notify data submitters that after the 2012 Assessment, all biological data that is used in the Assessment must be collected using the protocols outlined in Ecology‘s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for collecting freshwater macro invertebrates.
Modifications to the pH section to more closely resemble requirements for other conventional parameters.
Several clarifications to the toxics criteria section, including new descriptions for arsenic and endosulfans.

A new section has been added on “Assessment of Waterbody Segments Within a TMDL”, describing when it is appropriate to move waterbody segment listings in and out of Category 4a (Has an Approved TMDL).

You may also provide feedback by attending our 2012 Workshops for the Freshwater Quality Assessment. Information about these workshops is available at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/2012/.

To learn more about the water quality assessment process, please visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/

For information or questions, please contact:

Susan Braley

Water Quality Program

WA Dept. of Ecology

Phone: 360-407-6414

Email: Susan.Braley@ecy.wa.gov

Last updated July 2011