Publication Summary

This report serves to fulfill the water quality assessment reporting requirements of federal Clean Water Act Section 305(b) for the year 2002. The water quality assessment was conducted according to published guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The assessment was conducted statewide using a sample survey approach. The sample survey approach allowed the estimation of the condition of 98% of streams and 100% of estuaries in Washington State.

This report serves to fulfill the water quality assessment reporting requirements of federal Clean Water Act Section 305(b) for the year 2002. The water quality assessment was conducted according to published guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The assessment was conducted statewide using a sample survey approach. The sample survey approach allowed the estimation of the condition of 98% of streams and 100% of estuaries in Washington State.

The assessment was conducted with data collected from stations in both the Washington State Department of Ecology routine ambient monitoring program and the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. Stream stations were stratified into subpopulations according to size and ecoregion. Stations from estuary areas were stratified into three subpopulations based on morphology. Assessments were made of the support of specific uses designated for protection in the Washington State Water Quality Standards by the criteria identified. Statewide water quality conditions were estimated and the precision of the estimate provided. Results show that designated uses were fully supported in 47% of all streams and 58% of estuaries assessed statewide.