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The federal Clean Water Act, adopted in 1972, requires that all states restore their waters to be “fishable and swimmable.” The Clean Water Act established a process to identify and clean up polluted waters. Every two years, all states are required to prepare a list of water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. This list is called the 303(d) list because the process is described in Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) prepared a preliminary assessment of water quality in Washington. Assessed waters include all the rivers, lakes and marine waters in the state where data were available. To develop the list, Ecology compiled its own water quality data and invited other groups to submit water quality data they have collected. All data submitted needed to be collected using appropriate scientific methods.
The assessed waters are listed in categories that describe the status of water quality. For those waters that are in the polluted water category, beneficial uses– such as drinking, recreation, aquatic habitat, and industrial use – are impaired by pollution.
Once the list is put together, the public is given a chance to review it and give comments. The final list is formally submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the authority to approve or disapprove it. A water cleanup plan, also known as a “total maximum daily load” or TMDL, must be developed for each of the water bodies on the 303(d) list. The cleanup plan identifies how much pollution needs to be reduced or eliminated to achieve clean water.
The last polluted waters list was done in 2004. Following guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the current listing process includes a much more comprehensive assessment of Washington’s waters.
The list helps us to use state resources more efficiently by focusing our limited time on water bodies that need the most work. The list of water bodies in the assessment reflects local government, community and citizen recognition of water quality problems in Washington, demonstrating citizen interest in, and commitment to clean water. When citizens are involved in the process of assessing water quality, they will want to be involved in actions to improve water quality.
Please see
Focus on Washington State's Water Quality
Assessment for more information.
Contact us for more information
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
