United States
                        Environmental Protection
                        Agency
                                                       Office of Water (4503F)
                                                       Washington, DC 20460
                        Fact Sheet
SEPA
National Water Quality Inventory:   1994 Report to Congress
EPA841-F-95-011
December 1995
  Background

  Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that
  States and other jurisdictions receiving CWA grant funding
  submit a water quality report to EPA every 2 years. The
  CWA also requires that EPA analyze the State reports and
  transmit the results to Congress every 2 years in the
  National Water Quality Inventory: Report to Congress
  (the Report).

  The Report is the primary vehicle for informing Congress
  and the public about water quality conditions in the
  United States. The 1994 Report summarizes information
  submitted by 61 States, American Indian Tribes, Territories,
  Interstate Water Commissions, and the District of Colum-
  bia in their 1994 Section  305(b) reports.

  Most of the information is based on data collected and
 evaluated by the States, Tribes,  and other jurisdictions
 during 1992 and 1993. The 1994 Report contains national
 summary information about water quality conditions in
 rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, coastal waters, the Great
 Lakes, and ground water.  The Report to Congress also
 contains information about public health  and aquatic
 ecosystem concerns, water quality monitoring, and State
 and Federal water pollution management programs.


    As of 1994, about 40% of the Nation's surveyed
      rivers, lakes, and estuaries are too polluted
     for basic uses, such as fishing and  swimming.
    These results are consistent with those reported
     in 1992 and show that, on the whole, we have
     managed to "hold the line" or prevent further
     degradation. However, more work is needed
           If we are to achieve our Nation's
                 clean water goals.


States, Tribes, and other jurisdictions measure water
quality by determining if waterbodies are clean enough to
support basic uses, such as swimming, drinking supply,
and fishing. These uses are part of the water quality
standards set by each State, Tribe, and jurisdiction to
protect their waters. These standards must be approved
by EPA. For waterbodies with more than one use, the
States, Tribes, and other jurisdictions consolidate use
support information into a single overall use support
                                                    measure of general water quality conditions. These uses
                                                    are characterized as

                                                       • Good/Fully Supporting - Water quality meets
                                                        designated use criteria for all uses.

                                                       • Good/Threatened-Water quality meets use
                                                        criteria now but may not in the future.
                                                       • Fair/Partially Supporting - Water quality fails
                                                        to meet designated use criteria at times.
                                                       • Poor/Not Supporting - Water quality frequently
                                                        fails to meet use criteria.

                                                   Rivers and Streams

                                                   For the 1994 Report, 59 States, Tribes, and other jurisdic-
                                                   tions surveyed water quality conditions in 17% of the
                                                   Nation's total 3.5 million miles of all rivers and streams, or
                                                   48% of the 1,3 million miles of perennial rivers and
                                                   streams (i.e., waterbodies that flow year round) (Figure 1).
                                                   Overall, 64% of the surveyed rivers and streams fully
                                                   support uses set by the States and Tribes, such as fishing
                                                   and swimming (Figure 2). Water quality is good but
                                                   threatened in 7% of these rivers. The remaining 36% are
                                                   in fair or poor condition. Some form of pollution or habitat
                                                   degradation prevents these rivers and streams from fully
                                                   supporting healthy aquatic communities or human
                                                   activities. Aquatic life use is the  most frequently impaired
                                                   individual use in surveyed rivers and streams (Figure 3).
                                                                          States and Tribes
                                                                          SURVEYED
                                                                         of their total river miles
                                                                           for the 1994 report
                                                     States and Tribes SURVEYED
                                                     615,806 Miles of Rivers and Streams
                                                     for the 1994 Report

-------
 Overall Use Support
 In Surveyed Rivers and Streams
             Good  ^
         •(Fully Supporting)
              57%
         <*«>,
                                 Fair
                                (Partially
                              Supporting)
                                 22%
  Poor
  (Not
Supporting)
  14%
                                                  Poor
                                                  (Not
                                                Attainable)
NOTE: Impaired miles are equivalent
to about 100 Mississippi Rivers.
Bacteria and siltation are the most widespread pollutants
impacting surveyed rivers and streams (Figure 4). Bacteria,
which can cause waters to be unsafe for swimming and
other recreational activities, indicate the possible presence
of inadequately treated sewage or animal waste in waters.
Siltation clouds the water and has many adverse impacts
on fish and other aquatic organisms (Figure 5).

Agriculture is the most widespread source, on a national
basis, of pollutants irnpairing surveyed rivers and streams
(Figure 4). Agricultural activities may introduce siltation,
nutrients, pesticides, and organic matter that depletes
oxygen in surface and ground waters.

Municipal sewage treatment plants also continue to
impact many rivers and streams across the country.
Sewage treatment plants are often a source of bacteria,
nutrients, and organic matter that  depletes oxygen.
                          IMPAIRED River Miles: Pollutants and Sources
                                                                                                   Total rivers = 3.5 million miles
   Individual Use Support in Rivers and Streams
                      Good            Fair     Poor    Poor.
               M*B    (Fully     Good   (Paraatty    (Not    (Not
              Surveyed - Supporting (Threatened) Supporting) Supporting) Attainable)
female Ufe Support
                       Bacteria

                        iiltation
                       Nutrients
                       Oxygen-Depleting Sub.
                       Metals
                       Habitat Alterations
                       Suspended Solids
                                                                                      5    10   15   20   25   30  35
                                                                                         Percent of Impaired River Miles
                                                                Leading Sources
                                                                                                                Impaired %
                                                                Agriculture
                                                                Municipal Point Sources
                                                                Hydro/Habitat Mod.
                                                                Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers
                                                                Resource Extraction
                                                                Removal of Streamside Veg.
                                                                Forestry
                                                                               60
                                                                               17
                                                                               17
                                                                               12
                                                                               11
                                                                               10
                                                                                9
                                                                                       10   20   30   40   50   60
                                                                                         Percent of Impaired River Miles
                                                                                                                      70
                                                               NOTE: Percentages do not add up to 100% because more than one pollutant or source
                                                               may impair a river segment.

-------
      The Effects of Siltation in Rivers and Streams
                                                Sediment
                                                abrades gills
                         Aquatic life use is the most frequently impaired individual
                         use in surveyed lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, followed by
                         swimming and fish consumption uses (Figure 8). Fish
                         contamination problems are a growing concern across the
                         country, especially in lakes. The States and other jurisdic-
                         tions reported that 65% of their fish consumption adviso-
                         ries apply to lake waters.
                                          Sediment suffocates
                                          fish eggs and bottom-
                                          dwelling organisms
                                    . Sediment smothers cobbles
                                     where fish lay eggs
 Siltation is one of the leading pollution problems in the Nation's rivers and streams.
 Over the long term, unchecked Siltation can alter habitat with profound effects on
 aquatic life. In the short term, silt can kill fish directly, destroy spawning beds, and
 increase water turbidity resulting in depressed photosynthetic rates.


 Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds

 For the 1994 Report, 48 States, Tribes, and other jurisdic-
 tions surveyed water quality conditions in 42% of the
 Nation's total 40.8 million acres of lakes, reservoirs, and
 ponds (Figure 6).

 Overall, 63% of the surveyed lake acres fully support uses
 set by States and Tribes, such as fishing, swimming, and
 aquatic life habitat (Figure 7). Water quality is threatened
 in 13% of these lakes. Thirty-seven percent of the surveyed
 lake acres are in fair or poor condition. Some form of
 pollution or habitat degradation prevents these lakes from
fully supporting healthy aquatic communities or human
activities.
                               States and Tribes
                               SURVEYED
                              of their total lake acres
                               for the 1994 report
    States and Tribes SURVEYED
    17 Million Acres of the Nation's Lake
    Waters Excluding the Great Lakes
    for the 1994 Report
                   Acres
                Surveyed
Total Acres:
40,826,064
                         NOTE: Impaired acres cover an"
                         area about the size of six Great
                         Salt Lakes.
 Nutrients are the most widespread pollutants impacting
 surveyed lakes, followed by siltation, oxygen-depleting
 substances, and metals (Figure 9). Lakes are especially
 susceptible to nutrient overenrichment and the accumu-
 lation of other pollutants (such as metals) because lakes
 retain their contents for long periods of time.

 Nutrient overenrichment can initiate a chain of impacts
 that includes algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen condi-
 tions, fish kills, foul odors, and excessive aquatic weed
 growth that can interfere with recreational activities
 (Figure 10).

Agriculture is the most widespread source of pollutants
 impairing surveyed lakes, followed by municipal sewage
treatment plants, urban runoff and storm sewers, and
other unspecified npnpoint sources (Figure 9). Agricultural
fertilizers and manure from animal operations can be a
major source of nutrients.

The source of metals in lakes remains unclear, but some
States speculate that air pollution is a significant source of
mercury and other metals.

-------
                                                                         IMPAIRED Lake Acres: Pollutants and Sources
   Individual Use Support in Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
                        Good              Fair     Poor    Poor
   o«kin«Ml      Acres     (Fully     Good    (P«t!s%    {Not     (Not
      Oj»      Smvsyctl  Supporting) (TtireateroKO Supportlfia) Supporting) Attainable)
AaBite life Support
                                                                                           Not "
                                                                                         Surveyed
                                                                                           58%
                                                                                                             Total lakes = 40.8 million acres
                                                                                        Total impaired = 6.7 million acres
Leading Pollutants
                                                                                                             Total surveyed = 17.1 million
                                                                                                                          acres
                                                     ImpairecWh;;
Nutrients
Siltation
Oxygen-Depleting Substances
Metals
Suspended Solids
Pesticides
Priority Organic Toxic
  Chemicals
                                                                                             I    I    I	I	I	I	1	1
                                                                                                 5  10  15  20  25  30  35  40
                                                                                                  Percent of Impaired Lake Acres
                                                                                                                                45
                                                                                                                           Impaired %
                                                                      Agriculture
                                                                      Municipal Point Sources
                                                                      Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers
                                                                      Unspecified Nonpoint Sources
                                                                      Hydro/Habitat Modification
                                                                      Industrial Point Sources
                                                                      Land Disposal
                                                                                                   10    20    30    40  "50
                                                                                                   Percent of Impaired Lake Acres
                                                                                                                                60
                                                                     NOTE: Percentages do not add up to 100% because more than one pollutant or source
                                                                     may impair a lake.
             Lake Impaired by Excessive Nutrients
                     Healthy Lake Ecosystem
                                                             Algal blooms form mats
                                                             on surface. Odor and
                                                             taste problems result.
  Nutrients cause overgrowth of algae as well as noxious aquatic plants. Noxious aquatic plants clog shorelines and reduce lake access.
  Dead algae sink to the bottom where bacteria deplete oxygen as they decompose the algae. Fish die due to low oxygen concentrations.

-------
Overall .Use Support
                           .  Fair
                         "  "•' {Partially «
                           Supporting).
                    Good    34%   '
                  (Threatened)
                     1%
                               Good 3%
 The Great Lakes

 Despite dramatic declines in the occurrence of algal
 blooms, fish kills, and localized "dead" zones depleted of
 oxygen, less visible problems continue to degrade the
 Great Lakes. Six of the eight Great Lakes States surveyed
 94% of the Great Lakes shoreline miles for 1994. These
 States reported that most of the Great Lakes nearshore
 waters are safe for swimming and other recreational
 activities and can be  used as a source of drinking water
 with normal treatment. However, about 97% of the
 surveyed Great Lakes shoreline is under fish consumption
 advisories and shows unfavorable conditions for support-
 ing aquatic life (Figures 11 and 12). Aquatic life impacts
 result from persistent toxic pollutant burdens in the food
 web,  habitat degradation and destruction, and compete
 tion and predation by nonnative species such as the zebra
 mussel and the sea lamprey.

The States reported that most of the Great Lakes shoreline
waters are impacted by priority toxic organic chemicals
(primarily PCBs) that  appear in fish tissue samples at much
higher concentrations than in water samples (Figure 13).

                                                         IMPAIRED Great Lakes Shoreline: Pollutants and Sources
                                                                                          Total shoreline = 5,559 miles
                                                                                                 Total surveyed = 5,224
                                                                                                            miles
                                                         Leading Pollutants
                                                         Priority Toxic Organic
                                                          Chemicals
                                                         Pesticides
                                                         Nonpriority Organic
                                                          Chemicals
                                                         Nutrients
                                                         Metals
                                                         Oxygen-Depleting
                                                          Substances
                                                        Leading Sources  -•>
                                                                                                       Impaired %>
                                                                          0     20,.    40     60     80    100
                                                                            Percent of Impaired Great Lakes Shoreline
                                                        Air Pollution

                                                        Discontinued Discharges

                                                        Contaminated Sediment

                                                        Land Disposal of Wastes

                                                        Unspecified NPS

                                                        Agriculture

                                                        Urban Runoff/Storm Sew.
                                                                                                      .Impaired %
                                                                          0      5     10     15     20     25
                                                                            Percent of Impaired Great Lakes Shoreline

-------
Only four of the Great Lakes States identified the sources
of pollutants impacting their shoreline waters. These States
attributed some of the water quality problems in the Great
Lakes to air pollution, discontinued discharges from
industrial sites that no longer operate, urban runoff and
storm sewers, contaminated sediments, land disposal of
wastes, and agriculture.

Estuaries

Rivers meet the oceans in coastal waters called tidal
estuaries. For the 1994 Report, 23 of the 27 coastal States
and Territories surveyed water quality conditions in 78% of
the Nation's total 34,388 square miles of estuarine waters
(excluding  Alaska) (Figure 14).
                                   States
                             SURVEYED
                                 78%
                              of their total estuarine
                            waters for the 1994 report
     States SURVEYED
     26,847 Square Miles of Estuarine
     Waters for the 1994 Report
 Overall, 63% of the surveyed estuarine waters fully
 support uses set by the States and Territories, such as
 fishing and swimming (Figure 15). Water quality is threat-
 ened in 6% of these estuaries. About 37% of the surveyed
 estuaries are in fair or poor condition. Some form of
 pollution or habitat degradation prevents these estuaries
 from fully supporting healthy aquatic communities or
 human activities.

 Aquatic life use and shellfishing use are the most fre-
 quently impaired individual  uses in surveyed estuaries
 (Figure 16). Most of the shellfish harvested in the United
 States spend at least part of their lives in estuarine waters.
 Officials restrict the harvest of sedentary shellfish (such as
 oysters and clams) in waters with high bacteria concentra-
 tions because these shellfish may accumulate bacteria and
 viruses that cause human illness when eaten.
  Overall Use Support
 ' in Surveyed Estuaries
NOTE: Impaired square miles
cover an area about the size
of three Chesapeake Bays.


-------
  Figure 17-
                                                     Bacteria
         Urban runoff and storm sewers are
         the leading source of impairment
         in estuarine waters
 Failing septic systems
 may release bacteria
                                   Overloaded or improperly functioning
                                   sewage treatment plants may release
                                   waste that contains bacteria
 Some bacteria provide evidence that an estuary is contaminated with sewage that may contain pathogenic bacteria and viruses harmful
 to people. Often, the pathogenic viruses and bacteria do not adversely impact aquatic life, such as fish and shellfish. However, shellfish
 may accumulate bacteria and viruses that cause human disease when ingested. Bacteria also impair swimming uses.
Nutrients and bacteria are the most widespread pollutants
impacting surveyed estuaries, followed by oxygen-
depleting substances and habitat alterations.

Nutrient overenrichment in estuaries causes many of the
same impacts seen in lakes, including algal blooms, low
dissolved oxygen conditions, fish kills, foul odors, and
excessive aquatic weed growth. High bacteria loads
indicate that waters may be unfit for swimming or harvest-
ing shellfish (Figure 17).

Urban runoff/storm sewers and municipal sewage treat-
ment plants are the most widespread sources of pollutants
impairing surveyed estuaries, followed by agriculture and
industrial point sources (Figure 18). However, estuaries
may be stressed by a wide range of activities that occur
within their watersheds. They receive pollutants carried by
rivers from adjacent cities and upstream agricultural lands;
they often support marinas, harbors, and commercial
fishing fleets;  and their surrounding lands are highly prized
for development. These stresses pose a continuing threat
to the survival of these bountiful waters.

Wetlands

Our Nation continues to lose wetlands at a significant rate
(Figure 19), but the net rate of wetlands loss appears to
have slowed from 458,000 acres jost per year during the
mid-1950s through the mid-1970s to between 70,000
acres and 90,000 acres per year between 1982 and 1992
on non-Federal lands (which is about 75% of the land
mass). The net loss reflects the difference between gross
wetlands losses of 1,561,300 acres and gross gains of
768,700 acres between 1982 and 1992.
     IMPAIRED Estuaries: Pollutants and Sources
                                 Total estuaries = 34,388 square
                                             miles
                                   Total surveyed = 26,847 square
                                               miles
                Total impaired = 9,700 square miles
 Leading Pollutants
 Nutrients
 Bacteria
 Oxygen-Depleting Sub.
 Habitat Alterations
 Oil and Grease
 Priority Toxic Chemicals
 Metals
                                               Impaired %
                   0  5  10  15  20 25 30 35 40 45  50
                    Percent of Impaired Estuarine Square Miles
i||dtn.g Sources .
 Urban Runoff/Storm Sew.
 Municipal Point Sources
 Agriculture
 Industrial Point Sources
 Petroleum Activities
 Construction
 Land Disposal of Wastes
^ lmpaired.%
                                                     13
                   0  5  10  15  20 25 30 35 40 45  50
                   .Percent of Impaired Estuarine Square Miles

-------
        Percentage of Wetlands Acreage Lost,
                    1780s-1980s
      V
Twenty-two States have lost at least 50% of their original wetlands.
Seven of these 22 (California, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ken-
tucky, and Ohio) have lost more than 80% of their original wetlands.
Source: Dahl, T.E., 1990, Wetlands Losses in the United States 1780's
      to  19804, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife
      Service.

The States, Tribes, and other jurisdictions report that
wetlands losses result from commercial and residential
development, road construction, agriculture, and indus-
trial development Although the loss rate is decreasing,
progress  is still needed to achieve a national interim goal
of no net loss of the Nation's remaining wetlands and the
long-term goal of increasing the Nation's quality and
quantity  of wetlands.

The States and other jurisdictions also report that many
activities degrade our remaining wetlands with pollutants,
including sediment, nutrients, and pesticides. Information
on the extent of that degradation  is limited since wetlands
monitoring programs are in their infancy. Several States
are currently collecting baseline information on their
wetlands to aid in the development of wetlands indicators
and wetlands monitoring programs. This information will
be useful in defining aquatic life designated uses and
biological criteria and setting restoration goals.

Ground Water

Nationally, 51 % of the population relies to some extent on
ground water as a source of drinking water. Overall, the
Nation's ground water is of good  quality; however, many
local areas have experienced significant ground water
contamination. The types and sources of the contamina-
tion vary depending upon the region of the country. The
sources most frequently identified include leaking under-
ground storage tanks, agricultural activities, Superfund
sites, and septic systems. About 139,000 underground
storage tanks have leaked and impacted ground water
quality nationwide.
The most common contaminants associated with these
sources include petroleum compounds, nitrates (a sub-
stance in fertilizers that causes blue-baby syndrome at
high concentrations in drinking water), metals, volatile
organic compounds, and pesticides.

To address ground water contamination problems,  States
are developing programs designed to evaluate the overall
quality and vulnerability of their ground water resources,
to identify potential threats to ground water quality, and
to identify methods to protect their ground water
resources. Thirty-three States indicate that they have
implemented ground water monitoring programs.
Although  the content and scope of these programs vary
widely, depending on  each State's special needs or
concerns,  a great deal of information about the nature and
quality of  our Nation's ground water resources can be
learned through their monitoring activities. A continued
quest for information about the status of our ground water
will help protect and preserve this vast and vulnerable
resource.

Public Health and Aquatic Ecosystem
Concerns

Based on  data provided by the States and other jurisdic-
tions, 1,531 fish consumption advisories were in effect in
47 States, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa
as of September 1994 (Figure 20). These advisories warn
the public to restrict consumption offish contaminated
with toxic chemicals. States and other jurisdictions are
responsible for sampling fish and issuing fish consumption
advisories where needed.
         Comprehensive State Ground Water
   "/f   '  '-     Protection Programs           ,   „
          '         * s^                       •*
  'A Comprehensive State Grpund Water Protection
   Procjram (CSGWPP) is.composed of six "strategic ,
  ^activities." They are
   ,<"•>•                     ^               >,

   D  Establishing a prevention-oriented goal

  , •  Establishing priorfties, based on trie characterization
   -   of the resource and Identification of soCirces of
  ,   5 contamination    '    °"   -  ,
   •  Defining roles, responsibilities, resources, and  '
    ' coordinating mechanisms  ," '           „
   •  Implementing all necessary'efforts to accomplish
      the State's ground water protection goal    .  (   „

   •  Coordinating information collection and manage-
  ' -  merit to measure progress and reevaluate1 priorities' ^
    I,,"1"        (**  ' >    t    t
   m improving public education and participation,  - '„

-------
The number of fish consumption advisories in effect grew
from 1,279 advisories in 1993 to 1,531 advisories in 1994
as the States expanded their sampling programs. Most of
the fish consumption advisories (73%) are due to mercury
contamination. Other frequently cited contaminants
include PCBs, chlordane, dioxins, and DDT or its deriva-
tives, such as DDE and DDD. The majority of the advisories
(65%) restrict consumption of fish caught in lakes.

Collectively, 16 of the 27 coastal States and Territories
reported shellfish harvesting restrictions in over 6,000
square miles of estuarine waters. Most of the shellfish
harvesting restrictions result from bacterial contamination.

Advisories were also issued to warn the public about
health risks from water-based recreation. Twenty-two
States identified 374 sites where recreation was restricted
by local health departments at least once during 1992-
1993. Many of these sites were closed more than once. _
The States identified sewage treatment plant bypasses,
malfunctions, and pipeline breaks as the most common
sources of elevated  bacteria concentrations in bathing
areas. Runoff, failing septic systems, a livestock operation,
and combined sewer overflows also restricted recreational
activities.
 Similarly, 35 States and 1 Territory reported that pollution
 caused 737 fish kills in their waters (Figure 21). This figure
 underestimates the real number of fish kills in the Nation
 because 15 States did not provide fish kill data  and fish
 kills in remote areas may not be detected or reported to
 State officials.

 Communities also noted violations of national drinking
 water safety standards. In 1993, the drinking water
 supplied to nearly 11 % of the population served by
 Community Water Systems (26.5 million people) violated
 health-based standards. Violations occurred for nitrates,
 radiological contaminants, and toxic organic chemicals
 (including  pesticides).

 Improving Nationwide Monitoring

 Much of our water quality data cannot be aggregated or
 compared  because the various organizations that survey
 water quality use different monitoring strategies designed
 to accommodate their own program objectives and
funding constraints.

 In 1995, the Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring
Water Quality (ITFM) issued its strategy for improving
    Fish Consumption Advisories in the United States
            Number of Reported Fish Kills
                 Caused by Pollution
         V*         Number of Advisories in Effect
   ^b American Samoa       (September 1994)
                   I	1 0
                   li'Siit'u 1-10


                   mam si-100
                   ••• >100
                   * Statewide Advisory

NOTE: States that perform routine fish tissue analysis (such as the Great
      Lakes States) will detect more cases of fish contamination and
      issue more advisories than States with less rigorous fish
      sampling programs. In many cases, the States with the most fish
      advisories support the best monitoring programs for measuring
      toxic contamination in fish, and their water quality is no worse.
      than the water quality in other States,
                                                                  $
                                                              i Campo Indian Reservation
                                                              i Coyote Valley Reservation
                                                              i Gila River Indian Community
                                                              i Hoopa Valley Reservation
                                                              ] Hopi Tribe
                                                              ' Soboba Band of Mission Indians
                                      Not Reported
                                      0
                                      1-10
                                      11-30
                                      31-70
                                      >70

-------
water quality monitoring nationwide. The ITFM is a
partnership of 10 Federal agencies and 10 State and
Interstate agencies and American Indian Tribes, with
liaison to an advisory group of other public and private
organizations. EPA chaired the ITFM with the U.S. Geolog-
ical Survey (USGS) as vice chair and Executive Secretariat.

A permanent successor to the ITFM, the National Monitor-
ing Council, will provide assistance to help public and
private agencies implement the national strategy, which
includes institutional collaboration, environmental indica-
tors, monitoring design, comparable field and laboratory
methods, quality assurance and quality control, data
management and sharing, data assessment, and training.

The ITFM and its successor have also finalized products
that can be used by monitoring programs nationwide,
such as an outline for a  recommended monitoring pro-
gram, environmental indicator selection criteria, and a
matrix of indicators to support assessment of State and
Tribal designated uses.

In an associated activity, EPA and the States and Tribes are
developing a multiyear  State-wide or Tribal-wide monitor-
fng strategy to assess jurisdictional waters comprehensively
over a 5-year period. The monitoring strategy will include
a variety of techniques adapted to local water conditions
and the State or Tribal goals for their waters. For a copy of
the first, second, or final ITFM reports, contact:

      The U.S. Geological Survey
      417 National Center
      Reston, VA 22092
      (703)648-5023

Status of Pollution Management Programs

EPA's Office of Water is supporting a watershed protection
approach (WPA) as the  most effective mechanism for
achieving clean water and healthy, sustainable ecosystems
throughout the Nation. The WPA is a place-based strategy
that integrates water quality management activities within
hydrologically defined drainage basins or watersheds,
rather than by politically defined boundaries.

The WPA enables stakeholders to tailor corrective actions
to local concerns within the coordinated framework of a
State, Tribal, and national water program. The emphasis
on public participation  also provides the opportunity to
incorporate environmental justice issues into watershed
management

The WPA also provides  a framework for integrating
traditional water quality management programs that
address point sources or nonpoint sources. The National
 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) controls
discharges from industrial and municipal wastewater
treatment plants with a permit system. EPA or States with
approved NPDES programs are responsible for issuing
permits, conducting compliance inspections, and enforc-
ing compliance. Currently, 40 States have EPA approval to
administer their NPDES programs.

EPA and the States evaluate NPDES compliance by screen-
ing self-monitoring reports submitted by the permitted
facilities. As of March 1995, only 8% of the municipal
dischargers and 6% of the nonmunicipal dischargers were
in significant noncompliance with discharge standards
and/or reporting  requirements.

Section 319 of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA to issue
annual grants to assist States in implementing their EPA-
approved nonpoint source management programs.
Roughly half of each State's award supports statewide
program activity (such as staffing, public education and
outreach, and technical assistance) and half supports
specific projects to prevent or reduce nonpoint source
pollution at the watershed level.

EPA is currently involved in a dialogue with stakeholders to
address combined sewer overflows and stormwater
controls. EPA is also revising their Section 319 grant
guidance to  provide greater flexibility to the States. A   ...
watershed protection approach allows water resource
managers to achieve better integration and coordination
among these and other environmental programs.

Place-Based Management Programs

EPA manages and/or participates in several programs that
embody a watershed protection approach, including the
Gulf of Mexico Program, the Great Lakes National Pro-
gram, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the National Estuary
Program, and the Great Waters Program.

The Gulf of Mexico Program

The five Gulf States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, and Texas) and 10 Federal agencies established the
Gulf of Mexico Program (CMP) in 1992 to address
persistent water quality issues. These issues include
    • Coastal and shoreline erosion
    • Loss of coastal wetlands
    • Loss of Gulf coast seagrass beds
    • Sustainability of Gulf coast fisheries
    • Bacterial contamination of shellfish beds and beaches
    • Trash on beaches
    • Degraded coastal habitats for living resources,
      such as birds and fish.
                                                      10

-------
Since 1992, the GMP's Take-Action Projects have primarily
addressed .sewage treatment, pollution prevention, and
habitat protection and restoration.

The Great Lakes National Program

Rehabilitating the Great Lakes requires cooperation from
numerous organizations because pollutants in the Great
Lakes originate in multiple countries, including Canada
and the United States. The International Joint Commission
(IJC) provides an international framework for managing
the Great Lakes. Within the United States, the EPA Great
Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) coordinates
activities at all government levels and works with nongov-
ernmental organizations to protect and restore the Lakes.
The GLNPO also serves as a liaison to the IJC.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative is a key element of
U.S. protection efforts. The Initiative promotes a  consistent
level of protection in the Basin from the effects of toxic
 Figure 22
            Bottom Dissolved Oxygen
                in Chesapeake Bay
                        Bush
                 Gunpowder
                    Back
                 Patapsco
Elk Run
i
Bohemia
Sassafras
    Potomac
   Rappahannock
                                            Pocomoke
        Severely Impacted
        Poor
        Stressed
        Fair
        Good
 pollutants. EPA issued the final guidance for implementing
 the Initiative in March 1995 following extensive public
 comment. The final guidance prioritizes control of long-
 lasting toxic pollutants that accumulate in the food web.

 The Chesapeake Bay Program

 The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership of
 Federal, State, and local participants that has directed and
 coordinated restoration of the Bay since 1983. Program
 milestones include the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement
 to reduce nutrient loads into the Bay by 40% by the year
 2000, and the 1992 amendments to the Agreement. The
 amendments reaffirm the nutrient reduction goal, stress
 managing the Bay as a whole ecosystem, and advocate
 broader interstate cooperation and increase local govern-
 ment involvement.

 Overall, the Chesapeake Bay still shows symptoms of stress
 from an expanding population and changes in land use in
 the surrounding basin.  Elevated loads of the nutrients
 nitrogen and phosphorus are the most significant wide-
 spread threat to the Chesapeake Bay. Excess nutrients are
 a problem because they nourish algal blooms that cloud
 the water, deprive underwater grasses of sunlight, and
 deplete the water of oxygen needed by living resources.

 During warm months, low dissolved oxygen conditions
 persist in large portions of the Bay, impairing the survival
 and reproduction of fish, oysters, clams, and other bot-
 tom-dwelling organisms (Figure 22). Prospects for the
 Bay's oyster populations remain poor, and there is growing
 concern about the health of the blue crab population.

 Although water quality problems persist, signs of recovery
 are appearing in the Chesapeake Bay. Aquatic grasses
 (which provide critical habitat for fish, crabs, and other
 aquatic organisms) have increased by 75% since 1978.
 Striped bass, or rockfish, have made a remarkable recovery
 over the past decade, and more American shad are
 returning to the Bay to spawn.

 Phosphorus and sediment concentrations are declining in
 the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers that drain the
 largest watersheds in the Bay Basin. Nitrogen concentra-
 tions are leveling off or declining in most of the Bay's
 tributaries after many years of increasing nitrogen concen-
 trations. These trends indicate that both point and
 nonpoint source pollution abatement programs are
working.

Algae levels in the Bay and its tributaries have been
 reduced in some low-salinity areas that have experfenced
significant phosphorus reductions. On the other hand,
algae levels in the larger, saltier reaches of the mainstem
and tributaries have not been reduced significantly. Algae
growth in these areas is fueled by nitrogen, which has not
changed significantly in the Bay's mainstem, demonstrat-
ing the need to implement further controls.
                                                    11

-------
Figure 23
     Locations of National Estuary Program Sites
The National Estuary Program

The National Estuary Program (NEP) adopts a watershed
approach to managing estuarine water quality. A State
governor nominates an estuary in his or her State for
participation in the NEP. The State must provide evidence
of institutional, financial, and political commitment to
solving estuarine problems.

Once an estuary is selected, the EPA Administrator con-
venes a management conference of representatives from
Federal, Regional, State, and local governments; affected
industries; scientific and academic institutions; and citizen
organizations. The management conference develops and
initiates implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation
and Management Plan to restore and protect the estuary.

The NEP currently supports 28 estuary projects, including
seven new projects approved by the EPA Administrator in
July 1995 (Figure 23).

The Great Waters Program

Section 112(m) of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air
Act established the Great Waters Program to evaluate the
significance of air pollution as a pollutant source in the
Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, Chesapeake Bay, and coastal
waters in the NEP and the National Estuarine Reserve
System.
In May of 1994, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards prepared and submitted the first Great Waters
Program Report to Congress. In the report, EPA concludes
that atmospheric deposition contributes significant
portions of the pollutant loads entering the Great Waters.
Pollutants of concern in the Great Waters originate at both
local and distant sources, including waste incinerators,
power plants, petroleum refineries, motor vehicles, various
manufacturing facilities, and residential combustion of
fossil,fuels.

Copies of the first Great Waters Program Report to
Congress,  Deposition of Air Pollutants to the Great Waters,
can be obtained, as supplies permit, from:

     Library Services Office (MD-35)
     U.S. EPA
     Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
                                                      12

-------