The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking new water quality data from the public to be used for placing polluted waters on the state's 303(d) list of impaired lakes, rivers, and bays. More details about the 303(d) process, including assistance with submitting data, can be found at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/index.html <
Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires Washington State periodically to prepare a list of all surface waters in the state where pollutants have impaired the beneficial uses of the water, such as for drinking, recreation, aquatic habitat, and industrial use. Types of pollutants commonly found in Washington include fecal coliform, high temperatures, excess nutrients, low levels of dissolved oxygen, and toxic substances. This list was last prepared in 1998. Ecology is now preparing the 2002 list.
Waters placed on the 303(d) list require the preparation of water cleanup plans - known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) - a key tool in the work to clean up polluted waters. TMDLs describe the type, amount, and sources of water pollution in a particular waterbody, analyze how much the pollution needs to be reduced or eliminated to achieve clean water, and provide strategies to control pollution. In addition, even before a TMDL is completed, the inclusion of a water on the 303(d) list can lead to Ecology requiring stricter pollution limits when issuing permits for that waterbody.
Ecology's assessment of which waters to place on the 303(d) list is guided by federal laws, state water quality standards, and the state's 303(d) policy. This policy was recently updated, and describes how the standards are applied, requirements for the data used, and how to prioritize TMDLs, among other issues. The goal is to ensure that all impaired waters are identified and that no waters are mistakenly identified as impaired. The updated policy is available at the website above.
The 303(d) list is based on all readily available data from both public and private sources. This means Ecology will accept data collected by academic institutions, businesses, not-for-profit groups, tribes, quasi-governmental agencies such as watershed planning councils, and private citizens - in addition to data from federal, state, and local government agencies.
Ecology is seeking new data right now, during a 60-day "call for data" period. If any data was submitted to Ecology previously - either for earlier 303(d) lists or other reasons - it does not need to be submitted again.
All data received will be maintained by Ecology, and will be available to Ecology staff and the public. This will provide an opportunity for interested persons to use this data for future water quality and environmental protection efforts in addition to this assessment.
The call for data officially starts on October 16, 2002. The deadline for submitting data is 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 16, 2002.
To submit water quality data, please e-mail it to:
303d@ecy.wa.gov <
Or mail the data to:
Submittal of data in electronic format is much preferred. The most preferred format would be if the data are compatible with Ecology's Environmental Information Management database. Data received in this format will be most easily available for future users. Otherwise, a flat file, such as a spreadsheet, is preferred over a relational database. Information in paper hard copy also will be accepted.
Ecology can use only high quality data for the 303(d) assessment. All data submitted must have been collected in accordance with a quality assurance plan. The person submitting the data must document that such a plan was followed, and must provide Ecology with a copy of the plan if requested.
More details about quality assurance plans, and a form for documenting that such a plan was followed, can be found at the website above.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To ask any questions about the 303(d) assessment process, including to request a copy of the recently updated state 303(d) policy, or for further assistance in submitting data, please contact:
Ecology is an equal-opportunity agency. If you have special accommodation needs or require materials in an alternative format, please contact Matthew Green at (360) 407-6386 (Voice) or (360) 407-6006 (TDD).
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