Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs.
Beginning in 2013, the Team compared the WQA and TMDL programs in Washington State to five other states in order to identify potential improvements. The objectives of the project were to:
Learn alternative approaches for CWA programs from other states,
Utilize the research to develop recommendations for improving Washington State’s WQA, listing/de-listing, and TMDL procedures, and
Work with EPA and Ecology to refine and implement recommended improvements.
A report, titled
Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
, was finalized in July 2014. It summarizes methods used to “compare and contrast” Washington’s WQA and TMDL programs with five other states and highlights key findings and recommendations.
The report has served as a starting point for discussions with Ecology and EPA regarding improvements in the state’s WQA and TMDL programs. The Team plans to continue discussions and effort toward program improvement.
MATERIALS