Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total
Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities
2014 – 2020
Image Credit: Seattle Magazine
Produced by:
The Interagency Team
December 2020
The Interagency Project Team is comprised of City, County, and State Agency stormwater
professionals in Washington State. The team was formed in 2012 with the goal of improving
State Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load programs for better
water quality outcomes.
Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities 2014-2020
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Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities 2014-2020
[DATE]Acknowledgements
The Interagency Team (Team) partnered with representatives from Brown and Caldwell, and
continues to work with the Washington State Department of Ecology, and Region 10 of the
Environmental Protection Agency, who are committed to working with the Team to make
improvements to State Water Quality Assessment (WQA) and Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) programs.
Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities 2014-2020
[DATE]Table of Contents
Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
Executive Summary and Background ……………………………………………………………………………….. 1
Recommendation Goals, Accomplishments, Lessons Learned and Opportunities ………………… 3
Recommendation 1: Establish a multi-stakeholder Standing Committee to improve
coordination and engagement with the regulated community ……………………………………….. 3
Recommendation 1 Goal: …………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Recommendation 1 Accomplishments: ………………………………………………………………………. 3
Recommendation 1 Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………… 3
Recommendation 1 Opportunities: ……………………………………………………………………………. 3
Recommendation 2: Implement existing regulatory authority related to unpermitted and
nonpoint sources ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Recommendation 2 Goal: …………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Recommendation 2 Accomplishments: ………………………………………………………………………. 4
Recommendation 2 Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………… 4
Recommendation 2 Opportunities: ……………………………………………………………………………. 4
Recommendations 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e: Refine water quality standards and water quality
assessment methodologies ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3a Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3a Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3a Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 5
Recommendation 3a Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3b Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3b Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 5
Recommendation 3b Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 5
Recommendation 3b Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Recommendation 3c Goal:………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Recommendation 3c Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 6
Recommendation 3c Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 6
Recommendation 3c Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Recommendation 3d Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendation 3d Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendation 3d Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 7
Recommendation 3d Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendation 3e Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendation 3e Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendation 3e Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 7
Recommendation 3e Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendations 4a and 4b: Improve and employ consistent process for collecting,
assessing, and utilizing credible data in WQA and TMDL development ……………………………. 8
Recommendation 4a Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Recommendation 4b Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities 2014-2020
[DATE]Recommendations 4a and 4b Accomplishments: ………………………………………………………… 8
Recommendations 4a and 4b Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………… 10
Recommendation 4a and 4b Opportunities: ……………………………………………………………… 11
Recommendation 5: Refine and/or add water quality assessment categories to improve
clarity and aid in defining priority water bodies …………………………………………………………… 13
Recommendation 5 Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Recommendation 5 Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 13
Recommendation 5 Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 13
Recommendation 5 Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Recommendations 6a and 6b: Update the current biological assessment and listing
methodology …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
Recommendation 6a Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Recommendation 6b Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Recommendations 6a and 6b Accomplishments: ………………………………………………………. 14
Recommendation 6a and 6b Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………….. 15
Recommendation 6a and 6b Opportunities: ……………………………………………………………… 16
Recommendation 7: Define TMDL prioritization methodology, timelines and process for
public improvement ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Recommendation 7 Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Recommendation 7 Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………….. 17
Recommendation 7 Lessons Learned: ………………………………………………………………………. 17
Recommendation 7 Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Recommendation 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, and 8e: Define TMDL development methodology ………… 19
Recommendation 8a Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8a Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8a Lessons Learned: …………………………………………………………………….. 19
Recommendation 8a Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8b Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8b Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8b Challenges/Lessons Learned: ……………………………………………………. 19
Recommendation 8b Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8c Goal:………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Recommendation 8c Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 19
Recommendation 8c Challenges/Lessons Learned: ……………………………………………………. 20
Recommendation 8c Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8d Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8d Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8d Challenges/Lessons Learned: ……………………………………………………. 20
Recommendation 8d Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8e Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8e Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendation 8e Challenges/Lessons Learned: ……………………………………………………. 20
Recommendations for Improving Water Quality Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load Programs in Washington State
Accomplishments and Opportunities 2014-2020
[DATE]Recommendation 8e Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 20
Recommendations 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d: Develop consistent TMDL implementation
expectations……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9a Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9a Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9a Lessons Learned: …………………………………………………………………….. 21
Recommendation 9a Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9b Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9b Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9b Lessons Learned: …………………………………………………………………….. 21
Recommendation 9b Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9c Goal:………………………………………………………………………………………. 21
Recommendation 9c Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 21
Recommendation 9c Lessons Learned: …………………………………………………………………….. 22
Recommendation 9c Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 22
Recommendation 9d Goal: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 22
Recommendation 9d Accomplishments: …………………………………………………………………… 22
Recommendation 9d Lessons Learned: …………………………………………………………………….. 22
Recommendation 9d Opportunities: ………………………………………………………………………… 22
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
Interagency Team Framework and Operating Principle ……………………………………………………. 24
New Member Orientation and Commitments ……………………………………………………………….. 24
Recommendation Priorities and Lead, Participate, and Track Functions …………………………… 24
Lead or Co-lead: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
Participate: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24
Track: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 25
Quarterly Meetings and Communication ……………………………………………………………………… 25
Outreach Strategy ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
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