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Water: Monitoring & Assessment

Preface

Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program

EPA and States need comprehensive water quality monitoring and assessment information on environmental conditions and changes over time to help set levels of protection in water quality standards and to identify problem areas that are emerging or that need additional regulatory and non-regulatory actions to support water quality management decisions such as TMDLs, NPDES permits, enforcement, and nonpoint source management. This information also informs EPA and State decisionmakers, the Congress, the public, and other stakeholders of the progress that the Agency and State partners are making in protecting human health and the environment. Without this information, it is difficult for EPA and the States to set priorities, evaluate the success of programs and activities, and report on accomplishments in a credible and informed way (U.S. GAO 2000).

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