Water: Monitoring & Assessment
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Our WatersWatershedsMonitoring & AssessmentMonitoring, Assessment and Reporting Guidelines
Our WatersWatershedsMonitoring & AssessmentMonitoring, Assessment and Reporting GuidelinesMonitoring, Assessment and Reporting Guidelines
EPA regularly issues guidelines to states, tribes, territories, and interstate organizations to improve the consistency and comprehensiveness of water quality monitoring, assessment, and reporting methods and to help build stronger monitoring programs.
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Water Monitoring Program Guidelines
- Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program | PDF Version (24 pp, 524K)
This guidance recommends ten basic elements of a holistic, comprehensive monitoring program that serves all water quality management needs and addresses all water body types. It describes a process in which States develop a monitoring program strategy to implement these basic components over a period of up to 10 years. - Application of Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program For Wetlands (PDF) (12 pp, 90K)
This document provides clarification on how to plan and implement a wetland monitoring and assessment program within the context of Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program.
Integrated Reporting Guidelines
- Integrated Reporting (IR) Guidelines under Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 of the Clean Water Act
These guidelines are for states, territories, authorized tribes, and interstate commissions that prepare and submit section 305(b) reports. The guidelines outline development of biennial Integrated Reports (IR) that support EPA's strategy for achieving a broad-scale, national inventory of water quality conditions and include listings of impaired waters under Section 303(d) of the CWA. Previous editions of these guidelines are also available at this site. - Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology
This website describes the background, purpose and process for developing a Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) that will streamline reporting requirements under Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
Section 106 Grant Guidelines
- Guidelines for the Award of Monitoring Initiative Funds under Section 106 Grants
These guidelines describe the formula necessary for EPA to allot Clean Water Act (CWA) section 106 water pollution control program grant funds that have been targeted in EPA's appropriation process to support enhanced monitoring efforts by states, interstate agencies, and tribes. They reflect the focus on improving state and tribal capacity to monitor and report on water quality through 1) implementation of state and tribal comprehensive monitoring strategies, and 2) collaboration on statistically-valid surveys of the Nation's waters. - Section 106 Tribal Grant Guidance
Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean Water Act is intended to help Tribal water quality program managers, staff, and other Tribal environmental decision makers design and implement effective and successful water quality programs. It also establishes procedures and guidelines for EPA Regions to consider when awarding and administering grants to federally recognized Tribes.
Tribal Consultation
- Tribal Consultation on New EPA Strategic Plan Measure SP-14b
EPA is initiating consultation and coordination with Indian tribes on the definition for a new EPA strategic plan measure to demonstrate progress and success in protecting and maintaining quality waters at monitoring stations in Indian country.
Nonpoint Source Monitoring Guidelines
- Monitoring Guidance for Determining the Effectiveness of Nonpoint Source Controls(1997)
This nonpoint source monitoring guidance addresses the design of water quality monitoring programs to assess both impacts from nonpoint source pollution and the effectiveness of control practices and management measures. Emphasis is on project and BMP effectiveness, statistical analysis, and biological monitoring.
Historical Section 305(b) Reporting Guidelines
- Guidelines for PreparationoftheComprehensiveStateWaterQualityAssessments(305(b) Reports)andElectronicUpdates (1997)
This two-volume document describes the contents of a state 305(b) report (Volume 1) and methods for assessing water quality (Volume 2). - Knowing Our Waters: Tribal Reporting under Section 305(b) (PDF) (12 pp, 235K)
Describes the 305(b) reporting process and advantages to Tribes that choose to participate in the process, as well as modified guidelines for Tribal water quality reporting.